Basic scale model tools

There are many people who want to know what kind of tools they need to build scale models. My career as a scale model began when I was 13 years old. I made a lot of model airplanes when I was that age. Later my attention turned to submarine models. I have completed various models of submarines from different manufacturers. What I liked the most was building the USS Gato submarine and that is the one that is still on my desk. I can remember how difficult it was for me to learn the fine techniques of building scale models.

I know every model builder has their favorite set of tools, but here are a few that

have come to find very useful:

• No modeler can do without a set of good sprue knives and cutters.
• A cutting mat or small cutting board is also essential.
• Less essential but still very useful is a hole making tool and some razor saws to cut things a knife can’t do.
• Scissors to cut decals and masking tape.
• Masking and other tapes in various sizes. These can be used to help paint and/or hold the pieces together.
• Some tweezers to pick up and/or hold very small pieces.
• Pegs and clamps to join the pieces.
• Fillers to fill holes and gaps and some spatulas to spread the filling.
• Sandpaper stick for sanding any putty, smoothing rough or irregular surfaces or for polishing.
• A dusting brush.
• Different grit “wet and dry” sandpaper is very useful for sanding the filler to give an extra smooth surface.
• Weights in various sizes to prevent planes from “tail sitting”.
• Blu-Tack for holding small parts or for dry joining parts. Blu-Tack is also used to keep weights in place.
• Rubber bands to join the pieces, elastic thread to assemble and needles to make holes.
• Syringes and pipettes for measuring diluents and other liquids.
• Cotton swabs and cocktail sticks to apply glue, decal solutions, fillers or to hold parts for painting.
• It is also excellent for cleaning and removing paint.
• Small plastic containers for water, brush cleaner, or other liquids.
• Last but not least, a nice set of brushes in different shapes!

Finally, for those who like building from scratch or more advanced scale model building, a mini drill is an excellent tool to do so. I hope I have helped some people with this list of tools that are useful for model building.