review6

At last! A real innovation for those modelers who are slightly long in the tooth and of whom arthritis has gotten the
best.

How many times have I dropped a part I was trying to hold and it became two parts. And those times I carefully aligned
two parts, applied a little glue only to see them separate as I took my fingers from them.

There have been those badly articulated “third hands” for years. It took loosening and tightening at least two screws
to position a part to be held rigidly with a small alligator clip. For those who have longed for a really good method of
holding parts and completed models stationary, welcome to Handi – Hands™

The Green Mountain Co. has taken a number of innovations and used them together to create a universal holding
tool that modelers may use in any number of situations. The foundation for the creation is the base grid. This tough
plastic piece resembles the metal diffusers of a fluorescent light fixture. The base comes in two sizes, the largest of
which is 7.5” by 15” and is pictured above. The base has a bottom so that dropped parts can be retrieved from the
grid. There is a non-skid rubber mat that goes under the base to hold it in place on the workbench.

The arms, which are the key part of the unit, are plastic segments joined together and swivel, so that they can be
positioned into any configuration creating a custom holding apparatus for each task. One end of the arm has a
square rubber plug which fits snugly into any opening of the grid. To the other end of each arm is attached a different
end-piece. These include a plastic C-clamp, a “mini grabber” with three metal gripping prongs, four different sizes of
alligator clips, two styles of plastic spring clamps, a metal clip, curved bar clamp and a magnetic disc.

Not shown in this photo is another accessory, tie down hooks, which can be used with a rubber band to hold a model,
or other object, to the base.

These arms with their different components can be used to hold almost any size part, including the entire model being
worked on. It is even possible to position two parts together while you apply a drop of glue. The “mini grabber” will
hold a 1/35th scale figure while it is being painted.

I am always looking for a pieces of foam to hold a model on its back, while applying landing gear, decals, treads, etc.
Well, this is probably the most useful feature of the tool. With two spring clamps on the wings you can hold the model
in any position and rotate the base as you work on it. Put another component on the base and you can position
landing gear and hold them while the glue sets. The uses for this devise are almost limitless and can be employed in
any number of hobbies. Prices are not prohibitive, the large base is $20.00, the smaller one is $15.00. The articulated
arms are almost all $12.00. No, I don’t work for these guys and get no sales commission. I just recognized a good
thing when I saw it and have found it immensely useful in my modeling.

HHH