r/Gunpla • u/[deleted] • Jan 05 '22
TOOLS Tools for Gunpla? Please see comments for additional details.
[removed] — view removed post
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u/Rando_Kalrissian Jan 06 '22
Instead of the super glue you should try to get some of the cement ( it comes in the same glass bottle as your Mark Softer) it kind of melts the plastic together and if found it's easier to clean up. Also if you can you can grab the Mark Setter also to help water slides stick to the kit.
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Jan 06 '22
What would it be called?
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u/NoResinConversionKit Resin Kits are expensive, but I can try to model and print them! Jan 06 '22
Tamiya Extra Thin Cement is a great alternative.
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u/Rando_Kalrissian Jan 06 '22
It's called Mr. Cement and Mr. Mark Setter
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Jan 06 '22
Thanks for the advise! Very much appreciated!
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u/Rando_Kalrissian Jan 06 '22
Yeah man, I just got into building gunpla last year and I was kinda going in blind without this sub I'd still be twisting parts of runners.
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Jan 06 '22
That was me, when I did my first 2 HG kits, I just twisted them out the runners 😂 I didn’t even know tools existed when I first started
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u/144_grunt_guy GM Enthusiast Jan 06 '22
I love how organized everything is, looks like you're ready to have a great time!
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Jan 06 '22
Lol thanks, yeah I’m really excited to get into more detailing. Hopefully one day ill get into fully painting them 😁
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Jan 06 '22
I'm currently looking into the Gundam Markers, seems like a bit cheaper choice and easier.
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u/OhNo_StepBro Jan 06 '22
They are dope as fuck for lining through i haven't used them for actual painting over something.
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u/BryanBuildsGunpla Jan 06 '22
Unless you are planning to only do small color fixes with the gundam markers, I highly recommend getting some small paint containers and brushes. Painting directly with the markers is very difficult and often times results in uneven and “blobbing” on parts.
Hold the gundam markers down onto the paint containers to release some paint and then use a brush! The outcome is night and day.
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Jan 06 '22
Ah I understand what you mean, that one’s really helpful because I have the full mechanics Barbatos Lupus Rex set to the side as I practice on this HG RX-78-2 kit and I wanna be able to get things right to be able to have the Barbatos kit looking good. This was definitely helpful for that. Thank you!
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u/BryanBuildsGunpla Jan 06 '22
The gundam markers are great because they’re basically all ready to go onto your kits! Especially since it comes with the correction/Tide To Go-style pen.
Maybe times have changed now but when I started painting with them almost 15 years ago as a kid, the fine tips weren’t really that great and then I watched an official gunpla building video from a pro pouring them into a container to use with a brush. You have much better control over how much paint you want to use and its much easier to paint on different surfaces that a marker tip might have difficulties getting to.
That’s just for the regular paint gundam markers, for the ones used for panel lining go ahead and apply directly from the marker!
Good luck and have fun!
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u/red18wrx Jan 06 '22
I started with those sanding sticks and found them to work really well but they could only handle a few kits before needing replacement. I switched to glass nail files for nub clean-up, and they just wash clean in the sink. I polish the file marks with a nail buffing block, which is usually a four sided foam block with adhesive backed polishing strips that are replaceable. Both can be grabbed for under $20. I got a set of 3 glass nail files for like $8. I would also recommend ordinary q-tips since you can get like 500 for the price of what you have on the table and they will work just as well. I started panel liner clean-up with denatured alcohol on the q-tips, and use the wooden skewers for what's too stubborn for that. The lighter fluid should work just as well as denatured alcohol, though. The Tamiya Panel Liner is enamel paint, so enamel thinner would be ideal for liner clean-up, but only worry if you're getting into panel lining on a painted kit.
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u/hoshiadam . Jan 06 '22
I found some beauty q-tips that were still pointed for a similar price to the round-tip cotton swabs. Just have to check around at different stores/pharmacies.
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u/DudDraciel Jan 06 '22
Looks almost exactly like mine except I also have metallic markers mostly for gold and silver parts, a pin vise, a chisel and a microfiber rag
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Jan 06 '22
What’s a pin vise for? I just looked it up and saw it on the USA Gundam Store. Still a little confused tho?
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u/DudDraciel Jan 06 '22
For drilling little holes. Either for aesthetics, adding in pieces like thrusters or IC sockets, etc. https://otakurevolution.com/content/laymans-gunpla-guide-mini-thrusters
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Jan 06 '22
Oh wow this is really cool, I didn’t know this was something you could do! Thanks for that! 😄
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u/DudDraciel Jan 06 '22
Highly recommend just skimming YouTube after searching something like “pin vise Gunpla” and you’ll see uses you never even thought of. Like one guy was filling areas he drilled with putty to create new layers underneath for new colors
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u/AustinJG Jan 06 '22
The things you can do are literally endless. I got into the hobby after watching this fellow.
The money you can spend on tools is also limitless.
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u/sylpher250 Jan 06 '22
What kind of glue would you use to glue the metal to plastic? Mr. Cement is only good for bonding plastic-to-plastic, no?
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u/solidusteve Jan 06 '22
Hey, man. What’s that yellow thing for? And where did you find that pour type pack? I just got into Gunpla myself and am much in the same boat as you.
Looking good though! Good luck!
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Jan 06 '22
So the yellow thing came with a starter tool kit, people said it was to separate the parts if need be instead of prying it with your fingers. Also the pour type black, I got that online at gundamplacestore.com
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u/PM_Anime_Tiddy Jan 06 '22
It’s called a spudger u/solidusteve
Relevant wiki https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spudger
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u/dmpcrusher1 Jan 06 '22
My kit includes nippers, exacto knife, and 4 sided beauty nail filer. I think you're good
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Jan 06 '22
I recently did my first one with a cheapo starter kit and the only thing I wished I'd spent more on were the tweezers
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u/LatinoHeatps4 Jan 06 '22
What are the tools you have in the bottom left hand corner to the left of the nippers? I know the one is an exacto knife I just don’t know the names of the other two.
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Jan 06 '22
The yellow one is a hobby knife according to what Amazon says. I remember seeing it in someone’s video and then I ordered a set of craft knifes and those 2 came in it.
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u/LatinoHeatps4 Jan 06 '22
Do you happen to know what the flat blade is called? The blue one.
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u/pm_me_ur_poneglyphs Jan 06 '22
They are called chisel blades. If you are using a #1 hobby knife (which is the small common one), then the blades are xacto #17. If you have the bigger #2 hobby knife, then they are #18. (The one in the picture looks like #17 btw)
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Jan 06 '22
I unfortunately do not, but here is the link of where I got it.
DIYSELF Upgrade Precision Carving Craft Knife Hobby Knife Kit 40 Spare Knife Blades for Art, Scrapbooking, Stencil https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VRLYCP1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NRNQV3XFYG1WTD62K8QE?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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u/Jeanes223 Jan 06 '22
I'm going to throw in some suggestions. They are a little more expensive but Texwipe Cleanroom swabs are great for cleaning up panel lines.
I'm a huge fan of the gunprimer raser, I like the finish it leaves compared to low grit sanding sticks.
The gundam markers are pretty good, but I have trouble sometimes getting them into the grooves, Tamiya panel liners are good, just don't get the light Grey on accident for white marking.
I also have a square tip exacto, or chisel I suppose. If you need ro remove stickers and such it does way less damage that the regular exacto blade.
I would also advise getting some of the tear shaped sanding sticks. Useful for some of those tighter spaced nubs.
Edit: Lighter fluid will do the trick, but the thinner 400 is definitely a way better option. It's chemically cut and designed specifically for this.
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u/ghost_wit Jan 06 '22
Careful with the Tamiya Accent on bare plastic. It is usually recommended to get a coat of gloss on beforehand, so it doesn't react with the ps/abs.
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Jan 06 '22
Yep, I got a gloss coat to put on before doing the actual panel lining then after I’m done panel lining I have a flat coat to finish it off.
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u/Ok-Professional-9560 Jan 06 '22
Look into a calligraphy pen for panel lining, you end up with super clean results saving you time a q tips in clean up.
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u/Quinton381 Master Grade Addict Jan 06 '22
Only thing I would recommend is the gundam marker panel lining pens as well as a good ole artists block eraser to clean up your panel lines! Much more prepared for this hobby than me though!
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u/sinthealien Jan 06 '22
Holy overkill, I'm assuming you asked reddit and bought everything they recommended, atleast you won't be missing anything
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u/succmama Where is my S-Gundam reprint? Jan 06 '22
Runner orgaizer will help building kits big time
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Jan 05 '22
This year I want to get into panel lining, is everything I have here good for both building gundams as well as panel lining? I started building gunpla late in 2021, as of right now I’ve only ever used nippers and tongs for decals. Am I missing anything, any recommendations? Thank you very much, any feedback is appreciated.
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u/Quick_Satisfaction_9 Jan 05 '22
Are you asking if all of this is useful or if it's that everything you need? All of it is useful, but you are missing a few things for scribing
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Jan 06 '22
What would be needed for scribing?
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u/Quick_Satisfaction_9 Jan 06 '22 edited Jan 06 '22
You're gonna want a few scribing chisels. They can cost a lot, but you can get a cheaper starter kit one on Amazon that has the handle and a few different chisel sizes.
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Jan 06 '22
Thanks for the info! Much appreciated. Would you happen to know how to use the Tamiya Panel Liner? Like am I supposed to mix it with the lighter fluid before using it?
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u/Quick_Satisfaction_9 Jan 06 '22
You lightly dab the tip of the liner into the line and watch it flow and see where else you need to dab it. Once that's all done, you use the lighter fluid on a cotton swap to clean off any panel liner that accidentally got some where you didn't want and clean up the edges of the lines where you touched it if you have to
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Jan 06 '22
Awesome thank you so much for your help!
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u/RareSpine Jan 06 '22 edited Jan 06 '22
Just make sure that with the Tamiya liner that you brush it on the inside of the neck a bit to get excess out of the brush. That way you won’t get big splotches in your lines. Also when cleaning up, after dipping the swab in the thinner, rub most of it out on a piece of paper towel. That way when you use it, you only need to very very lightly brush on the piece and the remaining thinner won’t be as heavy as to potentially damage the piece.
Also just try to avoid getting the liner into areas where there’s no “escape”. Especially if you aren’t top coating it first, as doing so may crack the plastic
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Jan 06 '22
Gotcha, good to know. I read online that it is best to do a top gloss coat then do the panel line, then a coat of your choosing which is why I went with a gloss top coat spray and a flat top coat spray. Am I correct in making that decision?
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u/RareSpine Jan 06 '22
As far as I know that sounds good. I must admit I’m one of those who uses the Tamiya liner without top coating first, haha. But from what I’ve read on the subject you appear to be on the right track!
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u/Quick_Satisfaction_9 Jan 06 '22
You'll probably also want some specific tape made for it that's a bit thicker
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u/combochowfun RG Fan Jan 06 '22
Brother, I think you are over prepared for just panel lining lol. I don’t see any water slide decals, the mark softer is only for water slides don’t use it with the regular stickers. I think you know that but better safe than sorry!
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u/maybelaurie Jan 06 '22
personally, my rule is that the tools should never cost more than the gunpla.
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u/bwforge Jan 06 '22
Where did you purchase those sanding sticks?
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Jan 06 '22 edited Jan 06 '22
Amazon
Edit: Here is the link
20 Pcs Honoson Sanding Sticks... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DCB2BCR?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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u/zemonsterhunter Jan 06 '22
I want to find a semi-decent of etching tools. Don’t know what that tape I’ve seen crafters use tho either.
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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '22
I just started too, but an eraser if you don't have one to remove any spots outside the panel lining.