No, it’s not the sparrows on the lawn or the dry wheel bearings on the Toyota…it’s the cheaping noise the modeller makes when they want to do something frugally. Put another way, it’s the sound a penny makes when you pinch it.
No, this will not be a post on how to crochet a Sunderland flying boat from leftover rags. But it might set you searching the house for the hobby supplies you never knew you owned. Be warned – some of them are owned by other members of your household and you may like to stake your claim discretely. I am not advocating theft per se, but then Billy The Kid never did say “ Stick Em Up “ in so many words… Use your judgement when to remove the items to the workshop.
a. Cotton wool sticks. They may have some legitimate use for makeup or medicine, but how much better that they be used to paint rubber resist solution on scale models. Use them up both ends and you need not feel guilty about harming the environment.
b. Tongue depressors and coffee sticks. Harvest these at the doctor’s office and the coffee shop as often as you can. Wash them out in the sink if you wish…or just take your chances.
c. Wax. While not the first thing that you think of on your workbench, there is still a need for it as a workable dam material and a paint resist. Jam jars, sewing kits, dental laboratories, and all sorts of craft stores can yield enough to last ages.
d. Window slats. IKEA and any number of cheap furnishers will sell you wooden slat binds for a very modest price. These can be cut apart and the extremely good wood sawn up for building strips. A little ingenuity and you have stripwood for 1:10th the price of the hobby shop.
e. Cocktail toothpicks. People buy them and collect them but never use them. Oh, granted, of someone hands you a martini or three you would be ungrateful not to drink them, but the real thing you need are the cocktail sticks.
f. Generic solvents and coatings. Well, you pays your money and you takes your chances, but you might find yourself well ahead of the game if you at least try the auto-body store or Bunnings product. The worst it could do is explode in a ball of flame. And that could happen with anything…
g. Fridge magnets. I have kitted out a scale diner with fridge magnets that were shaped like appliances. Who knew such a thing could exist?
The Little World 
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