I decided yesterday to install the numberboards on my SD80s, my God!!!!! How do those of you with big hands and fingers do it!!!! Out of the 16 numberboards I lost half:angry::angry:At least the decoder install looks easy enough:thumbs_up:
Ditto what Russ says... My favorite is the superfine 'Microbrush'. I buy them by the hundreds... They are great for touchup painting, applying glue in very precise amounts, and other uses. I have a nice pair of tweezers from Zona I LOVE for detail parts. They have sharp points, very precise. Next are my ultraflush cutters from Xuron. I have a magnifier, similar to an Optivisor, but cheaper. I also had a pair of glasses converted to 'reading glasses, with 2x lenses. They work great in combination with my magnifier (I got it at Wal Mart). Those, and a pair of Craftsman micro-pliers are my favorites, other than a stainless steel 6" ruler for cutting decals, masking tape, and other stuf, along with an exacto knife, and a plentiful supply of fresh #11 blades.
Be sure before ya start, to shave your head.. It doesn't hurt near as bad as pulling it out during the detailing..
And if I may, add some real good light with that magnifier. You will make mistakes, we all do. Learn how to correct them (easier said than done, I admit). Personally, when I accepted the fact that things don't have to come out perfectly the first time around, I relaxed, and enjoyed the process a bit more (and at the same time, advanced further, quicker). ---jps
Good tools do help, here is a picture of the tweezers like what Hemi is talking about. My biggest help is a nice quiet room with as much natural light as possiable. Like others have said too, practice is something that needs to be maintanied. The more you do however, the better you get.
S.S.N., I work on a desk over a bare wood floor, and if a part gets away, I sweep acoss the floor with the edge of a piece of cardstock. I can usually find even tiny parts such as MTL coupler springs easily. Also, wear pants without cuffs!