rail clipper
nails
hammer
- Visa Card
- Mastercard
- Discover Card
you only need one tool-IMAGINATION
Peter
Instead of repeating what you all have already listed as priority tools, I will add to the list with tools I feel are worth the investment, or time it takes to make them.
1). I haven’t seen clamps mentioned yet. I use C-clamps, spring clamps and modifide spring clothes pins. I invert the two wooden parts. This gives the clamp a deeper throat and a flat clamping surface. I have many of these clamps but could always use more and they are very cheap. I also have some of these clothes as manufactured and they are very usable this way, also.
2). I made a simple model cradle from wood and plywood and glued foam rubber pieces in to it to protect the model being held by the cradle.
3). I also use my Northwest Shortline’s Chopper, alot. It cuts cleanly and and speeds up repetitive cutting when I need to make several to 100s of identical parts.
My three most used would be:
- X-acto knife w/ #11 blade
- bent nose tweezers
- sandpaper
On the other hand, my three that I consider indispensible when needed are:
- a digital letter scale that measures to the 1/10 oz for weighting rolling stock
- a set of needle files with a variety of shapes
- a precision caliper
Ron
o - Dremel motor tool
o - Air Brush
o - Lots of Xacto blades!
Jim Bernier
Razorblade; for cutting
Metal edged ruller: for measuring, guiding edge for cutting and scribing and bending material
Metal childs compass with pencil mounted: for drawing lines and circles, scribing, and drilling/punching holes.
Some tools that haven’t been mentioned yet:
-
Self-healing rubber mat.
-
Files. I’ve used everything from a *** rasp (yes, that’s its real name) to jeweler’s files.
-
Sanding blocks and sand paper.
One other thing that most of us would like would be a third hand. Medical science is ignoring this vital contribution they could make to model railroading.
Upon further consideration I decided the razor blade is not needed. The compass point can be used for cutting. Also the metal edge of the ruler can be used for scraping and shaving material
X-Acto knife
small screw driver
needle nose pliers
Variable speed motor tool, with about as many accesories as you can stand.
Good airbrush and compressor set up.
As for hand tools…
Mini-screwdrivers,
Razor blades,
Sprue nippers, I have a set that seems to be lost in the abyss known as my work bench.
NMRA gauge,
Some really good lighting,
rubber gloves, goggles, and a respirator are useful too.
Oh yeah, healthy bank account, and internet access are pretty handy too.
Alvie.
Magnifying Light
Surgical lockable tweezers
Jewelers screwdriver set
Mac
screwdrivers-tweezers-calipers-soldering gun-dremel-hacksaw-small pliers.
IMO these are THE ESSENTIALS. and as Gordon said wits, intelligence and patience and I’d like to add creative thinking.
In order:
- The Internet
2: My digital camera
3: The library
RMax
- hobby knife
- rotory tool with bits especially cut off wheels,
- needle nose pliers
you really can’t stop at just three tools…there are too many jobs that require all kinds of different tools but the ones above are the ones I use the most…Chuck[:D]
all tools? hobby knife, rotory tool, needle nose pliers, pin vices with bits, screwdrivers, pliers, razor saws, miter boxes, C clamps, wire strippers, wire cutters, drill bits, wood bits, sand paper, circular saws, hack saws, paint brushes, jig saws, power screw drivers, vices, AC glue, model glue, taps, dies, pencils, NMRA gauges, rail gauges, hammers, punches, scale rulers, wood glue, nails, screws, nuts, bolts, electronic parts (that’s in a catagory all it’s own,) paint, air brush, compressor and regulators, extension cords, levels, wood chisels, wire, toggle switches, jars, plaster, styrafoam, coupler height gauges, springs, wrenches, soldering guns (high and low wattage) solder, flux, potable lighting, lubricants, squares, styrene plastic, tweezers, utility knives, hemastats, syringes, wire, brass, balsa wood, epoxies, liqiud nails, JB weld and more i can’t think of now just to name a few…Chuck[:D]
- Enough prototype pictures to build a credible model
- The cojones to saw into $300 of plastic (I kitbash locos)
- Yuengling Lager for clean-up time
My 3 must have modeling tools are: one a dremel tool, two a hammer with a few nails and three a wire cutter.
Decent knives
Pliers
Pin vice and small drills
Small screwdrivers
Kadee height gauge
That’s the basic kit, layout building requires power tools and sometimes other things are handy for certain jobs - I’ve found a micrometer to be the best thing for checking wheelset gauges with for example.
I already posted here but i thought of another.
A soldering iron. It also helps to have some solder to go with it, which I found out the hard way…
Cmdr.WedgeAntilles,
Man, don’t you hate when that happens? Unsoldering old joints to gather enough to use. Serreptiosusly taking soldered joints from your kids toys. Hey’ buddy, got some spare solder? Sorry, It was a long week.