Was thinking about stuff that you can use thats not intended for modeling but makes excellent modeling supply!! So c'mon fellas what stuff do YOU use

I know I should start by saying something...hm...I use dill and chopped parsly stuff for foilage! Also wine bottle metal or lead foil is ideal for straps etc etc. So now its your turn!! Bring it on.

Every one is probably going to add this one, so I'll be the first to say it. FUTURE FLOOR WAX!!!!!!! Great gloss coat.

I recently discovered a small wire brush. I use it to clean my files and even clean out sandpaper that seems to be ruined. It also works great to remove flash and small seems from areas that you can't get sandpaper into.

empty film cannisters are great for small pieces that might otherwise be lost or separated during construction. Also I i*use these to dispose of used exacto blades, thus reducing the risk of injury to myself and others. I piece of netted wedding veil held over the end of the vacume cleaner tube by an elastic, helps in the recovery of "pings" (small objects projecting themselves into orbit). Finally, I keep small film containers holding dish washing liquid, (for spray painting) acetone (quick stripping of super glue) white spirit, methanol, on my work bench. For various small and quick emergency applications.

That's all for now

Jack

Drinking straws to move paint from jar to airbrush...

WIFE's discarded pantyhose for grills and other thin/small meshs

White-out liquid paper....works great for filling gaps and also sands well

I used IPA to substitute Tamiya acrylic thinner.

I use hypo allergic/non woven surgical tape to make bedrolls,etc. fold two sides and roll.add straps and paint..that easy.
best regards
Engin

Rubber cement for masking off paint chips!

YodaMan

Silly Putty for hard edge masking like late war German camo, or even the new camo on the Leo 2A5.

Polyester sewing thread for cutting parts free... ie.. rudders, elevators on a/c, opening one piece canopies etc.. . You use it like a wire saw. Pull it back and forth, the friction creates heat and cuts it way through the plastic. You lose very little plastic also. Just a couple.. I'll have to think on the others.... I got a ton of em' "Q"

I've used many of the above, and:

Milk jug tops for mixing/holding small amounts of paint.
Shelf paper for a disposable palette.

can you tell I brush paint?

Yogurt cups...they have clear tops so you can see all the little parts inside. Great for mixing paints in the lids too.

It just goes to show you that ANYTHING that assists in building and or finishing models is fair game.

Kleenex - it just ain't for noses anymore!

Gunnie

Always check the womens nail care section of your local drug store.
The Rite-Aid stores in my area have a two tone blue foam core nail file. The dark blue is a 240grit and the light blue is 120 grit. about 1" wide x about 5" long. Can also be used for wet sanding. At $1.99, a lot cheaper than the hobbyshop sanding sticks.

Another; Clothes Pins make very cheap and excellent small parts holders for painting. Mount them with double-sided tape...

Gunnie

Surgical gloves for air recognition flags...

Mario M.

I use nylon screen and/or mosquito netting for the engine exhaust and air intakes on tigers and panthers. Also I use silver mirror "Rub and Buff" to high light all my areas of worn metal, like tracks and weapons. Chris. :-)

How about andwich baggies to keep parts that did not get used. Keep it stored in my spare parts box. Pipe cleaners to assist in cleaning out airbrushes. Tooth picks to apply REALLY SMALL dabs of paint or even glue.


Dagger: A weapon with a small pointed Blade: "THE CUTTING EDGE"

Sorry guys I meant "SANDWICH" Baggies i.e. see above reply OOPS

Here are several more:

I use toothpaste (not the gel) to remove stubborn paint and as a plastic polish. It water soluble, safe on you skin and plastic, and usually has a pleasant odor (if any).

I found a pencil at Hobby Lobby that is solid graphite (no wood) which great as a dry lubricant for moving parts and of course to make that worn metal look.

At Michaels Craft Store I found some very fine tipped "felt pens" with tips in th .05mm range with waterproof ink that are great for highlighting panel lines, drawing bumper markings by hand. They come in a wide range of colors. Originally I bought them for my son to use on his Gundam Wings.

I also use a lid from a small margarine dish to hold small blobs of super glue and white glue while working. I can then bend the lid and the dried glue will pop off.

Jeff

Did anyone mention the ever-present "toothpick"? What don't you use them for - they seem to have a million uses...

Gunnie

Gunnie,

hmmmmm...toothpics..lets see, I use them to sculpt folds in clothing, to add superglue in small quantities, sometimes to mount someting to paint on a toothpick with a drop of super glue, use them for fence posts, to build stuff, etc etc.

I used Bostic Blu-Tack to make my painting stand, just roll small piece into a stick or strips
and just secure the other end into polystyrene board, than stick the parts on the Blu-Tack end for hand painting or air-brushing.

Hi all
Picture wire makes excellent afv towing hawsers and you get around a metre (or yard) in a pack. I also use a dentists probe (i think thats what its called).It's great for getting into tight corners with glue or to remove some paint.
Regards
Peter

Yes, dentists have some great stuff in their hands. I can usually talk my dentist into giving me that scary thingies that she won't use any more... And it comes really handy in modelling.

Mario M.