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What's the weirdest tool you use for modeling?

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Newport News VA
Posted by Buddho on Monday, December 15, 2003 4:31 PM
I make my own detailing brushes out of wooden cotton topped applicators sold by medical outlets. I drill a small hole about 1/8 inch deep in the cottonless end and place a drop of hotstuff in the hole. I then add 3 of my head hairs into the hole. I trim the hairs to length after the glue dries and use the "detail brush" for very fine lines.

Regards, Dan

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 3, 2004 5:13 PM
I use the wedge shaped foam make-up do-hickeys the same way as the ear plugs and tampons and I cut them for press on camo patterns.
John
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Saturday, January 3, 2004 8:27 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by wibhi2

I also use the "Sprue-tip" tm for CA applicators. They are wonderful.


Wouldn't a toothpick work just as well?

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Saturday, January 3, 2004 8:29 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Swanny

An electric toothbrush. One of those $5.00 Crest electric tooth brushes with some 600 sanding paper superglued to the brush. A wonderful and inexpensive power sander.


Matt,

Is that the sonic type of toothbrush or the one that rotates like the Braun models do? Do you glue the sandpaper to the bristles or do you cut them off and glue to the flat surface the bristles come out of?

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Southern California
Posted by ModelNerd on Saturday, January 3, 2004 10:05 PM
A 16oz sledge hammer. Comes in handy when those little, tiny parts just won't go in. Guaranteed to end frustration immediately ;-)

- Mark

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Sunday, January 4, 2004 7:36 AM
ModelNerd

What you have there is the First Rule of the Aircraft Mechanic

Iffen it don't fit, get a bigger hammer!

And come to think about it, the Second Rule of the Aircraft Mechanic applies to modeling

When all else fails, read the instructions!

Whistling [:-^]Whistling [:-^]Whistling [:-^]Whistling [:-^]
Quincy
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: UK
Posted by gregers on Sunday, January 4, 2004 9:54 AM
wierdest one i have is a heat pad from a car door mirror wired to a 9 volt battery pack. its for heating paint, warming models so the paint and decals set faster, warming my paws cos its cold in my model room Sad [:(] warming plastic card and sprue for bending. cheers for the other tips. Greg
Why torture yourself when life will do it for you?
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Phoenix,Az
Posted by 9x19mm on Sunday, January 4, 2004 11:51 PM
A while back I was burnishing bare metal foil on to a B-17 in 1/48th using Testors burnish kit during a movie. My wife gave me a cuticle pusher with a rubber tip which needless to say worked better and was much quieter! It is now my favorite tool for burnishing.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Germany
Posted by Theoden on Friday, January 9, 2004 4:34 AM
A Pringles-can.

I use it as an airbrush cleaning station. A little modified of course.

Into the can itself I inserted a simple sponge for absorbing the color and thinner.

I made a hole in the lid, just big enough to enter the nozzle of the airbrush. On the opposite site of the lid, I made ventilation slits, taped over with a double piece of coffee filter to clean the outcoming air.

At last, the lid has to be sealed to the can by adding white glue into the gap.

Works great and saves me the 20 bucks, I would have spent on the cheapest commercial cleaning station.

Maybe some of the new brushers like to adopt the idea...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 9, 2004 11:48 AM
The closest thing to wierd that I have is an old goose neck lamp without the lamp. The base is magnetic. On the end are some metal bars bolted together with clamps on them. (one clamp holds a small magnifying glass)
The base is a block of metal from my Dads job where they sell harness testors.

Instead of chopsticks, I have shishkabob skewers cut in half.

I have to agree with the Swanny Sander which I will have to go out and buy.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 9, 2004 11:54 PM
Its not really mine, but my dad has an ultrasonic cleaner for his dental drill repair business. Breaks up unwanted dirt but leaves tools intact. (By the way it costs 500 dollars)
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 15, 2004 9:52 AM
For a CA applicator I use a sewing needle. I borrowed a large sewing needle from the wife's private stock. Sniped the tip off of the eye leaving a 2-pronged fork. Drilled a hole in the end of a 1/8" dowel, for a handle, and epoxyed the needle in place. The "fork" holds enough CA to tack. It can be cleaned with acetone or finger nail polish remover.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Lower Alabama
Posted by saltydog on Thursday, January 15, 2004 10:53 PM
i would have to say a refrigertator compressor.
Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
  • Member since
    November 2005
Maybe I Missed it, but.......
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 15, 2004 11:15 PM
...I can't believe that I'm the only one who uses the "nail shaper" boards for sanding. You know the kind I mean.

Most any "beauty supply" store has a selection of sanding boards in a number of different grits. Many of them have one grit on one side, and a different grit on the other. Some even have four grits on a single board. (MicroMark sells a board just like this on their site, but for a MUCH higher price. I seem to recall it selling for $9.95.) The best part about these sanding boards is the price. Usually they're less than $1 each, and often you'll find them 'on sale' for as little as $.25 a piece.


Jamie
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 15, 2004 11:42 PM
53ryder....I also use that little cosmetic brush to wipe off my models, it's perfect for dusting

StrikeEagle....I agree, I use those emry boards I think they are called, they are awesome, and dirt cheap.

I also use these things my girlfriend calls "eye shadow sponges" for removing excess water when decaling. She bought them at a .99 cent store. I also found one of those paint jar openers advertised in Micro Mark for $10.00 at a .99 cent store.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 16, 2004 2:19 AM
That would be an old milk shake maker.

The worlds best paint stirrer........and only $8.00 (AUS) at the second hand shop!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 19, 2004 4:03 AM
This is my Upper Wing Alignment Jig
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 11:32 AM
Nice one, Alexandre!

This may have been mentioned before, but I get good results using an old toothbrush for weathering.
One flick of a finger creates great splash patterns when using heavily thinned paints. I start with lighter colors for "dry splashes" and finish with a dark color for "wet splashes."
~Brian
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 22, 2004 1:38 PM
I use a syringe. Its great for those tiny dots of liquid plastic weld.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 23, 2004 2:34 PM
Not sure how 'weird' this is but I thought I'd mention it here...

I have a lid from an old spray bom that works great as a 'multi-stage wash' for my paint brushes. There's a little 'cup' inside the lid that holds thinner. Then, theres also 4 other 'sections' outside of the little 'cup' that I fill with thinner too. Each section has progressively cleaner thinner in it. When I go to clean a brush, I start in the middle, and then just work my way around the cup. At the end, I've got a nice clean brush.

Works great for me. Hopefully I've explained it well enough...

Murray
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 29, 2004 12:45 PM
I love my Teflon coated, laboratory micro-spatulas. They are great for stirring paint, spreading putty, applying plaster and spackle to dioramas and many other uses. And since they are Teflon coated, nothing sticks to them, so clean-up is a breeze.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 2:19 PM
I'm a believer in chopsticks too, j-hulk! I once used the tapered end of one to plug the extra side inlet hole on an Aztec airbrush because I lost the silly little plastic plug that came with it.
More kudos to Swanny! My electric brush will no longer clutter my bathroom un-used!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 30, 2004 9:31 PM
I must say my dog, she just lays next to me and if a part no matter how small it is falls to the carpet she'll find it for me.... and won't eat it!!!
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Posted by maddafinga on Friday, January 30, 2004 9:42 PM
Now that is a great tool Ricardo!
Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 2, 2004 6:24 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by rickyinc63

I must say my dog, she just lays next to me and if a part no matter how small it is falls to the carpet she'll find it for me.... and won't eat it!!!



Do you suppose a cat would do that? They'd have the eyes to see something small fling across the room but not eat it. I need a cat.

....name the cat Styrene or the like. Smile [:)]
  • Member since
    December 2003
Posted by Enzo_Man on Friday, February 13, 2004 12:45 AM
I use shredded tighty-whities for cleaning sanded paint surfaces, polishing and waxing car bodies. I have also used silver elastic band for SS braided lines.
Aerodynamics is for people who can't build engines.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 21, 2004 11:30 PM
I use old stuff like water.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Brooklyn
Posted by wibhi2 on Tuesday, March 2, 2004 2:42 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by MikeV

QUOTE: Originally posted by wibhi2

I also use the "Sprue-tip" tm for CA applicators. They are wonderful.


Wouldn't a toothpick work just as well?

Mike


Yes, but tooth picks are not always available (duh, forgot to buy some at the store).
They also have a very limited use span in comparison to stretched sprue.

And no StrikeEagle, you're not the only one. I just love those nail polishing boards to polish off sanded seems. I can get the regular boards in 240 and 400
grit. big, wide, flat, washable and easy to cut (with shears or tin snips) - so many tasks are simplified.
3d modelling is an option a true mental excercise in frusrtation
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 9:05 AM
I have a buddy who is a dentist, he gives me his old dental pics, the are great for re-scibing panel lines and general clean up of tight areas. ask your dentists they always have worn out or old ones they can not use any longer.
Cheers
BobTongue [:P]
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