The Tool and Technique page !
Today we'll show you a couple of inexpensive but very useful tools for your modeling desk. You can make both of them yourself using items from the local craft or hardware stores.
First up is an absolutely indispensable stand for your liquid glue bottle. Modern liquid glues are great but they always get knocked over- sometimes damaging your desk, model or sensitive body parts (Don't ask me how I know). It doubles as a safe and convenient way to store your knives, protecting the blades but more importantly keeping the knife from rolling off the table into sensitive body parts. (Don't ask how I know)
Buy a piece of rigid foam from the craft store - any shape is okay as long as its wide enough to keep the bottle stable. Cut a hole in the center that's just slightly smaller than the size of your bottle and insert it inside. It should be held firmly. You can also use the foam to store toothpicks and pins.
Here's another wonderful tool for the modeler. Now you can have a place to put all those small parts for assembly or painting. Even spray painting is possible since the clips hold the parts sufficiently tight but not so tight as to damage the parts. Unusually shaped parts can be attached by applying masking tape to the part and inserting the tape into the clip.
The stands use"Alligator clips" from Radio Shack and wood strips called "one by twos" from the hardware store. Simply drill a hole in the wood the size of the clip's shank. Superglue or epoxy the clamps into the holes. Alternate clip directions for variety. The single clip bases are particularly useful. Be sure to make plenty of them to hold all the parts you'd like to paint.
