Another add-to post to keep things fresh here.
What do you keep in your tooll kit for modelling?
I'm sure everyone have the essential but perhaps a few of us have a few tricks in our toolbox for modelling.
My other post summed it up for the glue department.
my cutting/drilling department;
-small scissors for general cutting
-larger scissors for cutting stuff like coke cans for the
aluminum or even the K&S metal sheets.
-small precision scissors fro cutting decals only. This
way they always stay sharp.
-X-acto knife for cutting plastic and materials.
-another X-acto knife for trimming decals only.
-razor saws of differnt sizes.
-small pair of electronic/electrical cutters/pliars.
-motor tool with cutting/grinding wheels and drill bits
-pin vise and drill bits.
-staight pointed dental pick for making a dimple to start drilling.
Dave
Dave,
I have a four drawer mechanics tool chest chocker block full of all sorts of tools just for my modeling. It is a 50 year collection as I am a tool freak. The list is too long for me to type.
B-)
I have pretty much the normal stuff.
I got this weird looking "jawed" wire stripper with the Cold Heat, as seen on TV, soldering iron. At first I thought....what a piece of junk. Then I figured out how to use it effectively. It strips any gauge wire CLEAN! I also have Xuron rail nippers; and I love my little "jewelers" screw driver sets in the little plastic cases....I got them at the dollar store!
I also use a sharp probe, (a very thin needle-like tool used in dissection), that I borrowed from school, to manipulate real tiny things, like coupler springs.
I can't think of anything else right now......
Marc
When I can get to our train room I will take a picture as writing it all down would take too long. Oh, remember, we pretty much have everything in duplicate as we have 2 model rr-ers in this house!
Dot
scale ruler
hot wire for foam cutting
serrated steak knife for foam
forceps
spike driver
resistance soldering iron
soft paintbrush for dusting rolling stock
ashtray
beer
punk
Marc,
If you plan on doing any serious foam construction, get one. I have two and use them all the time on the WS risers. They will come in handy when I get to contouring the foam scenery later. Sure beats the old steak knife, surform and flying foam particles!
One indispensible tool you all must have is a pair of Xuron rail nippers. Also the assorted Xuron sprue cutters. PBL makes a great set of very sharp close cutting sprue cutters that Micr-Mark has now copied. These can get really close to the sprue to cut off those very tiny and delicate parts.
B-)
Marc
The hot wire that I have is a cheap one ($7.95?) at the craft store. It runs on a single D cell battery and works great for what it is. It's a little limited as the wire is only about 3 inchs wide but I've never felt the need to spring for the more exspensive WS one. Try it, you'll like it.
Oh and don't breath the fumes when cutting colored foam. The battery seems to last a long time as long as you remember to shut it off.
Doug
Not to much in mine yet. Soldering iron, tweezers, dremul tool, jewelers screw drivers, various medical instruments, VOM, third hand tool, and a magnifying glass to big to fit in my tool box.
Chuck 🙂
Bud,
Do you mean a multi-meter? I wouldn't be without one.
I just broke down and bought myself a Dremel Mini Cordless. The really, really, really old corded model still works just fine, but I needed (wanted) one that I could move to the layout easier.
Clamps of all makes and sizes are a handy thing to have too.
B-)
