Unsung heros of modeling

[strummer]

I already am old and have an Optivisor upstairs in my shop and downstairs in the basement layout room--I couldn't model without them.

+1. I bought one 2 years ago when I picked up a bit of Z scale; now I find I use it for almost all my model work, including when I'm doing fine detailing on 0 scale...

Mark in Oregon

[peteski]

You guys lamenting the demise of Tenax 7R and Ambroid Pro-Weld make me giggle like a little girl!    There are pretty much exact-replacement cements available. If you still have an old empty bottle, you can fill it up with the replacement and you'll have a full experience of using the old stuff.

[JoeD]

CA. Eastman #910 was new and not yet heralded as the silver bullet it is when I started in the hobby. Cannot imagine modeling life without it.

I used it during Vietnam to seal up arterial wounds...and when I went on R&R in Japan and had run out of Testers squeeze glue, used some out of my med kit to finish gluing a Porche model kit together...  Stuff is amazing.

Joe

[RWCJr]

MicroTrains and Woodland Scenics. Have been in N scale since Postage Stamp train days. The arrival of both of these companies products elevated the level of my modeling so much.

[fotoflojoe]

now that i'm getting older my hero is the optivisor

Without mine, modelling in N scale - and probably HO as well - would be out of the question.


-Joe

[SandyEggoJake]

What do I miss?  Here in Cali? 

Just about everything with enough VOC solvents that allow it to actually work ... of course, most of which can still be bought in the other 49 states.

[brokemoto]

NUMERO UNO ABSOLUTE GRAND PRIZE

Life-Like Track Cleaner-I used to post that the Number One enemy of N scale power is dirt.  I have come to the conclusion that Public Enemy Number One of ALL things N scale is DIRT.  LL track cleaner cleans ANY dirt from ANYWHERE.   An award for a supporting role goes to Q-Tips.

Honourable mentions:

Squadron putty-Covers annoying seams.  I have bought from junk piles at shows several cut down passenger cars and cabooses that were actually not poorly done.  Even though the seams were neatly cut, you could see them still when paint was applied.  Squadron putty hides them nicely.  Also good for any buildings.  I use it for some of the junque buildings that I buy at shows.  (HOON-kay piles are one of the things for which I am always looking at shows)   An award for a supporting role goes to sanding sticks and dull eXacto™ blades.

Scotch™ tape-great for test fits and other temporary holds.

Fingernails-If ya' got 'em, they have all sorts of uses-scraping off things without damaging the surfaces, a screwdriver............................

Straight pins-Good for use with Testor's™ aeroplane glue as well as other glues, popping air bubbles in decal film. holding down things.

Mikro Kristall Kleer (or however they spell it)-Especially useful  for when you want to paint and letter or even simply letter the painted/undecorated versions of some of B-mann's recent offerings as the glue that they use for the glazing is so strong that you must cut out or individually masque every miniscule window.  It is much easier to cut out the window, apply lettering, apply coating, apply the Microscale Window Stuff.



Let us not forget that one tool in your box that seems to be good for almost everything:  Mine is a very small jeweller's screwdriver with a bent blade. It can, on occasion, turn a screw, it pushes back rail joiners, it pokes and pushes other things, it is a good uncoupling tool, you can check if there is electric to a section of track, .....just many uses.






For those who do run a non-historic or have gotten decals for a prototype that no one sells, be aware that this is Rail Graphics' last year.  He posted a  notice that he is going out of business at the end of 2017.  I guess that he is retiring.   Get in your order now, as the notice on his website reads that he will accept no more orders after 1 December of this year.  I do hope that someone steps in to fill the void.

 I found someone who sells CNJ passenger car decals, but the sheets (both pre and post 1953) do not have RPO lettering.  It would not be hard for the pre-1953, I could get something close to the font from several sheets, but the post-1953 is unique.   Sadly, the pre-1953 does not fit onto either MT RPO.  The post-1953 does.  I wonder if Rail Graphics sells something.  I will have to ask him.






Good topic with some interesting responses..........................

[strummer]

This whole thread kinda reminds me of a discussion I started in "The Crew Lounge" in September 2015 (I looked it up  ), entitled  "Single Most Important Product Ever?".

I was referring to KD/MicroTrains products, and how the boys in Southern Oregon impacted ALL scales...of course, it then went south from there...

Mark in Oregon

[peteski]

Yup, this is one of those cyclical things.  You should have posted a link to the 2015 version.  There were also "game changer" threads which are very similar to this.  It seems that people like to compile "best of" or "favorite things" lists.

[nkalanaga]

Straight pins:  One can add "making capped stove pipes for buildings".

[coosvalley]

My unsung hero for modeling is The Railwire. I have learned so many tips just by being a member of the community. Unsanded grout, vinyl tile stone walls, benchwork tips, LED strip lighting, bearing block removal for Atlas locos, stripping Kato paint, and a whole bunch of other things.  Not to mention that it is a great exchange for hard to find items, I have found a few things I really needed, and helped a few folks find what they really needed. And of course there is the exchange of information, which can really help a modeler looking for "that exact thing"...

Stay classy Railwire!

[Cajonpassfan]

NUMERO UNO ABSOLUTE GRAND PRIZE

Life-Like Track Cleaner-I used to post that the Number One enemy of N scale power is dirt.  I have come to the conclusion that Public Enemy Number One of ALL things N scale is DIRT.  LL track cleaner cleans ANY dirt from ANYWHERE.   ...

Okay, this got my attention....what's so special about this particular magic liquid? What makes it Numero Uno? Cleaning ANY dirt from ANYWHERE (assusming no collateral damage) would indeed be worth some kind of a prize.
And since LL is no longer in business...where does one get it
Otto K.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Stay classy Railwire!

NEVER!!!

[basementcalling]

WD 40 and duct tape are sorely under represented in these comments 

[mplsjct]

Locomotive shells that snap together, particularly the window glass !!

I just dis-assembled an Arnold SW1, and, oh, how I wish it hadn't had it's windows glued in.

Headlight housings, too.