What are your top 3 must-have modeling tools?

[tpatrick]

All the above are great and indispensible, but one of my favorites not yet mentioned is a screw picker. That's a three-pronged device from Micro-Mark that makes it easy to pick up and insert screws where fingers don't fit.

[Anonymous]

Xuron tools--I have the rail cutter, the sprue cutter, the pliers for spiking track and the pliers for removing spikes. I have used these a lot lately as I have been doing a lot of trackwork.

[dano99a]

1- Needle Nose plyers with spring handles
2- X-acto knife (with a box of fresh blades)
3- Dremmel Tool (it's amazing where these keep coming in handy)

Those are my top 3....

NEXT...

[:)]

[andrechapelon]

Drop Pit

Wheel Lathe

200 Ton Overhead Crane

Only 3?

Rats. I could also really use a magnaflux machine.

Andre

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

I model freight cars a lot, so hee's my list for their modeling needs:

1. A solvent-cement dispensing tool. Much easier and less messier than using a bru***o put on plastic solvent.

2. A sprue nipper, and/or a #11blade with handle.

3.A small scale to make sure the cars are the proper weight.

(4) Needle file set and sandpaper-very fine.

(5) Pin vise with all small sizes of bits.

(6) NMRA guage and a Kadee coupler heith guage.

Now if you're into locomotive superdetailing and modifying (which I want to get into), you'd need some tweezer-or-needle-nose pliers to bend wire, an airbru***o repaint if necessary, a soldering gun could also be helpful, as well as a foam cradle.


And for the layout, track cutters and spikers, a set of clamps, rail cutters, and a scale ruler could be added to my (now huge) list.

I could think of plenty of other handy tools, but they're not coming to mind right now...

[Anonymous]

Precision small nut drivers in metric/inch, a must for steam guys.
Pin Vise/drills
NMRA gage
Rail cutters
Xacto
Coupler height gauge
Tap & drill set
Truck tuner tool

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by randybc2003

Only 3?
Randy

OK OK - Put down as many as you think necessary.

[EL PARRo]

1. Xacto knife: personaly, I only use #10 and #11 blades, but having a full set of blades is a good idea.

2. Rail cutters: these thing make cutting track MUCH easier.

3. A good metal (not plastic) ruler: measuring stuff is very important in model railroading, and a durable ruler will be very helpful; a calipur can be better in some instances, but costs more.

[cacole]

The 3 most-used hand tools I have, as other people have already mentioned, are an X-acto knife set, various sized tweezers, and a screwdriver set. I actually have two screwdriver sets that see almost daily use -- one is a set of six with long shafts, and the other is a set of six with very small tips. A NMRA gauge and scale ruler are other essentials. And don't forget a Dremel for sawing and drilling.

[darth9x9]

Yeah, three does sound very limiting.....
I would have to say X-acto knife, a set of jewelers screwdrivers (OK, this may count as more than one), and my dremel.

BC

[randybc2003]

Only 3?
I would have to say: X-acto knife w/ No. 11 blade, small screwdriver w/ changable tips, and tweezers. (I like mine w/ bent tips)

Close Second almost manditory with No.1 rank: Needle Nose Pliers (flat jaws), Needle files, Scale Ruller

Very, very important: Pin vice (and a collection of small drills) heavier screwdriver(s) than "Jeweler's", a good collection of paint burshes, razor saw, clamps, machine squares, soldering gun, electrical multimeter, roto-tool (small and 1/4" power drill both), air brush & of course accessories for all. A hammer, center punch, and nail set.

Mounting board, squaring blocks, and a good computer w/ drafting program and graphics output is nice too.

I'm not counting supplies like paint, glue, sandpaper, double sticky-back tape, liquid rubber, etc.

That ought to get one started.
Randy

[orsonroy]

1) a full Xacto knife set, including the razor saw and plenty of #11 blades.

2) a scale rule that includes O, HO, and N scales.

3) a push drill (not pin vise) and plenty of micro drillbits.

My #4 tool is a reverse-action tweezers (the kind that OPEN when you squeeze them). I use these four tools the most, as in virtually every model I build. All sorts of other tools are useful, but see much less use than the above basics.

[brothaslide]

EDIT - OK OK Put down as many tools as you think necessary.

I just received the latest issue of the MicroMark catalog. I wanted to find out all of your thoughts on what are some the essential tools (top 3 or more) that all model railroaders should have.

Thanks,