Lee in Texas Posted December 30, 2004 Share Posted December 30, 2004 I couldn't contribute much to the "Useless Tool" thread. I'm too cheap to buy lots of gadgets. I don't have anything useless in my toolbox. What are some of the tools/products that you find useful? Here are some of mine: Lab-quality tweezers. I got these when I worked at a place with a Lab. They are GREAT for holding tiny parts. Forget about the tweezers from the cosmetics section. The "new-generation" Hobby Knife. I guess we all have them by now; it's the one with a soft plastic handle, a hex collar to keep it from rolling off the desk, and an improved method of holding on to the blade. Those old all-metal X-actos would flare out and loosen their grip on the blade. It sucked when they rolled off the desk onto my lap too! Punch and Die set. I have several. These are great for scratchbuilding instrument panels. I've also made diffuser discs for car mufflers, rivets, bolt heads, etc. (I have a Historex Hex set). I would love to have the OOP Reheat Hex Set. Evercoat Eurosoft Glazing Putty. this is a two-part putty sold for use by professionals on real cars. It doesn't shrink and it feathers beautifully. It's like the stuff becomes one with the surface of the model, whether plastic or resin. (I do use lacquer primer under it) This came in handy with Italeri's Su-34. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zactoman Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lee in Texas Posted December 31, 2004 Author Share Posted December 31, 2004 LOL. I like that one too. I prefer Porters and Stouts though. Right now I'm having orange juice with a bit of rum. Don't know if there's a name for that one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TomcatFanatic123 Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Probably for me would be clamps and rubber bands. Anything to hold two halves of fuselage together. Oh yeah, and my scriber. But an MGD is always nice, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Rock Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Any kit will do,and a bit of glue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Man Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Toothpicks, Mr. Lee! Cannot work without them.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MikeV Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 The airbrush of course. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
P-40Ace Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Mmmm... Let me see, well, I guess my most useful tool would have to be either my knife, my metal pick that I got from the dentist, or my superglue.... I cann't decide which one is the most useful, so I just listed all three. Ace Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Blind Dog Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Microbrushes. . .I use 'em for all sorts of things! They are indispensible for detail paint work. . .applying Tenax. . .applying acclerator for CA. . .applying small bits of glue where needed. . .I've even used the handles of old worn-out ones to apply just the right amount of Krystal Klear for simulating marker lights etc etc. Old Blind Dog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gokhan Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 tamiya modeler's side cutter. no other cutter replaces it imho. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kaan Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Everything except Testor's contour putty and clearfix Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MaRiO FDZ Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Airbrush Take Care Quote Link to post Share on other sites
is it windy yet? Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Threre are lots of good tools out there. I just this week bought something called a modellers chisel. Its a chisel point blade with rounded corners so it doesn't gouge. Its quite heavy so its easy to push. Its useful for removing raised details and sprue gate marks left after cutting parts from the tree. Ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bails Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Two MUST HAVES to "assemble" any not-snap-together-kit.....glue and a good knife (X-acto, scalpel or whatever....just super-sharp ). Bails-In-Minnesota Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Valdis Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 PVA glue and a scalpel :D :lol: ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest backfire Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Gotta be a good quality, sable, fine-pointed paintbrush for all the detail work. :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Migrant Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 You can never have too many alligator-clips and toothpicks (crocodile-clips and cocktail-sticks to my English friends). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volzj Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 X-acto Toothpicks Tenax Squadron sanding/polishing sticks Gap-filling CA Tweezers Sprue Cutters That's all I need... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cougar Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Scalpel, Needle Files, Tweezers, Third-Hand, Pin Vise and Cutters :lol: Cougar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithery Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Most useful thing to me.....supportive wife. Without that one thing, I could not do anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre Posted December 31, 2004 Share Posted December 31, 2004 Amen, Kevin! Tracey knows how much I enjoy this hobby & even buys me gift certificates for special occasions. :( Of course, Xacto knife...toothpicks....clamps....Good lighting fixtures....Opti-visor all come in very handy! Happy modeling, Jim B) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Perry Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 The simplest tools are the best - I have used safety razor blades for over 40 years. Use them hand held to clean up seam lines, scrape off raised detail and cut out decals. I have carved air filters from contour putty, trimmed silvered decals and used them to separate control surfaces. Superbly sharp, they can trim mould pips in a single swipe, no sanding necessary. This is especially useful on canopies! And they are cheap, disposable and available everywhere. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmdmsu Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 Those old all-metal X-actos would flare out and loosen their grip on the blade. It sucked when they rolled off the desk onto my lap too! That happened to me a few weeks ago. I was trimming and dry fitting some pieces and watched my X-acto roll off my desk and fall point down. it was like it was rolling and falling in slow motion. it did stick my leg, but luckly i was wearing blue jeans. i guess then the most useful tool i have (next to my blue jeans) would be either my X-acto or needle file set. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
D_IcarUS_ Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 Airbrush, no doubt about taht. Also glue and: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
virsago_mk2 Posted January 1, 2005 Share Posted January 1, 2005 Model cement. Impossible to attach parts without it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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