Precision Knife Red (5 extra blades)

Precision Knife Red, a modeling knife with 5 spare blades (Mirage Hobby)

This is a modeling knife (scalpel) with a replaceable blade from the Polish manufacturer Mirage Hobby, with a red handle. The package includes 5 spare blades. It is neither a kit nor a model, but basic workshop tooling. A knife with a replaceable blade, along with nippers and sandpaper, is among the first things a modeler buys; without it not a single part can be cleaned up properly.

Use

• Cutting parts from the sprue and removing the remains of the sprue gate.
• Cleaning up parting lines, trimming flash and burrs left by the mold.
• Cutting plastic, plastic profiles and thin sheet.
• Cutting out decals and masks, trimming masking tape directly on the model.
• Fine adjustment of parts, opening up holes and scribing small detail.

Why change the blade often

A blunt blade is more dangerous and worse than a sharp one. A sharp blade cuts the plastic; a blunt one pushes into it, the material tears, the edge whitens and breaks, flash slips away instead of being trimmed off, and the plastic often flakes away along with a piece of the part. On top of that you have to force a blunt blade, so when it slips it slips fast and far. That is why it pays to change the blade before it goes completely blunt, and that is why spares are in the package. The blade is a consumable, not a part for life.

Who it is for

For every modeler, from the beginner building a first kit to the advanced builder who cleans parts up to a flawless edge. It serves just as well when working with paper, card, film or masking tape.

Safety: The knife is very sharp. Always cut away from your body and clear of the fingers holding the part. Work on a cutting mat, never in your hand or on your lap. Change the blade carefully and cover it with the cap when you put it down. Do not throw used blades away loose; dispose of them safely, for example in a closed container. Keep out of the reach of children; it is not a toy.