Scratch-building: Tools

One of the biggest problems with scratch-building is finding the right tools for the jobs you have. Unfortunately, there aren't many "catch-all" tools. Rather, there are several specialized tools that each have specific uses. So I think it would be helpful to list the tools I use and any tips/tricks I've found that might be useful.

• Modified Chopper
  • Cuts styrene strips to make duplicates.
  • Thicker pieces/tubes will make the arm bow outward
  • For thicker pieces, cut slightly into the piece, rotate, and repeat until you cut through.
• Miter Sander
  • From Fourmost Products, this sands styrene pieces at almost any angle you need
  • Perfect for getting the "exact" angle you want
  • Also great for shortening pieces that are a tad too long
  • When the sandpaper wears down, peel it off and use wood glue to adhere any sandpaper to the block
  • Use big black paperclips to create guides
• Miter Saw
  • From Fourmost Products, this allows you to saw larger styrene pieces at nearly any angle
  • Comes with its own saw, but will fit any Zona saw
  • Great for anything The Chopper cannot cut
  • Use big black paperclips to create guides
• Miter Cut
  • From Fourmost Products, allows cutting styrene at nearly any angle
  • Similar to The Chopper, but with more angles available
  • Uses standard razor blades
  • Use big black paperclips to create guides (see picture)
• Paper cutters
  • Extremely useful for slicing the super-thin .13mm styrene sheets that you cannot score and snap. I only use the .13 mm for making raised-panel greeblies, as the thickness is perfect for smaller scales.
  • Some paper cutters work on thin brass sheets as well.
• Also, check out my Brass & Photo-Etch page, where I talk about a few other tools you might find interesting.

Now, at some point during scratch-building, you may need to make dials or circles for your models. This is where you have to have specialty tools to form the shape perfectly. I have 2 tools in my inventory to accomplish this. However, there are several out there that work just as well.

• RP Toolz Big Punch set
  • punches go from 2mm to 4.5 mm
  • can make dials, rivets, bolt-heads, etc.
  • clear top allows you to center styrene sheets
• Olfa compass circle cutter
  • cuts from 1/4 inch to 6 inches
  • use calipers to measure the length from needle tip to blade (this gives you the radius of the circle)
  • comes with a black rubber pivot point so the needle won't mar the surface
  • comes with extra blades