A Model Makers Guide by Jerry Kelly: "Basswood is the preferred wood for model building because of its fine grain and workability. It is available in many sizes from 1/32" square to sheets ½" X 4" wide and 24" long. When painted it shows no trace of grain. It is also available in structural steel shapes such as I-beams and wide flange beams. Sheets 3" wide are also made to look like planks, corrugated siding, board and batten, weatherboard siding and others."

Balsa Wood Facts by Sig Mfg Co: "The secret to balsa wood's lightness can only be seen with a microscope. The cells are big and very thin walled, so that the ratio of solid matter to open space is as small as possible. Most woods have gobs of heavy, plastic-like cement, called lignin, holding the cells together. In balsa, lignin is at a minimum. Only about 40% of the volume of a piece of balsa is solid substance."

Flexi-File - For Those Hard to Reach Spots by Bob Caruso: "A handy trick before using, is to bend the bar out some, thereby putting more tension on the sanding strip. This extra tension on the sandpaper provides better results because it makes the strip more taut."

Hints on Using Epoxies and Super Glues by Bob Smith: "Small bits and shavings of plastics can be mixed with INSTA-CURE to repair nicks and other damage to large plastic parts. Once cured, it can be sanded smooth to create a surface indistinguishable from the main part. This technique is used for the repair of vinyl automotive bumpers and allows the recycling of existing parts."

Making a Punch Set by Phil Novak: ""Drilling just didn't produce the effect that I was looking for and a hole punch created too big of a hole."

Modeling to Scale by Pete Albertsen: ""Over the years we have been called upon to produce a variety of models of all sorts for gaming purposes as well as for miniaturists and dioramists. In the process we have discovered that many people do not understand scale, particularly as it applies to gaming miniatures."

Model Car Makers Get the Squeeze by Fred Jandt "Arguably the hobby where this is the greatest problem is plastic modeling. Every customer has a favorite vehicle, plane or ship they want to build, one that more often than not simply has never been made as a plastic model kit."

Steps to a Good Solder Joint by Jerry Kelly: "For any joint, the metal must reach the proper temperature in order for the solder to flow."

Taskboard: "Taskboard's ultra-low density is extremely easy to cut, facilitating the fast cuts of ideation models and the precise intricate details required for presentation models."

Using Epoxies by Bob Smith: "When large objects are being bonded, economics can be a deciding factor on choice of adhesive. The specific characteristics of epoxies also give them advantages in some applications."

Using Plastruct Plastics: "Plastic can be sawed, blade cut. drilled, lathe-turned. carved, sanded and filled. Most standard woodworking tools may be used on plastic and it will not splinter."

Using Super Glues by Bob Smith: "Cyanoacrylates (CA's) have become the adhesive of choice for most hobby and household applications. High quality CA's such as INSTA-CURE, when used properly, form bonds that in many cases are stronger than the material that is being adhered."

Using Tamiya Extra Thin Cement by Chad Repaal: "I have found that for some applications Tamiya Extra Thin cement is a little too runny"