Keeping the “Back to Basic” theme lets have a look at what newcomers might want to start with as regards a set of tools.
Many, many moons ago I had a Saturday job in a toy and model shop (£1.50 per week for a morning and evening paper round and £1.50 for the Saturday job, I was rolling in it!) and here I learned a bit about the modelling trade from a retail side. It quickly became obvious to me that the profit margin on a particular line was of far more consequence than the best for the customer and I remember being in trouble for selling the ‘wrong’ thing once or twice.
I do remember though in those days most young lads had a dabble at some point or other in their teens with plastic modelling and many would seek advice as to what tools they wanted to start with.
I am sure, as with most of us, we have a comprehensive range of tools built up over the years but what would we advise someone who is just starting out what the best things to spend their money on would be. I would like to put forward the following suggestions as basic requirements.
1) Knife. I spent most of my modelling life using surgical scalpels. Which are, of course, extremely sharp and a very effective cutting tool but they do have drawbacks. They do not have a very strong blade so heavy cutting will require something more substantial, such as a Stanley Knife, and the blades do not remain keen for very long. A good starter might be a handle with a set of interchangeable blades such as an X-acto knife, which can even be fitted with small saws. As a modeller becomes more experienced he can then expand his set with more specific knives.
2) Tweezers. For as long as I can remember I have always used a very old pair of long nosed tweezers that my father gave me and I always thought they were the best. Recently however I have tried a new pair of very long nosed ones with angled ends and they are superb. These can be purchased relatively cheaply from electrical tool suppliers for electronics work.
3) Cutters. It is well worth investing right from the start in a pair of electrical side cutters. Removing plastic bits from sprues will never be completely trouble free with any sort of knife and small electrical side cutters do the job perfectly. The small tab of plastic left can be simply trimmed with the knife.
4) Vice. I actually made a hand vice in a college exercise during my apprentiship and, as I finished it relatively quickly, I made a base for it as well. This has held many hundreds of pieces over the years and has proved invaluable for painting, holding pieces while they set and generally as another set of hands. There are a lot of very cheap small vices around these days, a number of which clamp to the edge of the table for convenience. (Assuming that you are not using the dining table!!) Some are better quality than others so have a good look first and don’t ever be tempted to buy plastic or any that attach with a suction cup.
5) Brushes. A range suitable for what you are making is obvious but always go for fewer better quality rather than a greater number of cheap ones. The biggest problem with the cheaper ones is that they will loose hairs, always in the middle of the perfect finish that you are after.
6) Light. Often overlooked but the importance of a good light cannot be over emphasised. You need to see what you are doing clearly and you need to see the colours you are painting accurately so the best type of lamp nowadays is one fitted with a ‘Daylight’ type of tube. These come in at about £50.00, which sounds a lot but it is well worth the money. When you get one set up and compare it with an ordinary lamp you will be amazed at the difference. I can't believe it took me so long to get around to buying one!
7) Cutting board. Don’t skimp on this item as a good sound cutting board for cutting on will make life so much easier and remove any stress involved with damage to the surface you may be working on. The best ones nowadays are very cheap and have quite useful grid lines marked on them for keeping things square.
Other bits and pieces will be added over the years but these things are a pretty good start. I also have a good supply of wooden clothes pegs to hand and a roll of sellotape for keeping things together. I always hold an item with a piece of scrap sprue that I glue to the inside somewhere than I make a stand for the sprue with clothes pegs while it sets or dries. |