Model Building Tools

[Murocflyer]

I have been slowly putting together a list of tools that I think all modelers should have when they build an airplane.

I have focused on balsa models right now because that is what I know best. Someday I will add foam tools to this list.

But I think we have put together a very excellent list of tools here. If you care to see the master list please click here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1691768

Acetone
Alcohol
Allen (Hex) Wrenches (Metric)
Allen (Hex) Wrenches (SAE)
Band Aides
CA Tips (Pipette)
CG Tool…
Clothes pins
Covering Iron
Cutting Mat
Dental floss
Dial Calipers
Dremel Tool (Cordless)
Fourmost Miter Cut
Fourmost Miter Sander
Great Planes Easy-Touch Bar Sander 11"
Great Planes Easy-Touch Hand Sander 5.5"
Great Planes Easy-Touch Sandpaper 150 Grit
Great Planes Easy-Touch Sandpaper 220 Grit
Great Planes Multi-Sander
Great Planes Pro Building Board 16x36x3/4"
Hayes Large Clamp 4"
Hayes Small Clamp 1-3/8" (2)
Heat Gun
Heat shrink tubing, multiple sizes
Hot Glue Gun
House of Balsa Upright 90 Degree Alignment Jig
Jeweler's Files
Levels, small
Masking tape various widths
Master Air Screw Balsa Stripper
Master Air Screw Razor Plane
Metal straightedge 36"
Mircobubbles or sawdust
Multimeter
Paper towels
Parchment paper
Pin Vise
Pro-Edge Speed Clamp 4"
Prop Balancer (used between two magnets)
Rubbingl Alcohol
Rulers 6' 12' and 24"
Scalpel with #23 blades
Scotch tape
Screwdriver Set
Seam binding tape (Dubro)
Small Drill Bits
Small levels
Soldering Iron or Soldering Gun
Soldering Jig
Square
Syringe
Third Hand
Thread
Toothpicks, round and flat
T-pins
Tweezers large and small
Vise
Waste basket
Watt Meter
Wire Bender
Z-Bend Pliers
Zona Berna Clamp Small
Zona Miter Box
Zona Razor Saw 42T/in


Frank

[slipstick]

Oh dear I must not be a modeller . I have less than half of those things, perhaps a few more when you look past the brand names.

Personally I've ignored the Great Planes shaping/sanding stuff and got a few Permagrit tools instead and I much prefer the #3 scalpel blade with #10 and #11 blades .

Steve

[Murocflyer]

Steve,

What are the permagrit tools that you speak of?

Thanks,

Frank

[slipstick]

http://www.permagrit.com/

I find the slant end sanding blocks and cutting disks particularly useful. They're not cheap but they last pretty much for ever.

Steve

[Murocflyer]

Originally Posted by slipstick

http://www.permagrit.com/

I find the slant end sanding blocks and cutting disks particularly useful. They're not cheap but they last pretty much for ever.

Steve

Awesome. Thanks Steve! I found dealers all over the globe: http://www.permagrit.com/dealers.php

Thanks again for the tip. I'll defintely add that to my blog.

Frank

[pd1]

Hi Frank, I use a coarser grade of sandpaper for rough shaping blocks and leading edges. I use 80 grit for those jobs.

Pins, Tee pins are nice but small dress pins are good to have too.
The smaller diameter means you can push them in longerons or ribs without the balsa splitting.

A hacksaw blade is good to have too. A few pieces of a hacksaw blade taped together will work great for stringer or spar notches.

I also have a rubber squeeze bulb( I stole from my wife's dress marking stand).
I fill it with baking soda and it works great with CA as a filler. After CA ing the baking soda you have a very hard lump, so use sparingly.

[Murocflyer]

Thanks for the inpuit Paul and speaking of T-Pns, I didn't know there were different sizes of them with different diameters until just recently. I had found a size chart but I can't put my finger on it right now.

I have also seen people use a Z-bend pliers to but a bend in them so they hold down the balsa instead of pinning it.

Frank