Another very useful video, and I have most of the tools mentioned. I have added to my toolkit using a number of products from Aldi, although as is usual with them "when they're gone they're gone"!
This presentation was very clear and informative. Here a couple of suggestions for people who have a home work station and do not need to store tools in a toolbox. First, old coffee mugs are the correct size for holding most tools. The handle sticks up above the rim so you see which tool you want. Second, scotch tape seems to work well for attaching a roof on the inside while glue dries. And finally, i much prefer a Dremel type tool for cutting train cars over a hack saw. My little Dremel 100 is more than sufficient for my needs.
That was another informative vid. I'm glad to be able to say that I have the full kit already, as I ought to by now. Some extra info would be helpful on which types and sizes of brushes and other specifics like that. A vid on tools needed for a specific aspect of the hobby might also be interesting, e. g. painting model figures.
Excellent video. On the subject of hammers, I got one from The range for £6 which fits perfectly even between N gauge track, I've used it to pin 00 and N track with peco pins.
Hi budget model railway great video keep up the good work they look amazing. I thought your presentation was well thought out and clear, Like the idea of putting your model railway tools in a tool box. I'm just starting my own model railway. I was just wondering if you could do a tutorial how to use the model railway tools. 😀
I got back into the hobby in 2016 since dropping out of it as a teenager many years ago. I too am a budget railroader. Here are a few tools that that I've acquired over the years that make life much easier for the serious or semi serious modeler. The total cost is a bit over one hundred US dollars but the savings in aggravation is worth it. Shopping around will probably lower the cost. A small pair of flush cutters. The steel on my pair is too soft for cutting track but fine for precise cutting of hook up wire as well as wire and small staples used for details like hand grabs and stirrup steps. They can be sharpened with a file if the cutting edges get nicked. My pair is a Radio Shack store closure sale item. Probably a better one than I have: Klein Tools D2755 Flush Cutter, Lightweight, 5-Inch. $12.00. A small pair of needle nose pliers. My pair is a Radio Shack store closure sale item. An equivalent: IRWIN VISE-GRIP 2078955 Needle Nose Pliers, 5-3/4 Inch discounted price $11.82 An assortment of "jewelers" ("needle") files. My kit has fifteen files of various sizes and shapes and are useful when detailing cars or locos, removing flash and so on. My kit from years ago is nearly worn out and needs to be replaced. $5.00 to $10.00 for a ten piece or so set. A set of "jewelers" screwdrivers that include both flat and Phillips ends. Don't get the ones that have one handle and many bits. The handle will eventually wear and the bits will start falling out at inopportune times. $10.00 Scotch brite, a mildly abrasive sponge like material available most everywhere. I use the 4in. x 5in (approx.) squares to clean track and burnish the stators of the old motors I am restoring. Smaller pieces can be cut off for finer burnishing work. Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Scour Pads (6-Pack). $5.00 Different grades of emery cloth from maybe 300 grit to 500 grit. ?? Number 1 and number 2 Xacto knives and spare blades, roughly $10.00 each You really only need a number 1 but sometimes a number 2 is more convenient. CA (super glue or other) cement. Pack of two. $3.00 JB Weld and JB Quick metalized epoxy, easy to mix and super strong. $5.00 each. The JB Weld is stronger but takes longer to set. You can get by with either. Aleen's Tacky Glue in 250 ml squeeze bottles, the original and clear versions. Very useful for gluing together things that you may want to take apart at some point. I use the clear version to affix plastic glazing for the windows of my old rolling stock and locos. I suspect that my supply will last until the heat death of the universe! (Save the clear plastic that fronts most items that come on cardboard cards these days to use as "glass"). $4.00 each. I mostly use the clear but if you want to really see where the glue is going use the white. The white is supposed to dry clear. Faller "Expert" liquid plastic cement. Pricey but a 25 gram bottle will last "forever" - no more glue "glops" and lengthy set time. Capillary action will suck glue into tight spaces. $6.00 Inexpensive plastic ratcheting clamps. I have two and use them to gently hold rolling stock and locos when working on them, placed on a few layers of paper towels. IRWIN Tools 1919548 2" Quick-grip Handi-clamp. $6.00 the pair. A variable speed rotary tool with a flexible extension and an assortment of bits. I recently purchased a WEN rotary tool that cost about $20.00, totally worth it. Now I can cut rails with precision without damage and remove excess CA or other cement from the inside attachment points where molded on grabs have been replaced with bespoke wire parts. Moto Tool bits will fit. I purchased a pack of fiberglass reinforced cut off wheels and wire brushes for a few bucks to supplement the flimsy cutoff wheels that come in the kit. There were no wire brushes provided. The wire brushes are great for cleaning rail joiners and rail ends to ensure good electrical contact. The tools is also useful for non model railroad tasks. Re-purposed plastic lunch meat containers with snap on lids. These are great for storing rolling stock, locos, parts and small tools. Re-purposed free. Total roughly $110.00 Tools I still need to obtain. a pair of small bent nose pliers, anywhere from $2.00 to $10.00 a decent pin vise to replace the mostly useless one I mistakenly bought from a craft shop. Don't skimp on this tool! $15.00 to $18.00 for a good one. a variety of tiny wire drill bits for making attachment holes for home made grab irons and other details. YMMV at least one pair of self closing tweezers. $6.00 Total roughly $34.00 Optional: Years ago I bought an expensive Kronus wire automatic wire stripper from Radio Shack. It strips wire from 8 to 18 gauge. The modern equivalent is the Klein Tools Katapult Wire Stripper and Cutter for 8-20 AWG Solid and 10-22 AWG Stranded Wire. Pricey at $28.00 but worth the expense. These tools will not nick the wire, an essential quality if you are making grabs using stripped single conductor electrical wire. The wire won't break when bending at a nick because there arn't any. For stranded electrical wire it will leave all the strands intact. You need a stripper that will go down to at least 18 gauge. This is one of the best tool acquisitions I have made to date. I use it for occasional electrical work around the house as well. That's about it. I view these tools as pretty much essential for modelers at every level from beginner to experienced. Regards to all - Dave
Another very good video. This is my favourite model rail themed channel and you guys have really enthused me to begin the hobby. I have been waiting patiently for this latest instalment :) Once I do start layout you will be able to follow my progress on RU-vid, as I will start a channel for it.
As an addition: when putting together card building kits, a set of about 15 coloured pencils or felt tip pens is useful to give white areas roughly the right colour. I have found that I used the colours dark brown, dark gray and black the most.
Nice video, thanks. One thing I would add is a pair of tweezers or something like that to hold track pins while you start hammering them in. Don’t know whether my fingers are a bit big but I can’t get track pins in without having them gripped by something.
The thumb and first finger on my left hand are perm numb from being hit by various implements over the years, although to be fair most of the damage was done by an axe and a sledge hammer, long story.
Thanks. Garage sales are not as common in the UK but over the summer lots of farmers open up their fields to carboot sales which are effectively the same as a garage sail but out the boot of your car. Some great tools can be found at them.
Budget Model Railways In the inner city of America when I hear about sales out of the car trunk (boot) the goods are sometimes surmised to come from suspect sources. Sales can happen during the day and in dimly lit alleys at night 🤔 Lol.
Very nice video and a good idea. Comprehensive and pleasing to see. However, please remember this “you can’t afford cheap tools”. Always try to buy the BEST tools you can AFFORD. I appreciate this is about being “on a budget” and I am not being critical of the advice or purpose of the video but the notion of cheap tools is that you are constantly having to replace them, for example, buying something for £1 might seem good value but you might have to buy it five times. Buying the similar tool but of better quality for £4 will not have to be bought again!
May I suggest a video about cheaply and easily wiring up layouts? I'm planning a small n gauge shunting layout but I'm still figuring out the electric side of things.
DC wiring is really easy just connect one wire to each track on the way in and the points will do the rest. We mention it in several of our shunting videos if that helps
