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 Squigsquasher wrote:
Never bothered with GW knives. The razor saw was always OK though. The new sculpting tools look a lot better than the old one.

Still going to keep my old GW drill though. Say what you want about the other GW tools, the drill is wonderful. I fear the day my last drill bit breaks (although given that in the 4 years I've owned it, only 3 out of the 15 or so it comes with have snapped, I should be fine).

It does look like they have stepped their game up with these new tools though. And even if they turn out to be crap, the bronze finish looks nice.

Well, the good thing about the new drill, as opposed to the old is that you get different sized bits. They really should have included that with the hobby drill in the first place, instead of just giving you a lot of bits that were all the same size. I've never been super happy with my hobby drill..I'll have to see from other people in the shop if the new one performs any better.

Offering multiple sculpting tools is also a good thing. Whether you go out and get them someplace else is another thing, but they should have offered more than just one.

It looks like you no longer get a brush with the mold line remover, so that's a bit of a shame.

 Schlyne wrote:

 Squigsquasher wrote:
Never bothered with GW knives. The razor saw was always OK though. The new sculpting tools look a lot better than the old one.

Still going to keep my old GW drill though. Say what you want about the other GW tools, the drill is wonderful. I fear the day my last drill bit breaks (although given that in the 4 years I've owned it, only 3 out of the 15 or so it comes with have snapped, I should be fine).

It does look like they have stepped their game up with these new tools though. And even if they turn out to be crap, the bronze finish looks nice.

Well, the good thing about the new drill, as opposed to the old is that you get different sized bits. They really should have included that with the hobby drill in the first place, instead of just giving you a lot of bits that were all the same size. I've never been super happy with my hobby drill..I'll have to see from other people in the shop if the new one performs any better.

You know the old GW drill (the one before the rubber handled one) actually had multiple drill sizes. Why they went to a single drill size I have no idea, as the collet can be swapped around for different sized bits.

The older one also holds drill bits better, less likely to slip and easier to tighten.

Offering multiple sculpting tools is also a good thing. Whether you go out and get them someplace else is another thing, but they should have offered more than just one.

It's hard to buy a sculpting tool and NOT get a set, they almost always come in sets, the GW one was an oddity in that you only got the one tool, lol.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:


You know the old GW drill (the one before the rubber handled one) actually had multiple drill sizes. Why they went to a single drill size I have no idea, as the collet can be swapped around for different sized bits.

The older one also holds drill bits better, less likely to slip and easier to tighten.

I was going to say the same thing. I've recently found that a (not so local) modelling store sells different sized drill bits, so that's were I'll be going in the future. I've already got one old(now grandpa) GW drill and 2 new (now old) ones (only one of which works the other holds the bit at an angle, bought it overseas so returns weren't really an option and I really just needed the bits anyhow).

xD I know what was missing on the older (far far superiour) pin vice from GW... It was generic. It didnt have Citadel written on it, thus it was fail for the brand.
So we get a worse product, costing more because they had to have them made to include the citadel logo.
Gamesworkshop arent a tool company, they will be subcontracting it out. Having to pay the tool maker more for their citadel branded ones over the mass production run generic tools.
Economy of bulk simply doesnt exist for GW branded tools. So they will never compete on price, not untill they give up the citadel stamp again.

X-acto, Squadron Shop, Excel, Testors, and a variety of other companies produce and or sell good hobby tools in a variety of styles and price ranges, all far cheaper than the new GW tools. These companies were supporting modeling hobbyists long before fantasy miniature models were even a thing.

As for sprue nippers, if you're in the US or Canada try Michael's Crafts, they are in the jewelery making section, are the nice steel ones with black handles GW sold years ago, cost about $9 and Michael's regularly has 40% off one item in the store coupons, which would also be handy for purchasing the Xacto or Revell file sets, hobby saws and hobby knives they sell there. Army Painter also sells reasonably priced hobby tools.

X-acto tools:
http://xacto.com/Home.aspx

Revell tools:
http://www.revell.com/tools/index.html

Squadron Shop tools:
http://www.squadron.com/model-building-tools-and-supplies-s/2522.htm

Army Painter tools:
http://usshop.thearmypainter.com/products.php?ProductGroupId=5

Testors:
http://www.testors.com/category/136933/Hobby_Knives_%26amp%3B_Tools

So, for reasons I myself am not entirely clear on, I just watched the GW video on the new tool range.

Still not sure if that's the name because of what's being sold of who the target market are...

But one thing I did pick up was that the new sculpting set comes with a spreader for using with texture paint etc instead of a brush.

Anyone know what the 'proper' name for that tool as so I can acquire one for a sensible price?

GW basically discontinued its tool range for independent stores:
FLGSs just can't sell them if they also sell Army Painter or GF9.

 azreal13 wrote:
But one thing I did pick up was that the new sculpting set comes with a spreader for using with texture paint etc instead of a brush.

Anyone know what the 'proper' name for that tool as so I can acquire one for a sensible price?

A painting knife?

Nah, it's much smaller, about the same size as a dental/sculpting tool, but with flat ends and plastic, I could see it being useful for all sorts of odd jobs at the painting desk.

 azreal13 wrote:
Nah, it's much smaller, about the same size as a dental/sculpting tool, but with flat ends and plastic, I could see it being useful for all sorts of odd jobs at the painting desk.

Palette Knife?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palette_knife

 azreal13 wrote:
Nah, it's much smaller, about the same size as a dental/sculpting tool, but with flat ends and plastic, I could see it being useful for all sorts of odd jobs at the painting desk.

Something like this?



If so, "plastic sculpting tools" are what you're looking for.

Though you could just search for "sculpting tools" if you need metal.

It's the middle one, it could well just be a sort of plastic sculpting tool...

Looks the same as the tool on the far left of the bottom picture Agnosto posted.

 azreal13 wrote:
[img]

It's the middle one, it could well just be a sort of plastic sculpting tool...

Just use a hobby file... (second from the the left)

It's for spreading paint, so a file wouldn't work because of the textured surface, the sculpting tool might work, but I liked the idea that it is supposedly nylon plastic which paint doesn't stick to that well, making it easier to clean.

 azreal13 wrote:
So, for reasons I myself am not entirely clear on, I just watched the GW video on the new tool range.

Still not sure if that's the name because of what's being sold of who the target market are...

But one thing I did pick up was that the new sculpting set comes with a spreader for using with texture paint etc instead of a brush.

Anyone know what the 'proper' name for that tool as so I can acquire one for a sensible price?

It almost looks like a spudger for prying apart things and used in telecom, usually tightly sealed electronics, that has been repurposed for painting. Plastic versions are pennies and most usually free with electronics replacement parts for repair shops. You can get really nice nylon or superior metal spudger for less than $10.00

 whitetornado wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:
So, for reasons I myself am not entirely clear on, I just watched the GW video on the new tool range.

Still not sure if that's the name because of what's being sold of who the target market are...

But one thing I did pick up was that the new sculpting set comes with a spreader for using with texture paint etc instead of a brush.

Anyone know what the 'proper' name for that tool as so I can acquire one for a sensible price?

It almost looks like a spudger for prying apart things and used in telecom, usually tightly sealed electronics, that has been repurposed for painting. Plastic versions are pennies and most usually free with electronics replacement parts for repair shops. You can get really nice nylon or superior metal spudger for less than $10.00

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/nylon-spudger

go figure.

If that ain't it, that's damn close!

Good call, and thanks!

 azreal13 wrote:
If that ain't it, that's damn close!

Good call, and thanks!

You could also use this from a dollar store.

 azreal13 wrote:
So, for reasons I myself am not entirely clear on, I just watched the GW video on the new tool range.

Still not sure if that's the name because of what's being sold of who the target market are...

But one thing I did pick up was that the new sculpting set comes with a spreader for using with texture paint etc instead of a brush.

Anyone know what the 'proper' name for that tool as so I can acquire one for a sensible price?

Id guess that its going to be one of three things from an artists store; Colour shaper, Spatula, Pallet Knife..

GW say its made of nylon and is spade shaped though. I'm not sure what craftsman needs a micro sized nylon spade or for what job tbh.... Id call it a spatula though.

Spudgers could work, most of mine are shorter handled thougn than the GW bit (maybe 4" overall).

Plastic has a good bit more bounce than stainless, so having a plastic tool for shaping isnt a bad thing. Also a bit different than a rubber clay shaper too.

Something like these Duron tools

http://www.dickblick.com/products/sculpture-house-duron-plastic-sculpting-tool-set/

Little bit different, but the 4th one from the top looks to have the general form of the GW tool.

As with all these releases, you can get that Duron set, a set of clay shapers and a set of stainless dental picks for the same price as three tools from GW.

Hmmmm. Was this neccessary?

This is the knife GW used to sell. Made by Swann-Morton and packaged by GW. Still got two of them and love them to bits, you can get them for a fiver from Amazon.

So, a few overpriced, average tools with the GW mark and bag, or save a bundle and get as good if not better quality tools w/o the GW brand for far less, and more tools and replacement tool bits like the drill/sculpt tools/blades, etc. Now it would be good if he stress tested the tools for their ability, but he did not have to.

GW playing it off as they see themselves so highly, yet these are likely sub contracted tools made with the GW brand for GW. Honestly, the safer bet is buying the listed other party tools for the lower cost, in this economy, GW is still in fantasy land as far as their prices go.

To be fair, we don't know the quality of the new GW tools, they could be awesome. I'm guessing not, but there's always a chance, lol.

 azreal13 wrote:
It's for spreading paint, so a file wouldn't work because of the textured surface, the sculpting tool might work, but I liked the idea that it is supposedly nylon plastic which paint doesn't stick to that well, making it easier to clean.

I use tamiya paint stirrers.
They are chromed metal, with a spoon shaped bit at one end (its tiny) and a flat blade at the other. They are intended for stirring paint in airbrush paintcups, the 5ml small ones, so the ends are small, but I find them great for spreading putty or anything. The beauty is that nothing sticks to them. They don't bend like plastic ones do, but mine are 8 years old and look like new.

Can't remember how much they cost, but they come as a pair.

I haven't bought anything from GW in a long time, but I can see a few of these finding their way into my grubby mitts.

I'll be honest, I love the look of the knife, drill & clippers. I know there ridiculously expensive, and possibly of dubious quality, but they do appeal to me, so I must be the kind of sucker that GW love!!

Does anyone remember the last time GW knifes used the 'Swann Morton' style blade? I do, and I remember seeing blister pack of replacement blades (5 in a silver packet) in the York GW for £5 - yes, £5 - about 5 times what you would pay for them elsewhere - and that was years ago - what would they charge now??

NoggintheNog wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:
It's for spreading paint, so a file wouldn't work because of the textured surface, the sculpting tool might work, but I liked the idea that it is supposedly nylon plastic which paint doesn't stick to that well, making it easier to clean.

I use tamiya paint stirrers.
They are chromed metal, with a spoon shaped bit at one end (its tiny) and a flat blade at the other. They are intended for stirring paint in airbrush paintcups, the 5ml small ones, so the ends are small, but I find them great for spreading putty or anything. The beauty is that nothing sticks to them. They don't bend like plastic ones do, but mine are 8 years old and look like new.

Can't remember how much they cost, but they come as a pair.

They're on Feebay for around £5 delivered. Look good too, evidently in the space of 24 hours I've gone from not being aware that there was a tool I wanted, to not knowing what it was called, to having a choice of several!

They'd probably make you buy a new knife. Like when they stopped selling the drill bits individually and expected you to buy a new drill...

Herzlos wrote:
They'd probably make you buy a new knife. Like when they stopped selling the drill bits individually and expected you to buy a new drill...

They probably realised that their customers realise after buying the drill that they can buy bits for next to nothing from a hardware store, lol.