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• AIRBRUSHES

• Modelling Glue General : Revell Contacta Professional is a liquid glue with a long needle applicator, which has served me brilliantly since I really got back into modelling in 1996-1998 period.  I have bought four of these in this time, and only recently (end of 2002) finished the first one!  You will need a thin piece of fuse wire, to help unclog blocks in the applicator otherwise you will be frustrated by the need to replace these glues constantly when you have only half finished them!.  For tube glue, I use Humbrol poly cement, which is still my actual favourite hobby glue

• Modelling Glue Tube Variety : I find that tube glue is often best for limited run types of kits and seems to have better adhesion for these.  I have always used Humbrol Poly Cement, which is still my favourite glue overall.  I apply it with a toothpick so I don't apply too much and have also used it to fill small gaps (but remember that glue melts plastic so be careful).

• Superglue : to attach metal and resin parts, use a fast setting and strong bonding type, I use Zap CA with a toothpick, although I find this solidifies a bit in cold weather so am having to replace annually.
  #11 blade hobby knife (Exacto, Excel) : cutting and trimming, very sharp - use slowly and with care

• Tweezers : small and handy and invest in curved and straight tweezers to ease specific jobs. I have two main tweezers (a small and large one) for various uses.

• Thinner/Brush Cleaner : Used to clean brushes after painting.  White spirits like Turpentine works the best for me, but wears out brushes.   

• Paint : I use Humbrol super enamels and have 95% of their whole range, choose the brand that suits you, but Humbrol is one of the most accessible brands to cross reference to others.  I also find that Humbrol paints have most colours whereas others (eg: Tamiya) you may need to mix paints together to say get the right RLM mix.

• Paintbrushes : You need a fairly good range of brushes ranging from finest to larger brush types

• Toothpicks : See everyday usages below - as an applicator, mixing paint and so forth

• Leftover sprues : I break up the bits of leftover sprue from the frame of a kit and keep these aside.  They are great for mixing paint, using as "stretched sprue" and so forth

• End-nippers : Used to cleanly detach parts from the sprue, you can both blunt nose and needle nose, it is probably a good idea to have one of each.  If you can only have one, I use the blunt nose ones on a much larger scale.  

• Masking Tape : Special low-tack type specifically for modelling like Tamiya - 6mm recommended, I also use 10 mm

• Putty : Using a toothpick lightly fill gaps and holes on model aircraft, there are several choices, my preferences are Tamiya or Mr.Putty from Gunze Sangyo

• Sandpaper : Wet'n'dry (so dust is not so prominent) types to smooth out join lines etc - Grits between 300 & 600

• Flat File : a couple in different 'roughage' to enable one to file down rough features.  I use a triangular and a flat version  

• Panel line Scriber (optional) : Rescribe panel lines and control surfaces to correct kit errors, or engrave raised lines

• Mask-solution (optional) : a special solution to mask off canopies like Gunze's Mr Masksol, Humbrol Masksol etc

• Clear Part adhesive (optional) : Hobby glue and super glue fogs up clear parts when you attach them to plastic, unless you are very careful.  PVA, White glue and those sorts are good alternatives for fixing clear parts, and Humbrol sell a product call "Clearfix" for this reason too.  I have always used hobby glue because it is my preference, and I manage to affix without any problems  

• Decal Setting Solutions (optional) : There are several setting solutions on the market to help with the adhesion of decals.  Decals generally go onto a gloss surface without any real need for setting solutions, but I have found that their purchase is necessary and they do aid in the adhesion, and preventing "silvering" and other effects.  There are heaps of options available from the two application Micro Set and Micro Sol solutions, to Humbrol Decalfix which you apply under and on top of the decal.  My preference is Gunze Sangyo's Mr.Mark Softer which seems to work well.  

• Varnishes (optional) : These are necessary nowadays to protect the finish of your model as well as other things like decals, and to get the right sheen on your model.  I use Testors Gloss Laquer, and Humbrol cotes for Satin and Matt finishes.

TO  DRILLING TIPS 
CASTING MATERIALS (1)

• FASTENER TIPS  
  NYLON BOLT INSERTION
  If you ever have had trouble getting nylon bolts started when attaching the wing or other major subassembly, try this. Bevel the threaded end of the bolt so it will tend to be self centering when you're trying to get it started. The easiest way to bevel the bolts
• Drill Tips
   SERVO HOLES
   When trying to install a servo in a plane, try this idea. Often, the cramped quarters doesn't leave enough room for a standard size drill. Use a standard Exacto handle with a 1/16" drill bit installed. The pilot hole can now be drilled by turning the handle and will make an acceptable hole for the servo mounting screw.
   XACTO HOLDER
   Try drilling a hole in the handle end of your small Xacto knife holder. Thread a key ring into this hole. Now you have a knife that won't roll off the work bench and has a built in hanger, as well.
   CASE HARDNER
   After cutting threads in wood with a tap (for wing hold down bolts, for example) saturate the hole with thin CA to "case harden" the threads. You will have to run the tap through one more time after the CA sets to clean up the threads. The threads will now last longer than the airframe.
  ACCESSORIES
  Hobby Hangar - U.S. importer of Minicraft Precision Power Tools and Mr.G. florescent rotor blades and supplies.
  
  GENERAL TOPICS
  A (1)
  Ausfwerks Design- A Site dedicated to the development of Quality Tools and Accesories for the scale model builder. Careful planning and thought go into each and every product we manufacture. We are model makers first, salesmen second.
  B (4)
  Badger Air-Brush Co.  Airbrushes, paints, compressors, accessories
  BENCH TOP INJECTION MOLDER  Mfr's. a small plastic injection molding machine for business or hobby use. Price $1495.00
  Black Bear Construction Company: Tools and Supplies for building timber bridges in all scales. Acrylic jigs for trestle bents, truss bridges, deck bridges and arch bridges.
  Blueridge Machinery and Tools Inc.  Lathes, milling machines, drill presses, tools for your machine shop, Emco and Unimat parts, model steam engine kits, boiler kits, how-to books and videos.
    C (1)
  Cross Hobby Tools, Inc.
  
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     D  (3)
   DGR Designs : Huddersfield W. Yorkshire, United Kingdom - Supply of used machine tools and manuals. Inlay materials, powdered metals and dyes for cold casting. Spares and manuals for Graduate wood lathe.
  DIY 4 channel DRO  : Munich, Germany - The DRO:int4 interface connects to cheap Chinese scales and, together with an old PC or Laptop, builds a flexible 4-channel DRO for a lathe or a mill. The interface is available as a kit. Shipping worldwide.
  Dremel - Products and plans for woodworking, home improvement, automotive and craft/hobby.
  Workshop features how-to's for model railroading, woodworking and more.
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   E (1)
  Expo Tools
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  F (2)
  Fastener-Express.com - Miniature hobby screws, anodized aluminum fasteners, metric socket screws, machine screws,nuts, washers, and bolts.
  Fourmost Miter Sander
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  G (3)
  Grex Airbrush Alhambra, CA
  GREX Airbrush is a provider of airbrushing products that are precision-made, innovative and high quality. Grex Airbrush carries the complete line of airbrushes, compressors, and accessories.
  Grit Stix - All-in-one sanding tool for R/C enthusiasts.
  gw-Werkzeuge Modelling Tools
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  H (4)
• Hexcrews - High-quality screws and fasteners for R/C cars and trucks. 
  Hold & Fold Photo Etch bending Tools for the EU area  : Gillingham Dorset, United Kingdom - The Small Shop EU is the exclusive distributor for the HOLD & FOLD PE bending work station in the EU area. NEW tools are now released and new design features are included. 2 inch 4 inch and 8 inch tools have been developed together with unique Cutting.
  HOn30 Home Depot Tool Tips (Everything you need to know about sharpening knives, modifying X-Acto™ knife blades and permanent handles for them, resistance soldering)
  E. Honauer, File and Tool Factory (Maker of engineer's files, precision files & needle files, Switzerland)
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  I (3)
  
  Indoor Flyer
  Inland Hobby Tools- Great tools ... Cool gadgets!
  Iwata airbrushes, compressors, and accessories
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  M (6)
  McMaster Carr (Fastening & Sealing » Socket Head Cap Screws)
  Minicraft Tools (Small precision power tools)
  Micro Fasteners - Major supplier of small nuts, bolts, and other hardware in small quantities at reasonable prices.

•   mini-lathe.com  
  Extensive information resource primarily to help new and prospective owners understand the capabilities, limitations and frustrations of 7x10 ~ 7x16 mini lathes and how to modify and fine-tune them to get results expected from much expensive 
  MiniTech Engineering and model supplies in Australia.
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  N (2)
  NEW Hold & Fold Photo Etch bending Tools for the EU area  : Gillingham Dorset, United Kingdom - The Small Shop EU is the exclusive distributor for the HOLD & FOLD PE bending work station in the EU area. NEW tools are now released and new design features are included. 2 inch 4 inch and 8 inch tools have been developed together with unique Cutting.
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  O (1)
  Online Metals - Small Quantity Specialists
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  P (3)
  Pana Vise Products - Precision vices for modeling projects, circuit board holders, and specialty OEM mounts.
  Papa John's Toolbox - Hobby tool supply house.

• Rod chuck - Hand tool to produce 4-40 threads on 1/8" rods or 2-56 threads on 3/32" rods.
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  S (3)
  Silentaire Technology
  Shop-Task - Machining made easy
  Sparmax Taipei, Taiwan Taiwanese mini air compressors, spray paints, automobiles/ vehicle/ motorcycle mirrors, computer cleaning sets, epoxy adhesives, paint repair kits supplier & manufacturer.
  Starrett Manufacturer of Precision Measuring Tools and Saw Blades Since 1880. 
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   T( 8)
  Taig Tools - The official homepage of Taig Tools, manufacturer of desktop milling machines and lathes for over 30 years
  The Cool Tool : Vienna, Austria - Homepage of the Unimat 1 power tool system, Playmat, Styro-Cut 3D, Uniturn-Mill.
  TheDetailer.net     Live Oak, Florida Ready made Washes by TheDetailer.net
  Tool Reviews from ShopNotes and Workbench Magazines
  The Small Shop EU : Bath, United Kingdom The Small Shop EU web site Hold & Fold, Brass Assist, The NUTTER, CASTaCOAT, SNOW-COAT
  TopTechTools Modeling tools
  Tork-It - Precision torque wrenches/drivers for model engine applications.
  TwinBase  Taipei, Taiwan Importer and distributor of hobby and craft materials for figure and anime modeling.
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  U (1)
  Utensili per modellismo Ponte Nelle Alpi, Veneto, Italy
  Vendita Online di attrezzatura professionale di precisione: giraviti di precisione, chiavi a brugola di piccole di mensioni, pinzette, atricoli molto apprezzati nel campo del modellismo. Acquistare attrezzatura online per riceverla comedamente a case.
    W (1)
  Wiha - High quality screw drivers and other hand tools for hobby use.
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   Bolt and Nut Dimensions
  All countries in the world except USA use millimeters (mm).   USA citizens:  To convert mm to inch, divide by 25.400.

Standard USA Bolt Shank Dimensions 
(All dimensions in units of mm unless otherwise specified.)