Aircraft modellers frequently have to replace rivets lost due to sanding and seam clean-up.

Methods employed include the painstaking method of marking each rivet with a needle in a pin vise.

We've often read about a tool called 'Rosie the riveter', but is not easily found in this part of the woods.

It so happens that Trumpeter's version of this marvellous tool is available here in some hobby shops.

I bought mine from Miniature Hobby in VivoCity, for less than S$10.

Front view of the packaging.

The rivet maker comes with four interchangeable wheels, with different pitch, to make rivet lines of different spacing.

Back of packaging, showing the instructions in English and Chinese.

Close up of the tool head, with the 'A' wheel installed. This wheel has the finest pitch.

Wheels 'B', 'C' and 'D'

To remove a wheel, simply slide the catch back to release the axle.

The all-plastic construction of the handle and retension mechanism may not take kindly to rough handling.

On the back is another sliding part, but the instructions make no mention of this.

If you slide it forwards, the rounded portion actually covers the wheel's teeth, thus protecting the installed wheel, in case the tool is dropped.

Front view, showing how the rear slider protects the installed wheel.

How does it perform?

Not too shabby.

The below lines were done free-hand, so they aren't too straight.

The holes have a slightly raised edge that will need some sanding, and the holes themselves are not perfectly round; more like diamond-shaped.

But given the price and convenience, I'd use this over the needle-in-a-vise alternative.