When you start a job you usually need some tools to help you accomplish the task you set out to do. Sometimes these tools will help you do the indented job a lot quicker and also help you work a lot smarter. Below I have listed some of the tools a model railway enthusiast should have at their disposal. I f you are just starting out you do not need to rush of and purchase all of the items listed below this is just a guide to help you along.

Some of these items you probably already have laying around your home and most of the others can be purchased very cheaply. The items are not listed in any particular order and are by no means an exhausted or definitive list.

 

 

Hobby knife

 

This is one tool that you will use regularly if not every day. Hobby knifes or craft knifes come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. The more heavier and solid types are good for cutting thick boards or solid plastics and usually come with a retractable blade, which can be useful if you have children in the house, try to by a good quality one as these knifes are usually built to last and unless you loose one it should last you for a lifetime. The other type of knife you may need is more like a surgeons scalpel with a very thin very sharp blade at the end. These blades are interchangeable and come in a wide variety of shapes you can usually by these knifes in a small case that will hold the knife and several blades. Try to stay away from the very cheap range as these do not last and their blades loose their edge after a very short period of time. These knifes are excellent for more intricate and detailed work you may have to do.

 

Screwdriver set

 

There are two types that are regularly used: the larger type that you probably already have in your tool chest. These will mostly be used for larger jobs like screwing down your layout boards and fixing scenery. Then you have the more smaller hobbyist type set of screwdrivers that usually come in a plastic case that will probably contain 5 or six screwdrivers. These type of screwdrivers are great for use on those tiny screws manufacturers use on their model trains and locomotives. The set may also contain screwdrivers with a box spanner type head these are great for undoing small nuts and bolts. Sometimes it can be a good idea to magnetise your screwdrivers this can be done by running a magnet up and down the metal shaft of the screwdriver several times. This is usefull when undoing small screws to stop them falling on the floor and being lost.

 

Mini vice

 

Unless you have very steady hand or belong to the octopus family trying to hold a small intricate object with one hand and perform an operation with the other can prove very difficult. This is where a mini vice will become very handy. Clamped to a small bench or table they will enable you to hold the object you are working on rock steady. Some of these clams come with a hinged moveable arm. One word of caution please do not over tighten your clamp as this is easily done and can very brake what ever it is you are holding.

 

Set of small pliers

 

These can be used to hold your track pins when and can stop your fingers or your track from being accidently hit and damaged.  You can also use them to pull out small screws or pins that are hard to reach or that may be trapped your locomotive. You will find that a set of pliers will come in very handy.

 

Light

 

Start of with the bulb that lights your room make sure it’s nice and bright this will help when you are working with very small objects. Next it may be a good idea to invest in a table lamp that you can adjust this will help you a great deal when you are trying to fix one of your trains. You may also consider a head lamp. This is a small light that fists on a band around your head and is powered by batteries. This allows you to get very close to the  object you are working on but not cast any shadows.

 

Air in a can

 

Not essential but this can come in very handy. Basically this is just an aerosol can that contains nothing more than compressed air.   It is useful if you have any dirt trapped inside on object like a model train that you just cant get out.