Handy tools

While some scenery was drying on the Sn3 layout, I built Arnold, The Wonder Horse's corral.  Just S scale 4x4 posts and 2x4s for horizontals.  No biggie.  Once all is dry I will stain or paint the wood.  Thinking ink stain as it should look old.  And well chewed by Arnold.  The hinges will get painted rust.

My thought today is to highlight two tools that I have found totally necessary and useful.  One is the flat metal "box" (from MicroMart I think) and a bunch of magnets stolen from old electric toothbrushes. These hold the parts down while the glue dries.  I always put a sheet of wax paper underneath so my new part is not glad to the plate.  Ask me how I know......

The other tool is a hypodermic sort of needle.  It is loaded with Aliene's Tacky Glue that I use for all wooden models.  There is a very small brass rod that caps the thing between tasks so the glue does not dry up.  Just a gentle push on the plunger and you get a super small dot of glue.  Especially useful when the material is a scale 2x4. I got mine from Raggs to Riches (http://www.raggstoriches.biz), part number DP0001.  Was $4 for two, several years ago.  I bought two packages at a show.  Not sure he has them in stock but worth an email.  They seem to last a long time. While you are there he is also selling double sided tape that was included in the Conoco kit and I used for the metal corrugated siding.  WAY better than trying to glue.