Tools & Paint

What you need, in order

1. Cutting: sprue cutters snip parts off cleanly; a hobby knife trims the leftover nub and mold lines; a self-healing mat protects your table.
2. Gluing: extra-thin plastic cement for most joins, plus a clear-parts or white glue for canopies and windows.
3. Cleaning up: sanding sticks or sponges in a few grits, and a little putty to fill gaps.
4. Handling: fine tweezers for small parts and decals.
5. Painting: a spray primer, acrylic paints in the colors your kit calls for, and a small set of brushes.
6. Finishing: decal setting solution, a panel line wash and weathering powders when you are ready.

Where to spend and where to save

The one tool worth buying good from the start is the sprue cutter: a sharp, flat-backed cutter saves more cleanup time than anything else. Paint and brushes can start cheap; inexpensive brushes are fine for base coats, and you can add a quality detail brush later. An airbrush is a big step up for camouflage and smooth finishes, but it is not needed for your first few kits.

For a full walkthrough of how each tool is used, read How to build your first model kit.

Safety basics

• Cut away from your fingers and replace knife blades often; a dull blade slips.
• Use spray primers and solvent-based products in a well-ventilated area, ideally outdoors.
• Keep cement, knives and paints away from young children and pets.

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