Simple question, what is one product/tool/etc that you spent under $50 on that you think every modeler should have?
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
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If I were to go with one thing...it would be an Optivisor. I use it constantly on projects. A close 2nd would be task lighting.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
NMRA guage. Dan
Edited in: I hand lay my own switches. That tool is indispensible for that. But helpful for other things too. And... I can't find mine lately!
For much less than $50.00 you can buy a bottle of Citadel Brown Wash, Vallejo Thinner for acrylic paints, and import a bottle of Daco Strong decal setting solution.
Three bottles of skill, you just cannot beat that.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
While not "entirely" free, but the software is, I nominate JMRI and Decoder Pro.
The only cost is in whatever interface you choose between your layout or programming track.
In the ever-complex world of programming and getting the most utilization of all the "Bells & Whistles" of everything DCC I know I'd be lost without the graphic interface and reliability of JMRI. I'm just now getting into detection, signaling and route control and JMRI has that well covered, too!
I have made cash contributions to their efforts over the years. Money well spent!
Cheers, Ed
Great topic and hard to limit to one. Nonetheless, my vote is tweezers! They are invaluable for removing unwanted things from the layout.
Dinner for my wife. This allows me to spend more time in my train room.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
My dremel Stylus, paid less than $20 and liked it so much I bought a backup.
As someone said its hard to limit to one.
As Tom said the optivisor. I couldn't get by without mine.
Kasskaboose said tweezers, a must-have tool as I own many. The spring loaded one has its purpose but I don't use those on tiny parts anymore as I hate when they fly across the room and you can't find it
Mine is the Chopper ll. Irreplaceable and I use it all the time because it saves so much time.
P.S. That was a good one Chuck
TF
My sprue nippers, greatest investment I ever made!
Don't need any optivisor!!
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
dti406 Don't need any optivisor!!
dti406Don't need any optivisor!! Rick Jesionowski
Maybe, Rick...but start savin' up for one anyway.
Well, I have to agree with all of the above. My locomotive cradle gets used a lot... And not just for my locos. A must in my case.
Simon
My LED headlamp, which I use more often than not when working at my work table (desk).
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
My CAD software. I bought the original in 1985 and several upgrades over the years. The last upgrade was $49.95 back in 2018, DesignCAD-18. The original was a whopping $12 in 1985, Pro Design I.Kitbashing my roundhouse.Making a brass chassis for my Cab Forwards.
I use it for everything. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I certainly agree with ALL of the above, especially the Optivisor. But I would like to add the Badger battery powered paint mixer. I'm on my second one, and as I recall they are about $10 or so.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
The NMRA standards gauge, the NWSL Chopper, the Kadee coupler height device, Optivisor or similar vision aids, the Bowser foam work cradle. All good nominees. I'd add the X-Acto tool set that my folks got for me well over 50 years ago: a little carousel that holds a nice variety of essential and good quality tools. And hot wire tools for working with foam.
But just to be different I'll name the Truck-Tuner. It really is amazing how long it took the hobby to have that simple tool, given how long-standing is the problem that it addresses.
Dave Nelson
Marriage licence back in 1976. She allows me to have the hobby and never complains about it.
Southgate 2NMRA guage.
Track fiddlerThe Chopper.
dti406Sprue nippers.
mobilman44Badger battery powered paint mixer.
dknelsonKadee coupler height device.
dti406Don't need any optivisor!!
I don't use one either. My eye doctor prescribed me a special pair of glasses with high magnification that I can focus on items about 6-8 inches away.
These are amazing. And to think of it, they were just $44.00 to have. That might be my best under 50 dollar item.
As only three items (three locomotives) cost more than $50 and everything else on my layout didn't, where do I start?
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
NorthBritAs only three items (three locomotives) cost more than $50 and everything else on my layout didn't, where do I start?
Trainman440What is one product/tool/etc that you spent under $50 on that you think every modeler should have?
Good point David, the OP said item, but all we are talking about is tools.
I might need to change my answer to my Athearn Trainmaster! I get more enjoyment from this old beaten workhorse than from anything else.
Hello
HO ReRailer:
I went for many years without one of these, could always pop HO cars onto the track just by feel with my fingertips. Just bought one of these a few months ago. Boy, does it make it easier to put an articulated locomotive onto the track.
Other stuff, HO Standards Gauge, Scale Ruler, Optivisor, Tweezers, I have had all that stuff since before a lot of you were born.
Doug
Doug the TrainmanHO ReRailer. I went for many years without one of these, could always pop HO cars onto the track just by feel with my fingertips. Just bought one of these a few months ago. Boy, does it make it easier to put an articulated locomotive onto the track.
100% agree. I never had one for decades. One was included in my first set of HO scale Unitrack I bought about three years ago.
What an amzing tool! Everyone should have one. It makes life much easier.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
trwroute Dinner for my wife. This allows me to spend more time in my train room.
Rich
Alton Junction
tstage If I were to go with one thing...it would be an Optivisor.
If I were to go with one thing...it would be an Optivisor.
A bright work bench light.
Absolutely!
I miss my workbench.
Sorry, can't pick just one:
Micro-Mark Coupler Gauge - Far superior to the Kadee couple height gauge. Either the coupler fits between the bars or it doesn't. No moving parts, you can drop it and not damage it, your cars/locos don't couple up to it, etc. And it's just $11.
Micro-Mark Spring Grabber - The best darn knuckle and truck spring applicator in the hobby. Way better than anything Kadee makes. It's all-metal and the ball knob on the end that grabs the spring is a solid piece. It's just $9.
Flex-I-File Touch-N-Flow Glue Applicator System - This has changed how I build models and the results are superb. Before, I was never a big user of super-thin liquid glue; it just didn't hold well compared to the thicker glues I was used to, and getting it to flow where I wanted and not all over the model was a challenge. The Touch-N-Flow is a glass tube with a blunt metal needle tip; you attach a plastic squeeze bottle to the glass, suck up the glue, detach the bottle, then you apply the glue to the model with it's ultra fine tip. I have built a number of Red Caboose, InterMountain, and Branchline-level high-end kits with this system, and it works like a charm. I have vastly reduced the gluing errors I made with the thicker glues. And it is $22 with the applicator, squeeze bottle, and a bottle of liquid cement included.Microbrushes - The disposable brushes are available in regular, fine, and ultrafine. A pack of 25 brushes are just $6.Sanding Sticks - Available in multiple grits, a 5-grit package with three sticks each are just $5.