Lolo:

I will assume you mean beyond normal hand tools.

No one can call themselves a modeler without a Dremel Moto-Tool, or a decent bench vise, so we wont mention them.

Start with a good drill press and a good assortment of bits. If you also buy a machine vise, a vise with hand wheels for moving the work around, and get a press with a lock on the quill, (keeping the chuck from moving up and down,) the drill press can also be used for light milling.

Next would be a good power sander. Get one with as wide and long a belt table as you can find, it should also have a large disc sander on one side with its own work table, adjustable for angle.

Then I would consider a good router. When mounted in a stand with the bit out the top it is a versatile tool, a large Dremel, so to speak, and even more versatile on large parts. Spar notches are a breeze. With a home made fence it will give slots of absolute accuracy, and can even be operated as a joiner/edger.

Power saws have to be considered also. You can rank them as you wish.

Probably the most versatile is a jig saw, being able to make both straight and scroll cuts, but usually a jig saw wont cut heavy and thick stock too well.

For cutting a lot of parts at once, a stack of ribs, or rough shaping a block, the band saw is king.

And the plain old ordinary table saw, with its rotary blade, is best for cutting precise lengths, tapers, and angles.

The power saw I wouldn't bother with is a hand held saber saw. If you are cutting a hole in the wall of your house for a new window they're fine, but for modeling work it's too hard to see what you are doing. And when they get a little worn the accuracy is gone. Can't control the blade.

That's about it for wood, plastic, and sheet metal. Heavy metal blocks, and machine work are yet another chapter.

Hope this helps.

Bill.