i thought this hobby would be easy to get into, but so far i just wanna explode!
The only component I have is the knife.
I cant find those uhu pens anywhere
i dont have access to a credit card so i can only buy online through paypal
my printer is all screwed up all of a sudden
and i need a bunch of money to afford the rest of the supplies!
not to mention the cost of sets
how did all of you get started? I really want to know

I started with a metal ruler, a knife, and for glue I don't really use the UHU any more. I've had better luck with Scotch spray adhesive for gluing large surfaces, and elmer's glue for the tabs - with clothes pins to hold the drying surfaces together. The trick is getting the glue amounts right.

You will need to get your printer working, however.

Okay - to start, a good knife, a metal straight edge (or steel rule, or even a metal protractor, just a straight length that the knife won't cut into), a sheet of foam core, and some glue.

For glue - I have actually been having very good results with double sided tape. I use a glue stick for large flat surfaces like the base tiles, but I am really tempted to put double sided tape around the edges of those as well. While my glue stickied tiles have not come up I have heard of other folks on these forums having that as a problem.

I can get both the glue sticks and the double sided tape at Dollar Tree. See if you have a dollar store in your area that has them, brings the entry cost way down, and Dollar Tree often has foam core board as well. I have a pile of cheap foam core, not as good as some of the brands out there, but I made terrain for use in a summer program, where plentiful and cheap was a good thing. It works 'well enough' and is perfect for practice on if nothing else. I use black magic marker to edge the foam core.

I have even bought steel rules there.

The Auld Grump

Also, Target sells foamcore for $2.80 a sheet.

The hobby is generally pretty easy to get into (compared to others) once you grab yourself some very basic and cheap starting supplies:

* Metal straight edge ruler (cork backing to prevent slipping)
* Utility knife (the kind with the blade that snaps off as you use it).
* A low water content glue for paper crafting or scrap booking (gluesticks and double sided tape also do the job).
* 110lb cardstock or 80lb coverstock (buy a ream at your local office supply store).
* Any working color printer

There's some really outstanding help and tips in our Methods & Materials forum: http://www.worldworksgames.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

There's video tutorials and a free beginners guide with more materials info here: http://www.worldworksgames.com/store/in ... pages_id=4 . I'll be updating that section in the coming months (its from 2003 so it could use a reboot ).

When in doubt, bug the community for answers. We're here to help.

I model on an exceedingly cheap budget. Like Grump said, the dollar store is your friend.

From them I get:
the utility knife with a snap off blade, and 10 replacement blades in the same pack
metal ruler
foamcore
tooth picks
removable poster tack

Now for edging I recommend crayola markers, they're very cheap, they don't run, and the smallest pack includes brown, gray, and black

cardstock 100 sheets of 110lbs at walmart for $5.50

I also use elermers white glue, and glue sticks. Now this does take care when using since its higher water content and will warp the paper easily if too much is applied. But I just put a little on a scrap of cardstock and use a toothpick to apply a little to the tab I'm gluing. For anything bigger than a tab I use the glue stick.

And finally the printer, I bought a brothers printer with separate color cartidges on sale for $60. And I get replacement generic ink online, 4 black 2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 red in a bundle for $40. The ink isn't color fast but I've never had a problem.

Also Walmart sells Stylus in the craft department. They are really cheap and you use them to score your models.

For glue I always used (when I was in the States) Aileen's Tacky Glue works great, and it is also sold at WalMart.

Also once you get your printer situated if you look at each different set some of them have a free dowload. Like a bridge or a cover piece for a castle wall. Print those out and use these as the basis for calibrating your printer for the best and most economical effect. And it gives you stuff to practice with before you get into a LARGE project like The Maiden