sheena Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Are there any basic tools a car modeler should have from the start? Right now I have an exacto knife,sandpaper and tweezers. I'm having a tough time getting the tranny to stay together with the plate behind it onand am thinking some sort of clamp would help. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelo7 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Glue is essential. As you build, you will know which tools you need as their need arises. If there is paint (even chrome) on those parts you are trying to put together, it will be harder for them to stay together. Scratch any paint off and then you'll see how easy they'll be. I use masking tape sometimes to hold parts together and to paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Irwin Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 (edited) A razor saw, a set of needle files, emory boards and a pin vise for starters, then a Dremal tool with a lot of bits. For clamps rubber bands, clothespins and tape will get you started. Edited October 13, 2015 by Craig Irwin adding to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SfanGoch Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 I keep a plasma cutter handy for those extra thick sprue connections usually found on old kits of Eastern European origin that regular snips can't handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted October 13, 2015 Author Share Posted October 13, 2015 I keep a plasma cutter handy for those extra thick sprue connections usually found on old kits of Eastern European origin that regular snips can't handle. Plasma cutter check,thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxer Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 I haven't found a need for a plasma cutter in almost 60 years of model car building ... maybe I should look into it .. Craig's advice will do you well and angelo7 gives good advice. That should give you a very good start. Other tools will come to light as you find the need for a specific job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 I haven't found a need for a plasma cutter in almost 60 years of model car building ... maybe I should look into it .. Once you get one, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XJ6 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Are there any basic tools a car modeler should have from the start? Right now I have an exacto knife,sandpaper and tweezers. I'm having a tough time getting the tranny to stay together with the plate behind it onand am thinking some sort of clamp would help. Thanks againwhat type of glue do you use ? Has for Tools the Best Tools are Your Hands ? And Patience ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miatatom Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 A lot of stuff can be found at Harbor Freight. Clamps. small vises. cheap airbrushes, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Joy Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) The tools I cannot finish a model without:Good sharp sprue clippers - the most important tool in my mindSanding sticks and sanding padsToothpicksAlligator clips and plastic clampsCA glue and accelerator, and Extra Thin Tamiya cementHobby knife - but I only touch the X-Acto when doing decals and bare metal. That's about it. Those are the items that have a permanent place on my table. Oh sure, I have tons more tools, but the rest of them sit in my toolbox until they're needed. Edited October 14, 2015 by Harry Joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenGuthmiller Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Has for Tools the Best Tools are Your Hands ? And Patience ?I agree!You don't need to go out & buy a bunch of expensive tools right off the bat.I built models for probably 15 years with nothing more than an Exacto knife & a tube of glue.All of that stuff will come later when you have a need for it. Sounds to me like you have all you'll need already to do some basic building.Try some CA glue, (Super Glue) for your gluing issue. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTallDad Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Variable length rubber bands come in handy for clamping...http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/102170-variable-length-rubber-band/#comment-1429461 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavanzer Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Dollar Stores are a great place to get basic tools cheaply.I get all my sanding sticks from the Nails/Cosmetics section, and have found various small clamps, and small hand tools.( A pair of small pliers with some tape on the jaws and a rubber band around the handle can sometimes clamp things that clothes pins are too big or awkward to handle) Of course you can get masking tape, and some CA Glue there too. Even cheap "Not-Excato" knife sets, that while mostly lousy can get some blades and a plastic mitre box for a buck. Just the thing for when the LHS is closed and you need more knife blades now! Walk the aisles and see what jumps out at you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent G Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) A Sally Beauty Supply store will give you a selection of any and all sanding essentials. Boards in multiple grits, foam sanding blocks and buffers. You will also find the above listed tools there as well.G Edited October 14, 2015 by Agent G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Painting stand for sparying bodies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miatatom Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 (edited) Go to a Panera Bread store and get some of their stirring sticks. They're wooden and about 10-12" long and about 1/4 - 5/16" wide. Get some sand paper , apply super glue to the stick and press it onto a sand paper. Easy and cheap sanding sticks. Edited October 14, 2015 by Miatatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 A Sally Beauty Supply store will give you a selection of any and all sanding essentials. Boards in multiple grits, foam sanding blocks and buffers. You will also find the above listed tools there as well.G Multi sided nail boards is so handy as G is talking about. Tooth picks to get glue in tight places. You should be able to find small clamps at crafts stores and i have seen them on the counter of parts store.Sprue cutters and tweezers you should be good. i would not buy too much until you see what you might need down the line.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 One of these days, I am going to get me some nail boards , or files, it be a lot cheaper over the long run vs using sand paper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my80malibu Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 If your new to the hobby and using Superglue. You will need Debonder at some point, also a good supply of bandaids might help too. When the Exacto knife slips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbowser Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I find clothespins essential for clamping. If you look in the craft section you can get little ones as well as the normal size. You can turn them around on the spring to make a V-shaped clamp. You can also modify them for different tasks. Liquid plastic cement works almost as well as super glue, bonds in 10-15 seconds and won't pull your skin off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atmobil Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I comprised a selection of tool that I consider to be basic and essential for modelling and took a picture of it. I see now that I have forgotten to add a brush to this but I think that this will cover most basics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) Available in the books section at Amazon.com:Basics of scale automotive modeling by Pat Covert Model car building: Getting started by Dennis Doty And there's always the Q&A / Tips, Tricks, Tutorials section on this forum. Edited October 17, 2015 by sjordan2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petetrucker07 Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 The one I can't not build without, pin vise. The nail boards, knifes, tweezers, glue, cutters, small screwdrivers, clamps, q-tips, saw, pencil are all great too. The best thing I've bought is my pin vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I've been building models for a long time, so I can give you a pretty accurate list of tools you'll need. Not including glue, paint, paint thinner/brush cleaner, and chrome foil, which are not "tools" but "materials," like styrene sheet or aluminum tubing.The tools you will need to start out. Tthese are absolute musts that I can't imagine building even a basic model without having...• X-acto knife and #11 blades.• Various grits of sandpaper from coarse to fine.• A set of small files (flat, rattail, square, etc... generally sold in sets).• A bunch of those brightly colored plastic spring clamps (usually sold in quantities, found in hardware stores or home centers like Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) I have found that you can never have too many of them! Also might want to consider the smaller, metal "alligator" clamps, they also come in handy.• Needle-nose tweezers.• Masking tape.• A selection of good quality paintbrushes in various sizes.• A sprue cutter (looks like a smaller version of wire cutting pliers).• A bunch of rubber bands (to use as clamps in dozens of ways).• Good lighting. The kind of lamp that you can clamp onto the edge of your work surface, has spring-loaded arms so you can move the head around and it'll stay put where you put it. They come in various types (incandescent bulb, fluorescent bulb, and LED). I like the LED type, they give off a natural "daylight" color, absolutely no heat, and they last a long, long time. But they cost more than the other two types (but worth the extra $$$ IMO).Those are the absolute basics. Very soon, though, you'll want to expand your tool selection to include...• One of those self-healing cutting mats (they usually come in green or sort of a translucent light blue). Get a big one, you'll be glad you did.• A pin vise and drill bits (a pin vise is a small, hand-held device that holds a small drill bit and lets you drill small holes for spark plug wires, or any other place where you need to drill small holes.• A Dremel tool and a variety of bits (cutters, sanders, grinders, etc.) A Dremel tool and assorted bits can be bought as a set, or individually. Get a Dremel that has an adjustable speed... too high a speed and whatever bit you are using is just going to melt the plastic instead of cutting or shaping it.• A razor saw• A metal straightedge (ruler)Eventually you might want to get into airbrushing, but that's a personal choice. Many people never use an airbrush and build beautiful models using just spray cans. It's up to you, but a good airbrush, compressor, and assorted odds and ends will set you back several hundred $$$.Beyond that, you're getting into advanced territory, with things like lathes, milling machines, drill presses, etc. But if you are just getting started building models, big-time, big-bucks power tools like those are probably many years off. You might not ever get to the point where you would want any of them, but they are available for people who do a lot of custom work and/or scratchbuilding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 I started this hobby way back in 1956 with just two tools! I had a little pen knife I bought at a souvenir stand with allowance money (Dad taught me how to sharpen it!) and a fingernail file that Mom let me have--I was 10yrs old in 1954!. Those two tools carried me out to about 1960, when I sprang for my first Xacto knife when I was 16. Shortly thereafter, I got my first package of 3M 400-grit sandpaper. So sophisticated tools were not a part of my early modelbuilding years. Down through the years since, I have gotten far more tools, a lot more sophisticated, but even today, I still go back to a #11 knife, 400-grit sandpaper (augmented now with finer grits, down to Micromesh polishing kits), more Xacto knives than I care to inventory, along with tweezers and such, even an airbrush. In short, it't been an evolutionary process. getting tools along the way, as I saw a need, saw a tool that might fill those needs.Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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