Modellings tips and answers - Modelling tools - Videos
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Don't forget to read our latest modelling tips and unboxing videos located at the bottom of the newsletter.
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This week in history
On Saturday 7th November 1885, the ceremonial 'Last Spike' was hammered into a railway sleeper of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) at Craigellachie in British Columbia. This effectively marked the completion of the CPR, a project begun in 1871 and beset with numerous setbacks including financial mismanagement and natural disasters. One of the key requirements of the CPR was to link British Columbia with the rest of Canada and the constant delays led some politicians in that province to threaten secession from Canada. In 1881 the Canadian Government gave the task of completing the project to the newly formed CPR holding company. This reset the project and the CPR was effectively completed with the 'Last Spike' ceremony in November 1885, effectively linking all of Canada by 3,000 miles of railroad. This historic event is commemorated today with a ceremonial plaque and stone monument.
Figure of the week
This week's figure of the week is the humble Santa Claus in OO gauge. If you want to add something festive to your layout just for a day or a week, this is probably the right figure to do it. Yes, we are only in November but it is unlikely we will be able to restock before Christmas, so we are telling you while it is still available.
Tools of the trade
Whatever your chosen subject or field of interest, all modellers will have a similar selection of tools as many of the tasks in assembling a model are broadly similar. Having the right tool for the right job is always useful as it saves time and ensures a more streamlined and hassle-free build process. Over time model toolboxes can accumulate all sorts of unwanted items and other detritus, so it is good to do a periodic 'spring clean' to ensure all the required items are in place before starting a new project.
When starting on a new project it's good to have a good quality cutting mat for the inevitable cutting and trimming of parts. A self-healing mat has longevity and a rotating mat allows access to all sides of the model or assembly without having to pick it up. A good quality pair of side cutters or snips are essential for safely removing parts from sprues and for the precision cutting of a wide selection of kit or layout parts. Once parts are cut, there may be tags or burrs present, so a good quality sanding stick is a must for tidying up components before assembly. Sticks that have a variety of grades offer flexibility and versatility in being able to sand a number of mediums, including wood, resin and plastic.
Moving small parts or delicate assemblies during construction can be a problem. Micro stix are disposable tools that can be extremely useful in that they have an adhesive head that can safely hold an item whilst the stick is used to position the item for final positioning. The adhesive is strong, yet forgiving and leaves behind no residue. If the placing of small and delicate parts is a regular requirement then a pair of 'Gentle Grips' can be a practical solution. The ends of the grips have small rubber sleeves ensuring a firm yet gentle grip on any component. Many components may need to be held together during assembly. There are a number of ways to achieve this and have traditionally included elastic bands and tape. Another practical option might be to use micro clamps which are lightweight but offer a strong grip and can be easily utilised again elsewhere during the project.
Whether scratch-building or working with kit parts, sometimes it is necessary to drill holes to help with the assembly. To that end, it is useful to have a compact and reliable drill that can work with precision on delicate parts and sometimes in tight quarters. No drill is complete without a set of practical bits. A number of manufacturers provide purpose-built drill bits for modellers that allow for precision works but also have the durability to work with wood, resin and plastic. When it comes to working with large assemblies or when multiple tools are required it is easy to run out of hands! A mini vice can be a useful solution that is both light and small but still durable enough to offer the required support.
Painting can be a time-consuming process, so it is always helpful to have a few tools that can offer practical assistance at this stage. A paint shaker can prove to be a great investment long term. It is far more effective and much quicker than stirring paint by hand and is able to mix a number of different mediums including enamels, acrylic and lacquer-based paints ensuring an optimal and consistent mix for any modeller. Quite often paint and thinner combinations have to be mixed to certain ratios, a syringe can be very helpful in achieving this. Inevitably many sub-assemblies may be completed prior to painting. Differing colour requirements and the need to protect clear transparencies means that painting may have to be approached in a systematic way. Liquid Mask can be easily applied to the required parts and once dry will then protect selected areas from subsequent painting. Once all painting has finally been completed the liquid mask can then be removed to reveal the required colours and tones. This can also be incredibly useful when applying certain weathering techniques such as rust.
Occasionally brushes need to be given a good clean to ensure optimal performance. 'Brush Magic' can help remove even the most stubborn of paint residues, thus helping to ensure longevity for paint brushes. Although specifically formulated for deep cleaning of brushes it is also equally at home at cleaning airbrushes. Many modelling projects may require some form of weight or ballasting to be applied. This can be a difficult task to achieve as some items will require sufficient ballast but will only offer a small space to accommodate it. 'Liquid Gravity' is ideally suited to these awkward occasions. Specially formulated to be non-toxic, 'Liquid Gravity' uses hundreds of tiny metallic beads that self-level and can fill the smallest and most awkward of cavities where ballast is required. Many tasks in model and layout assembly require items to be held, painted and magnified simultaneously, an ominous task when we only have one pair of hands! Thankfully 'Helping Hands' can offer that flexibility and lets the tool take the weight allowing the modeller to concentrate on the main task at hand.
Whatever your preferred subject matter, modelling inevitably relies on us to have a diverse selection of tools to suit the requirement at hand. Why not take inspiration and spring clean the old toolbox, out with the old and in with the new. Before your next project why not take the opportunity to remove the detritus that inevitably accumulate over time and replace them with new items or with new tools that dovetail with specific modelling needs?
When starting on a new project it's good to have a good quality cutting mat for the inevitable cutting and trimming of parts. A self-healing mat has longevity and a rotating mat allows access to all sides of the model or assembly without having to pick it up. A good quality pair of side cutters or snips are essential for safely removing parts from sprues and for the precision cutting of a wide selection of kit or layout parts. Once parts are cut, there may be tags or burrs present, so a good quality sanding stick is a must for tidying up components before assembly. Sticks that have a variety of grades offer flexibility and versatility in being able to sand a number of mediums, including wood, resin and plastic.
Moving small parts or delicate assemblies during construction can be a problem. Micro stix are disposable tools that can be extremely useful in that they have an adhesive head that can safely hold an item whilst the stick is used to position the item for final positioning. The adhesive is strong, yet forgiving and leaves behind no residue. If the placing of small and delicate parts is a regular requirement then a pair of 'Gentle Grips' can be a practical solution. The ends of the grips have small rubber sleeves ensuring a firm yet gentle grip on any component. Many components may need to be held together during assembly. There are a number of ways to achieve this and have traditionally included elastic bands and tape. Another practical option might be to use micro clamps which are lightweight but offer a strong grip and can be easily utilised again elsewhere during the project.
Whether scratch-building or working with kit parts, sometimes it is necessary to drill holes to help with the assembly. To that end, it is useful to have a compact and reliable drill that can work with precision on delicate parts and sometimes in tight quarters. No drill is complete without a set of practical bits. A number of manufacturers provide purpose-built drill bits for modellers that allow for precision works but also have the durability to work with wood, resin and plastic. When it comes to working with large assemblies or when multiple tools are required it is easy to run out of hands! A mini vice can be a useful solution that is both light and small but still durable enough to offer the required support.
Painting can be a time-consuming process, so it is always helpful to have a few tools that can offer practical assistance at this stage. A paint shaker can prove to be a great investment long term. It is far more effective and much quicker than stirring paint by hand and is able to mix a number of different mediums including enamels, acrylic and lacquer-based paints ensuring an optimal and consistent mix for any modeller. Quite often paint and thinner combinations have to be mixed to certain ratios, a syringe can be very helpful in achieving this. Inevitably many sub-assemblies may be completed prior to painting. Differing colour requirements and the need to protect clear transparencies means that painting may have to be approached in a systematic way. Liquid Mask can be easily applied to the required parts and once dry will then protect selected areas from subsequent painting. Once all painting has finally been completed the liquid mask can then be removed to reveal the required colours and tones. This can also be incredibly useful when applying certain weathering techniques such as rust.
Occasionally brushes need to be given a good clean to ensure optimal performance. 'Brush Magic' can help remove even the most stubborn of paint residues, thus helping to ensure longevity for paint brushes. Although specifically formulated for deep cleaning of brushes it is also equally at home at cleaning airbrushes. Many modelling projects may require some form of weight or ballasting to be applied. This can be a difficult task to achieve as some items will require sufficient ballast but will only offer a small space to accommodate it. 'Liquid Gravity' is ideally suited to these awkward occasions. Specially formulated to be non-toxic, 'Liquid Gravity' uses hundreds of tiny metallic beads that self-level and can fill the smallest and most awkward of cavities where ballast is required. Many tasks in model and layout assembly require items to be held, painted and magnified simultaneously, an ominous task when we only have one pair of hands! Thankfully 'Helping Hands' can offer that flexibility and lets the tool take the weight allowing the modeller to concentrate on the main task at hand.
Whatever your preferred subject matter, modelling inevitably relies on us to have a diverse selection of tools to suit the requirement at hand. Why not take inspiration and spring clean the old toolbox, out with the old and in with the new. Before your next project why not take the opportunity to remove the detritus that inevitably accumulate over time and replace them with new items or with new tools that dovetail with specific modelling needs?
Modelling tips
We keep on adding modelling tips to our website. Here are the latest ones:
- How can I make a bespoke roof for my buildings?
- What are the best adhesives to use with photo-etch parts?
- What are the differences between thin and thick Cyanoacrylate glues?
- What is the hairspray technique for painting?
- What are the advantages of photoetched parts on plastic kits?
Or re-visit these slightly older ones:
- What is an electrical relay?
- How do I strip paint from a model safely?
- Which lubricant to use on model railway locomotives?
- What is the correct spacing to use between two parallel tracks in N gauge?
- What different types of layout are there?
Unboxing videos
You want to know what is inside the boxes of modelling products? We open them for you! Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified before everyone else or simply click on this selection. Please note that videos are at the bottom of each page.
- Trumpeter KT09918 Decal Tray
- Expotools AB605 Super detail airbrush set
- Ratio 504 Station Building Kit - OO Gauge
- Expotools AB110 Face Mask Respirator
- Rubicon Models 280051 German Motorcycle R75 with sidecar in 1:56 Scale
Events and exhibitions
Do you need to order?
Send us an email or give us a call to check availability or to reserve anything, whatever scale you model in. As usual, if we do not have in stock what you are looking for, we will order it for you and you will get it fast (usually within a week if the manufacturer has it in stock). We place weekly orders with most suppliers.
Remember, you can park for free for one hour on the High Street. So no excuse not to come and visit us!
Upstairs Downstairs is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am till 4.30pm. Obviously, our website is open 24h a day and we can post to most locations, including Europe, USA and Australia.
Upstairs Downstairs
3 Pier Street
Sandown, PO36 8JR
Isle of Wight
Tel: 01983 406 616
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