Greater Abilene Scale Modelers

 Lesson 2  - Modeling Tools

To build plastic models, you will want to create a "tool kit" of basic tools and materials along with some more specialized tools and materials. For the most part, inexpensive tools and materials are available and you can even find household and hardware items to fill up your tool kit. The basic tool/material list is:

• hobby knife (standard #11 pointed blade)
• sandpaper (#400 grit or finer wet or dry sandpaper)
• liquid or tube cement (white glue, "crazy" glue)
• masking tape (various sizes, frisket paper)
• modeling paints (selection of colors, flat, gloss)
• paint brushes (#00 and #1 size brushes)
• putty or filler (A+B putty, crazy glue)
• clamps or vises (number of different types)

Additional tools and materials can include files for sanding various surfaces and opening holes, pliers for cutting and holding pieces, and drills and various drill bits for making holes. A great number of homemade tools can be used including adapting common items to do another job, for example, twisting a wire coat hanger into a holder for painting models or using rubber bands as a means of holding parts together while gluing. These easily obtainable tools and a suggested use are:

• scissors (cutting decal sheets)
• nail clippers (separating parts on the sprue)
• toothpicks (to replace small plastic parts, to hold parts like wheels for painting or for stirring paint)
• swizel sticks (for paint stirring and mixing)
• dental picks (just ask your dentist for old picks which are great for cleaning up filler and carving plastic)
• kitchen cleansers (for washing plastic parts)
• small plastic or glass tubs or containers (to hold parts, for decal solutions and paint mixing)
• transparent plastic tapes (for masking or for holding parts)
• plasticine or clay (for holding parts and weight distribution)
• black ink (for detailing parts such as panel lines)
• and tweezers (great for holding parts and positioning them).

The big challenge is to learn to use each of the tools and make the most of them. Remember the old adage "A good workman (or craftsperson) never blames his tools".