I'd like to propose a new sticky thread for the workshop area.
Dedicated to all those useful gadgets, tools and gizmos that you've just found and can't figure out how you managed without.
The "Why do I not already own this...?" Thread.
Just add your own finds below.
It's the miniature hoarder mentality; everything worth having (Right Now!), we already have.
You're trying to freeze that infinitesimally small moment in time it takes from this face: :o to credit card abuse.
And let's face it; most of us would not be able to stop themselves to post in this thread before throwing their moneys at the item in question, at which time one would be beyond the scope of this thread... ;D
Well, since noone else is, I'll bite.
Meet the tube cutter
Magnetic clamps for assembling 90degree angles and holding while the glue dries. Check out the website, lots of sizes. I'm imagining these with a steel base plate.
The rivet master.
Clamp handle. I found mine in Harbor Freight for about $10.00.
I normally just make up a lego form when I need to hold something at 90 degrees. I like the idea of the magnets, though, and now find myself wondering if I can magnetise lego ???
It's a dispensing bottle for Plastic Weld (dichloromethane)
But also I had a cockamamie idea of using it to sculpt insulation foam. I've never heard of anyone doing that, but if it works, it might be a neat way of making organic shapes. Fingers crossed.
Lazy rivets.
Ok, they're not rivets at all, but look good as a joining method which leaves visible marks.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4344/36449451473_41ea77e505_c.jpg)
I found this set of Spanish nail punches for € 4.75 or thereabouts, and I tried lightly punching plasticard, seen to the side washed for some visibility. The smallest punch, 0.7mm, produce a neat, small ring which looks like a recessed rivet. Fast too, although you obviously have to mark the punch locations out to space them evenly.
The bigger ones (1.5mm and 2.3 mm) could be useful to produce larger circular impressions.
which should (I have not tried it!) be curable by relieving the stresses by a warm water bath and/or the application of weights.
swiss beading/graving/graining tool is what you need:
(http://www.hyperscale.com/images/ummtoolsreview1bg_6.jpg)
Come in sets from stupidly small to >1mm
They do the same job as the syringe without any need for making stuff.
I use them with miliput or greestuff but can also be used on plain plasticard for recessed rivets.
It's all looking very professional, Fitz.
I see you also prefer the fixed, top mounted containers on your airbrushes.
Also in the category of “dumb tricks”, I’ve figured out that baking parchment is far better than waxed paper for protecting surfaces from glue. If waxed paper gets stuck to a project, it often stays stuck and pieces tear off. Baking parchment just peels right off with no problems.
I can't seem to find baking parchment, everywhere I go it's waxed paper or 'silly cone' coated non-stick baking paper! Unfortunately can't search in English where I am, where is parchment paper usually found and who uses it?
The silicone coated baking paper is what you want.
I came across these in a Stockholm game store a few weeks ago:
(http://www.adventuregaming.tsome.com/Workbench/Tools/roundsoftdrybrushes.jpg)
"Army Painter Masterclass Dry Brushes" is the rather pretentious name, but when I saw them I knew exactly how and what for I could use them.
If you do the light directional highlights, i.e up to down, I would say your best choice is a flat, stiff brut with thin bristles. Sometimes however you want to apply highlights with a circular motion, for example when dry brushing ground elements, like flagstones, and then these come in handy.
These brushes have very fine, soft hair but as they are short and set rather densely they old their shape very well. They hold just the right amount of paint and due to the fine hair does not offload streaks or blobs in wiped off properly.
I would not be surprised to learn that they originally come from the cosmetics industry. These set me back about €22 so you may find cheaper substitutes by rooting through your daughters beauty kit.
I checked out Black Magic Craft and a few other sites to get reviews on hot wire cutters before asking Santa for the Proxxon.You went through the USA source?
Just placed an order with Shifting Sands for the Guide, Angle And window/arch templates.
I really like these and I would submit that these are more rugged than makeup brushes. I'm extremely pleased with themI am not so confident on that. And these makeup brushes can be had at the Dollar Store/Pound Shop.
It's a Hungarian company called RP Toolz:
https://www.rptoolz.com/?lang=en (https://www.rptoolz.com/?lang=en)
The store I used is called Domino and is located in Belgium (which would suit Belgian I suppose lol ). Be aware though that the re-sellers are name-dropped only; no links, so you need to search for them yourself. Which is mildly annoying ::)
I paid €85,- (plus P&P) for it, which absolutely is expensive. But judging by the build quality, I reckon this one will last me a lifetime...
I remember looking at their punch sets and thinking "that is lovely and entirely too rich for my blood" at the last model expo before covid.Just looked at the website and you can find some cheaper. My circular punch I picked up in the states from Micromark for about a third of the price about ten years ago. My hex punch was a similar price from a company in Japan. I guess like all things it is worthwhile to shop around.
I visited the World Model Expo in Veldhoven (NL) earlier this summer (July) and when doing the rounds of the vendor stalls, I came across this beauty.
I came across these in a Stockholm game store a few weeks ago:
(http://www.adventuregaming.tsome.com/Workbench/Tools/roundsoftdrybrushes.jpg)
"Army Painter Masterclass Dry Brushes" is the rather pretentious name, but when I saw them I knew exactly how and what for I could use them.
If you do the light directional highlights, i.e up to down, I would say your best choice is a flat, stiff brut with thin bristles. Sometimes however you want to apply highlights with a circular motion, for example when dry brushing ground elements, like flagstones, and then these come in handy.
These brushes have very fine, soft hair but as they are short and set rather densely they old their shape very well. They hold just the right amount of paint and due to the fine hair does not offload streaks or blobs in wiped off properly.
I would not be surprised to learn that they originally come from the cosmetics industry. These set me back about €22 so you may find cheaper substitutes by rooting through your daughters beauty kit.