SPA Modeler

Medicman71 wrote:I use super glue on cuts all the time! That's what they use in the ER for certain cuts that won't take stitches or staples well.

As do I. I just make sure I don't use either accelerator or acetone at the same time

My wife still cringes when I use it. I like to point out that it's much more sanitary than the "rub grease in it and wrap it in electrical tape" approach I used to use when busting knuckles on on an old small block Chevy!

Razor saws, Micro mesh pads, various exacto blades, such as #11, 21, and 18. Tamiya tape.

JimD wrote:Accelerator?? Super glue? I've got a story.

I was trying to Jerry-rig something that broke a few months back...in the process of moving...just a quick hold it together while I go to the store and get what I need. I had it clinched in my fist and I had dumped pretty much a whole bottle of CA on top. I didn't realize it had run down the back of my hand and my arm. I grabbed the accelerator and I was dumb and trying to unscrew the cap and I spilled it. It ran all down my hand and my arm. About 5 seconds later I was in some excruciating pain. I mean the burning was unreal. I ran to the faucet and was running it under water but that really didn't help. The burning from the reaction lasted probably an hour of just intense pain. When it did stop and I got all the glue scraped away I had huge puss filled blisters.

Oh wow!! Bet you won't do that again!

Medicman71 wrote:I use super glue on cuts all the time! That's what they use in the ER for certain cuts that won't take stitches or staples well.

Except in the ER, they use a medical grade of CA. It's formulated differently than the CA we get at hobby shops. I had gone to the ER with a slashed finger and the nurse glued me together again. When I mentioned that several people suggested I do that back at the hall; she said that the CA I would have used would have caused more damage. She went on to tell me how many construction workers come in after gluing their wounds shut that they got on the job site because they were still in bad pain and the wound looked worse than when they got it.

Some of my essential tools:

Very fine-tipped tweezers like Docs use in hospitals.
-> Small hospital scissors for use on very small decals.
-> Flexible buffing pads of extremely fine grit for smoothing out my aircraft primer basecoats
-> Solvaset (the 'nuclear option') for those extremely difficult decals.
-> Mr. Surfacer 500

...and for those times I take my modeling to the Hall for St. Crispin's Irregular's Hobby Day for two days of almost uninterrupted building, there's this:



That's my tackle box I bought at Sports Chalet for holding everything I need (and more) for building models. It even has room for the tall bottles of supplies:



And there's plenty of room for everything else:

That is one, awesome, kick-butt tackle box. Nice set up.

Thanks Lyle! It has served me well, and also helped a number of other modelers who've left tools and supplies at home. I really am thrilled with this!

Here are some tools that can help modelers work on photoetch bits

Would you recommend buying a starter tool kit from Bandai - the Mr. Super set - or is it more economical and wise to buy the basics separately? I like having a small box of essentials close at hand very much. My current situation is, well, modest is the word that comes to mind. When I needed a razor saw I had one person to ask for advice, so at least now I have the forum, all of you, and I could use advice. I would rather save and buy the kind of tools that will give me long life, consistent results and feel good to use than ones that sacrifice those qualities. Thanks in advance for your knowledge and time.



Bruce / speedgraflex

Not essential, but useful....

Polish... yes it's meant for metals, but it will polish your plastic to a mirror smooth surface prior to any high gloss or NMF finishes...



and no it's not quite essential... but very useful for painting... lacquer thinner. And the real trick is to have an airtight useful container. The can from the hardware store is great, but not useful. So now I am trying this little Patron bottle, with good old fashioned cork plug... don't worry, no Patron was harmed here... I already cleared the bottle to make sure of that...