Basic Tool List & "must haves" for modeling?

My all time favourite tool...

the toothpick (to apply super glue, put small items in place, clean-up unwanted paint on canopy frames, hold wheels, propellers,.. while painting, spread putty, move wet decals on the model' surface, apply PVA glue in windows and windshields, keep models from moving while being transported (with polystyrene foam), and so much more!

Sprue cutter, Hobby knife, files, sanding film, sanding sticks, tri-grit nail buffer, good paintbrushes, liquid model cement, gap-filling super glue, 5-minute epoxy, superglue accelerator, toothpicks, rubber bands, masking tape, clamps, good lighting, a source for references, either a good public library or a budget which allows their purchase, and an attitude of enjoyment.This last is the most important.

To bypass redundancy, I'll agree with everything jcarlberg just said, and add the following:

Clothes pins, cuticle sticks, epoxy putty, superglue debonder, decal setting solution, a selection of casting weights, dust filter masks, BAND AIDS.

Last but not least, if you have a poison control centre near you, post their phone number near your work bench. I don't say that to be morbid, but we do work with toxins in our hobby, and considering some of the things I hear modelers using, especially for stripping work (brake fluid and oven cleaners) there's a lot of folks out there that are just accidents waiting to happen. Anything can happen, and this is just a hobby, no need to kill yourself over it.

Just to add to the list I also have an assortment of shaped files to get into just about every nook and cranny. As far as band-aids go.......don't use them when modeling. If I slice myself with the knife I just apply a small amount of Zap-a-Gap to the cut and wait a minute for it to dry.....then carry on to my next slice.

H.M. & G.B.
Shermanfreak

Awesome response so far. Thank you everyone who posted their responses!

I initially thought to myself that this was quite the list for a basic tool list - especially for a beginner or someone new to the hobby. However, after some thought, it's not really a lot of stuff and most of it's fairly inexpensive too. Except for a few things, most things are a couple of dollars.

A couple of additional things to consider adding are:

Toothbrush - for brushing away plastic shavings and stuff
Plastic bags/containers - for organizing stuff, temporary storage, a place to put small pieces, etc.
Pins/Needles
Tweezers
Bunches of old rags - for cleaning up messes, wiping off pieces, etc.
Sandpaper - You can save some money here and instead of buying small squares of sandpaper at the hobby store, go to the hardware store and pick up the different grits you're likely to use the most.

Not exactly part of a basic tool list, but also a razor saw and a pin-vise would be good.

Hello all,

As I read this post I began to think of all the tools and supplies that I have. Then it occured to me that this thread is not about every concievable item we keep close at hand. As we aquire more and more "stuff" we begin to wonder how we ever lived with out it. If you think about it, glue, an exacto knife, sandpaper and assorted paint brushes are all you need to get the ball rolling. Maybe there should be three categories? beginner, intermediate and advanced. That way a newbie doesn't think they need to spend 500 dollars to get started.

That being said, I can't live with out my aligator clip parts holder. It's nice to have an extra set of hands.

Darren

The list I placed represents about 30 years of accumulation, and I couldn't have acquired it all at once, either. I agree with Darren that it is possible to produce very nice models with a minimal tool kit. Indeed, I painted several 1/72 aircraft with the Testors white plastic handle brushes, due to the art student in the family "borrowing" my good brushes.

I've got lots of 'stuff' too, but if I were to weed it down to the bare essentials for doing a *basic* model:
- xacto knife with fresh blades (I'd say you should have 2 knives)
- multi-grit nail file (fine, med, course)
- toothpicks
- a few good quality paint brushes (3 or 4 different sizes)
- ca glue
- tweezers

I think you could build a pretty decent model with just those tools (and whatever paint you choose). In fact, that might be a nice little challenge for myself to build a basic model using *just* those tools I listed...

I like your Idea mkish, I'll take it one step further. How about an online challenge open to all members of the forum. We could vote on tools, kit, scale, deadline etc... Then we could post a picture of the model finished or not. I've seen this on other sites but it was a contest. This could be just for fun. This may be too complicated but worth a try I think, I'm game if anyone else is.

Darren

I'd give it a shot...

To stay with the idea of 'basic' tools I think we should have a 'no airbrush' rule as I'd say that's a little more 'advanced'. Rattle can spray paints would be OK though.

M.

I'm game

Would have to be trhe same kit for everyone, wouldn'it??!

You all have missed the one basic requirement we need to fulfil our modelling dreams
and that is lots and lots of back issues of "FSM"... ( and a cat free area)!

Madd Dawg

We may just have something here. I'm going to start a new thread in this forum as a sort of ballot / signup sheet. I will start things off with my list.

Darren

Guys,
One favour. Can you please mention brand names, so I can ask for what I want when I shop abroad. Right now, I shop for my paints and my adhesives by name. The rest, I ask and shop attendants look at me strangely.

The other thing - anyone know where one gets 800 to 1200 grit sanding sticks/boards/sheets, if I can't find a modelling accessories shop?

Thanx,

nandu

Nandu--If there is an auto parts store, or one which sells supplies for painting autos, they should have suitable sheets of fine-grit wet or dry abrasive. The sticks might be acquired at a beauty shop or cosmetics shop, as they are commonly used to shape and polish fingernails. Certainly the tri-grit buffing sticks should be available there. It is possible that a hardware shop or ironmonger's shop would have sandpaper, but it needs to be waterproof. The large sheets commonly sold can be cut down to suit modeling needs.

knife
ca glue

a good number 0 brush, a large round (like a 2 or 3) and a ratty drybrush.

I've built a tonne of wargaming miniatures with just that. When doing the majority of assembly and cleanup of my latest project I mostly used clippers to detach the pieces, the knife to trim the remaining nub and scrape off the mold lines.

For a tool that I will not now do without, the excel sanding stick. It's expensive to get up a supply of different grit paper for it, but it put new energy into my modeling.

Hello fellow modelers ...

Don't think I have seen anyone mention this item (& please excuse me if I missed it) and of course I swore up and down as a young builder that I would never need one ... but as I near the age of 50 (ouch, that hurt to even type it) ... I have been having great luck with and have been enjoying using and owning ...

... a BINOCULAR MAGNIFIER with a Visor LIGHT
... to MAGNIFY my work ... so I can see the fine
details ...




my wife is fond of informing me that I look like something from outerspace with the darn thing on ... but, last time I checked ... there were no extra points awarded in this hobby for the way the builder looks while building.

Oh, sorry Steve we forgot to tell you. How you look while building a model is now worth 95% of your score at any IPMS competetion.


And yes, this is a joke and not a hidden dig at IPMS judging. I've never entered one so wouldn't know if it's good or bad.

Murray Kish wrote:

I've got lots of 'stuff' too, but if I were to weed it down to the bare essentials for doing a *basic* model: - xacto knife with fresh blades (I'd say you should have 2 knives) - multi-grit nail file (fine, med, course) - toothpicks - a few good quality paint brushes (3 or 4 different sizes) - ca glue - tweezers I think you could build a pretty decent model with just those tools (and whatever paint you choose). In fact, that might be a nice little challenge for myself to build a basic model using *just* those tools I listed...

As a new-comer (haven't built a model since I was around 10, that's 21 years ago!) I thought I'd bump this post for any new "modelers" as it was very usefull to me.

I've been browsing through this forum for the last two days and I was intimidated by the (what I thought) amount of "professional model" tools I was going to have to buy to start & complete my model. I found this topic in a search and after reading all the posts in this thread I'm going to use ths K.I.S.S. system (Keep It Simple Stupid).

I know I won't be 100% satisfied with the results, I'll just use it as a building block for further models.

I hope no one minds that I bumped such an old post.

Just remeber Stob, a lot of things you can buy at Wal Mart or somewhere similiar and keep the prices down. Finger nail files make good files for your models, and can be trimmed to get into tight spaces, as long as you don't mind going through the make up isle, I didn't think I did, but after all the funny looks, I do now You can get all kinds of sandpaper cheap, and all grits for $5 for a 6 pack of big sheets! Check out www.hobbylinc.com for a good place for tools, they have many, and the prices are pretty good! Good luck!

Eizzle, funny thing is I had to make a visit to Wal-Mart today so I went to the mack-up isle. Didn't think I would care, but I sure did get some strange looks while I was checking out the 3 in 1 files!

 

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

I do agree with all replys on this topic. I have built several kits with the bare minimam tool list. I have sence moved to a more advanced tool list as has most here. I got my wife into the hobby and hr first kit turned out great with the minimam tool list. So here it is for you to look at.

I will ask that this thread be sticked for the new users that we are having join for the great info.

Hey R-C, let your wife know that's one fine looking '57 Chevy...

Some things that I might have missed reading through the basic tool list:

Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl)
Small sharp scissors for cutting decal sheets (I use mustache trimming scissors)
Q-Tips (cotton swabs)
Tweezers
metal finger nail files or sanding pads (those that come with fake nail kits)
Styrofoam or clay - useful for holding toothpicks with parts stuck to them for drying.
tape - 3M masking, can be used for holding parts while drying or taping for painting.

If you don't have a dedicated work/hobby area or bench:
good light source
comfortable place to work
something to keep all your supplies organized - I'm using a toolbox from Wal*Mart.

Man, all of these comprehensive lists and helpful suggestions and NONE of you included one of the absolutely essential, I-will-die-unless-I-have-it tools?

I'm referring to the bottle opener of course, aka church key. How else are you going to get the bottlecaps off those containers of "liquid refreshement agent," aka "stress decompression aid"? I am very disappointed in all of you ... 

Don't be disappointed!

My "liquid refreshment agent" comes with the convenient twist off cap, while my "stress decompression aid" has the corked stopper with built in handle.

If you're still using a church key, you must be a real old modeler!

Mine comes in 2 bottles with child proof twist caps, doctor prescribed.

I've been dry for 6+ years and like what the doc gives me now since my accident much better. 

It's still the 60's isn't it?
Hey... where's my lava lamp, black light and posters?

Oh well, guess I'll have to settle for the little flying flashing lights and my cats with their purple glowing eyes. I just don't understand though why my wife got upset when I told her that her face looked like silly putty and her cheeks were stretching down to the floor? Oh yeah... now I remember... I didn't take my pills that day.

Dust covers! I'm not exactly the world's greatest housekeeper, plus I live in Phoenix where the desert air can get quite dusty at times, especially during monsoon time. I have a variety of dust covers, from those little seven-day pill containers (great for tiny parts or sub-assemblies) to an old motel-room ice bucket. Oddly, a (clean) hospital vomit tray a respiratory therapist friend gave me some years back is my favorite dust cover. It has an unusual kidney shape that fits around awkward shapes or multiple sub-assemblies without cluttering the workbench with baby-food jars all over the place. (Those are sure handy to have, also; I was able to get some from that same friend when his kids were little.)

When you first get started with modeling, just start out with a few simple basic tools and add to your toolbox as the need arises. For me, as my tool kit expanded, it was literally one saw, one pin vise, one whatever found its place on the workbench.

Gee, how could I have forgotten about that... dust proof containers? After all the trouble I got in for taking them from the wife, uhm, getting a few from the kitchen.

A couple of those Tupperware or Rubbermaid containers with air tight lids a bit bigger than my car models. So after I paint the bodies, I can store them for 4 weeks dust free while the paint cures.

Oh, I hit the cosmetic and sewing sections at Wal*Mart again.
Found a finger nail tool that works great as a burnishing tool. Really small pointy tweezers that work great for wiring my car engines. More finger nail buffing sticks. A woman told me the darker shade of blue metalflake nail polish looked better with my skin complextion. A pair of Singer sissors for cutting decals that my fingers fit in better than my mustache sissors. Some ribbon for seat belts and wire for brake lines.

Then I found my wife in the automotive section getting my polishing cream and wax after she picked up my '57 Bel Air and '63 Impala SS.

Next time I'll let her check the cosmetics and I'll check the automotive. The girls looked at me weird instead of hitting on me. 

LOL