I was just wondering what some of the tools a model railroader should have to be sucesful. Such as X-acto knives brushes etc.
It all depends upon what you are going to do. Of course the basic ones such as knives, screw drivers and such can be common to many different parts of the hobby. If you are going to assemble structures and rolling stock, you’ll need others. Same with scratchbuilding, electrical, making benchwork, scenery, etc. You don’t need everything at first, just get what you need when you need it. After a while you’ll probably have quite a bunch of tools, just like the rest of us!
A Xuron rail-nipper and the Kadee trip-pin pliers (along with the coupler gauge) are MR-specific items.
A Dremel tool and a hobby knife are more generic, but I use mine for train things all the time. Also, tweezers, needle-nose pliers, small diagonal clippers and wiring tools like strippers and a soldering iron.
Well, I just got my 1st rail nippers after years without, but I love my Atlas saw. I also can’t do without my combination magnetized jewelers screwdriver set and needle nose pliers.
My HO scale ruler and my Dremel seem to be used allot, and my knife set. I could go on with all the other tools, but these seem to get used allot the ones I listed.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned an NMRA track gauge. [:)]
The list of tools could be endless. It just depends on where the hobby takes you.
Oh yes, that’s important. One tool that I wish I had when laying flex track is the Flex Track Alignment tool, but I still don’t have one.
Some type of vision magnifier. Coupler height gauge and trip pin pliers. An adjustable soldering station is nice to have too. A pack of hobby files.
It doesn’t take all that many tools to be effective at model railroading. Screwdrivers, pliers, diagonal cutters, a scale rule, an NMRA gauge, a test lamp, Xacto knife, hacksaw, pin vise, drill bits,files. Soldering equipment, a Dremel, a battery powered drill. For benchwork a table saw is helpful, although not essential. I have a band saw and a drill press that get quite a bit of use. Stationary power tools can be had off Craigslist for very little money. Air brush and compressor are on my “to get” list. So far I have been getting by with rattle cans. If you know how to use one, a multimeter. Vernier calipers, dividers, hand calculator, architect’s scale, pencil sharpener.
In addition to what’s already been mentioned, I have found a Surform tool particularly useful when shaping foam. Also, when my wife was discarding some plastic kitchen ware, I absconded with some airtight containers for storing scenery materials, large bowls that I use for ground foam when preparing trees (consolidates the mess), and plastic spoons for distributing scenery materials such as ballast on the layout. I also have a weighted “extra hands” device with alligator clips and magnifier useful for holding small objects for painting, soldering, etc.
I keep an 8lb sledge in my tool box; it comes in mighty handy when you can’t seem to get those pesky handrails on diesel locomotives to fit!
Look, almost every introductory book to the hobby has a chapter on tools; in addition the hobby press frequently has articles on the same subject.
Drop sheets. Or if not a good divorce attorney [:)]
When working with foam it is handy to have some hot wire tools. I bought some from Hot Wire Foam Factory. I have also built some extra tools for cutting foam myself.
HAH! Speak for yourself…[swg]
I will soon be 61 and still don’t need 'em even working on N Scale.
Must be because all those carrots I ate when I was a child.
Tools!
I would break this down to:
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modeling tools
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powered modeling tools
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tools that are not model railroad specific
Modeling Tools
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Xacto knives
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Small files
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NMRA gauge
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Kadee coupler gauge
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Small paint brushes
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Small screwdriver set
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Sanding sticks/True Sander(NWSL)
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Pin Vise/Drill bits/Taps
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NWSL ‘Chopper’
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Scale ruler
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Good lighting over you modeling bench/table
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Multimeter
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Precision Square
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Precision ‘bubble’ Level
Powered Modeling Tools
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Dremel Motor Tool
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Air Brush/Compressor
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Precision Drill Press with an X/Y table
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Soldering iron/Solder Station
Tools that are not model railroad specific (Layout construction items)
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Power Mitre Saw(a $50-$100 10" one is perfect for layout construction)
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Radial Arm Saw(I used this to build the benchwork before Power Mitre Saws were generaly available)
While building benchwork, I bought a clamp that holds two pieces of wood solidly at right angles so you can screw or glue them together. It really made that process easier.
A “solder sucker” is a mechanical gadget used for removing old solder from a connection when you’re re-doing it, or to remove excess solder when you get too excited about melting metal. Heat shrink tubing is nice for making nice solder connections as well.
I’ve got a 2-56 tap and a bunch of 2-56 nuts and bolts. It’s a very common size in HO modelling, and these come in useful.
Less elegant - wood toothpicks. These are great for applying small amounts of paint, and particularly for adding tiny drops of glue while putting things together. I use a big cardboard box for spray painting. (I use rattle cans from the hardware store.) Rubber bands are good for holding things together while the glue is drying.
Amen on that! One of the best things I’ve bought in this hobby has been a relatively inexpensive magnifier, the type on a head band that will flip up out of the way. For painting tiny details, trimming small parts from the sprue, for checking obstructions in itty bitty holes and a host of other things it can’t be beat. How in the world can you accurately work on anything you can’t see!
Jarrell
I find emery boards very useful - they come in hard and soft and have different grits.
Also, if you work in the basement or garage, plug all your tools into a GFCI protected receptacle. If you don’t have one installed in your house wiring, then get a plug in model.
Enjoy
Paul
But then, there are those of us that would prefer to spend the money on track, rolling stock, locos, structures, and get by with a less expensive collection of tools.
Then again, any excuse to buy new tools can be a good thing. [swg]
It seems that nearly everything on a model railroad eventually gets painted. Good quality paint brushes are pretty useful. Buy them at an art supply store and expect to pay $5-10 (or more) per brush. Take good care of them and they will last a long time.