Necessary Cutting Tools
Tools Of The Trade
The tools required vary based on the type of project and also the materials you intend to you. If your a beginner to the whole model theme then I would suggest you start out with a very simple plan and use wood. The most common is Balsa wood which I'll talk about in the materials article in this series. Model airplanes can require as many or as few tools as you like but the more tools you have access to and the more time spent on the project will ultimately determine the quality of the finished model. For basics, you will need the following:
Utility Knife/Box Cutter
For the majority of cutting purposes this is what you will need. Unless you are working with very thick materials(which I don't recommend) then this will be what you use the most.
X-Acto Knife/Hobby Knife
The X-Acto knife is good for cutting precise edges/corners but isn't necessary.
Sand Paper (220 Very Fine, 150 Fine, 100 Medium, 60 Coarse Grit)
You will need varying grits of sandpaper to sand down rough edges left from cutting. You can find a package containing all the grits listed above for under $8 at almost any hardware store or Wal-Mart.
T-Pins
T-Pins are used to pin different pieces together while the glue sets up or to temporarily attach parts for measurement purposes. These can be found in the arts and crafts departs of many stores for under $3.
12" Ruler
This is a must for measuring the pieces you must cut out.
Glue
Here you have a lot of choices but should never be limited to having only one type of glue. I suggest getting some Duco glue which is a solvent based wood glue that dries clear, fairly quickly, but gives some time to pull things apart if mistakes are made. You can find this at hobby stores, Wal-Mart or hardware stores for under $6. Some people suggest using carpenters glue but it dries in a hurry to form yellow beads. Your much better off stealing your kids Elmers glue, no seriously. Elmers glue works GREAT for throwing bits of wood together and sets up good enough to be permanent. Super glue is the final recommendation I can give here because it is great for gluing smaller parts together quickly.
Protractor
Airplanes are not square, unless you don't have one of these. You can get them almost anywhere you can buy a pack of cigarettes and for about the same cost. This tool is essential in measuring and marking rounded corners that need to be cut.
Needle Nose Pliers & Tweezers
Both of these tools will aid in putting together small pieces and come in handy whenever you drop a small part inside the airplane and can't get it out.
Under $60 At Any Hardware Store!
All of these tools put together shouldn't cost more than $60 and can be acquired at almost any hardware store or Wal-Mart. You can of course skip using some tools or supplement another tool for one of those listed above. There are many more advanced tools out there that can help a lot but if your just a casual hobbyist and don't want to shell out $500 on tools then this is the route to go.