alan2525

Ok, this thread is like a scale model equivalent of Desert Island Discs...

What's the one tool that you find really useful when working on scale models?

Is it something you modified yourself, adapted or purchased?

What is it and what do you use it for?

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Bunkerbarge

Good question and difficult to come up with a single item. The hand vice I described in another thread is probably the most usefull because, in conjunction with other things such as tweezers, clothes pegs, pipecleaners etc, it has a multitude of purposes. I can also stick items freshly painted with a piece of sprue glued to them in the vice while they dry.

Probably one of the biggest revelations in recent years was when I purchased a new pair of tweezers. They are actually designed for electronic work and they are a good size with an angled end. I have found them absolutely superb for all forms of everyday holding and perfect for such tasks as rigging etc. In conjunction with the vice I can quickly and easily hold anything in any position on my modelling bench.

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“Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days"

kevingambrell

Thats easy a good file and a hacksaw. out of the machines the Colchester Bantam or maybe the big Dean smith and grace and the J head bridgport.

But a hacksaw and file will do a lot of work.

kevin

wonwinglo

A difficult one this,but my extra long nosed pliers are invalueable.

new to trains

i bought a great tool some years ago from a swan morton exhibition stand its a scalpel blade removal tool- great for removing and replacing blades, no risks to your fingers, great for modelling work, graphics and presentation work and generally a great invention !

otherwise it would be my proxxon table top circular saw- its a great little bit of kit !

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just gotta keep building !

backonthecase

Sorry guys I'm gona be a dinosaur and take the practicality for money spent soapbox!!!

My set of cheap nonsense needle files. Ok so they're not diamond encrusted, uranium fuelled, dilithium crystal equipped sub-nuclear warheads, but they cut thru plastic, came in about 8 different shapes and for getting into silly little gaps in framework/chassis etc, they are the business!!

Ok yeah....and they cost about 2 quid!!!

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"Ah, Bellamy, for cryin' out loud. That's the the stinking, most awful, stupid joke and you're always pullin' that stinking awful stupid joke.
You don't want in this thing, you don't get in this thing. I cut you out of everything. I don't need you. Sixty feet of bridge I can get almost anywhere. Schmuck!"

kevingambrell

You talking about cheap files reminded me. A few years ago I bougt a set of six 8 inch files from a hadware store, dont know why i wouldnt as a rule as I didnt know the quality. Cost was about three pounds i expected blunt but thought a set of scrappers couldbe made. I still have the files and although I cant cut brass with then now steel is not a problem. I wish I had bought six sets! One day ill drop them in the sulphuric to bring them back to life, but a good buy.

backonthecase

Yeah the thing is with mine, although they're not really sharp, it means there's a larger margin for error when filing things down! They're things that should be hunted down at the local pound shop or German supermarket!!

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"Ah, Bellamy, for cryin' out loud. That's the the stinking, most awful, stupid joke and you're always pullin' that stinking awful stupid joke.
You don't want in this thing, you don't get in this thing. I cut you out of everything. I don't need you. Sixty feet of bridge I can get almost anywhere. Schmuck!"

kevingambrell

Hi
I always find with rifflers more than needle files that the cheap ones cut as well as the pricey ones just lack the comformity of shape. I have a set of true swiss needle files that are the shapes they should be half round three square square and flat. A cheaper set I have are perfect files just not true to the shapes. I have to say its no big problem just dosnt allow for accurate shapes to be filed. Im of the mind now that the cheap ones are perfectly ok for general work, i just keep the nice ones for valve gear and things like that.

One thing that climbs is the way tool stores pile files in boxes all banging against each other. I wont buy from boxes like that. Oh and plastic handles hate the things make my hands sore and the files hard to hold.

If im moaning il moan about the stores that sell conduit saws as hacksaws! hacksaws have straight handles conduit saws have pistol grips.

Im old I can be grumpy if I want.

kevin

kevingambrell

Forgot to say, when i did my time the only tools I was allowed to use for the first six months were a hacksaw some files and a broom, on a good day i was allowed to work the tea pot.