GRATEFUL LITTLE PHISH

3 minutes ago, glbarlow said:

Thanks for your comment. I exclusively use Tamiya tape, available on Amazon. Really excellent for the tight masking for our models. Multiple thin coats and smooth long brush strokes help prevent build up at the tape line. Hope that helps, main thing is to go slow, take your time, know the first model is about learning (as is my 12th for that matter) and have fun. 
 

Check Vanguard Models for your next build. @chris watton offers great, well made kits with quality materials. More importantly his plans and instructions are second to none. 

Thanks Glenn,

Provided I survive the first, I'll checknout Vanguard, though it reminds me of my index fund haha. 

. Chris

Sir,

Thanks for your work. I ordered this ship off ebay as my first build ever, but I think it's an older version of the kit as the box is red. For all I know it'll be in another language. Won't be here for about a week, sadly, but I'm getting some tools together and will look into Admiralty paints as I do like the richness of your paints. 

How do you avoid or minimize developing a paint line at the eater line where you mask?

Chris

2 hours ago, wefalck said:

As to the rotary tool: I would rather look for something with collets; they are less bulky and unless you get something really cheapo with brass collets, their concentricity is much better than that of a chuck.

 

I would also add one or two pin-vises to the list, to hold small parts, but also to hold pins for various operations and small drills.

 

Plus drills, of course. Go for HSS, rather than carbide. Carbide breaks easily when hand-drilling - they are made for drill-stands or milling machines.

 

And perhaps a small archimedean drill, the size of a pin-vise. It is more sensitive and less bulky than a rotary tool for drilling holes < 1 mm.

 

For the rotary tool you may also want a set of carbon-steel and/or diamond burrs with 2.34 mm shaft. They come at moderate prices in sets of different shape and size. As your needs develop, you can upgrade. They wear out anyway over time.

 

For the tweezers, it is better not to buy on-line - one has to check how well the points close and how stiff they are. Bad tweezers can be very frustrating. A good pair, treated well, can last for decades of modelling. My favourite pair still in daily use was bought in 1987 ...

This is great advice, thank you. My rotary tool is on the way, I may be able to return it, but I'm not entirely sure I'm at a point where I'll notice a difference with it. I'm still trying to determine whether pins are a good choice for the hull, or of clamps are better. I know my first model is a getting my feet wet project, but I'd like to know if my approach is one I will stick with. Surely that'll change over time. 

The lady Olha whose videos I watch, she uses pins all over her planks, and also seems to use filler blocks regularly. 

Anyhow, I imagine I'll discover what tools I truly need as I go. I'll look into the ones you mentioned, thanks again! 

Chris

51 minutes ago, robert952 said:

Greetings and welcome aboard.

 

If it's the first model you have built, you may want to review this thread:

 

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/13703-for-beginners-a-cautionary-tale/page/8/#comment-977787

 

The recommendation from above (short version) start small to build your skills.  (Be honest with yourself to avoid frustration down the road.)

 

As for tools it depends on the model and scale you plan to build. The list you have is a good start for basic tool kits.  You could also review some starter tool kits like this one to see what you might want to consider.  (Those kits may or may not have things you really need.)

 

You may need smaller clips and maybe larger.   

 

Tape (painter's tape) proves useful to me for test fitting and holding things in place temporarily (as with test fitting, holding things as glue cures, and of course, to help with masking off areas during the painting process. 

 

I'd suggest some type of 90 degree square (machinist square).  I'd suggest at least two to square up two faces and allow you to work on more than one frame/bulkhead.  When building plank-on-bulkhead or plank-on-frames, getting the frames set properly is critical.  Some models give you a building rig of some type.  However, I have found it a good idea to be sure you check they are square.  Look at Micromark and Model Expo for these  while shopping.  You can find different price points.  Find what your budget can stand. 

 

Tweezers!  Be sure to have a couple of different sizes with self-locking in the mix.  There's some 'kits' that have a selection of tweezers that might be a good start until you figure out which type works best for  you.  

 

As to glue/adhesives, again, a lot depends on your model, how things fit, how fast parts need to set, etc.  Also, if you plan on using photoetched parts, plastic, and different materials ,may require different types of glue.  

 

I'll leave room for others to join in with their list.  

 

As you will likely find with this thread, you will get a lot of opinions and ideas.  

 

Good luck.  Keep us posted with a build log when you start. 

 

Robert, 

Thanks for the great insight. I have definitely read that cautionary tale and understand how things can go, as with anything we do in life. I chose the lady nelson (1:64) because the look and history appelaed to me, and it seems far more manageable, relatively speaking, than a Vicory, Constitution, etc., though that goes without saying. I know I have my work cut out for me, but I'm in no hurry. I'm also not expecting it to go as planned 😅 

The tools and supplies you recommended are great, and for that I thank you. I have lots of painters tape, but will add the others to the list. 

Cheers, and thanks for taking time to answer 

Chris

Hi everybody, 

I've been sort of shopping around on Amazon for some initial tools for my first ship and I wanted to ask here. Hopefully this thread can help others as well. 

I really want to focus on getting the measurements and skill of planking down and have been watching quite a few tutorials, including the ones recommended here. I thought I'd share what I have in my cart and see of anybody thinks this is unneeded or make additional recommendations. Thanks! 

1. Masters brush cleaner

2. A set of 24 white nylon brushes, CONDA is the brand, very general set for glue and just to have something. 

3. K6 knife with no. 11 blades (100)

4. Clothespins (2", 100)

5. Digital caliper

6. 3.5" spring clips (16)

7. 2 Oz. Ball and peen hammer

8. 32 Oz. TITEBOND II glue

9. 12x18 Self healing mat

10. Rotary tool with chuck

Thanks for any help,

Chris

52 minutes ago, mtaylor said:

Welcome to MSW, Chris.  Don't forget on important thing... enjoy yourself and the model process.  

Thank you, I'm excited, and aware of the challenges ahead. Trying to figure out what essential tools and items I should get 👍 

Chris

32 minutes ago, Canute said:

Welcome aboard, from an "airdale".  And thank you for your service, Chris. 

Canute, thanks for yours as well! Cheers! 

Chris

2 hours ago, allanyed said:

A huge thank you for your service and a warm welcome to MSW.   Your comments on planking and attention to details is fantastic.  Study the tutorial here in the articles section  by David Antscherl (https://thenrg.org/resources/Documents/articles/APrimerOnPlanking.pdf) and watch the four part You Tube video by Chuck Passaro and choose which suits your needs.  Both work well and yield beautifully and accurately done planking.  As you likely have strips of wood for planking in the kit, Chuck's method is probably going to be more useful for you.    Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCWooJ1o3cM

 

Do start a build log and never be afraid to ask questions when they arise.

 

Allan

Allan,

Thanks for the kind words and support, looking forward to getting started! Also, thanks for the links, I'll be sure to check them out 👍 

Chris 

Happy 4th of July, everybody, I hope you are doing well. I'm excited to be here with you. 

Quick intro, as that is what this is for. I built quite a few models as a kid, and watched my father get very deep into his father's war books and replicated darn near every Tamiya war model in existence, so he was my early inspiration, of course. My first car was a little 32 split window Ford with flames on the hood, and I'd dabble in some war stuff and Tamiya race cars motorcycles, etc. At some point i think i had a ship model, but i vaguely remember the sails being a bit more than i could bite off and lost interest as a younger kid. Sadly, dad passed away on new years day this year after a year and a half long fight with cancer, so getting back into modeling seems like my inner self wanting to stay connected. He was an amazing man, and is greatly missed. Oddly enough, I received a very small wooden row boat model he must've made and held onto, and that'll go right on my bench along with his mug which I may use to hold clothes pins or something like that. 

For the last couple years, however, I've been looking for a new hobby. I've looked at lists of thousands, but nothing has hit. My search always includes 'the most complex' or 'the most unusual' or the most 'detail oriented' hobbies, so I hope this is the right fit for a number of reasons. (Falconry, lock picking and woodworking were on the list).

I'm coming up on 12 years in the Navy (enlisted) this December, and that tie for me really makes ships and their history so much more meaningful. I've served aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Tripoli (LHA 7), loving my time at sea, but also enjoying the glory of shore duty now as an instructor teaching the new generation my job. 

My other hobbies include keeping a sizeable plant and cactus collection, reptiles (2 burmese pythons, 1 carpet python, 1 Argentinian tegu, and 1 blue tongue skink), guitar (metal 🤘), and hiking and mountain biking. 

So far I've spent quite a bit of time watching videos on YouTube, mostly about planking as that seems to be the most critical skill, among others, to nail down 😉. I crave detail-oriented stuff, and the idea of planking to perfection and mastering that has me very excited, almost more than the rest for now. The lady who inspired me on YouTube is named Olha, I'm sure you've seen her work. Additionally, a gentleman named Tom who makes phenomenal stop motion videos, is the one who inspired my first build, which took a great deal of time to decide on, mainly because I so badly, like so many others, wanted to build a big ship first. While I have read that the bigger ships size wise can be easier to manage, the Black Pearl seemed not the best first choice. I love the pirate stuff, so hopefully I can get to a ship like that - crawl, walk, run. 

Anyhow, the first ship I actually got on ebay around midnight this morning is the HM Cutter Lady Nelson 1800, Victory Models by Euromodels & Amati, 1:64 scale. I'm very excited to get into it, acquire a new set of tools and brushes, take it slow, and learn as much as I can about what I hope is a hobby that can be fulfilling for years to come, especially after the Navy, too. 

Sorry if that was a longer intro - drink to the foam! 

Chris