On the Shelf

Tools (4)

All prices in this website are in Canadian Dollars.

The Etch Mate, and other tools, by Mission Models

The Etch Mate received an excellent review in the December 2005 Railroad Model Craftsmanmagazine. These are key precision tools for anyone seriously building etched brass or nickel-silver kits. They make possible highly accurate bends in etched parts sheets and controlled curves in wire stock.

We are very happy to be an Etch Mate/Mission Models product dealer and carry the following items in stock:

EM-001 Etch Mate, for precision folds and bends: $75.00

EM-002 4.5" & 6,5" Extended Folding Blades for the Etch Mate: $8.00

MM-07 Bending Gauge for small radius curves in wire .375"/9.53mm to .047"/1.20mm: $33.95

MM-08 Bending Gauge for slightly larger radius curves in wire .500"/12.70mm to .053"/1.60mm: $33.95

MM-09 Micro-Chisel, stainless steel with rubber grip, 2mm cutting tip: $13.50

MM-11 Micro-Chisel replacement tip set: $6.60

A full description and more pictures of these high quality specialty tools made are at the Mission Models website.

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The Right Clamp, by Coffman Graphic Solutions

Coffman Graphic solutions in Kentucky has developed an excellent range of tools, for making precision right angle corner joints on models of rolling stock, buildings, etc.

These are a terrifically useful tool for anyone building resin flat-cast rolling stock kits or buildings and for scratchbuilding. The clamp holds the parts in a perfect 90 degree angle and the open inside edge allows one to apply glue or cement with precision. The pad holds an outside irregular surface firmly to the inside right angle without marring the surface of the casting.

There are four different sizes, giving one the flexibility to use the right one for the right situation, from building small subassemblies or N scale cars, to large building models.

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These are not sold in most hobby shops, so we thought it worth carrying them for those who like building their models right, or for anyone else who needs to get their right angles right time after time after time.

The line consists of:

The Original Right Clamp @ $26.95;

The Mini Right Clamp @ $24.95;

The Long Right Clamp @ $28.50;

The Large Right Clamp @ $30.95.

Other photos of these tools are available at the Coffman website if you would like to know more about them.

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Reboxx: Precision Truck Journal Box Tuner and Wheelsets

Most model railroaders are not aware that most model manufacturers make their trucks and wheelsets to widely varying standards within the applicable NMRA Recommended Practices. (RP 24.1 specifies a minimum distance between journal end points and RP 24.3 specifies a maximum axle width.)

These differences are what make the trucks on your rolling stock run poorly or well. The Reboxx Exact Socket Tool and its line of precision axle length wheelsets eliminate the differences, providing the absolute minimum rolling resistance and maximum truck stability available with today's technologies.

The Exxact Socket Tool ($14.95) is used to ream out the the inside of truck journal bearings to the NMRA standard 60 degree cone so there is no drag on the edges of the axle and so that the sharp tip of the axle is able to roll freely on a true minimal point at each end. This tool reduces the resistance from journal/wheelset surface friction in most HO trucks so that they roll very often by up to between two and three times more freely. That allows your locomotives to pull much longer trains and with fewer derailments.

These are used by inserting the tool perpendicularly in a truck frame as you would do a wheelset, then turning the tool with the thumb and forefinger of one hand while you apply a gentle pressure on each journal box with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. It cuts in one direction only and stops cutting when the 60 degree angle is just right.

When one journal box is done, reverse the cutting tool between the journal boxes and repeat the process for the other journal and reinsert wheelsets.

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We also carry Reboxx Precision Wheelsets (12/$14.95).

These wheelsets are machined to precise lengths so that the pinpoint ends of the axles are exactly matched to the inside ends of the journals on a truck. This ensures that the point of friction is minimal.

They come in axle lengths from 0.0950" to 1.075" (at 0.0050 increments) so you are able to get exactly the right fit for each truck.

The wheels are turned to a scale 33' or 36" diameter and to a 0.088" width, which runs fine on all trackwork that meets NMRA standards. The wheelsets come electrically isolated on one wheel only or with both wheels isolated from the axle.

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Wheelsets are 12 per package and cost $14.95 per package.

For more details, you can visit the Reboxx website by clicking your mouse on the company name to the left.

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A-West Needle Point Applicators

These products are for anyone who builds or scratchbuilds in styrene or other plastics and used liquid cements. These pinpoint applicators allow one to set down just the right amount of liquid in just the right place. Precision control of cement application is achieved using a combination of angle of application and finger pressure on the flexible bottle. The applicator can also be used to run a larger flow of cement down a joint for final securing of a seam tacked together initially, thus allowing accuracy of alignments and strength of joints.

We use these extensively for all our projects. They can be used with Testors Liquid cement, Tenax 7R, MEK, and our favorite liquid cement, Ambroid's Pro-Weld.

The applicators come in several sizes. We keep in stock the .0016", .0020" and .0025" needle sizes, and can special order in larger sizes.

The price of these are $3.25 each.

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Flexi-Files

These flexible sanding wands are an excellent tool for both general and fine shaping of styrene, wood, metal and other materials.

They come in Coarse, Medium, Fine and Extra Fine grits. The wand part is flexible plastic and can be cut to fit into small or special areas that need shaping or cleaning. These are $3.25 each.

Also is available is a three grit combination Flexi-File. This one is used to provide a mirror sharp and clean surface, even to clear plastics. It is the best thing to use to clean up a clear styrene or plastic surfaces that have been crazed by errant glue or adhesive, or accidentally marred or scratched. The cost for this little gem is $4.25. (On the far left below.)

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The CMX Clean Machine Track Cleaning car

This is one of the best track cleaning devices I have ever used. These pieces of rolling stock can be used with special liquid track cleaning products, just plain old 99% isopropyl alcohol or, if you really want to kill some brain cells, acetone. They can be used with the fabric provided or with something abrasive if your track is really in rough shape.

They can be run by themselves behind or ahead of a locomotive or in a special work train (if your locomotive is a good puller - they are heavy). Until this product came along, I swore by my ganged Centerline track cleaners, but this has the advantage of being able to be used in both directions without any fuss or bother.

These are available in unpainted brass @ $119.95.

I have also done one up with a CPR company service number just because it seems to me that it is not right to have something shiny and bright operating on a working layout. The price on the one in the picture is $165.95. (We can do these up in CN or other road names as well.)

We only keep the HO scale model in stock, but can special order the N scale or O scale version.

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< Note all prices on this website are in $Cdn. >

(Please note that, effective April 4, 2008, exhorbitant increases in bank transaction fees make it necessary to add an additional 5% to billings if payment is by credit card.)

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