Punch & die sets are one of those tools that you don’t think too much about until one day when you need it. Then once you have one, you wonder how you ever did without it. Roll Models now offers the familiar Waldron set containing a punch guide and six punches in the following sizes:

.160”, .120”, .089”, .081”, .059”, and .039”

Using the set is simplicity itself. One need only slightly separate the sandwich guide, slide in the material to be punched out, line it up in the appropriately sized hole, insert the punch and lightly tap it with a small hammer. You’re rewarded with a perfectly round punch-out. Aircraft modelers have long used this tool to cut out small, round instrument panel dial and gauge decals. Ship modelers will find it useful when the time comes to cut out circular decals for 1/700 or 1/350 Japanese, British or U.S aircraft decals for carrier models. One aspect that I did notice was that a good magnifier came in handy as I used the smaller punches. This was to ensure that the item to be punched was properly centered in the guide hole.

Other thin materials besides paper can be punched, including plastic, foil and soft metal such as brass. Undoubtedly, the more you use this, the more uses you’ll find for it.

Thanks to Roll Models for supplying the review set.