RP TOOLZ MAGNETIC HANDLE 50 & 60

RP Toolz of Hungary have produced some very nicely made and useful model making tools over the last few years. Some of you may already be aware of their punch and die sets and the range of photo etch bending tools they produce.

Two fairly recent additions to their range as these Magnetic Handles (Codes RP-Mag50 and RP-Mag60)

I purchased both of these tools for £6.15 each so for that its was too good to pass up on these.

So, what is the purpose of these?

Basically, you get an anodised aluminium handle onto which is fitted a magnetic head.

The Mag 50 is listed as being ideal for 1:48 and 1:72 scale kits while its larger brother is designed to be used with 1:35.

The intended use if to hold a model so that you can move it around as you paint, weather etc.

This is achieved via the magnetic head of the unit and a couple of steel discs that you fit within the model.

PICTURES 1 & 2

The actual packing is the same on both models with the only difference being to the product name and part number.

PICTURE 3

Opening the box, you will find the Handle, an acrylic stand, a token number of steel discs (you get 10 in each unit) and a basic set of instructions.

Pictures 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8

The instructions suggest gluing 2 steel discs within the model but to be honest if it’s a tank with removable turret you can just drop the steel discs in so that they can be recovered and re-used at the end of your build.

It should be noted that replacement steel discs are available and here in the UK one retailer stocking these is Historex Agents.

The Acrylic base is film coated when it arrives so you can remove this to be left with a nice shiny scratch free base unit.

The handle size on both units is exactly the same and its just the head size that differs between the 2 models.

MAG 60 the head measures 60mm x 10mm x 15mm 115 grams
MAG 50 the head measures 50mm x 8mm x 12mm 98 grams

The base can be used to place the handle into and the base is wide enough at its base to prevent the whole thing tipping over.

PICTURES 10 & 11

Here you can see just what the handle looks like in use as well as a comparison of the 2 in their acrylic holders.

PICTURES 13, 14 & 15

And here you can see what the whole thing looks like with a relatively small kit in place.

The advertised benefit with these tools is the fact that you can angle the model however you wish as you work on it.

While I can see there is a use for these, I am not sure how much use at this stage I would make of them but that said its like all tools – they are an investment and looked after should last a life time.

And as age takes over and dexterity starts to fail these just may become an extremely useful and valued tool in my box.