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SPOOK'S TOP 10

Every modeler has their favorite tools and secret weapons. These are ten tools or products that I have come to rely heavily on and would recommend to my friends.

No. 1 - "Xacto" Style #11 Knife and Spare Blades

Get whatever style handle you like. The important thing here is to purchase blades in bulk. Have enough on hand so that you won't be stingy to yourself when it comes to replacing dull blades. You can stretch blade life out by having more than one knife handle and "demoting" a dull blade to the sort of work that doesn't require a razor sharp edge such as scraping or gouging with it. I prefer a thin round handle with a hex nut on the end to keep it from rolling off the table.

No. 2 - Xuron Sprue Cutters

Spend the extra money for Xuron brand. They're worth it. If you only use them on plastic (no metal, wire, etc.) they'll last almost forever. I use mine to get the part off the sprue tree, leaving the sprue gate on the part. I then come back with a pair of "God Hands" precision cutters and/or a micro chisel to remove the gate. I find that high quality tools create a superior result while also allowing me to work faster.

No. 3 - Tamiya Extra Thin Cement

This cement is a solvent that chemically melts two pieces of plastic together, forming a very strong joint that is easy to clean up for painting. It easily flows into seams via capillary action. It's my favorite cement and is sold in a nice heavy bottle with a cap that has a built in brush applicator. The brush can be extended to reach the bottom of the bottle as the cement level grows lower. Once you have the bottle, you can replenish it with Tamiya Airbrush Cleaner, which is the same solvent, sold in a larger bottle, for less money.

No. 4 - Aves Apoxie Sculpt

This two part epoxy putty is the best seam filling solution I've found. It doesn't shrink, can be smooth with water, has a long working time, and requires no sanding. It can be used for many other things including fabricating and sculpting custom parts. A small package will last a decade. I thew away all my other putties and gap filling glues after discovering AAS.

No. 5 - Flexi Grit Sanding Sticks

I prefer the traditional "fingernail emory board" shape from either the Flexi Grit or Squadron brands.

No. 6 - Micro Mesh Polishing Pads

A number of companies make knockoffs. I've only used the Micro Mesh brand as I've found their price to be the same or lower than the competition's. These are a must have for canopies and clear parts.

No. 7 - Iwata Eclipse HP-CS Dual Action Airbrush

I have 5 airbrushes and each has a specific use. This is a luxury, not a necessity. I could easily get buy with just one good brush and my Iwata HP-CS can do everything the other brushes can do, and do it just as well. It's reasonably priced, very high quality, easy to get parts for, and will outlast me.

https://www.amazon.com/Iwata-Medea-Eclipse-Action-Airbrush-Gravity/dp/B000BQKFAI

No. 8 - Paasche Spray Booth 30x16

It's big, it's heavy, and it's powerful. I've had mine for about 10 years and love it. Being metal, it's impervious to solvents and it's magnetic. You can stick things all over it - inside and out. This is a detail nobody talks about and I didn't realize how important it would become to me. I wouldn't want a plastic booth after this one. These aren't cheap; I paid about $300 for mine (new) and they're over $600 now! I consider it a buy-once, buy-for-life investment.

https://www.amazon.com/Paasche-HSSB-22-16-Hobby-22-Inch-18-Inch/dp/B07XMLZB6Q

No. 9 - Laboratory Wash Bottles

I keep my thinners in these. I can grab them with one hand and get a very controlled and precise amount of thinner into my airbrush or mixing cup. No caps to fumble with or forget to put back on. They fit perfectly in the magnetic toolbox cup holders sold by Harbor Freight.

https://www.amazon.com/Eisco-Labs-250mL-Polyethylene-Bottle/dp/B01G7MSGFA

No. 10 - Mission Models Micro Chisel

I use this tool in combination with my God Hands sprue cutters to clean up sprue gates. The precision of the chisel and the control it gives me allows me to do little to no sanding of the part. If I lost this chisel, I'd immediately buy another.

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Chisel-MIO009-Mission-Models/dp/B01NBEPJJR

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Ward Carroll - USN F-14 RIO