Basic tools for modeling...

[Anonymous]

Greetings!

I am just starting to get back into model railroading after a 20+ year hiatus... I am looking for assistance as far as making sure that I have the right tools on hand to do the job. My first endeavor will be a simple layout that I can hopefully expand on in the future. (More than an oval, but less than a basement full of track...)

What are some of the tools that will come in handy as a "newbie" to the hobby?

[David_Telesha]

Basics:

jewlers screw driver set
a set of files
sprue cutters
X-acto knife
tweezers
needle nose plyers
paint brushes (small)
glues
toothpicks

[tstage]

Tom,

[#welcome] to the forum! Good to have you aboard! [:)]

Here's my list of MRRing "must haves":

Tweezers - Needle-nose and flat
Flush-cutting cutters - For cutting parts off of sprues
Xuron rail nippers - ONLY use them to cut rails!
Paint brushes - small, medium, and large; pointed and flat
Plant foam - Great for organizing your paint brushes
Paints - Polyscale (acrylic) or Floquil (enamel)
Extra paint bottles for custom mixing paint
Cyanoacrylic (CA) glue - For metal to metal, metal to wood, wood to plastic
Elmer's wood glue
Plastic adhesive (i.e. the thin and watery kind) - For gluing styrene to styrene
Small, pointed paint brush for applying plastic adhesive in tiny holes
X-acto knife
X-acto blades - #11
X-acto razor saw and miter box
Cutting mat
Scrap pieces of 1 x 4
Files - small
Pliers - small
Miniature screwdrivers - flat head and Phillips

Hmm...I'll keep working on it...

Tom

[Repairman87]

Here's my list of MRRing "must haves":

A ton of cash!

[rolleiman]

Those are all fine for building models, and I would add to it, Razor blades. Makes for better cuts in small pieces such as scale lumber.. A soldering iron (40w or better) for soldering feeder wires to the track. Don't forget the wire stripper.. To build your layout however, basic wood shop tools..

Cordless drill #1 with phillips bit and drywall screws
Cordless drill #2 with a countersink to avoid splitting the ends of the lumber (usefull but not necassary).
Power miter saw is nice to have. Doesn't have to be a sliding compound unit but the more functionality, the better.
Portable (or a regular stand alone) Table saw is also nice to have.
Jig saw for making scroll type cuts.
I also like to have a 4 inch trim saw handy.

The rest of the list will depend on what you intend to build the layout with.

Of course, if you need to justify it all to the CFO, you can use the stuff to fix things around the house [swg].

[modelmaker51]

Actually, if you are starting to build a layout, you're going to need some basic carpentry tools.

Most ppl are srewing their benchwork together these days, so a decent screw gun/drill is indespensible. A circular saw and a jig/saber saw, speed square, measuring tape, basic hand tools.

The best thing you can do is go to a local hobby shop and pick up a couple of how to books and read up. You'll find books on track planning, building benchwork, scenery, etc.

[TomDiehl]

I'm surprised that most people missed THE most basic tools:

NMRA Check Gauge for your scale/gauge.
Kadee coupler height gauge in your scale.

[IRONROOSTER]

First cover safety. Buy and use safety glasses. If you're working in the basement or garage with plug in power tools, make sure your outlets are GFCI protected. Have good lighting.

For building a layout:
1. Tthe single most useful tool is good quality 3/8" reversible variable speed drill - cordless (12v or more) is very handy but very costly . Add an assortment of drill bits and a medium (#2) phillips screwdriver bit.
2. Unless you have other needs the only other power tool you might need is a good quality portable jigsaw for cutting irregular shapes in plywood - buy this only if your layout is going to require it.
3. For cross cutting wood a simple miter box and hand saw (back saw type) combination is adequate and a lot cheaper than the miter saw.
4. Tape measure.
5. Level - small 8" torpedo level is adequate. Use this to make sure your bench work is level.

For track laying:
1. Dremel moto tool for cutting rail, drilling small holes, cleaning up rail soldered rail joints, etc.
2. For cork roadbed, an xacto knife for cutting, suraform plane tool for smoothing.
3. Soldering gun or iron for soldering rail joints and wiring.
4. Track gauge.

For model building - a lot depends on the type you are doing but the following should be handy:
1. Kadee coupler gauge.
2. NMRA gauge for ckecking wheels etc.
3. Assortment of small screwdrivers.
4. Assortment of small files.
5. Optivisor.
6. Assortment of tweezers including one needle nosed and one bent nose.
7. Xacto knife and blade assortment.
8. Emory boards and very fine sand paper.

As needed, paint brushes, glues, etc.

Enjoy
Paul

[csmith9474]

I am not at home to look at which issue, but didn't MR have an article within the last few months in regards to what basic modeling tools one might need? I have made things difficult for myself and just bought tools as I needed them. I am always buying tools still, but more of the specialty stuff such as truck tuning tools and such. I have all my basics.

[MisterBeasley]

I'm also a big fan of my Dremel tool. I'm doing a lot of coupler conversions from horn-hooks to Kadee's, so I do a lot of small-scale cutting, grinding and trimming.

To the many tools above, I'd add a wire stripper. I've also got one of those multi-headed screwdrivers that keeps the blades in the handle. It's all pretty big stuff, but it's handy to have only one big tool rather than a dozen little ones spread all over the place.

I use a small 1-inch putty knife for spreading adhesive. I use it for roadbed-to-base and track-to-roadbed. I use 2-inch foam for my base, so I've also got a hot-wire knife to cut that. I use a long awl or a bamboo skewer to punch holes through the foam for wiring.

I've also got a cheap multi-meter for checking voltages and continuitiy of circuits.

[jeffers_mz]

Some tools not yet mentioned, handy but not absolutely necessary:

1. Kreg jig. No more waiting for glued joints to dry. The set comes with a special drill bit and a clamp that allows you to drill into the face of a piece of wood at a very steep angle, leaving a screw hole with a flat "seat" for the screw head to push against, with a controlled amount of thread projecting into the adjoining piece. Place the wood, flip the clamp lever, drill a couple of holes, glue the joint, screw the joint, and keep right on working as if the glue set up instantaneausly. The square holes in the screw heads allow much more torque to be applied to the screws than slotted or phillips heads without stripping. The screws hold well enough that glue isn't necessary, leaving you with easy disassembly if needed.

2. Small compressor and pin nailer. Much less stress on benchwork already completed than a hammer, better placement, fix "uh-ohs" with a nail set, driving the pins on through the piece that needs to be changed. After decades of nailgun use, I tie back the safety on my pin nailer with a wooden wedge, making a world of difference in access and nailing effort. I use eye protection for rebounds and ricochets, and am not recommending this practice for others, make your own decision. You can use the compressor later on for your your airbrush for painting.

3. Table saw. Make your own stock for benchwork and for modeling. I bought 2x4 and 1x4 for benchwork, and ripped all my own 2x2 and 1x2. From the scraps I also ripped a bazillion board feet of various scale timber. On a good day I can rip down to 1/16th inch thickness stock, by upo to about three inches wide. The table saw fence can be adjusted in 100th's of an inch by setting the fence, making a test cut, clamping a block tight against the fence, removing the fence, adding playing card shims to the block, then resetting the fence tight to the playing cards.

Be aware, ripping generates a lot of sawdust.

4. Belt sander. Joints in the trackbed are great places for future problems. I plan the roadbed so that joints fall away from turnouts and track joints, place both pieces of roadbed, and then make long sweeps aross the joint with the belt sander, always moving and always in plane with the surface. It makes a huge difference in performance of trains across the roadbed joints.

5. Not exactly a tool, but close, a multi drawer organizer. Buy twice as many drawers as you think you'll need. Couplers, coupler boxes, coupler box screws, coupler box shims, weights, stick on paper for weights, razor blades, exacto blades, tiny bottles of testor's paint, joiners, ties, handspikes, brushes (paint), brushes (commutator), eyedroppers, this hobby is all about a myriad of tiny pieces and keeping them organized helps cut down the clutter and frustration at not being able to find what you need.

6. At least two sanding blocks, out in easy arm's reach. Besides the obvious, good for cleaning soldering irons and glue pins and squaring up cut styrene.

7. Pins from shirt packages, the ones with the round plastic balls for heads. Very handy for applying superglue. Save soup cans and mushroom jars too, they're good for mixing paint and cleaning brushes, storing brushes, making a soldering iron stand, storing #9 lead shot, etc.

8. Some alligator clips from Radio Shack will give you the third hand necessary for soldering electrical feed wires to rail joiners, and will also act as heat sinks to help prevent melted ties.

9. A Jap saw, when needed, is the only tool that will do the job. You can also use it to make various sized iterboxes for cutting scale stock to length. Having tried many of them, I prefer the Vaughn, it cuts faster, smoother, and the blades stay sharp longer than others.

[waltersrails]

swrewdriver and hammer have been my most used tools and welcome.

[Cox 47]

I have found a 9 pound sledge hammer works well for minor adjustments in N scale...Cox 47

[Anonymous]

Don't forget the BFH.

[MAbruce]

Not mentioned yet - A First Aid Kit? [;)]

[howmus]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MAbruce

Not mentioned yet - A First Aid Kit? [;)]

And don't forget a Fire Extinguisher!

[emdgp92]

My toolbox contains:

NMRA gauge
Kadee coupler gauge
plastic protractor
12" metal ruler
various sizes of small screwdrivers
full set of tiny drill bits (#62 to #80)
pin vise
scriber
xacto knives with various blades
Dremel tool
Xuron track cutter
Hemostats (both curved and straight)
Vice Grip pliers (great as a heat sink!)
Soldering tools (pencil iron and a much-larger gun)
Duct tape
locomotive oil and grease
a pencil and notepad (for jotting down ideas)

and, last but not least...

A baseball bat -- What else would you use for kitbashing? [:D]

[Billba]

[#welcome][#welcome][#welcome]
Welcome to the forums, and welcome back to the hobby!!

Several great suggestions above. I would add a scale rule. General has a metal rule, and C.T.T. has clear plastic rules.

Also, a damp sponge to keep a soldering iron or soldering gun clean.

[Medina1128]

1) Hot glue gun
2) I tossed my Philips screwdriver tip for my cordless drill and replaced it with a Torx bit to use with Torx head wood screws. They grip a lot better and they don't make that "brrrrrrrrrttt" sound that the Philips tip does when stripping out the head.

[tjsmrinfo]

also a set of detail sprue cutters. these look like tweezers with a 90 degree angle on them great for the small delicate parts'

2 sets of files instead of 1. use 1 set for plastic and the other for metal k&s engineering makes these

a dremel motor tool either cordless or corded or 2 and a replacement collet. sorry dont remember the number off hand

the issue of MR that had the tools in it recently was from 2002 or 2003

razor saws

different types of styrene

various modellers screws like #2-56 etc


tom

[ericmanke]

Something else not mentioned, matte medium. I also use drinking straws as conduits.

[Anonymous]

i buy what i need when i need it.

every tool i have has been used at least once.

some of the lists above contain great tools that i have never used or are likely i ever will. those of you who have bought "tool sets" know what i mean. for instance: i haven't used my exacto knife in the last six years; the utility knife from my carpenter belt does everything better and faster.

[Medina1128]

Here, here on the drinking straws. They make pushing wire through foam a snap. Drill the hole, push a straw into the hole and feed your wire through it. I prefer the small straws used to stir coffee or served with mixed drinks.

[Anonymous]

Man I need to check this more often... Looks like a lot of good suggestions.

Reading up is what I have been doing, and starting to buy rolling stock here and there... I already have some of the tools, just need to fine tune for the hobby.

Thanks for the help!