What tools or supplies do you find you can not live without? I'm setting up my hobby space (actually a 12 by 16 shed) and I would like to hear what some of you find most usefull for working on models. I have the basics, knives, cement, ect., but I know I haven't thought about everything.

Lights, lights and more lights!!!

Good lighting is essential. I also like to have a lot of electrical outlets too for lights and tools

I find a lot of uses for a variable speed rotary tool.

different tweezers, different ca glue ( dry time, uncure etc). also those third hand tools with a magnifying glass are usefull. Maybe a dremel? and sicne its a shed a big paintbooth

Frank

Optivisors! Unless ya wanna go blind.

Files of all shapes, sizes and materials. LOTS of blades for your hobby knives.

Get some Tamiya thin glue, some Testors plastic cement in the bottle with brush applicator and if you get super glue, get the small bottles as they have a limited shelf life once opened.

Get some cheap trays for your tools and use an old cup or pencil holder for your brushes. Keep them upright, don't stand them on the bristles.

Putty, different types (find one you like) but stay away from the cheap Testors putty as it's worthless. Get some Tamiya Putty or Squadron Putty instead, another good filler (and easily sandable) is white out (the type for correcting mistakes on paper) and Mr. Surfacer 500 and 1000 (100 being a finer grit). These can also be used to texture your armor.

One of the handiest things I find is a couple of dental picks.

And don't forget about lighting and a very comfortable chair!

I will suggest a couple of things but these are for
modelers who are serious about the hobby. Please do
not take my explanation of the "serious" terminology
personally. There are modelers who just want to
quickly put together a kit for the fun of it. And these
modelers are not concerned about learning the craft,
or making improvements in their skill level, etc. And
there is nothing wrong with that way of modeling if it
is fun for the person doing it. Then there are the other
serious modelers who are wanting to grow as a
modeler and improve them skill level so they would be
interested in anything that would help them to become
a better modeler.

A good apoxy putty is important to me. Most modelers
do not use the best of these two part putties. The one
I've been using for almost 6 years now (the first two 8
ounce tubs;16 oz. total) lasted 4 years before
I used it all up. It does not shrink, can be carved, sand-
ed, drilled with holes and comes from the fine line of
hobby products at Aves Studios
(www.avesstudios.com) and is called ApoxieSculpt. I
was just fooling around until I started using this best
putty. Green stuff? Forget it, IMHO.

Next is a small table vice that has a suction area or
clamp so you can remove it from your work bench when
not in use. There are times when you need something
to be stationary and have both hands free while you're
working on it. So those are my two. Good luck, you
have a large area to work in.

While I'm still in a "chatty" mood, I will say that the one
thing that really makes a modeler grow in skill and
improve, is not any tool. . . It is discipline! However, that
word is rarely mentioned on the Big A.

Lights - My personal Preference is the Flourescent bulbs - "Daylight" not soft or Cool white...... If using incandescent bulbs Use GE's Reveal or Equiv. Philips
(they're a purplish - Blue color) The Light they Give is Much Closer to a "full spectrum" Natural Sunlight.

Bench Space Build as big of one as you can!!!!!!!!

Paint booth (Paint type kind of dictated the type of fan that can be used) I made mine for about 80-100 bucks.

PS - I work in the Elecrical Section for Home Depot..... So I know a Bunch about Lightbulbs....

Dont forget airconditioning and a heater. Also lots of shelves to store your stash. Lots of workspace, more than you think youll ever need.




Herky

standard tools..tweezer,cutter pliers etc. plus lots of mini tools! compressor,airbrush and lavatory with running water..this ease up the cleaning of things ah err.. needed to be clean...remember a faucet and lavatory.

oh yes..lots of flourescent lighting..so you can turn your work station into a studio for taking pictures.

audio and video system..plus shelves and bookshelves and yes..computer system is a must.

mini ref would be nice..!

A good flashlight, to find those tiny items that fall into that bottomless pit better known as the floor.

"tanks" for the advice, looks like I have a little shoping to do