Hi from sunny Florida

[Engine95]

Greetings all, I'm getting back into modeling after more decades out of it than I'd like to admit. I have a few kits in line ready to build (two 1:35 Panther Ausf. D, one 1:35 Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. M, a 1:72 Challenger II, 1:35 Willys MB, and a 1:16 Model 1857 Napoleon field gun) but at this point I'm still compiling tools, paints, pigments, etc. before I start. I do need to buy a "I don't care" test piece of armor I can use to practice the techniques I've learned from hours of YouTube videos.

So let's get this party started. As a fundamentally new modeler please answer a question to help fill out my supplies list: what's the single tool, brush type, etc. that you can't do without? I'm hoping to get a variety of answers here to get me thinking about things I hadn't considered. I'll primarily build 1:35 armor but will probably delve into some 1:48 aircraft from time to time.

My current build order is going to be the Napoleon field gun (I have a good start on it but having trouble coming up with that oxidized bronze color) then the Willys MB that will go on a small diorama for the future wife because we both drive Jeep Wranglers. Next will be whatever "I don't care" practice kit I get followed by the Panthers for a diorama of I./Pz.Rgt. 4 in Nettuno, Italy.

E-95

[kiwigav]

from Sunny Nelson - New Zealand

[Engine95]

Thanks Gav, much appreciated!

[krusty69]

welcome aboard.

[Engine95]

Thanks Krusty!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Hi from almost always raining West Coast of Canada

[DRUMS01]

Hello from Ohio... To answer your question, the one thing for me would be tools for removing plastic from the sprue such as modeling side snips, good razor knives, and numerous shaped files and sanders. Oh!, another would be precision glue applicators. I would have to include an organizer for the various paints, pastels, etc. And you cannot forget quality brushes for the many different type of painting projects. We really should add a top notch air brush and paint booth too.

Wait, you said the "one" most important thing, right/ I cannot pick just one, sorry......

Ben

[Engine95]

Don't feel bad Scott, 3/4 of the year it rains daily here. And of course you don't have to deal with hurricanes either!

Thanks for the answers Ben! I do have good pair of Xuron snips and X-Acto knives. I need to stock up on sanding sticks so my fiancé doesn't keep asking where all her nail files went and I've commandeered a number of her brushes although I need to get some fine point brushes for figure painting. Airbrush and compressor with regulator and water trap are all setup and I have a plan to build a paint booth to vent out the man cave window. But what do you mean by a precision glue applicator? I'm thrilled with the Tamiya liquid glue. It's so much better than the old Testors gloop tube I had as a kid!

Paul

[Gary30]

Welcome back....from a VERY rainy North Wales, we have barely had any daylight whatsoever today, I like the sunshine, so this time of year is really depressing for me.

Good fun question, if I had to pick ONE tool to use to build an entire model, it would be my trusty Swann Morton scalpel and a No.10 blade.

Tamiya extra thin is really a God send isn't it!

[ElCapitan]

I'd have to say that Tamiya Extra Thin is my one must-have tool. So much neater than squeezing a tube onto the parts like I used to.

[Engine95]

Hi'ya Gary and Rob! You're not kidding, I still have nightmares of Testors glue fingerprint riddled canopies and glue dripping out the tube when I set it down on my desk. So Gary, do you find the surgical instrument makes that much of a difference over a good razor knife?

Paul

[Kevthemodeller]

[Gary30]

So Gary, do you find the surgical instrument makes that much of a difference over a good razor knife?

Paul

It's just what I've always used, I know it's SHARP! I do pretty much everything with it, I'm sure many on here would cringe, but I use it for cutting, trimming, seam removal, panel line scribing, etc etc etc

They're so cheap, just change the blade as soon as it dulls, just be careful, did I mention they are SHARP?!

[Grant5760]

Welcome to the forum mate. The one thing I couldn't do without is my Ultimate Sanders. They come in a variety of grits and sizes so you can get into really hard to sand spaces .

[ElCapitan]

So Gary, do you find the surgical instrument makes that much of a difference over a good razor knife?

Paul

It's just what I've always used, I know it's SHARP! I do pretty much everything with it, I'm sure many on here would cringe, but I use it for cutting, trimming, seam removal, panel line scribing, etc etc etc

They're so cheap, just change the blade as soon as it dulls, just be careful, did I mention they are SHARP?!

I use the same. I find a number 15 blade more useful though, especially for removing photo-etch parts from the fret.

[Engine95]

Howdy Kev!

Thanks Gary and Rob. It looks like Swann Morton products are available on Amazon. I may pick up a handle and some blades when my current stash of X-Acto blades runs out.

Hi Grant, I was going to pick up a bunch of Squadron sanding sticks but I'll check out the Ultimate Sanders as well.