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Tools.
  • John_in_australia February 2012
    Posts: 72
    I am as new to this hobby as one can get. I have two kits arriving soon and would like to know what basic tools and equipment that you all are using out there in model land.
    So far I have made a few basic structures and even had a go at scratch building one structure. I still haven't got my painting/weathering technique right yet, but I keep reading and keep on trying.

    I would like to order any tools that I don't have to arrive at about the same time as the kits.
    A list of tools would very helpful.

    Thanks.
  • Bryan_KBryan_K February 2012
    Posts: 12
    Welcome to model railroading! I remember how overwhelmed I was when I first got into this hobby.. I still am! Here is my "must have" list

    -Sheet of glass to work on. Makes cutting, mixing, painting, building weathering etc. much easier and its easy to clean up.
    -NWSL Chopper. Makes cutting strip wood for kits MUCH more easy, quick, accurate and painless. One of my favorites
    -No. 11 blades
    -Rembrandt chalks for weathering and coloring. Bretts kits are perfect for learning how to use them
    - Blacken-it for various weathering
    -ACC Glue and 5-Min apoxy
    -Tweezers and needle nose pliers
    -various sand papers
    - jewelers files or modeling files
    - Wire brush for texturing wood. A must have.
    - various needles

    Thats all I can think of for now. SWSM kits are by far the best I have ever built and I have learned the most from them. Brett makes it easy to build a great model and his kits come with comprehensive list of tools needed and techniques on how to use em. Good Luck.
  • Karl.AKarl.A February 2012
    Posts: 558
    Yep, Bryan seems to have listed all the essentials, everything else is really just luxuries.
    With Bryans list you should be able to build pretty much any thing.

    A couple of things I'll tag onto the list,

    add basic wood glue into the mix ..... ie:- water proof/water resistant carpenters glue
    a metal scale rule ... comes in handy now and then
    single edge razor blades .... cheap, so change out often, nice clean cuts.
    A couple of set squares for 90 angles on wall assembly... however a post-it pad or CD case will also work... ;~)

    Karl.A
    image
  • GregInOz February 2012
    Posts: 46
    I also find a dremel style rotary tool useful. Mine is a Ryobi, and the whole kit cost me forty dollars on sale at Bunnings (like a Home Depot...) Greg.
  • WesWes February 2012
    Posts: 221
    Im sure Karl will agree, but some ice cold beers is also nice to have while modelling:)
    Dont leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
  • LSNRwyAlLSNRwyAl February 2012
    Posts: 142
    -dedicated plastic, metal, wood files (large #8's and needle/jeweller's)
    -opti-visor for fine work (you will need to deal with the wonderful
    detailing on Brett's kits)
    -sanding blocks to be sure of square edges
    -lots of (I repeat lots of) paint brushes (cheap one use and high
    quality many use) for applying weathering, glues, stains, etc.
    Alan
    A. L. & M. Rwy.
  • John_in_australia February 2012
    Posts: 72
    Ok. So the chopper arrived today. I have most of these tools, files, clamps, Dremel, drill bits,wire brushes, paint brushes. Any one would like to recommend a good optivisor. I think we have the beer thing down pat (worked out) here in Australia.
  • brownbr March 2012
    Posts: 164
    Only thing I can think of that was not listed above is a pick. Something like a dental pick for scribing. I prefer a straight one.
    Bryan
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