TAMIYA74046 - Model Kit - Model Files

Quality! Tamiya comes thru again! These were a great value modelers!

As stated in my other review of Tamiya Tweezers, I recently got back into the hobby of plastic modelling and so I had to start from scratch since I did not have any tweezers or tools for the hobby. This set of Tamiya File Set was one of those accessories I had to purchase, so I wanted to get a quality file set.Initially, I was going to buy the Tamiya set with the sponge-like handles, but decided to buy this one with the plastic vinyl-dipped handles because I think they will last longer over time and easier to clean. The Tamiya sponge handle file set although look more comfortable initially will not last over time. These files are very well made and work as expected. I didn't want to purchase the cheaper kind which I will later regret, or have to replace the set again. In the long run, I would rather pay a little more and buy a quality product that will last a long time, than to replace the cheaper ones over and over again.

These are really great files for the price. I have used the super-duper German and Swiss files that cost $15.00 for just one, and I have used the cheap made in India rubbish where you get a set of 12 for $10.00. With the former being a 10, and the latter being a 1, I would put these files at about a 6.75. They are nice and straight. The teeth are nice and even. They clean well with a file card. They also have a classy rubber grip that is pretty cool. Very comfortable to use. Raise the rating to a flat 7 just because of those grips. This set is the coarse set of the two sets available from Tamiya. Quality stuff.

I bought these for small scale modeling (I enjoy 25-30mm wargaming using plastic models particularly) and find them to be tools of excellent quality that get the job done time after time. One is flat, one convex, and one round, so the three cover most situations I come across in my regular hobby pursuits - whether filing down mold lines on plastic and metal figures, cleaning up bits of sprue in horribly inconvenient locations, or smoothing out small areas of green-stuffed fills, these do the job well. I have a small stiff-wire brush I bought somewhere long ago, and using that to clean 'em up after heavy use keeps them practically new and still doing the job, well, time after time. :-) Very nice.

When I was but a wee childe, many an hour did I spent assembling models of all types and sizes. From Weirdo dragsters to Aurora movie monsters; from ships to boats; from superheros to submarines, I've built them all! I used to sneak away me mum's emery boards to file away those pesky residual nubs of jagged plastic left when the part was separated from the plastic tree-matrix. But the improvised tool didn't last long and me mum learned not to leave the boards about. If only I had the Tamiya Basic File Set then! Oh, lack-a-day, lack-a-day! These superb files come in three configurations and are of superior construction! I be currently assembling a dandy six-inch enemy battle cruiser from the "Star Blazers" universe, and let me tell you these tools are INDESPENSABLE!I am so happy!

The good: great for initial work, will need a fine grit sandpaper to accomplish what I am after.The bad: I didn't know what I'd be needing for gunpla kits, grit too coarse.UPDATE:After getting some weathering kits, I wondered if these would make decent marks for adding damaged effects to kits. Needless to say, they worked much better than I'd hoped. By adding the trails and markings for beam damage and heat trails. Adds the slagged metal effect too. Way better than I'd thought initially, but still wanted a little more fine a grit.

I hate making sanding sticks and the sandpaper I use only lasts for a few gunpla pieces before I need to throw them out. With these files I can get most of the material removed quickly before switching to a higher grit sanding stick.These also clean up really easily and haven't shown any signs of dulling.

Three basic files. They get the job done. They have plastic "handle" caps which are more comfortable than bare steel. I don't really think these are any sort of particularly good Japanese tool steel, and I'm pretty sure these are made in China. I got a generic set of 8 files with more comfortable dipped rubber handles but I still love the Tamiya brand and product line. These three are enough for most modeling tasks.

All the files in this pack are great quality and will last a lifetime if looked after correctly, it certainly makes the the saying by cheap by twice ring in your thoughts as this maybe a little more expensive than other brands but a great purchase for me.

Compact size, nice weight and good grips: this set of needle files is a very good investment for a very good price, especially if you're a plastic modeler.I go full Tropic Thunder with my Gunpla so I complement my sanding with fine-grit sandpaper as well, but for large nub bumps that my sprue cutters can't get to and my craft knife just can't touch, this is my go-to. I haven't touched the rat-tail and half round ring files but I reckon I'll need them soon, for hard-to-reach edges or if I need to share them. For the moment I'm using the double-cut flat and it works wonders. I just need to sand a few rounds and the nub bumps disappear.One noticeable downside is that if you sand edges where the plastic is at a 90 degree angle, you will shave slivers of the edge off and it might offset whatever twin piece you might be snapping on against that edge. To a pro modeler it's fixable with putty, but I'm not and I don't have any so I'd just be cautious when sanding near 90-degree-angle pieces, or use my round / half-round.Considering it's a Tamiya plamodeling product that comes in a set of three which you get for cheap, I would highly recommend this equipment.

The product is great. And as others have said, be careful. They work without much effort. Too much elbow grease could be way too hard, on plastic anyways. Only 4 stars because of delivery. I mean it's 2016, it should not take a month and a half, even if it is from Japan.

Tamiya. A byword for quality. This is no different, bought these for my games workshop models, not disappointed. Build quality is excellent and you can tell they are built to last.

Good quality for the price. Fits into tight areas on N scale models to neaten up scratch built. Cuts smoothly.