Cost-cutting Modelling Aids

[ScottBono]

Just read through all the tips and wanted to add a few I have found worthwhile and real inexpensive:

Run thru the aisles of WalMart or the store of choice in the 'cosmetics' aea and check out all those 'instruments' the ladies use on their faces - tweezers (20 types), various brushes (great for final surfacing), and also collect and experiment with your wife's (or significant other's) eye shadow 'equipment' for applying finishing touches on surfaces. I always ended up with glue splotches until I talked to my local doctor who gave me a bunch of diabetic needles w/empty syringe barrels which are incredible for application of minute points of cement. The same trip garnered me a handful of plastic surgical clamps great for...clamping...as well as handling parts without touching them. One of my all-time great 'finds' was a magnifying lamp a doctor was replacing for a new model. Of course, emory boards are good and while some guys use monofilament line for rigging and wires, ask a local doctor for a couple packs of old suture material (un used of course) in the smallest size. So much of the stuff is going to get tossed anyway due to dis-use, most professional ofices are glad to give 'samples' if you just lt them know why. I inventoried my workbench prior to writing all this and counted about 20 different items available for literally pennies - stuff for fine working, etc. It just takes imagination and some scouting.

[ScottBono]

Almost forgot, you can pick up any number of disposable scalpels (with handles) to use for super fine cutting, positioning, etc. And a handful of tongue depressers can be cut and shaped for a dozen different uses - even aas a small mixing palette for paints.

[les]

Check out the Harbor Freight website. They have all kinds of tools at good prices. Some of the things I've bought there are punches, extra hands, moto tool, small table saw and files.

[Hallogen]

Well just figured I'd add a little. I'm an Emt so I've been using needles for barrels and glue for years and I actually use blood draw and medication vials for paint storage, but some other Ideas for glue if you can't get your hands on the needles is to take a sewing needle and cut the thread ring off just at the tip of it. The resulting horseshoe void will hold just enough gleu for those small parts or hard to reach areas. Also gauze is great for helping to shape water. Soak it in diluted white glue and shape it and at your gel over it. Easier than doing it by gel layers. Also makes great cammo netting or packs if you do Armor or dioramas.