The next blog will focus on what tools I personally use. This will be a 3-part series.
Part 1: This will focus on the hobby knife, tweezers, nippers (Xuron Cutters) and a few other necessities.
The hobby knife is a very important tool that every modeler needs. A hobby knife can cut parts off a sprue, it can shave flash off a part and in the most dire of circumstances it can help position a photo-etch part. The hobby knife must be sharp at all times. Most hobby knives have a #11 blade that can be changed out. I recommend having plenty of spare #11 blades on hand. The last thing you want is to go and trim a decal and realize you have a dull blade- ripping the decal.
Tweezers are also an important tool. The main function of tweezers is to hold small parts, therefore making it easier for you to glue them onto the model. Tweezers also help when you have water slide decals that you are dipping in and out of water. They will hold the decal secure without putting your hand oils into the water. Tweezers come in many sizes, shapes and can serve a multitude of purposes. To name a few there are slanted, straight, angled and cross lock (straight and angled) tweezers.
I like to have assorted sizes and styles of tweezers on hand. They are cheap and unless they start to rust or have too much glue on them, will more than likely never need to be replaced.
Nippers, also known as sprue or photo-etch (PE) cutters are needed to successfully remove a part from the sprue or PE fret. My brand of choice is Xuron. I use the orange handled cutter for plastic sprues and the blue handled cutter for PE frets.
More to follow in future installments.....
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