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Hello everyone, I am Ron and I am starting my very first wood model ship. I am excited as well as scared. I have a question on what tools should a beginner such as I have on hand? I have a feeling I will be reaching out to you experienced ship builders a lot.
Hi Ron, welcome to the world of model ship nuts! 😉 Have a look at this video showing the basic tool set for modelling to get you started. https://www.peco-uk.com/page.asp?id=Video006 or here http://www.scalemodelguide.com/construction/tools/tools-star... Various saws and chisels will also be needed for the woodwork! A mini plane and electric sander also save a lot of elbow grease. A good selection of abrasives, from 80 to 600 grit will also be needed to finish the wood surfaces for painting / varnishing. We'll get on to surface coatings later when you've got something to coat! Good luck, look forward to your build blog. What ship are you tackling? Cheers Doug😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
Ron I nearly forgot something vital! 😲 Clamps! Lots of 'em, various types. Pics attached of some of mine in action on the cabin roof of my Sea Scout. Large and small bulldog clips are also very useful. 4th pic shows some clamps for the bigger stuff. 5th pic some useful hand-tools, incl. both metal and wood hacksaws - indispensable 😉 6th pic is an Exacto set of scalpel / chisels. Useful for all sorts of cutting, trimming, scraping jobs. 7th pic, of course the ubiquitous mini drill and bits from 0.5mm upwards. Pic shows the box I made for the drill and speed controller, and to mount my mini table saw. In the top left corner is a mini jigsaw. Not essential but very nice to have. All three run off the same DC controller which the drill is sitting on. Last pic; set squares (various sizes) and measuring sticks! The black object is a rubber backing block for sandpaper strips. Saves the finger tips😉 Cheers Doug 😎
Attached Files - Click To View Large
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
Hi Ron - I'm a newbie to building anything and so have recently gone through this. Whilst I have a good selection of DIY tools, some of which are useful, I've had to buy a few model orientated tools. Obviously not essential but they make modelling more enjoyable and easier. For working with ply etc. I've bought:
Scroll saw - Record, very pleased with. PermaGrit sanding blocks and files - quite expensive but a joy to use. Razor saw - great for cutting out for stringers and slots etc. Selection of small files and screw drivers. Engineers squares - 50mm and 100mm. And most of the things Doug has listed!
And if you are transferring drawings to ply wood a set of French curves are useful.
... as well as set squares (30/60 & 45/45), compass and dividers. Tamiya masking and trim tape is also very good for when it comes to the painting. They give good clean sharp edges 😊 Happy shopping, time to bash the credit cards! Cheers Doug 😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
Hi - like Ron I am just getting started (again) having come back to model boats via model engineering. I built several as a teenager in the 1960’s including HMS Cossack, an E Boat and the tug Bustler,all from MAP plans and so where in the garage there is the unfinished hull of HMS Kent. As a break from constructing a 3 1/2” gauge steam locomotive I built the twin cylinder oscillating engine for the steam launch Miranda by Basil Harley (first published in 1983) so thought I had better build the launch as well. With regard to clamps I have been making use of toolmakers clamps from my workshop, as you can see in the photo of the keel and hull formers, but need to go and buy some sprung ones that are a bit less fiddly! Pictures attached are of the beginnings of the hull and the engine.
Smiffy
I've got a number of spring type clamps and Bulldog clips etc. but having read that glued joints benefit from proper clamping I bought a number from Homebase which are of a scissor type which you apply pressure to to clamp and release via a lever.
I've glued some timber bent to a curve, so under pressure and the joint is sound so happy with that. Will have to get some more!
I'd already got some G clamps etc. of different sizes but I like these scissor type.
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
Good point. Here is a picture of the clamps I nipped to B&Q to buy yesterday before the snow started. I really wanted more of the smallest size on the right but they only had one. The set of six larger ones were cheap enough but the springs are a little strong for my arthritic hands - in fact I have to use both hands to open the largest ones! The toolmakers clamps have gone back in the workshop (I am building Miranda in my study indoors as I don’t like sawdust getting on my machine tools - don’t tell the boss!) I do have a couple of the scissor type clamps that Chris mentioned but have found it too easy to put too much pressure on delicate joints and they are quite heavy so have to be supported so that there is no distortion as the glue dries. They are called “Quick-Grip Handi-Clamp” and are known as “curved bar clamps”. All the best
Smiffy
I am sure they are, but my nearest Range is either a 40 mile round trip in the car or more than 1/2 a day there and back by bus (free with the good old bus pass of course) but then a long walk to the shop. One of the hazards of living in the countryside I suppose. All the best
Smiffy
You are absolutely right Doug but it was quite late with work (getting there, down to 3 days!) the next day and couldn't be ars@d to get the photo off my camera!
But photos attached with other clamps pressed into action as well as only straight pieces of timber and not as much force required.
I picked up those one-handed clamps from the International Model Boat Show and they are good as well but I only have two.
Chris
PS Is there any way of quoting posts on this site as I haven't sussed how to do it if you can?
Smiffy - they're the ones. Agree about the bigger spring clamps, I struggle with some of the larger ones and I don't have arthritic hands! Some of that type can be a bit too strong for delicate joints as well, probably the smaller plastic G clamps would be better suited as light as well.
I have to say we are pretty spoilt with all the types of clamps etc. that are available nowadays.
Thanks Chris, entirely understand re downloading pics from camera. 😁Those blue jobs look neat, haven't seen any like that over here - yet! I have 'oodles' of the little X clamps you've also used and a few mini alu G clamps. They are virtually thrown at you at the check outs in the DIY stores here - bag of 12 for a quid or so. Wish I could get to the IMBS 🤔 Re quoting posts; "PS Is there any way of quoting posts on this site as I haven't sussed how to do it if you can?" I haven't found any more elegant way of doing than that! Copy and paste (Control+C and Control+V) and putting it in quotes in the new post. Happy clamping 😉 Looking very good so far, cheers Doug 😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
I came across those clamps by luck a few weeks ago. Had gone to Homebase (one of those large DIY/gardening/kitchens etc. superstores) with my wife for something she wanted and stumbled across them, and thinking they look useful bought a couple.
When I went back again a few days ago I virtually cleared the stock! Could do with getting a few more though because as you can see and know you can soon use them all up!
I'm really lucky with the IMBS as it's only about 20 minutes away! Been there two years in a row since getting interested in the hobby.
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
Thanks Chris, I shall just have to abandon B&Q for Homebase; I do like the 10% discount they give to the oldies like me on a Wednesday though. Every little helps as they say! All the best.
Smiffy
To you all - thankyou. I have found all your comments very useful. You can’t have too many clamps! I also am finding my Mini Wirkstation useful plus the smaller and larger cutting green mat as a base. I’ve also learnt ‘patience’ building my Wills Everard. Thanks again.
Mornin' Ron, was any of the above helpful or did we frighten you off? 😲 What ship are / were you intending to build? A Build Blog would be good, then we could help you along the way👍 Cheers Doug 😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
Thought members might like to see these Naval vessels and yachts from Ho An in Vietnam. If you go there you must visit this amazing shop. All can be shipped to anywhere in the world. I got my Vietnamese Junk from there.
Don't look like 'junk' to me 😁😁 Fabulous, but so delicate to fly home, had similar problem with a nice Mayflower model I found in Portugal. It made it home with just some minor yardarm damage, easily repaired though. Any tips for cheap flights to VN? 😉 Prices not in VN Dong please! (Might upset our more sensitive Australian members 😁😁) Cheers Doug 😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 cheers Doug Grant me the Serenity to accept things I can't change, the Courage to change things that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference!
23rd Feb 2018 01:35
