Howdy experst,

just watched some of the posted pics.......damn you're good. Keep up the good work.

After quite some years doing everything but modeling it's time I get back into the nest ......and do the wild thing again.

Since most of my tools are history and I'll have to get me some new tools again, I ask you what tools there MUST be on every workbench.

Ok, ok...Sure I know what brushes to buy and how sanding paper looks like, but surely things have changed over the pas 15 years when I was flying around. Are here any novelties that make modelinglife more easy these days ?

If there are .....be sure to let me know.

Well, the only novelty that has popped up in the last 15 years that comes to mind as a "must have" would be the Hold & Fold tool for working with photoetched parts. It just makes modeling life easier for any subject matter that uses photoetching for detail parts.

Gunnie

Get an airbrush for sure! I used to paint my models with only a paint brush 15 years ago.

Try to get a double action if you can afford it, but if not, a single action will do.

Simon

Hey Eagle!
First of all welcome to this site!!
Some things that I have built up over the years of modeling are:
Assortments of glues, regular glue with a "pipe" for accurate glueing, Elmers Glue - White glue for groundwork etc, and super glue with an accelerator is a muct for resin/photo-etch and white metal parts. 2 part epoxy glue, like a 5 minute glue is great for water and also for big parts of resin or white metal.
A pair of fine nippers, those made for nails are great, good to cut off resin casting blocks, and parts from sprues.
Tweezers! get a variety of tweezers and try and see what works best for you.
Siccors, very seldom used, but great for thin lead foil, cammo netting etc etc
pencil, you never know when you have to mark something!
A small razor saw is very handy at times, for resin casting blocks to cutting balsa wood for buildings etc.
DREMEL tool, this is the best x-mas gift Ive ever gotten!! So many uses, sanding, cutting, polishing etc etc, possibilities are endless!
Epoxy putty, like Magic Sculpt or Milliput, great for small figure converions/scratch, also great for ground work, filling seams etc.
Film canisters, you know, those small black things the rolls of film comes in, they are great for storing small parts, thinner for brush clenaing and anything else you want to put in it!
Thats what I can come up with ontop of my head, if there is something I missed I'll let ya know!!
BTW, what do you build? Armor, Aircraft?Figures?

Hi EAGLE - Welcome to Armorama and back to the hobby !
That's all I wanted to say. -
Anders has given you a well detailed list of some necessary tools and supplies.
YES - GET A DREMEL
- Oh, there is one thing - BOOKS ( Military Histories, Armor, Modeling how to's )
This is of course is just a suggestion.
.
BEST OF LUCK & SUCCESS !
- ralph

A couple of neat devices have popped up:
1. Opti-visor, a head mounted magnifying device that has a small lamp. Older guys with failing eyes swear by this.
2. Thrid hand, this is a little weighted stand that has multi-jointed arms and alligator clips (some have magnifying glasses). Helps when attaching PE with solder or when a "third hand" is really needed.

Both are available from www.micromark.com

Debonder is a must!

two things are absolute for me:
1. toothpicks
2. papertowels

I couldn't imagine modeling without a rotary tool like a dremel, an airbrush, and a compressor for said airbrush. With the rotary tool, you need to have either a variable speed model or a seperate item to allow you to control the speed (what I have). This is very important when using the rotary tool to sand plastic as the default speed is so high that it melts the plastic.

I think you guys have covered about all that is needed ON the worktable.
UNDER my worktable I keep a case of beer, really good when your'e sitting during those long night hours glansing thru your referencebooks and photos. :-)

The Swede

ThX guys, for covering my question and giving my confidence a real boost.


And as far as The_Swede is concerned........ Just reading the tip, made me put some sixpacks under the desk.

ThX Again and CHEERS mates !

small small files or the wife´s nail polishers shaped small.
Cotton buds/q-tips for small spills mistakes etc.
I have an old paint brush with no hirs left, and I have superglued a sewing nedle into it. Has 100 uses. From piercing to pin point eyeballs etc.
clamps for holding setting items. also rubber bands.
I have an electric knife for trickier parts where you dont want to use force.
lolli-pop sticks /toothpicks
etc. etc. etc.
/Frank

I'm with Swede....beer and plastic is a good mix for me as well.
I would comment that a "Micro-drill" set is a MUST have. best money I ever spent (except for the beer)