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 Posted - January 01 2010 : 9:03:15 PM
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Hi guys
With the kitbashing contest underway, I've noticed there's some things i could use in my toolkit that I don't have like a wormhole to ray's place in Arizona! 
Anyway, I looked at the list in the chapter on tools in the book I recently mentioned:
The HO Model Railroading Handbook.
It recommends a BASIC kit of:
Pointed Tweezers
Small SLOT screwdriver
Small phillips
Flush-cut diagonal cutters
scissors
paper clips
Hobby knife handle and extra no.11 blades
X-Acto No.5 Hobby-knife handle
X-Acto No.235 razor-saw blades
It further recommends as Special Plastic Working tools:
12" Steel rule or straightedge
draftsmans plastic triangle (full size, not the Math kit type)
Medium cut large flat-Mill file
bench vise wih adjustable head as a Panavise
Liquid and tube cement for plastics
tube of patching automobile body putty
Suggestions-Addendums:
Pin Vise and drill bits-Ray
Sandpaper (60 grit to 1200 grit. (mostly 400 and 600 for bodywork)-Ray
Dental Pics-Mike
HO Scale ruler (Steel)-Shaygetz
Small nicholsan Files (Sizes/types???)-Shaygetz
Well thats it.
Suggestions, additions...
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
Edited by - romcat on January 02 2010 4:19:55 PM
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 9:49:47 PM
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If I can't find one of those blasted razor saws soon, I may not be able to finish my entry.
    
- Matt -
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 9:51:23 PM
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Don't forget an assortment of sand paper.
an assortment of drill bits and a pin vise.
band-aids
I'm sure there are a few more but getting familiar with these basic tools will enable you to build a nice model.
Elaborate tolls aren't always needed.
Ray
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 10:00:03 PM
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I substituted a hacksaw for a razor saw for years.
Ray
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 10:01:51 PM
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I figured a hacksaw would be too sloppy on a plastic shell. I'll give it a go then, thanks Ray!
- Matt -
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 10:03:16 PM
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hey Ray:
Just plain old sandpaper, what grades would you recomend/ Funny they wern't on that list.... do you use any of the "nailfile" style sandpaper pieces?
I'm with you on the Pin-Vise. I bought a "Yankee-Drill" which is basically a "push/rotate" pin vise....
Any other ideas? What about one of the small X-Acto Miter boxses?
-Gareth
PS: I'm late too on the project, awaiting some detail parts.... also have to loo into decals. I may be talking to GIC about a postponement for a couple of weeks! We'll see. I imagine he'll want a consensus from the entrants...
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
Edited by - romcat on January 01 2010 10:04:39 PM
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 10:20:04 PM
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Yeah wouldn't a hacksaw leave too large a kerf? I guess it depends on the thickness of the blade and the pitch of the tooth? I have that right don't I?
-G.
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 10:32:59 PM
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The grit of sand paper depends on what your doingI have anywhere from 60 grit to 1200 grit. I mostly use 400 and 600 for bodyworking models though.
The fingernail boards are a good thing to have.
The thickness of the saw blade is something you have to consider, even with the razor saw.
Ray
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Posted - January 01 2010 : 11:37:00 PM
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I got dental picks, filament light, brass and steel brushes from an army surplus store.
Mike
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 12:26:21 AM
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Drop the vise, never found a use for them---unless you're Ray, he prolly remotors them and, with a little filing, shoehorns 'em into a Roundhouse shay as a working air pump...
Scale ruler, in steel...
A good set of small Nicholson files...best $26 I ever spent...
Ambroid's Pro-Weld and Loc-Tite Super Glue Ultra Gel...
Paper clips.....Whaaaa???
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 07:31:26 AM
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Hey SG:
The paper clip is a gauge for Kadee style coupler "hose"-track clearance
Nicholsan files. What sizes & types?
Mike:
Brass and steel brushes? Why? What are you using them for?
What dental pics and what are you using them for?
Any other ideas guys?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 08:09:20 AM
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quote:Hey SG:
The paper clip is a gauge for Kadee style coupler "hose"-track clearance
Nicholsan files. What sizes & types?
-Gareth
Originally posted by romcat-January 02 2010: 07:31:26 AM
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Weeeeeeell...how 'bout just forkin' over fer a Kadee guage?
The files come as a 6-pack at Home Depot and Lowes. It includes a flat mill file in both fine and course, flat/half-round, rat tail, square and round. They have nice wood handles and are about 6" long overall.
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 09:07:49 AM
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Hey SG:
Does this look like them?
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/HandTools/ChiselsPunchesFiles/PRD~0582860P/Nicholson%2B6-piece%2BNeedle%2BFile%2BSet.jsp#tab_page_reviews_li
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 09:14:23 AM
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| This is it>>> http://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-Piece-American-Pattern-Assortment/dp/B000TDIMB2
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 09:22:17 AM
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Thanks SG.
-G.
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 2:09:07 PM
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Thought I'd add this:
/tyco/forum/uploaded/romcat/scriber.jpg
http://www.micromark.com/PANEL-SCRIBER-FOR-PLASTIC-MODELS,7194.html
Description
Use our Panel Scriber for making realistic looking recessed panel lines on models. Other scribers just move the plastic so you get a mound on the side of the line like a plowed field. Ours actually removes a thin hair of plastic without distorting the plastic. Made of stainless steel with a knurled no-slip handle. Has scribers on both ends so it will last twice as long. Will work equally as well on half hard brass and aluminum. 1/4 inch dia. x 6 inches long.
It's available from Micro-Mark.
Sounds great for enhancing cast on piping of steamers and the like!?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 2:40:33 PM
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| ...and, as usual, priced for the working man...
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 3:07:56 PM
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Hey SG:
you'd agree though a rather useful little puppy?
Btw: i have a set (5PC) of Micro-Mark needle files, the pitch (I think I have that right?) is 50 cut per inch (Coarse) They are made from bearing steel and have a RC of 62. 3 1/2" working length It includes a rectangular, semi-circular, round, triangular and square type. I would think that a set of jewelers files in a finer cut, would be advantageous? Perhaps instaed of the Nicholsan set i should simply get a finer cut version of what I have in the set?
... Btw, SG do have a set of "Riffler" files and if so do they get much use?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 3:15:19 PM
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Don't waste your money on fancy gismos and gadgets untill you have mastered the basic hand tools.
You may use a tool like that once and it will sit in your toolbox for the rest of it's life.
The back of a hobby knife will do the same job.
quote:
Ray
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 3:19:38 PM
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Yeah but will the back of a hobby knife "pull" the material up and away or just push it aside? Thats what makes this little guy special. I 've used pics and scribes years ago and they tended to "part" material as in to either size displacing it like a wake from a Canoe.
I agree about the general tools for the most part however...
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 3:26:25 PM
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| hi gareth can you please stop using yellow to write with us mortals find it very hard to see,cheers ken
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 4:22:25 PM
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Geez, ok. I happen to like Orange and yellow!
Anyway there you go.
-G.
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 6:23:45 PM
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I have a similar tool I got from my dentist, free for the asking. He had a drawer full of them. As Ray pointed out, the back of an Xacto knife does it just as well, well enough in fact that my pick sits quietly in my toolbox, where it has for the last 25 years.
I've looked at rifflers but just haven't wanted to peel off the coin for them. I figure if, after 35 years of this, I still haven't found a need for them, that's that much more in the till for model trains. The fine jeweler's files I have stay in the case for the most part. I haven't used one of them but maybe once in the last 8 years, and that was for a quick swipe across a bearing surface. The Nicholsons move more material faster and still leave a good, smooth finish.
Out of all the tools I have, less than 10 see any kind of regular use, the rest are window dressing---there for the occasional special job. I could easily live without 95% of them.
All this was done with a pin vise, a scale ruler, small needlenose pliers and a modeling knife...
Edited by - shaygetz on January 02 2010 6:24:51 PM
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 7:10:32 PM
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Hey SG:
How much of that is fabricated from scratch...
I can see having too many luxury tools sure. On the other hand as I learned as a motorcycle mechanic back in the 80's a few specialty tools can save a lot of labour!. For example. A lot of people detail HO steamers by grinding off cast hoses etc. and then adding them back? What if for example with the right tool you can "shape" the existing detail to get a more rounded section/profile and therefore look more realistic...? You get a nice little unit without going the whole nine yards!
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
Edited by - romcat on January 02 2010 7:27:01 PM
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 7:23:05 PM
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| agree with ray and sg,but can also see where you are coming from gareth,if your tool box is empty,and you have a steady hand that tool sounds a cheap way of enhancing details,as they say one mans meat is anothers poison ken
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 7:48:02 PM
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Hey Ken:
Just went through my old model tool box and was pleasantly suprised as to what I found there... a lot of paint from my model plane days in the 80's. tweezers, 3 different x-acto knife handles plus a x-acto saw blade handle and saw, so that was great. Some modelers putty, glue, micro side-cutters,.. and a couple of jewllers files.
I'll probably get the file set shayGetz mentioned and that scribe I mentioned cause i'd like to enhance the detail on several things without having to buy and add on or replace stuff already there if poorly.
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 9:41:40 PM
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| The caboose is about 90% scratch, the loco is about 45%...the obvious things being mechanisms and brass details purchased from the LHS.
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 10:33:31 PM
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Thats the kind of work I want to get to. Particularly like the Spark Arrestor...
-G.
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 11:12:37 PM
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quote:Thats the kind of work I want to get to. Particularly like the Spark Arrestor...
-G.
Originally posted by romcat-January 02 2010: 10:33:31 PM
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That was pretty easy once I figured it out. I punched out 2 quarter inch discs with a standard paper punch from styrene sheet. Then I took the screen from a faucet aerator, squared it up and rolled it into a cylinder, making sure the ends just touch. Then I coated the discs with super gel, set the screen on it, then carefully pushed down until it set. Glued it on top of an 1/8" ID stack and that was it.
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 11:33:32 PM
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Thats improvising alright!
-G.
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 02 2010 : 11:39:10 PM
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What an ingenious way to make a spark arrestor...I bet the mesh could be used for other stuff too. I'm thinking Arby's grilles on diesel locos? 
- Matt -
Edited by - MM 1498 on January 02 2010 11:40:15 PM
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Posted - January 03 2010 : 12:28:17 AM
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I thought I would gather together some of my tools. Romcat you have started an excellent thread so that we can learn from others...
Mike
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Posted - January 03 2010 : 02:28:34 AM
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Hey Mike:
The yellow handled pliers are they circlip ones? remind me of my motorcycle mechanic days!
Glad you included the pictures!
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 03 2010 : 03:31:55 AM
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Not to change the subject of the thread. But if anyone has a overall shot of their workbench could they post it? Now that I'm in the new house I'm thinking of what I can convert into a solid work area just for trains. Something where I could leave my tools stored where I would have easy access rather than to have to store them back in a box each time. I would like to find like a older computer desk or something along those lines.
BTW Mike I have those microbrushes too. Its amazing the amount of stupid little things I've used them on when painting & weathering.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned a solder gun? Not really a kitbash tool, but extremely helpful none the less.
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Posted - January 03 2010 : 11:11:11 AM
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Mine would be disappointing...
...it's little more than a small table that folds out of the way when not in use. My tools and paints are housed in toolboxes destined for the dumpster when a resident offered them to me...
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Posted - January 03 2010 : 2:09:10 PM
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Shaygetz, how you get such great things for free I will never know! 
I think a soldering iron, precision screwdrivers, super glue, Q-tips and rubbing alcohol take care of just about everything for me. Well, maybe 80% of the time or so.
However, I've used many different types of precision screwdrivers, and I absolutely LOVE my Stanley ones. They're not magnetized, but you can't go wrong at this price:
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-66-052-6-Piece-Precision-Screwdriver/dp/B00009OYGV/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Romcat, have you never seen wire strippers before?!
- Matt -
Edited by - MM 1498 on January 03 2010 2:25:24 PM
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Posted - January 03 2010 : 2:15:56 PM
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Yup, but it looked like cir-clip pliers to me....
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 03 2010 : 2:41:38 PM
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quote:Shaygetz, how you get such great things for free I will never know!
Originally posted by MM 1498-January 03 2010: 2:09:10 PM
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LOL, careful, he might headasplode if he ever has to pay "normal money" for something. If my trademark here is stupidity and mediocre pictures, his would be never showing or mentioning something without some sort of miracle bargain pricetag... at once prideful, inspirational and maddening, it at least gives NYC a run for his money, ha ha.
I jest, all in good fun. And I can't complain too much because while I'll freely admit to overpaying for some stuff, my workbench was actually free, as was the studio shelf, and a lot of the contents were cheap.
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Posted - January 04 2010 : 11:48:30 AM
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quote:quote:Shaygetz, how you get such great things for free I will never know!
Originally posted by MM 1498-January 03 2010: 2:09:10 PM
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... at once prideful, inspirational and maddening, it at least gives NYC a run for his money, ha ha.
Originally posted by GoingInCirclez-January 03 2010: 2:41:38 PM
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Posted - January 04 2010 : 11:57:47 AM
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Found my digital vernier caliper!
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 04 2010 : 6:14:04 PM
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quote:Found my digital vernier caliper!
-Gareth
Originally posted by romcat-January 04 2010: 11:57:47 AM
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I won't say how much I paid for mine...
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Posted - January 04 2010 : 6:27:26 PM
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I have a couple old ones I was given but the digital unit was about $12 on sale in Toronto! I can live with that.
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 04 2010 : 10:22:14 PM
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| If it's any consolation, my buying prowess hasn't snagged me a Sher-Line lathe or a Mantua 2-6-6-2 Booth Kelly logger yet...sigh...my Oliver Twist "Please sir, may I have some more?" puppy dog eyes only carry me so far...
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Posted - January 04 2010 : 10:42:26 PM
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Working on a Ancient Subaru-mine for a cash and Unimat trade. Am I excited oh yeah!
Probably won't happen till the spring though.... 
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 06 2010 : 9:58:50 PM
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quote:I figured a hacksaw would be too sloppy on a plastic shell. I'll give it a go then, thanks Ray!
Originally posted by MM 1498-January 01 2010: 10:01:51 PM
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I guess I wasn't careful enough...I think I'll have to start over now. 
- Matt -
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Posted - January 06 2010 : 10:05:38 PM
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Matt:
What kind of hacksaw blade did you use? Too think, was that the problem?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - January 07 2010 : 4:14:49 PM
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quote:Matt:
What kind of hacksaw blade did you use? Too think, was that the problem?
-Gareth
Originally posted by romcat-January 06 2010: 10:05:38 PM
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I'm not even sure to be honest, it was just an unpackaged saw they had on sale for like $5. That was probably the problem right there... 
I'll try to salvage it, like they say the show must go on!
- Matt -
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Posted - January 12 2010 : 2:29:19 PM
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quote:
I'll try to salvage it, like they say the show must go on!
Originally posted by MM 1498-January 07 2010: 4:14:49 PM
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Speaking of which, my locomotive for the advanced class won't be ready in time . It won't even be started in fact. Reason? I litterly lost all the time I had to work on it due to moving to the new house. Heck for the past month I haven't even seen my stuff till I got most of it out last night. It ticks me off to a high degree because I was damn happy that GIC took the time to get the contest rolling. So much in fact I picked two projects, but I want to apologize for having to bail on the loco. BUT...I still have my advanced rolling stock entry, and with the few days left I'm going to focus on that and hopefully get what I want I'm looking for out of it.
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Posted - October 22 2010 : 11:58:40 PM
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Just thought I'd resurrect this thread in case any of the newer guys hadn't seen it!?
-GAreth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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