Tools and Materials
The average plastic model car can be constructed with simple hand tools and a few basic materials. Here are some items commonly used.
Basic
Hobby Knife - For removing model parts from the frames ("sprues"), trimming off excess plastic ("flash"), and many other applications. Common brand is X-acto knife, the #11 is most popular and useful.
Safety glasses - Protect your eyes when cutting, sanding, painting, applying any solvents.
Sand paper - For smoothing of plastic, removing excess glue, and creating a fine finish before paint. Get a range of grits (400 - 1000, or even 2000).
Fine tweezers - For holding small parts securely.
Paint brushes - For painting small car parts.
Pins - For applying small lines of glue.
Toothpicks - Useful for stirring / mixing paint.
Glue - Must have. The basic Testors Glue in the tube works well for plastic models. White glue is good for attaching canopies.
Filler - Used to fill gaps between poorly fitting parts.
Tape - Nice for test fitting parts, and masking areas while painting.
Paint and Thinner - Another must have. Get the thinner recommended by the paint manufacturer.
Upgrades
Cutting pliers - Helps remove parts from the plastic trees (sprues).
Razor saw - Also for removing parts from sprues.
CA - Cyano-acrylate glue. Useful for filling gaps; use only with safety glasses.
Airbrush or Spray Cans - Much better than paintbrushes for model car bodies. See Painting section.
Air Compressor - Used with an airbrush. Better control of air delivery, and more economical in the long run.
Paint Booth - Used to prevent excess paint from going everywhere. May have exhaust fans to direct fumes outside the building.
Turntable - A rotating table for cake decorating, which lets you paint all sides of a model very conveniently.
Dremel motor tool - For cutting and grinding plastic. Comes in handy for advanced modelers when modifying a model car, adding wear and tear, etc.
Hot-glue gun - Hot glue is used to position small parts on a piece of material, so that they can be brush-painted easily.
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