| |
| CLICK HERE FOR INDEX PAGE |
| |
| MODEL MAKING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT - 1 |
| V. Ryan © 2008 |
| |
 |
|
A craft knife and cutting mat are essential model
making tools. They can be used to cut model making foam boards as well as
paper and card. A craft knife should always be used with a steel ruler
when cutting straight lines, ensuring that hands and fingers are kept
behind the cutting edge. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
A model maker will inevitably need a selection of
scissors to cut shapes. Scissors have the relative advantage of being
comparatively safe compared to craft knives. Left handed scissors are
useful for left handed people. |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
A hot wire cutter can be used to shape a variety of
model making foams including Styrofoam. This is a specialist model making
material easily cut and shaped by a hot wire. Styrofoam can also be cut
and shaped with hand tools although less accurately.
Most hot wire cutters have a central wire fixed between two points and a
hand held wire cutter. This is useful for free had styling and shaping. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
A small bench drill is used to drilling holes and they
are cheap to purchase. Always clamp the model making materials down whilst
drilling. The usual safety rules apply to the smaller bench sized machines
as apply to full size machine drills. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Fretsaws are used when cutting lightweight materials
such as MDF, plywood, plastic materials and model making materials such as
depron and zepron. |
| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
A glue gun can be used to quickly fix materials
together. However, the glue can be very hot and so care should be taken
when using the gun. Foams tend to melt if glued with a hot glue gun. Test
a scrap piece of material first. This type of glue is best used with
harder materials. |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Glues such as UHU POR or POLY ZAP are amongst the most
suitable for foam based boards although balsa glue can be used for balsa
wood.
Glue is carefully applied to join all the parts permanently together. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| CLICK HERE FOR PRODUCT DESIGN
INDEX PAGE |
| |
| CLICK HERE FOR
GRAPHICS INDEX PAGE |
| |
| CLICK HERE FOR RESISTANT MATERIALS INDEX
PAGE |
| |