Tools and Accessories

Most kits supply timber, fittings and plans but no tools, no glue and no paint. This section covers the rest, so you are not halfway through planking a hull on a Sunday evening with nothing suitable to hold it in place.

Organised by the stage of the build

• Clamps and building tools for holding planks, keeping frames square and assembling superstructure
• Plank bending tools for shaping strip timber around a hull
• Glues matched to timber, brass, cast metal, plastic and photo etch
• Paints, primers and finishes for hulls, decks and fittings
• Electric tools for drilling, sanding and cutting
• Other tools and accessories for blades, bits, fittings and consumables

Starting from nothing

A multi tool set or a tool bundle is usually better value than buying item by item, and covers the majority of a first build. Experienced modellers tend to buy individually to replace or upgrade specific tools.

Choose by the job, not the brand

The wrong adhesive on brass fittings, or the wrong grade of abrasive on a second planked hull, costs more time than the tool saved. If you are not sure what a particular build needs, tell us which kit you are working on and we will advise.

Common questions

What tools do I need for my first wooden ship kit?

A sharp modelling knife, fine abrasives, a pin vice and drill bits, plank clamps, a plank bender and a wood glue. Everything else can wait.

Do kits include any tools?

Very rarely. Assume not, and check the kit listing before ordering.

Can I buy everything for a build in one order?

Yes. A bundle plus a glue and a paint selection covers most kits. Browse model kits and add the tools alongside.