So what does everyone reccommend for restocking my supplies?

[Macdaddy4738]

Now that I can order online, I have a greater access to new supplies..

Currently I need

New Primer (not sure whats recommended, but automotive primer is WAY to heavy)

New Fillers (Can Aves be bought at an art supply store) Whats reccommended here? Currently using bondo glazing putty, but im SURE theres better stuff out there

Sandpaper/files, not sure which is better, nor where to order em from

Where is a good ONLINE store to get this from? I dont have an actual hobby shop close to me :-(

[rallymodeller]

AHEM!

And they have Aves, too...[/url]

[TER-OR]

Gunze-Sangyo's Mr. Surfacer line is also a must - the bestest primer around, but a little pricy. In the jars it's a fine surface corrector and filler.

[en'til Zog]

Hi, Macdaddy. Here's a few suggestions. In addition to the SSM store, of course.

Sandy paper - automotive supply store. The black stuff is best - Wet or Dry type you can use to wet sand. Get grits 100, 150, 200, 400, 600, 1200.

Sanding sticks - the Health and Beauty department of Wal-Mart or almost any drug or chain store. Get fine & course. Also good for wet sanding.

Files - jeweler's needle files, small file sets in fine and course, rifflers in fine and course (the bendy end ones) - from a Discount store or Liquidator store. For working in plastic you don't need the most durable tools around. Just take 'em out of their package (ask first) and run your fingers over the teeth of the files to make sure they're relatively even. Diamond files are nice, but not vital.

Sprue cutters - an electronics shop, or some discounters/liquidators.

Clamps - back to the liquidator store.

Small pliers - needle nose, etc. Discounters/liquidators or Harbor Freight.

Harbor Freight should have most of this stuff. And they're mail order.

[starmanmm]

Just to add to the list...

Tape - various widths, tackness, and color

Containers of various depth and size - to hold things like small parts, water, etc.

A small bench vise comes in handy

Desk lamp w/o a magnifying glass

At Wal Mart or the like, small drawers to hold everything from parts to brushes to sandpaper, etc.

[Kylwell]

Tape: Tamiya for most, Blue painters tape for bulk filling.

Primer: Mr. Surfacer & Tamiya Fine primer.

Sanding stick, flexi-file, scribing tool(s), and most of all option parts.

[Lonewolf]

One necessity that I'm surprised no one has mentioned: A large supply of Future! I keep a container on my hobby desk for use any time I might need it.

I'll second the comment about the Wal-mart Health and Beauty aisle. I picked up both the regular nail sanding boards and the manicure set (ultra-fine boards). Heck of a lot cheaper than "official" sanding sticks, and they do the same darn thing.

Get yourself a supply of cotton swabs, too. They're great for weathering with pastels and for gently wicking away excess water when you use too much for putting decals on.

Toothpicks are always handy to have around, for painting, holding parts, etc.

One thing that I thought I could do without, but have ended up using more than I thought I would is a sharpening stone. My dad gave me one that had belonged to my grandfather, and I use it to help keep my Xacto blades nice and sharp. It even works on a pair of surgical steel scissors that I have.

Having a collection of various-sized plastic containers also is handy. If I need to store some custom-mixed paint, I've found that 35mm film canisters work very well. I use styrofoam egg containers as mixing bowls. I cut a single egg section off whenever I need to do mixing. The paint doesn't leak through, you get 12 of them in every container, and when you're done mixing, dump the paint into a sealable container and throw the used egg section in the trash.

[Kylwell]

One necessity that I'm surprised no one has mentioned: A large supply of Future! I keep a container on my hobby desk for use any time I might need it.

And taste great with wodka!