Essential Top 8 Beginners Model Tools for Scale Plastic Modelling - What you need to get started

In this video I go through the essential top 8 beginner's tools for scale plastic modelling, as well as highlighting a couple of pitfalls for you to avoid. I'll also be going over starter model kits in my next video, so be sure to subscribe and click the notification bell to see that when it comes up.

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Video Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:39 #1: Knife
1:57 #2 Side Cutters
2:38 #3 Model Cement
3:39 #4 Filler
4:26 #5 Abrasives
5:26 #6 Brushes
5:56 #7 Paints
7:07 #8 Masking Materials
7:49 Bonus: Pitfalls to avoid
9:41 Summary
11:28 Next Video
11:40 Like, Subscribe & Share

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[markstott]

Well i last made a model kit about 24 years ago but recently decided that i was going to return to the hobby. As all my old kit had been stored in my mother's garage for a couple of decades, when she decided to get rid of the garage my tools etc were binned. Yet somehow my trusty scalpel escaped, i just need new blades.
As for airbrushes, it was the first thing I've bought toolwise. I've never owned or used one before, so it's a cheap one. I know that I have a steep learning curve ahead of me but I'm looking forward to the challenge. As I'm virtually housebound these days it's not like time is tight.
In the old days my tools were my scalpel, a very small metal file, metal nail clippers like the pair in the video. Then there was Humbrol liquid glue like the Tamiya cement, a selection of about 25 Tamiya paints suitable for German armour and half a dozen brushes.
I think that was about all i had.
I have been making a wishlist on Amazon, adding to it every time i see something worthwhile on a YouTube video. I think that if I bought everything that I have seen, then I would have spent over £250. Is it sheer madness or has the modelling world changed that much in 34 years?
Either way, thanks for your video. At the very least it will stop me bankrupting myself. 😂😂😂

[nzdigital]

Excellent video! Just coming back to the hobby after 30 years away and this is exactly what I needed. Thanks.

[vaughanlockett]

A cutting mat, steel rule are useful items along with good lighting.

[ramtin-s]

I love your videos...while I definitely get your point that an airbrush is an expensive product for your first build...I did get one and my first build was already very decent because of it...therefore I couldn’t wait to start my second one!

[vxoksmt]

Great video and very useful. Thank you for your time and for sharing your wisdom.

[Flakmagnet]

Not done any modelling for close to 20 years, but have decided to get back into it now I have the space and the time. Boy have things come on since I last built a kit!
Going through this checking off the things I should probably get, and finding out what of my old stuff is still usable.
Dried up glue...yup. Rusted knife blades...yup. Paint thats well past usable...check. Have kept the tamiya pots though, for mixing.

On the plus side, I do have a nice airbrush which will do the job. Wasn;t bought for modelling....but with a .2 and .4 needle, thats good to go. Never used it on a model, but I will.

Clothes pegs seem to have been replaced by proper plastic clamps...wonder if the clamps will work as well on the washiong :)

[mrgrizzlyrides]

Superb advice and excellent video.
Nice one👍.
Neil

[accountnamewithheld]

Coming from the perspective of an accomplished warhammer hobbyist.

I don't like scalpels -- just one of those retractable knives you can get from the hardware store is fine, less likely to slice your finger open. I've still got the scar from 12 year old me with the scalpel cutting into the first joint of the knuckle -- don't do it. Get a retractable knife, it'll do just as well.

Xuron cutters are the best I've found. Don't cut stuff off the sprue with your knife. Use the knife to clean it up.

Any file set will do, get a cheap chinese set off ebay for miniatures, you don't need detailed sanding pads unless you are really anal about this stuff. With a 150 grit cheap £5 ebay set in all shapes I've done just fine and it's worked just fine on the air models i've worked on.

Acrylics work fine, and better than fine. Avoid the tamiya acrylics, they dry too fast, and you can't thin them with water. Use AK, Vallejo Model Colour, or Citadel. You can even uses washes for extra detail without needing all that oil thinning junk.

Cheers, a regular warhammer hobbyist who's built a handful of air models in the last year.

[robread-jones]

Great video. I was surprised tweezers weren't on the list though.

[mikerodent]

Thanks... all excellent. But I was shocked by one thing: the last time I made a model was about 45 years ago, and it would never have crossed my mind to have used anything but enamel. So for this first model (1/32 Revell Mosquito) I've already bought quite a lot of enamels. Perhaps you do a pros and cons for enamels/acrylics somewhere else.

[Agamemnon]

I'm surprised you've never had a use for needle files, I couldn't do without mine, working on miniatures. Sanding pads or sandpaper will never fit in all of the fine detail as well.

[julianmhall]

Hi Alex.. three questions:

Do you think products specifically for crafts / modelling are more expensive than similar products for other uses? For example I saw a video a few weeks ago where the modeller tried out files aimed at manicures and the worked just as well as model specific files.

Ref paints; you mentioned spray cans aka rattle cans. Cheaper would you say as you get a much greater volume for a similar price than in a paint pot? Good for undercoats I would think.

Do you think tool /sets/ represent good value for money compared to buying tools separately?