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Best and Worse and Least used bits of modelling kit?

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  • pjgtech
    SMF Supporters
    • Dec 2023
    • 1059
    • Peter
    • Swale Kent UK

    #1

    Best and Worse and Least used bits of modelling kit?

    1) What is your worst bit of modelling kit, eg: it or does not work, you don't like, or you should never have bought it, it was too expensive, etc?
    2) And, in a similar vein, what is the best bit of kit you have, eg: you can't live without it, it works great, its an absolute must have, it was a bargain, etc?
    3) Lastly, what is the bit of kit that you just don't use that much, or at all? It might not be that you don't like it, its just that it rarely gets used?

    For me (so far) worse is.....one of the first paint storage shelves that I bought, its thin and flimsy, wobbles all over the place, does not match any of the other storage bits I have, and it was not that cheap (relatively). Think it was an Amazon purchase.....Every time I use it, it just annoys me, Lol! 🤦‍♂️
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    My best bit of kit (so far) is a harder one, mainly cos I've bought so much recently!
    Really like my Dspiae desk vac, use it a lot..... But its probably a really basic one, my Flexifile CA applicator, with the really thin end for adding tiny bits of CA for those tiny parts. I really like it and use it a lot.
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    Least used is probably either my AK PE bender, only really used it once, or my Dspiae leccy sander, its good and I like it, and it works great, but...... I just tend to use sanding pads or sticks, as its quicker, rather than having to get out the Dspiae, choose a shaped end, put the shaped end on the main body, if there;s no sanding pad on the shaped end, put a new sanding pad on, or change a used sanding pad to a new one, etc. Its just a tiny bit of a faff, so it does not get used that much TBH.

    Honourable mentions probably go to my little Tamiya drill (kit) which, once assembled, is a useful little drill for making those tiny holes, had it for ages, use it a lot and its still on the first set of batteries (x2 AA's), and my Mastertools little leccy paint stirrer, which I use on a fairly regular basis to mix up my little paint pots, and it too is also still on its first set of batteries.
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    Last edited by pjgtech; 28 May 2025, 21:22. Reason: edit
  • Tim Marlow
    SMF Supporters
    • Apr 2018
    • 18994
    • Tim
    • Somerset UK

    #2
    1. Nothing comes to mind, but some paint sets are not great. The Lifecolour panel liner set is awful, more likely to strip paint than line it.
    2. DSPIAE sprue cutters. Superb quality, very clean cut, used for every kit and saves significant amounts of time.
    3. Minicraft mini drill. I’ve had it over thirty years and if I had to use it twice a year I’d be amazed….it probably hasn’t got fifty hours use on it. Agree ref DSPIAE sander as well. Good bit of kit, but it is a bit of a solution looking for a problem.

    Comment

    • HAWKERHUNTER
      SMF Supporters
      • Feb 2012
      • 1783
      • Steve
      • Halifax, West Yorks.

      #3
      Best bit of kit on my bench is a glass jar. After spending hours looking for tools like scalples, tweezers, files etc that I had just put down on the work bench and I cant see because they are right in front of my nose I put a glass jar on the bench that I automatically place these items in as I am modeling. Hey presto, nothing gets lost and many hours saved. Joking apart, after modeling for years without one, two years ago I bought a set of sprue cutters. I dont know the make I just know that I wonder how I ever managed without them. As regards bad or useless kit, I dont have any. Every thing on my bench gets used.
      Steve

      Comment

      • colin m
        Moderator
        • Dec 2008
        • 8855
        • Colin
        • Stafford, UK

        #4
        I have a shallow, small cardboard box. All the tiny bits, recently cut from the sprue, or painted go in there. And so far it works, I haven't lost anything. Time saved from crawling around on the carpet, I don't know but probably 'years'.

        Comment

        • PaulTRose
          • Jun 2013
          • 6663
          • Paul
          • Tattooine

          #5
          Best bit of kit?.......a decent knife.....and change the blade often ......i got one from somewhere thats got a rubbery grippy contoured handle

          also some decent sanding sticks......makes sanding dead easy
          Per Ardua

          We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no ones been

          Comment

          • Geoffers
            SMF Supporters
            • Jan 2017
            • 1820
            • Geoff
            • Shropshire

            #6
            I’ve got lots of things I have aquired over the years but these sprang immediately to mind.

            Pointless purchase: leather hole punch which I bought for creating round bits of masking. I’ve hardly used it as it doesn’t work well with thin material
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            Most used: my Swann-Morton scalpel handles which I purchased when I first started modelling again, lots of other tools have come and gone but these are still going strong 💪.
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            Most useful: similar to Steve but instead of a jar I use this tray to keep all my go to bits and bobs handy. It only costs a couple of quid but is really useful.
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            Geoff.

            Comment

            • minitnkr
              SMF Supporters
              • Apr 2018
              • 7614
              • Paul
              • Dayton, OH USA

              #7
              1. Adjustable jig for squaring up building kits. I just use 'found' machined metal blocks.
              2. Razor saw.
              3. "3rd Hand", had to have for block & tackle work on 'Tiger Recovery' dio.

              Comment

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