Simple question, what is one product/tool/etc that you spent under $50 on that you think every modeler should have?
Charles
If I were to go with one thing…it would be an Optivisor. I use it constantly on projects. A close 2nd would be task lighting.
Tom
NMRA guage. Dan
Edited in: I hand lay my own switches. That tool is indispensible for that. But helpful for other things too. And… I can’t find mine lately! [:(]
For much less than $50.00 you can buy a bottle of Citadel Brown Wash, Vallejo Thinner for acrylic paints, and import a bottle of Daco Strong decal setting solution.
Three bottles of skill, you just cannot beat that.
-Kevin
While not “entirely” free, but the software is, I nominate JMRI and Decoder Pro.
The only cost is in whatever interface you choose between your layout or programming track.
In the ever-complex world of programming and getting the most utilization of all the “Bells & Whistles” of everything DCC I know I’d be lost without the graphic interface and reliability of JMRI. I’m just now getting into detection, signaling and route control and JMRI has that well covered, too!
I have made cash contributions to their efforts over the years. Money well spent!
Cheers, Ed
Great topic and hard to limit to one. Nonetheless, my vote is tweezers! They are invaluable for removing unwanted things from the layout.
Dinner for my wife. This allows me to spend more time in my train room.
My dremel Stylus, paid less than $20 and liked it so much I bought a backup.
As someone said its hard to limit to one.
As Tom said the optivisor. I couldn’t get by without mine.
Kasskaboose said tweezers, a must-have tool as I own many. The spring loaded one has its purpose but I don’t use those on tiny parts anymore as I hate when they fly across the room and you can’t find it[:(]
Mine is the Chopper ll. Irreplaceable and I use it all the time because it saves so much time.
P.S. That was a good one Chuck[(-D]
TF
My sprue nippers, greatest investment I ever made!
Don’t need any optivisor!!
Rick Jesionowski
You lucky duck Rick! to still have your nearsightedness. I could surely use that in N scale.
I can read a sign a mile down the highway but nearsightedness I’m blind as a bat.
TF
Maybe, Rick…but start savin’ up for one anyway. [:D]
Tom
Kadee coupler height gauge.
Well, I have to agree with all of the above. My locomotive cradle gets used a lot… And not just for my locos. A must in my case.
Simon
My LED headlamp, which I use more often than not when working at my work table (desk).
I have three. Two proper ones from Bowser (the open ended version) to use at my home layout and the layout in my daughter’s house (officially the grandsons’ layout).
I started out making and using a free one. I had a chunk of soft foam I used to cushion the lead keel bulb when transporting my RC sailboats. I cut a locomotive sized rectangle out of one face and now use this foam cradle for anything messy. It can still double as a keel cradle.
I use these cradles whenever upside down work is required on anything rolling stock or locomotive. Coupler and truck mounting, painting, oiling and so on.
My CAD software. I bought the original in 1985 and several upgrades over the years. The last upgrade was $49.95 back in 2018, DesignCAD-18. The original was a whopping $12 in 1985, Pro Design I.
Kitbashing my roundhouse.
Making a brass chassis for my Cab Forwards.
I use it for everything.
Mel
My Model Railroad
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
Bakersfield, California
I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I certainly agree with ALL of the above, especially the Optivisor. But I would like to add the Badger battery powered paint mixer. I’m on my second one, and as I recall they are about $10 or so.
The NMRA standards gauge, the NWSL Chopper, the Kadee coupler height device, Optivisor or similar vision aids, the Bowser foam work cradle. All good nominees. I’d add the X-Acto tool set that my folks got for me well over 50 years ago: a little carousel that holds a nice variety of essential and good quality tools. And hot wire tools for working with foam.
But just to be different I’ll name the Truck-Tuner. It really is amazing how long it took the hobby to have that simple tool, given how long-standing is the problem that it addresses.
Dave Nelson
Marriage licence back in 1976. She allows me to have the hobby and never complains about it.