Tools You Will Need

[Overlander]

This will be a list of tools needed to create any miniature model. I will start with basic tools and continue to add the more advanced tools that make life easier as we go along.

-Todd

[Overlander]

Basic Hand Tools

Most people that have ever built any kind of RC model kit will have many of the tools needed to build a model from scratch.

Most TTTT models are built from brass so I will talk about tools needed to work with brass. This should cover many tasks because if the tool can be used on brass, it can also be used on plastic and fiberglass and any other modelling material.

A basic list:

Xacto knife and blades
Razor saw
Small hand pliers
Jewlers screwdrivers
Jewlers files
Variuos emery boards (the kind used for fingernails)
Small vise
Drill bits and Drill (either a hand drill or a drill motor)
Fine point pencil or pen
Something to take small, acurate measurements


The razor saw is used to cut most of the brass paices and can be used on most materials. Cut slowly and take your time.

The vise is very important when working with small parts. When using the jewlers files, hold the work in the vise. Also, when soldering on the very small circuit boards, it is a good idea to hold them in a vise. The vise is your third hand.

The jewlers files are for actually making the shapes that cant be cut with the razor saw. When used properly, these small files can make anything from notches to chamfers. The emery boards are used for finer sanding and shaping.

Some sort of caliper or measuring tool in very important. You want your truck to be strait.

Here is a picture of some basic tools that can be used

[Overlander]

Additional Tools

There are always more tools to buy and use. The right tool for the job can make your life much less frustrating. With good quality tools, you will enjoy the hobby more and be less likely to get discuoraged with mistakes and quit

Even with the right tools, you will make mistakes. A beginning modeler should learn from those mistakes and continue to build. If you quit, then you are doomed for a pathetic life of zip zaps

These help:

Calipers or Micrometer
Dremel tool and cutting bits
Magnifying glasses
Different types of solder


The all mighty Dremel
The Dremel tool is usually the first advanced tool a new modeler buys. It can be used for hundreds of modeling tasks and can change your attitude about what you can an cant build. Using the right cutting bits you can cut or mill brass and other materials. You can use sanding wheels and clean up all that messy solder.

Just rember to hold on to both your work and the Dremel very tightly. Use your vise for this if the part will fit. The abrasive cut-off wheels sold for the Dremel can cut everything but are ver brittle and will break easily. Just practice and you will eventually get the feel for them.ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN USING THE DREMEL NO MATTER WHAT!!.

The magnifying glasses are great for acurately locating the center point of a hole before you drill it.

Here is a pic of some additional tools. The soldering iron is actually a basic tool because it is difficult to make a brass frame wthout one.

[Overlander]

Advanced Tools

When a modeler want to make their life eaiser, there are always more tools to buy.

For avanced modelers or beginners that want to create complex miniature models, I reccomend the Clisby miniature machine tools.

They are inexpensive and will handle any machining task a miniature modeler can throw at them. Using these types of mills and lathes can give you accuracy to .0005" and can take your modeling experience to a whole new level.

Machines like these are the backbone of modern industry. A lathe or mill can actually reproduce itself when used with the right attchments. That being said there is NOTHING that cannot be made with a lathe and/or mill.

Here is a Clisby lathe:

[Overlander]

Here is a Clisby vertical mill:

[Overlander]

The Clisby tools (www.clisby.com) are distant relatives of the Sherline family of miniature machine tools (www.sherline.com).

Here is the big bother to the little clisby mill. This Sherline mill will handle bigger projects but is still considered a miniature machine tool:

[killer]

:ö: Overlander,

(drool) great collection of tools you got there man!, boy with all those tools, you can make almost anything you have in mind!.. just add a little imagination and some patience .

... you can also find some usefull tools on a Dental Supply Shop ..

and as Overlander have said..

¤¤¤ A L W A Y S W E A R S A F E T Y G L A S S E S ¤¤¤

[arch2b]

i will be getting the dremel drill press thing this weekend! i already have the drill tool kit for it. this should make some things much easier.

[Namuna]

Overlander,

I commend you for the excellent information and resources you've given! Because of your efforts in detailing the steps the TTTT world doesn't seem so intimidating!

I'm now seriously considering buying the Clisby Mill/Lathes. I have a few questions for you...

1. How are you powering yours?
I have a Power Supply at home (for my peak charger) that puts out like 12v @ 7amps, max. Will that do the job?

2. Where do you buy your metal supplies?

3. What accessories do you recommend with the Mill and Lathe?

Okay, that's just a couple of questions for now...I'm sure I'll have plenty more soon enough.

Thanks for all your efforts, I for one am greatful for it!

[fastboy]

while its certainly nice to have such wonderful tools(yes i am jealous)..its certainly not essential

the only powerd tools i used were a dremel with a small milling bit attached and a soldering iron and a bench press drill.

whilst a milled brass chassis is very nice,a flat brass plate chassis will suffice just as well for your first few trucks,remember these are not racing machines,they crawl so dont go overboard with the chassis

dave
uk

[Namuna]

Well said fastboy...

But my insterests for the Clisby doesn't stop at just TTTT projects...Things like custom rims and maybe mufflers and such (for the cars that is).

Or what the heck, puttin some PHAT rims on a TTTT could be 'interesting'.

[arch2b]

i've managed to do well with just my dremel, soldering iron, files and normal tools. the rest are for more complex and experienced use. while they are not neccessary, they do make jobs easier. overlander does much more than just tttt work with his. check out his larger scale custom unimog.

[Overlander]

Namuna
Thanks for the comments!

I saw your post on the Clisby yahoo group.

I power mine with a minicraft power supply. Your 12volt power supply will work fine.

I buy my metals at a local industrial supply store and at the LHS. K&S metals have more than just tubing if you ask for it.

What accessories?
Well.....
You need a mill vise and/or hold down clamps. An assortment of cutting mills (called end mills) that will fit in the clisby spindle. At least one percision ground angle (miniature if possible).

A couple extra cutting bits for the lathe. I will talk to you more through email if you want.

The most important accesories for someone new the tabletop machineing are these books:

http://www.sherline.com/5300inst.htm

and

http://www.sherline.com/bookplug.htm
When you read this book your brain will start to jiggle and twitch, you will get goosebumps, and your wallet will empty shortly thereafter.

If you really want to know what micro machining can be, check out this link:

http://www.barryjordan.freeola.com/models.htm

The machines in this guys webpage are working minature models that he built from scratch!! Imagine what you can do with machine tools

Remember,
You dont need machine tools to make a TTTT. In fact, the guys like Arch2b that are doing it with basic modeling tools are doing just fine without a mill or lathe. Look at the 8x8 that Killer is making! He is not using any machine tools at all!

I only use the mill to machine my front axles and as a drill press. I don't think I have ever used my lathe on a TTTT project. But, I may end up making some custom wheels for a TTTT eventually.

The first picture in this thread shows all the tools you will need to make a basic TTTT to have fun with.

I would be happy to discuss micro machine tools with you off thread.

[Overlander]

Anyone still building these things?

[fastboy]

i would if i had the time and money..i just dont get any free time anymore,infact im selling the man 1 tonne and my artic truck as i simply dont use them anymore,rather have someone else have the enjoyment from them rather than them sat gathering dust

im sure ill get back into the micro stuff when i have more time on my hands but my commitments to 1/10th offroad has eaten all my spare time and money

dave