As part of Elfin’s Great Plan for 2011™*, I will needs some tools for making small scale models of stuffs. Will be mainly using wood really. Some metal and plastic now and then. Fraid I can’t go into details here; all too secret. Don’t want the likes of Binners and Winegums nicking my ideas, the bastids.

So, what sort of tools should I be investing in? I have a proper meaty drill, a crappy cordless one, a knackered Dremel type thing, junior hacksaw handle, hand held sander, jigsaw, mitre saw + block, the usual hammers and screwdrivers and stuff like that.

What other tools should I be considering? What things are actually useful, and what is needless tat? What secret little specialist modelmakers’ gizmos should I investigate?

Pictures are especially welcome cos I’ll never remember the names of things.

Tank Yoo! 😀

*May or may not involve the use of little round magnets.

Hot glue gun?

Models… Little magnets… hmmm…

Either HoverPants™ for Action Men or you are working on the next series of Michael Bentine’s Potty Time.

a craft knife, some p38 and some wet and dry.

I think i got a degree with that 😉

needle files

craft knife the scalpel like ones

archemedies drill

small vice

really does depend on what you are doing though

How small is small?

-tiny g clamps, and those things that are like oversize clothespegs. Oh, and normal clothespegs.

-Really really fine grade sandpaper and then spongey abrasive buffing/polishing things.

-Variety of tiny shaped scalpel blades to go in a couple of different size handles.

-My favourite is the tiny little twist drill which you just roll to and fro between your fingers, with the tiniest drill bits ever.

-Tiny needle nosed and round nosed pliers, and some lockable grabby forceps.

-A tiny vice?

Most of the above with the exception of the drill bits can be fund in yer local bargain ‘everything is a quid or two’ tool shop. Proper model shop for the drills.

Elastic bands and hair bobbles are useful too, as is really thin masking tape (tamiya, from model shop again) for holding small stuff together whilst it dries.

A decent airbrush. Loads of uses, and the perfect excuse to buy one, even if you don’t need it.

One of those magnifying glasses on bendy stalks.

An infinite number of scalpel blades.

Scalpel with various blades.
David razor plane.
Razor saw.

Ok, some great responses so far, thanks!

To clarify a bit further; making models from raw materials, not yer plastic kits type things. So, thin woods and that really. Maybe some of that thin clear plastic stuff. A bit of thin sheet metal perhaps.

‘Elfin is a basic tool’

It’s not very nice is that, is it? Even if it is true…. 😥

You might want to see if you can get a big box of patience too. 😉

Get some good eyesight and a couple of steady hands.

If don’t have a big box of patience you won’t need any other equipment!

Oh and some very small paint brushes – for glue and paint of course.