Being in this hobby, off & on, for the last 35 years, I was thinking of how incredibly handy some tools are for building models. Many of these tools I have had for dozens of years. Sure, models can be built, even quite well, without many of these tools, but they make the job easier, better, and sometimes possible. Since I am a "workshop person", many of these tools perform various other duties for me, too. Some are model-specific, but they also come in very handy for other tasks.

123 blocks, both solid and perforated, and another type of blocks, whose name escapes me. You have known and precise 1", 2" and 3" sides. They can act as squares when gluing things, and they are heavy, for weighing things down as glue cures or dries. These can be found at better tool supply places, like McMaster-Carr.







Bar stock. Used in similar ways as 123 blocks, but I use them mainly for straight weights when gluing things. You also get known sizes, like 1/2", 3/4", 1", etc.





The handiest glue mixing and applying sticks that I have ever found. I got these as a Michael's craft store, and bought several packages, so I have a lifetime supply. Much handier than toothpicks or popsicle sticks.





Great Planes drill (the exact name escapes me). Extremely handy for marking engine mount holes, or getting into tight places inside a model. I have had this particular one for probably 20 years.





Small hand drills. Much handier than a pin vise, as you don't have to screw around with mounting a common size bit - just grab the drill.





Snips for cutting many things (fuel line, capstrips, etc.). These are even made with bases on one jaw that are marked with 90, 45 etc. degrees.





Small scale. Not used often, but comes in handy when you are trying to shave grams on small parts. Grams add up to ounces, and ounces matter.





Old business cards for mixing epoxy. Having had a long career, I have a lifetime supply of these from the many jobs I have had in the past.





Engineer squares. No explanation needed.





45" "square". No explanation needed.





My selection of clamps, hanging from a beam in my shop. You can never have too many clamps.





Small chop saw. Very handy for cutting aluminum and brass tubing.




The big boys:
I use the drill press almost every single day, and have had this one for 30 years.
I don't use my bandsaw often for models, but sometimes in comes in real handy.
I use my 30 year old scrollsaw very often in building models. You can also cut thin metal with one, as well as drill a small starter hole, then cut out an opening inside a part. Draw a straight line, follow it carefully, and you can have surprisingly smooth and straight cuts.
I use my small disk/belt sander very often in building models.








Feel free to add your favorite, handy model building tools to this thread.