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While you may want to go out and get started right away on building your model, it's extremely important to obtain the proper materials before doing so. It also helps if you have a checklist available and a local hobby store close by.

The most important thing in model building is glue. Glue is what hold your model together, and without it you would be stuck (no pun intended). There is a myriad of different glue types out there, but I usually have the best luck with the standard Testors model glue. Do NOT get any quick drying/fast harden glue, it is much harder to work with (especially if you are a beginner) and often doesn't hold because it has already started drying when you apply it to your piece. So just stick with the normal drying glue, you can wait for it to dry.

The next important piece of equipment is a knife, and you want a knife dedicated to model building, not just your pocketknife or kitchen knife or whatever. Get a nice exacto knife, although I've found that a boxcutter works fairly well too. Exacto knives have an advantage of being generally smaller and sharper than box cutters, but they both use razor blades and get the job done.

Paint is the next most important tool for model building. It's important that you select the paint you want for your car, don't just follow the instructions. If the instructions say paint the chassis purple, don't listen to them. Customization is a fun part of model building, and starts with proper paint selection. Glossy paint looks really good, but is often hard to apply without streaking, unless you have the proper brushes. Paint and paintbrushes should be the highest quality you can afford, and are usually the most expensive pieces of equipment. It's worth it though, to see your excellent paint job on a finished model.

The tools above are essential to making models, and these next items I list are important to me but are not necessary.

Toothpicks are a godsend for model builders. I always have a few boxes by my workplacee. Toothpicks are perfect for working with detailed pieces, and applying just the right amount of glue or paint. It's good for small detail work, and great for putting a coat of glue around the rim of a connection.

A clear workspace is also a necessary item for me, and this is what I use:
I take a largish piece of plywood, maybe 2x2 feet, and on one edge I screw on a 2x4 so you have a kind of flat work surface with a board at the top. In the 2x4, drill two holes, one for holding a paintbrush and the other for holding a paint bottle. It's useful to have set places to store these when you're painting/assembling. The plywood takes a lot of abuse, from paint and/or cutting the pieces away.

Also, have a fan around for helping with glue and paint drying. It helps keep the fumes away, esp. if it's pointed out an open window.

Hopefully this checklist will aid you in your model building.

Learn more about this author, Stryker Smith.
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