Tools: Hold and Fold

When I started to get back into railway modelling the only tools I had were some rather worn paint brushes and a set of small screwdrivers (useful for fixing my glasses), and so far I've added small tools to the collection as the need has arisen. So I've now got a modelling knife, a set of small drill bits and a pin vice for using them, a set of small files, a set of tweezers, and a razor saw. None of these have been expensive and none of them are particularly interesting. My new tool is, however, both more expensive and interesting and so warrants a post of its own.

As I mentioned recently I don't have a tool for rolling pieces of metal to shape but having now tried to do so I can see me buying a tool to help. The same thing happened when I had to fold some of the etched brass parts for the Baguley-Drewry kit (specifically folding the wiper blades was a bit of a nightmare) and so I invested in a new tool before building the Quarry Hunslet; a Hold and Fold from Avonside Works.

Given that it's called a Hold and Fold, you probably don't me to explain what it does or even how it works but... it lets you easily hold and fold metal parts. A number of different sized tools are available ranging from 2 inches in length all the way up to 14 inches. While I could easily shape any of the parts from the kit I'm currently building on the 2" model, I opted to buy the 4" version as I think that will be big enough for almost any model I ever want to build. If you want to have a look at the others then the best photos are probably on the product page at Eileen's Emporium.

So far I've only needed to bend one piece of the kit, the lip on the edge of the cab roof, but it was very easy to do accurately and I'm impressed with the feel and quality of the tool. Certainly something I'd recommend.