One use Tools

Although these tools may be useful outside their desinated uses, they were created and included with products for a specific use.

A miniature flat head screwdriver. This is the smallest example of those tools.

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I didn't bother to measure this wrench, but it does look it may be a useful sized wrench. However noticing the materials in which was formed tells me that it would stand up to much use.

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Both of these philips-screwdrivers may be useful for light work found on the hobby workbench. I keep one like the larger one in with my dremel tool to tighten my sanding disks.

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I don't use allen keys all that much, but they do seem to a poplular assemble tools found in all sorts of products. I have them in all different sizes and configurations. The allen key at the bottom is your standard make, while the silver one has a star point configuration, really making it for a specific use.

New Tools and a Small Tube of Epoxy Cement

I have been adding and or updating some of my tools, especailly tools that I use for hobby constructions. I found these precision screwdrives at a good price and I also picked up a few other screwdrivers for my bench. The item that I was most fortunate finding was a two part epoxy contained in two small tubes. I cannot tell you how many tubes of expoxy and superglue I have purchased that have hardened before I had a chance to use them up. I am building more now and that could account for my having less waste, but I am also purhasing small tubes of these adhesives when I can find them.

I will let you know what I think of these new additions once I have had a chance to try them out.

Model Train Making Process

"A 73-year-old Japanese artisan crafting model trains for decades" I am rather envious of this makers shop. It contains a lot of specialized tools and apparatus. Tools of the trade.

Built, a New Workbench

I needed more room for my hobbies and have wanted to build a new workbench for some time. The workbench features a two by four-foot workspace exclusively for my hobby work.

Phase two added space for my paints, brushes, and some tools. I would like to create a couple of cubbies for two project trays, and a few small drawers for my tools.

The third phase will add shelf and a cabinet to the lower level. The cabinet will be used to store bulk brush cleaner and plastic cement. The shelves will be used to store my raw materials and my collection of unpainted miniatures and styrene kits.

My Favorite Bending, Cutting, and Measuring Tool

This is one of my favorite tools when working on "small" projects. Although it doesn't have a cutting edge, it does help in getting a straight cut. I just make sure that one edge of the triangle is perpendicular to the bottom edge while another to the edge being cut.

I am cutting four foot squares out cardstock strips for another structuure for the village. Recently I made use this triangle when bending some cardstock pieces. It worked very well on those small angles of carstock needing a bend.

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More tools ==>

Link added 8.8.25 @ 12:07.

Carving Tools

I was reading through Alan Armitage’s booklet on Styrene Fabrication and I took note how Armitage fabricated a few scribers which he uses to scribe styrene into random boards, stone, and brick. While in a hardware store I took notice of these carving tools. They are supposed to be used on clay, putty, or wax, but with a little grinding they might perfect scribers.

HO, 1/87 Scale Details - Hand Tools B

Model citizens must have tools in order to stay productive. I believe this is most of them.

My car mechanic has a collection of large specimens of wrenchs hung on one of his walls in his garage. I have seen others that were larger then these. Who knows how these large wrenchs are used. The three wrenchs depicted here are on the rather large size, however I often thought about modeling a wrench larger then these for a scene.

HO 1/87 Scale Details - Hand Tools

I know where these parts are and now, with this illustration I know where they were sourced.

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More HO scale hand tools

Link added at 12:14 PM on 5.22.24

Miniature Stegosaurus

Fossil Excavation Kit

The miniature Stegosaurus, made from a dense plastic, stands approximately one inch tall. It came encased in a plaster egg. The package included two excavation tools that were supposed to allow you to dig through the plaster. I resorted to using a knife. I found the three Stegosaurus bones and once I cleaned the three components and I was able to snap the Stegosaurus together. The package also came with a black display stand in which the specimen snaps into. I found that a drop or two of super glue kept the miniature in place on its platform.

Mini Stegosaurus Ready for Display

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Edited text and added contextual link at 11:12 AM on 11.1.25

Why Every Workshop needs Foamcore

Adam Savage shares some of his philosophy for building in foamcore. Adam builds a box to hold and organize his medical tool collection. Interesting set of tools.

Creating Hydraulics using Styrene tubes

This is a short video describing the process of creating hydraulics using styrene tubes. Starts of explaining about the tools and the materails needed to create a hydraulic system.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Mischief and Danger that Threatens Kingdoms

For those you might want to immerse themselves in pirate myths and lore before playing the likes of Pirates of the Spanish Main or some other Whizkids pirate variant, The Pirates of the Caribbean: Mischief and Danger that Threatens Kingdoms site offers pages on the history of piracy, pirate specifics (Piece of Eight, Doubloons and the Jolly Rodger), tools of the trade (A Pirate Arsenal-Weapons-Ships), and a reference section.

There is a wealth of information here on all sorts of pirate myths and lore. The site is definitely worth a visit or two and will get you in the mood for some pirate related mischief. Arrr!

Detail Scribing and Greeble Creation Kit

I haven't decided on how I may use these tools. Whether I will use primarly for scribing or some of both. I do enjoy creating my own greeble and the templates will make it a bit easier to create more intricate pieces.

Wrenchler’s Fasteners

It is amazing how some of us are born into a calling for life. You would have ever thought that Charlie Wrenchler would be a model citizen and business owner, but with last name like that why are we so surprised?

I created a couple of signs for the structure that I had made posts back in December. I created these signs on my computer, printed them on plain copy-paper, and cut them out. I usually use a font sized at 8 or 9 points for my signs in HO gauge. For the sign on the right I used either 4 or 5 point font. I realize that by default these font sizes are not available, but they can be accessed by selecting the font size, typing in the size that you have need of and clicking enter.

Sometimes I paste these on a piece of thin cardstock. These I just pasted to the structure. You defiantly want to use glue that doesn’t dry too quickly. You will need a little time to adjust and paste the sign exactly where you want it.

The shop features fasteners of all sorts. Both standard and metric are carried. Wrenchler’s carries full line of specialty fasteners and the tools used to fasten them. You can purchase fasteners in bulk or by the package.

Take a Tour of Adam Savage's Cave!

Adam Savage is a special effects designer that I receive a lot of inspiration from. Take a virtual tour of his workshop. Savage takes you around his shop and shows you his extensive collection of tools and memorabilia. The 17 minute video is worth the watch.

Gonff’s Escape Song

After having the necessary tools smuggled into the prison, Gonff played his flute and sang another of his improvised songs:

“Pickalock, pickalock, you’ll regret the day,
When you took a mousethief and locked him away.
Sillycat, look at that, its two for one.
The thief and the warrior,
By dawn will be gone.”

(Mossflower, 50)

(It is fortunate that none of guards heard Gonff’s song.)

It should be noted that the pair had over slept and did not start their escape until way after dawn. They were still able to affect their escape, but along the way out of the castle the two mice ran right into Tsarmina Greeneyes, the wild cat and purported ”Lady of the Thousand Eyes, Slayer of Enemies, Ruler of Kotir, Conqueror of all Creatures.” If it had not been some quick action by Martin the two might not had realized their escape.

3 Photo-Etched HO Scale Details

These goodies were recently found in an unopened box of model railroad miscellanea. All are waiting to be assembled, detailed and set out on my model train layout. I find working with brass quite rewarding.

They say that a scene is in its details. Here are three photo etched details that I acquired for my HO gauge model train layout:

Builders in Scale

These lobster traps are etched in brass and will take a few minutes to bend into shape. There are eight in a package and include eight lobsters.

Detail Associates

Detail Associates manufactures dozens of HO gauge detail parts, mostly for detailing HO train engines, but I did find this set of tools to be used in some scenes,

Gold Medal Models

The last image is of four shopping carts. These are from Gold Medal Models and are etched in aluminum. These will be great left in front of a grocery store or how about an old woman pushing one down the street with all her worldly belongings.

Making Miniature Papercraft Architecture!

I am glad I had a "Micro" label for this post. Otherwise I would have had to create one. These miniature structures look like they will be fun to build, even though they are so very small. You will find links to the card stock models and the tools mentioned under the video on YouTude.

Miniature Robot Scratch Build-An Update

Using a verity of tools the electronics and mechanical pod is just about ready to to be droped in to the bay. There is still a little material that needs to be removed from the left hand side of the bay so the pod can be dropped in.

I have been brain storming about how I want to proced with the head and arm units. I believe I will start on the computation unit next.

Could These Micro Tools Actually Work?