Essential Top 8 Beginners Model Tools for Scale Plastic Modelling - What you need to get started

Hi Alex.. three questions:

Do you think products specifically for crafts / modelling are more expensive than similar products for other uses? For example I saw a video a few weeks ago where the modeller tried out files aimed at manicures and the worked just as well as model specific files.

Ref paints; you mentioned spray cans aka rattle cans. Cheaper would you say as you get a much greater volume for a similar price than in a paint pot? Good for undercoats I would think.

Do you think tool /sets/ represent good value for money compared to buying tools separately?

Great video and very useful. Thank you for your time and for sharing your wisdom.

Thanks... all excellent. But I was shocked by one thing: the last time I made a model was about 45 years ago, and it would never have crossed my mind to have used anything but enamel. So for this first model (1/32 Revell Mosquito) I've already bought quite a lot of enamels. Perhaps you do a pros and cons for enamels/acrylics somewhere else.

Coming from the perspective of an accomplished warhammer hobbyist.

I don't like scalpels -- just one of those retractable knives you can get from the hardware store is fine, less likely to slice your finger open. I've still got the scar from 12 year old me with the scalpel cutting into the first joint of the knuckle -- don't do it. Get a retractable knife, it'll do just as well.

Xuron cutters are the best I've found. Don't cut stuff off the sprue with your knife. Use the knife to clean it up.

Any file set will do, get a cheap chinese set off ebay for miniatures, you don't need detailed sanding pads unless you are really anal about this stuff. With a 150 grit cheap £5 ebay set in all shapes I've done just fine and it's worked just fine on the air models i've worked on.

Acrylics work fine, and better than fine. Avoid the tamiya acrylics, they dry too fast, and you can't thin them with water. Use AK, Vallejo Model Colour, or Citadel. You can even uses washes for extra detail without needing all that oil thinning junk.

Cheers, a regular warhammer hobbyist who's built a handful of air models in the last year.

I'm surprised you've never had a use for needle files, I couldn't do without mine, working on miniatures. Sanding pads or sandpaper will never fit in all of the fine detail as well.

Not done any modelling for close to 20 years, but have decided to get back into it now I have the space and the time. Boy have things come on since I last built a kit!
Going through this checking off the things I should probably get, and finding out what of my old stuff is still usable.
Dried up glue...yup. Rusted knife blades...yup. Paint thats well past usable...check. Have kept the tamiya pots though, for mixing.

On the plus side, I do have a nice airbrush which will do the job. Wasn;t bought for modelling....but with a .2 and .4 needle, thats good to go. Never used it on a model, but I will.

Clothes pegs seem to have been replaced by proper plastic clamps...wonder if the clamps will work as well on the washiong :)

Superb advice and excellent video.
Nice one👍.
Neil

Great video. I was surprised tweezers weren't on the list though.

I love your videos...while I definitely get your point that an airbrush is an expensive product for your first build...I did get one and my first build was already very decent because of it...therefore I couldn’t wait to start my second one!

Excellent video! Just coming back to the hobby after 30 years away and this is exactly what I needed. Thanks.