Category: Foundations of Terrain Making
Type: Tools

Article Name: Assembling a Toolkit for Terrain Making
Author: Dagorlad
Description: A description of some basic tools and their uses.

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There are many sites related to the hobby with many excellent articles, however the first thing that came to mind when I first saw this article was, ... why on earth hasnt someone done something like this before. If they have, I apologise, but I cant remember seeing one anywhere.

A very useful article Alan, and I guess the old saying is true, 'an artist is only as good as the tools he uses'.

When I first started this hobby, the tools I had were very basic, but they have built and built over the 3 years I have been doing this. The tools make all the difference, and this article willl definetly give newcomers the heads up on the way forward !

Well done mate, an excellent addition to the library !

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Excellent article! Great idea! Indeed, why didn't anyone else do this before...?

I've just added some new tools to my 'shop-list'!

Thanks Alan, now I can finally become as good as you (just let me dream of it for a while...)!

Isc.

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Alan, you are just too awesome. Fantastic article from a fantastic hobbyist and man. Many kudos again!

Krahl (founder and president of the Dagorlad fan club)

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Nice article, its absolutelly essencial to any hobbyist, specially to newbies. This article was, indeed, missing.

Great adition to the Library mate. Cheers!

Now, where do i sign to join the fan club again?

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Very well put together. Excellent article!!

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So no axe required then... drat.

What do you draw or mark the measurements with? Pencil, pen, marker or other means? I also use french curves (there is probably some other name for them) - they are similar to the circle template but include elipses and a variety of graduated curves. Great for Gothic arches and so on.

Great and sensible article.

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Dorthonion, I did omit pencil and pen from the list of tools but mainly because I didn't want to write a paragraph describing how to use them.

And thanks everyone for the positive comments - a bit of a surprise really because there is nothing 'awesome' about it in all honesty. I felt that this was missing from the library and decided to do something about it. There are many additional tools that you could add to the list (I have a set of French Curves too - "hi Michelle"), but since this was essentially a list of my top 20 choices, some more specialised tools didn't get a mention.

If there is one tool I did miss out it is a 'scriber' - I actually use one quite a lot.

I intend writing some more workshop-style articles in the future including one on how to make a 'slice-o-matic' (a fabulous tool for cutting balsa wood), and another on various scenic materials and how best to use them.

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Dagster

How much did you pay for your Dremel?
And where did you get it from?
I am asselbling a big load of IG and doing terrain....
Thanks in advance mate!

The cheapest place to buy a new Dremel mini-tool (in Australia) is from Bunnings (a hardware chain down under), but they cost about AU$90. I bought mine several years ago from a specialist model railway store and I can't remember the price to be honest.

There is an alternative to the Dremel brand that's a bit cheaper - Minicraft make an excellent multi-tool, plus a whole range of accessories for it, such as drill presses and saw benches.

EDIT: I went in to Bunnings today and saw a basic Dremel at $89 and various other packs with a range of accessories (which you'll never use) priced up to $150.

Oh, another use for the Dremel is as a mini-lathe too. Put a plastic or wooden rod in the drill's chuck, hold the drill in a vise, and switch it on. Use a sharp chisel blade to cut into the timber and you can make some nice fancy ornamental shapes (columns, ballustrades, finials, all sorts)

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Dagster

very nice assemblage!
so nobody should be seducted anymore in the DIY stores by superflous tools

and for non-natives helpful to learn the exact english names of the tools!

I also think it's good to point out to 'think small' when doing terrain modelling. everything gotta be tiny (knifes, needle files, sculpturing tools, saws) or in small amounts (e.g. when walking outside collecting stones or twigs the smallest ones are usually fitting though in their big natural environment they seem too small at first) or in thin sizes (wood must not be thick for all those tiny light constructions for our littel lotr guys)

I am looking forward to your futher arcticles and I always admire your tidy workplace when they can be seen on the pics - you are a prof!

beate

A nice simple article, a few things I don't own, but I'll try and get hold of, when I get some money that is.
Oh the joys of being a student.

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Thanks Dagorlad, I was looking through the catalouge the other day, maybe I will, but is it really worth $89??

Well, yes actually it is, but I suggest you get the other tools I listed first.

The Dremel (or any multi-tool) can be used for drilling holes, engraving, grinding, polishing, cutting, routing, and even as a lathe - so if you plan on doing lots of conversion work or detailed terrain work, its a great tool to have.

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Dagster

Well, I have the other tools.
Dagorlad, damn you!
Now i'm going to go have to spend another $90!
You sold it to me, really, thanks mate

Very nice article, now all I have to do is learn how to make decent terrain.

Great article Alan! Now i just have to go anf get me some more tools....

Torstein