What are your top 3 must-have modeling tools?

[AggroJones]

By the original rules....

Needle nose pliers, Xacto knive w/ #11 blades, Mini flat-head screw driver.

[Fergmiester]

1. Hammer
2. Bigger Hammer
3. Sledge Hammer[:D]

Actually I would recommend:

1> Dremel Tool with full set of bits and discs ( the first serious hobby tool I ever bought )
2>Full set of blades and ergonomic handle
3> Rifle and fine files

and if there's a need for brute force there's always a wall near by!

[BRAKIE]

For me it would be
1.My Dremel tool.I use this on many projects
2.NMRA Gauge
3.Kd Coupler gauge.
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Small screw drivers,a Three prong tool,pin vice and long needle nose pliers, modeling knives,tweezers and sprue nippers. And of course my KD knuckle spring holder made out of a tooth pick.[:D]

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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....

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

My 3 must have modeling tools are: one a dremel tool, two a hammer with a few nails and three a wire cutter.

[Anonymous]

1. Enough prototype pictures to build a credible model
2. The cojones to saw into $300 of plastic (I kitbash locos)
3. Yuengling Lager for clean-up time

[cwclark]

1. hobby knife
2. rotory tool with bits especially cut off wheels,
3. 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]

[RMax1]

In order:

1. The Internet
2: My digital camera
3: The library

RMax

[Nieuweboer]

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.

[Anonymous]

Magnifying Light
Surgical lockable tweezers
Jewelers screwdriver set

Mac

[Anonymous]

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.

[rf16a]

X-Acto knife
small screw driver
needle nose pliers

[DSchmitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DSchmitt

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.

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[DSchmitt]

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.

[jrbernier]

o - Dremel motor tool

o - Air Brush

o - Lots of Xacto blades!

Jim Bernier

[n2mopac]

My three most used would be:
1. X-acto knife w/ #11 blade
2. bent nose tweezers
3. sandpaper

On the other hand, my three that I consider indispensible when needed are:
1. a digital letter scale that measures to the 1/10 oz for weighting rolling stock
2. a set of needle files with a variety of shapes
3. a precision caliper

Ron

[Anonymous]

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.

[pedromorgan]

you only need one tool-IMAGINATION

Peter

[bcammack]

1. Visa Card
2. Mastercard
3. Discover Card

:)

[Anonymous]

rail clipper

nails

hammer

[jspinner]

MY TOP 3 plus one are:

1 MONEY

2. Walthers & MicroMark latest catalogs.

3. Kato, Atlas, BLI, P2K, and Athearn models.

4. More MONEY.

[Supermicha]

1. A 0.5 mm Drill
2. A tweezer
3. A Xacto Knife

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mstein

3 must-have modeling tools
Books, Internet, Cash.

I see someone is thinking!!!!!!!!! [(-D][(-D] ROFL [(-D][(-D]

[CP5415]

Wits, intelligence & most important PATIENCE!!!!!

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Needlenose pliers [:)][:)] My favorite tool [:)]

Screwdriver

Hobby Knife

Drills

Light

PATIENCE

[IRONROOSTER]

In no particular order:
Flat sided toothpicks.
Optivisor.
Xacto knife and assorted blades.
Pin vise and assorted bits.
Assorted files and emery board.
Tweezers - needle nose and bent nose.
Desk light.
NASG gauge and Kadee coupler height gauge.
small diet scale
set of small scewdrivers.

Well, that's more than three. These are my essentials, but of course there are more that are helpful. I think my second hobby is collecting tools[:D][:D]

Enjoy
Paul