My Layout is getting closer to me pulling out all of my rolling stock. Everything has been packed away for a while and moved. I am going to need to set up a workbench/model building/maintenance area. I want to replace my tools with new layout dedicated tools and oils.
What is your list of tools, oils, glues, paints that are handy to have for train maintenance?
Steve
Well lets see here. Kinda depends upon what sort of work you plan to do. And I assume you already have the carpenter’s tools to build your layout. So, essentials
long nose pliers, diagonal cutters, set of jewelers screwdrivers, Xacto knife, set of needle files, pin vise and set of drillbits. NMRA gauge, scale ruler, small scale to weigh rolling stock, coupler gauge mounted on a couple of feet of test track.
Heavier duty tools: soldering setup (iron/gun, stand, solder, rosin flux,soldersucking braid), Dremel, power pack to bench test locomotives. Multimeter. small drill press.
Adhesives: clear solvent plastic welder. Lotta brands out there, they all work. I use MEK from the paint store. Super glue. Epoxy. Silicone bathtub caulk. Cellulose cement (Duco). White glue (Elmers). Acrylic house caulking compound.
I survived 30 years without one, but getting my first Dremel (don’t get the Harbor Freight equivalent!) tool really made lots of projects easier.
I agree with the above suggestions and would add:
Double sided tape in case your weighing reveals the need to add some weight to car interiors (toothpicks can help opening up cars).
The TruckTuner from MicroMark that reams out the bearings for free rolling wheels. In a pinch you can use a small Phillips screwdriver but the TruckTuner really does the job right. You don’t really focus on how poorly some cars roll until you try to operate them, as you will learn.
Do you have a lot of Athearn blue box cars? IF so either get a supply of replacement metal covers for the coupler draft gear box, or explore the A-Line #110033 drill and tap set to replace the bent metal covers.
Are you still happy with Kadee #5s? If not now is the time to lay in the supply of close to scale replacements from Kadee. Don’t forget that many beginners would be happy to have any #5s that you decide to discard.
Speaking of couplers the powdered graphite that Kadee sells is useful.
If you want metal wheels versus plastic, now is the time to replace them so have a supply of 33" and 36" wheels (and depending on era, ribbed back for older cars). This is also a good time to weather trucks and wheels, so do you have the painting jigs that are fitted to 33" and 36" wheelsets?
You are likely to find that stirrup steps have busted off. A supply of replacements is in order, together with the appropriate cements. I really have come to like Faller Expert and Super Expert cement for plastic.
MicroMark also offers a small modeler’s chisels, useful for carefully removing cast on ladders, grab irons, the remains of busted off stirrup steps, and such. If you replace cast grabs wit
Like the OP, I’m in the same boat and started a thread about a month ago that had tons of recommendations.
A few things I saw in my thread were,
a self healing work mat to save the desk tops or other surfaces.
A sprue cutter.
Different types of needle nose pliers and some tweezers.
Dental picks for clearing holes or loosening small pieces.
grips tee holding tools for holding small screws or grabbing them when dropped
a small pry bar for modeling
brushes and chalks for weathering and a sealer
dishes, bags, and small storage compartments for different items
a good work bench light
I bought a foam cradle tomuse when I get more into some of the projects I’d like to tackle
Hope the list helps some. I can’t remember what I titled my thread, but there were several great ideas I there to go with what has already been posted here.
Not mentioned yet AFAIK . . .
Digital or dial calipers.
Roller stand or rollers for engine testing.
Soldering station, beats an iron any time.
Magna Visor or equivalent.
Anti static mat with grounding strap (decoder installs).
Miniature brass hammer.
That’s it for now.
CG
I agree with what is said above. It is a big list, but do not be scared off by it. Take it a step at a time. Buy basics first, do some work, and you will be able to prioritize what you should be buying next. Everybody has a budget for modeling; few, if any, of us filled our workbench in one big set of purchases.
This is my list from an older thread on the same topic:
"For those newcomers who need to build a tool kit here is an inventory of what is on and around my workbench. Established modelers will likely find reading the list a waste of time because you probably have almost everything on the list, but please address any additions that you feel are necessary/essential to the hobby.
This is in no particular order:
work bench! Sorry - couldn’t resist
cutting mat (self healing)
glass sheet for cutting harder materials
reading lamps (I have three all focused on the primary work area)
magnifying glass
Optivisor or equivalent
scale ruler
steel ruler (to be used as a straight edge as well as a measuring tool)
spring clamps
mini ‘C’ clamps
mini bar clamps
screwdrivers - large and small with all types of heads
4 prong screw gripper
small vise grips
wire cutters
wire strippers for both larger and smaller gauge wires
needle nosed pliers - smooth jawed and toothed
hobby vise
files - big, small, square, round, triangular, curved…you name it
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Add emory boards and sandpaper in various grits.
Also pipe cleaners
Small hammer
Tooth picks - flat wooden ones.
Miter box and saw
2nd tool holder (I could use a third one)
Enjoy
Paul
I forgot to mention small ‘Post It’ notes. I find them very convenient for mixing epoxy, and I also use them as they were originally intended. That is to attach notes to boxes or models.
Dave
one thing not mentioned and didn’t take time to read all posts but a foam cradle is good to have.
Another thing that doesn’t seem to be mentioned is a piece of plate glass. About 18" by 18" by 1/4" thick. To assemble buildings and structures and whatnot. Perfectly flat and impervious to solvents, glues, and paints. Also a few machined steel blocks: L-shapes, T-shapes, cubes, rectangular slabs, etc. A few inches by a few inches; a pound or two apiece; machined flat, smooth, and true. The blocks hold walls and columns square and perpendicular and provide some mass to keep things in place while the glue sets up.
Also a #11 X-acto knife. Already mentioned, but I’ll mention it again. A million uses.
Robert
I would add, that along with the Xuron sprue nippers, a set of Xuron rail cutters. Just remember, ONLY USE THEM TO CUT RAIL, lest you ruin them in short order.
My list as of now.
In my project tool tray.
2.A 5 prong holder.Very handy for holding and starting screws.
3.KD coupler trip pin pliers.
4.NMRA gauge
5.A old pill bottle containing KD washers-grey.
6.Another pill bottle containing KD washers-red
7.Pill bottle containing coupler springs.
8.Pill bottle containing 2-56 screws.
9.KD coupler spring pick.
9.KD Coupler height gauge.
10.X-acto knife with covered blade.
11.Drill bits in three different sizes in marked tubes.
12.A-Line Tap jig and tap.
Second tool tray.
1.Labelle 108 oil
2.Hob-e-lube HL664 Premium gear lube.
3.Testors red tube and bottle glue
Walthers Goo.
Walthers Solvaset.
6.Four bottles of weathering paint, two Testors flat tip brushes and micro brushes.
By my left foot is my tool box containing my larger tools like my dremel,mini drill,paint mixer,small hammer and other like tools.
By my right foot is my tool box containing scale rule,screw,driver sets,pliers of various sizes fly boxes of detail parts,trucks, wheelsets packs of KD couplers etc.
My tool trays are nothing more then flat bottom garden trays available at any big box store like Target,Wal-Mart etc… I will also second the foam cradle.
LION made his own foam cradles. They are four feet long since him has six car subway trains all as a single unit with drawbars and jumpers. Railroad is very forgiving to trains with 48 wheel pickup.
When he wants to tuun a train over (on the bench) him covers the first cradle with the second thus the train always has a cradle under it.
Him also uses the cradle to carry the trains to to the layout, or to remove them from the layout. Six car trains can be difficult for the 0-5-0 to manage without the extra help.
Workbench of LION is about 12’ long, this way I can slide the 4’ long cradle east and west while keeping the work right in front of me. Above the work bench is the 242nd Street station, so there is no lost space. I got a rolling stool from Harbor Freight (you might want a better one) that allows me to roll myself up and down the length of the table, or use it to gain access to my relay room.
Workbench:
Relay room:
ROAR