Getting help

[Ramman]

Hi ,  I'm new to this forum. I'm knocking on my 60th birthday's door. I haven't built a model since I about 16 yrs old. Recently I've purchased about ten car kits. 1/24 - 1/25 scale with 2 and 3 skill levels. I am really looking forward to putting the glue and paint on these cars ! Now question / problem.... I have no supplies !  Would someone please help me with a list of necessary brands ,  tools / supplies to start these model car kits ? Thanks in advance !

 

 

[Mike999]

Welcome back to the hobby!  That's a huge topic, and everybody will have their own favorite/un-favorite tools, ideas, etc.  I just did an internet search on "building model cars for beginners."  Here are some of the links that came up and look good.  You can find many, many more.  Good luck!

https://doogsmodels.com/2012/09/07/how-to-get-started-or-restarted-building-models/

https://hobbyandtoycentral.com/?q=blog/beginner%E2%80%99s-guide-model-building-part-1-4-part-series

https://www.titleproloans.com/resources/model-car-guide-for-beginners/

https://www.revell.de/contentpages/en/best-tips/index-en.html

 

[Arjay 396]

+1, Mike!

Follow the advice offered in the links he's provided.  Put a three-hundred dollar bill in your pocket, go to your local hobby shop, then buy nothing but tools.  That will get you off to a good start.  Hone your skillset on a few cheapie kits before tackling those 2- and 3-level models (snappers can be a very inspirational experience).  When in doubt, ask questions.  There are plenty of folks here with decades of accumulated experience who'll be only too happy to help you along.

[68shortfleet]

I would have to disagree slightly with the last comment. 

I would suggest skipping the three hundred dollar bill comment.

But rather, head to the hobby shop and pick up some basic supplies, couple decent paint brushed, a handful of colors of testors square bottle paints and a couple spray cans of the colors for your first kit,  brush cleaner of choice, some tube glue or CA, nice hobby knife, and some sandpaper. I'm sure I missed something. 

It's still going f to coat a fair chunk of change, but get some supplies and see if this is the hobby that your childhood remembers it to be before spending too much money on it.

Just by two pennies. Enjoy the hobby.

[ranma]

nice set of different types of tweesers from dollar tree, also sanding sticks, and  file from dollar tree, testors red tube glue( 2 Pack), hobby knives ,blades ,window glue molotow chrome pen's all at hobby lobby, bottled paint's and some spray paint's from there as well....

[Arjay 396]

  On 9/12/2017 at 4:00 PM, ranma said:

nice set of different types of tweesers from dollar tree, also sanding sticks, and  file from dollar tree, testors red tube glue( 2 Pack), hobby knives ,blades ,window glue molotow chrome pen's all at hobby lobby, bottled paint's and some spray paint's from there as well....

......airbrush and compressor, variable-speed dremel tool with various cutting, sanding, and routing bits, jeweler's files, razor saws, clamps, pin vise and hobby drill-bit index, sanding block set, various grades of sandpaper and polishing cloths, a good modeling lamp or two, opti-visor (optional).  Somebody thought I was kidding about three hundred bucks.  But I ain't.  Precision work demands precision tools.

[68shortfleet]

  On 9/12/2017 at 5:47 PM, Arjay 396 said:

......airbrush and compressor, variable-speed dremel tool with various cutting, sanding, and routing bits, jeweler's files, razor saws, clamps, pin vise and hobby drill-bit index, sanding block set, various grades of sandpaper and polishing cloths, a good modeling lamp or two, opti-visor (optional).  Somebody thought I was kidding about three hundred bucks.  But I ain't.  Precision work demands precision tools.

YUP, all that stuff might get used someday. BUT, how many of those tools will get used by somebody getting back into the hobby that hasn't built a kit in 43 years.

I still suggest getting a few small things, then think about what tools would help make the next kit better. Sure, in the long run, if you stick with the hobby you will spend that 3 bills. But absolutely not necessary for a first kit in 43 years.

[Arjay 396]

  On 9/12/2017 at 6:53 PM, 68shortfleet said:

Sure, in the long run, if you stick with the hobby you will spend that 3 bills. But absolutely not necessary for a first kit in 43 years.

Lacking proper tools, that "first kit" will likely end up looking just as one built some forty-three years ago.  I've been building models for fifty-nine years and I surely wouldn't expect to assemble a kit today as I did as a six year-old.  And the fact of the matter is, only a few of the implements I mentioned would be strictly limited to modeling uses.  I use my "tinkering" tools for many tasks.  Granddaughter broke the hinge on her glasses -- yep.  Wife needs a clasp repaired on a favored necklace -- yep.  Repairing the lid on her crockpot -- yep.  Broken sprinkler -- yep.  All kinds of uses unrelated to modeling.  So while my hypothetical three hundred bucks may seem like a lot of money, it's actually been amortized by the multiple tasks that the tools I bought with it accomplished.

I'm done here.

[Dave Ambrose]

  On 9/12/2017 at 7:19 PM, Arjay 396 said:

Lacking proper tools, that "first kit" will likely end up looking just as one built some forty-three years ago.  I've been building models for fifty-nine years and I surely wouldn't expect to assemble a kit today as I did as a six year-old.  And the fact of the matter is, only a few of the implements I mentioned would be strictly limited to modeling uses.  I use my "tinkering" tools for many tasks.  Granddaughter broke the hinge on her glasses -- yep.  Wife needs a clasp repaired on a favored necklace -- yep.  Repairing the lid on her crockpot -- yep.  Broken sprinkler -- yep.  All kinds of uses unrelated to modeling.  So while my hypothetical three hundred bucks may seem like a lot of money, it's actually been amortized by the multiple tasks that the tools I bought with it accomplished.

I'm done here.

This is uncalled for. We're supposed to be doing this for fun. 

You don't need a vast tool chest to build model cars. You can enjoy yourself with an Xacto knife, a set of needle files (highly recommended), some sand paper, a few good brushes, and some paint. Oh yes, glue. You'll need that. Try a few, stick with the one you like. "Best" often degenerates into a religious argument. If you're feeling luxe, get some small diagonal cutters like the Xuron cutters to remove parts from the trees. 

As someone who could open a hardware store in their garage, buy tools as you find you need them. 

Your first model car won't be great regardless of your tool collection, so just build it and enjoy yourself. Your skills will develop with practice. 

[Xingu]

  On 9/12/2017 at 9:18 PM, Dave Ambrose said:

You don't need a vast tool chest to build model cars. You can enjoy yourself with an Xacto knife, a set of needle files (highly recommended), some sand paper, a few good brushes, and some paint. Oh yes, glue. You'll need that. Try a few, stick with the one you like. "Best" often degenerates into a religious argument. If you're feeling luxe, get some small diagonal cutters like the Xuron cutters to remove parts from the trees. 

As someone who could open a hardware store in their garage, buy tools as you find you need them. 

Your first model car won't be great regardless of your tool collection, so just build it and enjoy yourself. Your skills will develop with practice. 

This is good advice. I agree with the Xuron cutters as well, I use them everyday. Everyone has their own preference for supplies. I like Tamiya paint and cement and find them easier (more forgiving) to use. I have been known to use Duplicolor primer and paint from my local auto parts store. I also use a lot of Stevens International sanding sticks.

No need to rush out and buy all the expensive tools just yet. If you see a need for them later on, you can surely start buying them. Some folks paint better with plain old rattle cans than I can do with an airbrush.

Once your hooked on model building (and you will get hooked), we can paint you toward some of the more costly items that make building a little easier.

 

[Jon Cole]

I can only speak for myself, but the best building tool / supply I have, is a LED magnifying desk lamp. The eye stress of working without it made it necessary to buy. Glad I did.  

[KWT]

  On 9/12/2017 at 11:08 PM, Jon Cole said:

I can only speak for myself, but the best building tool / supply I have, is a LED magnifying desk lamp. The eye stress of working without it made it necessary to buy. Glad I did.  

I'm looking into getting one of these myself.

[Mike999]

  On 9/12/2017 at 11:08 PM, Jon Cole said:

I can only speak for myself, but the best building tool / supply I have, is a LED magnifying desk lamp...

Michael's sent out a rare 50% off coupon this morning.  They sell Ott Lites, which makes a small, battery-powered magnifying lamp with 2 interchangeable lenses.  It's probably not "invaluable," but it sure is useful for showing up sanding flaws and such. 

Two other inexpensive tools I've found invaluable over the years:

1. Pin vise and set of miniature drill bits.  Great when drilling small holes for engine wiring, mounting stuff like mirrors in the right place, etc.  Buy some sewing needles, cut them short, chuck one in the pin vise, and you also have a scriber useful for deepening door/trunk panel lines etc.  Buy spares of the smallest bits, like the #80. They break if you look at them wrong.

2. Flex-I-File: will sand off flash from round objects, like exhaust pipes, without making a flat spot. Or gouging out chunks of plastic, which often happens when trying to use an X-Acto knife for this job. The sanding strips come in a range of grits, from coarse to fine. 

[Tom Geiger]

Craig, the most important ingredient in building better models is to have a peer group. You are in New Jersey so please look us up.   Tri-State Scale Model Car Club, we meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month in Perth Amboy.  Website, www.tssmcc.org   has everything you will need to know to visit!

What I can say is that I too built as a teen and gave it up for the same reasons everyone else did.  I had a few false starts where I'd start a model and walk away. It seems I was applying the same skills and tools to the model as an adult, that I did as a teen.  And I got poor results back then too!

Then I found the club.  With people to teach you skills and give you tips, I found my model building took a great leap forward very quickly.  So come join us!    

 

[Dave Ambrose]

  On 9/12/2017 at 11:08 PM, Jon Cole said:

I can only speak for myself, but the best building tool / supply I have, is a LED magnifying desk lamp. The eye stress of working without it made it necessary to buy. Glad I did.  

I have Presbyopia. I could not build without one of these, or the clip-on magnifiers for my glasses. 

[1930fordpickup]

I say spend some time in the question and answer section in the forum also. A very large group of info in that section. 

Start slow no need to paint the first one.  Follow Tom's invite and go join his group. Face to face is better and they might help out with some cheap bodies to practice painting on.