RE: what type of solder to use
Hi!
Agree! Using ordinary sweet solder is just perfect for our modeling use. A 50W Weller soldering iron is what I have used for the last 35 years and is perfect for soldering just about anything from 6mm piano landing gear wire to delicate electronic devices as it has interchangeable soldering tips (iron plated).
Stay-Brite sweet silver solder is best/strongest of all sweet solders though, but remember the acid! It is making steel rust in no time and it's not for soldering electronic things!