Useful tools and where to use them

Modelling Knife

This is the most common and useful item in your toolkit. Cut foam, cardboard, plastic, etc into whatever shape you wish.

Brushes

Various sized brushes are used for scenery modelling. A large brush is great for doing most of the work and makes drybrushing large areas a snap.

Cutting Mat

A cutting mat is essential when doing most cutting - your mother tends to get angry when her table gets a slice in it. A thick piece of plastic is what you need.

Cutters

A pair of cutters is another handy item, and if your into modelling you've probally got a pair. You can use them for cutting spues off your plastic and metal models and also cutting softer wire like copper.

Pliers

A pair of long nosed pliers comes in very handy for twisting and bending pieces of wire.

Metal Ruler

A metal ruler also comes in handy for cutting those straight edges on cardboard and foam. The plastic and wood ones tend to get ruined quite quickly by your modelling knife.

Hot glue gun

You can get away with not having one of these, but if your doing alot of modelling work, they can be handy. The glue sets pretty quick.

Liquid effects can be made quite easily with this too, dribble some ooze out of a barrel and painting it green looks pretty cool.

Saw

A fine toothed saw can be handy if you are using wood materials. With thicker pieces of balsa wood you will need a saw.