13 Essential Tools For Hobby Modelling

Beginners in any form of modelling whether it be model airplanes, ships, railways or any other form usually start off by buying the model kit that has got them fired up without thinking of the tools they might need to put it all together.

So this is a list of 'must haves' for any would-be modeller who wants to get through building their first model without having to make another visit to the hardware store to buy the tool(s) they haven't got.

ADHESIVES

1. Even if your kit is supposed to be complete with adhesives it is also useful to have available both 5 and 15 minute epoxy.  The five and 15 minutes refers to the length of time it takes to go off and you will use them in different applications
Cyanoacrylates or CA as it is commonly known is also widely used in aeromodelling.  Again, this comes in different formulations so although the advice is to have some available you need to make sure it is the right formulation for your current application.

2. A general purpose Hot Glue gun and additional glue sticks will come in enormously handy, especially when outside with your model when you need a quick fix.  You can run these off your car cigarette lighter socket.

3. Loctite.  Fix those screws!  More models and modellers come unstuck (excuse the pun) due to screws coming loose than you can possibly imagine.  Even with a new RTF (ready to fly) model it is worthwhile dismantling every accessible screw and refixing it with Loctite.  But don't forget it needs to be removeable.

BASIC TOOLS

4. Some basic tools including a sharp modelling knife.  Try to find one with a renewable blade like the Xacto.  A pair of long needle-nose pliers and some small wire cutters.  These small tools cost very little and it is worth your while buying good quality.

5. Small hobby razor saw. Foam materials are playing a bigger and bigger part in model building and these are ideal for cutting foam.

6. A set-square – to ensure you are able to draw straight lines and right angles.  The old arts of technical drawing are dying out with the introduction of CAD (computer aided design), but accuracy and precision are essential whatever sort of model you are building.

7.  Two very small (size #0) screwdrivers, one Phillips (cross head) and one flat blade .  Models are small representations of real life objects so you can expect the screws that hold them together to be small as well, smaller than the screwdrivers you will find in your auto toolkit..  There is nothing more frustating than being unable to undo a screw because you dont have the right size screwdriver.

ELECTRICAL

8. Digital multimeter.  Necessary if you are going to build anything powered by electricity or radio controlled as you will need it to check the current and output of all sorts of electric motor and radio components.

9. Small (20 or 30 watt) soldering iron.  For the same reason,  you will be connecting wires and components and you can't do that without soldering.

10. Ni-cad battery charger for AA cells with 2 sets of batteries.  The RC transmitter which you either bought seperately or came with your model will almost invariably be powered by AA batteries.  You need to make sure these batteries are fully charged before you go operating your model whether it be car, boat or plane.  Two sets so that you can have one charging from the car socket while you are using the other.

MISCELLANEOUS

11. A roll of strong, good quality, parcel tape has a multitude of uses.  Again, don't skimp on the quality.  You want sticky tape to be real sticky.

12. Good quality rubber bands. #64 size.  This is for the aeromodellers where this size of band is used to secure the wings to the fuselage.  Remove and bin any rubber bands that come with your kit.  They are likely to be poor quality to keep the kit cost down (every penny helps the manufacturer's profit margin) and it is not worth the risk of putting your model in jeopardy for the sake of a few pennies.

13. A Pack of Velcro for securing the removeable items in your model. 

With these items in your toolkit then you will be well placed to deal with pretty well every eventuality as you start out in your modelling career. Naturally, your toolkit will expand as your experience, knowledge and expertise grows.