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Stupid question time, brace yourself. So I just got my delivery and I'm putting together my first ever model, which is taking forever BTW! Anyway, I'm finding it extremely hard to remove the models from the sprues with my knife (GaleForce 9). The knife itself just doesn't seem very sharp and it actually bends when I put pressure on it (is it meant to?). I really wish I had got some clippers but I was already at over £90 in supplies.

Any tips/advice for removing models with a knife?

Get some clippers.

Use a sawring action, don't just press down on the sprue....oh....AND ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOURSELF


Nobody like getting impaled on a hobby knife ^^


LazzurusMan

Seconded, the exacto knife is great more many things, removing things from a sprue is not one of them. Its a great way to cut yourself pretty badly though.

Medium of Death wrote:Get some clippers.

Yeah, seriously. You won't regret it.

Cheaper solution for the short term: pop into your nearest Rymans and pick up a self-healing cutting mat. It's much easier to cut things off when you don't have to worry about the surface beneath it.

LazzurusMan wrote:Use a sawring action, don't just press down on the sprue....oh....AND ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOURSELF


Nobody like getting impaled on a hobby knife ^^


LazzurusMan

Ive done that many times

Get clippers. Hobby knifes arent that good for gething your models out of the sprue. they are good for cleaning up mouldlines etc.

I will definitely get a pair of clippers ASAP, but for now the knife will have to do. I'm being extremely careful not to cut myself. I saw a video and the guy was using a knife to cut the models off and it was like pop, pop, pop, so I thought it would be fine.

Medium of Death wrote:Get some clippers.

This.

In addition to the highly recommended purchase of clippers, I would recommend a set of jeweler's saws. If you find yourself clipping a piece of sprue that connects at a thin, delicate part of the model (stupid GW designing), often times clippers will snap the part.


Ghidorah

Get clippers

Get clippers is the new +1

£8.20, thieving gits LOL

DONT buy GW clippers. Infact, don't buy any GW modelling supplies. Much cheaper (and better IMO) can be found elsewhere.

Matrim wrote:DONT buy GW clippers. Infact, don't buy any GW modelling supplies. Much cheaper (and better IMO) can be found elsewhere.

Doh, too late. I just ordered the GW clippers, but I got them from Firestorm Games so they was a little cheaper.

MrH wrote:

Matrim wrote:DONT buy GW clippers. Infact, don't buy any GW modelling supplies. Much cheaper (and better IMO) can be found elsewhere.

Doh, too late. I just ordered the GW clippers, but I got them from Firestorm Games so they was a little cheaper.

They're fine clippers, some people are just really against GW. They will serve you well.

nectarprime wrote:

MrH wrote:

Matrim wrote:DONT buy GW clippers. Infact, don't buy any GW modelling supplies. Much cheaper (and better IMO) can be found elsewhere.

Doh, too late. I just ordered the GW clippers, but I got them from Firestorm Games so they was a little cheaper.

They're fine clippers, some people are just really against GW. They will serve you well.

A lot of GW's hobby supplies are really pants, but I've been using the clips for years now and they do just fine.

I've had my GW clippers for 5 ish years and I still use them. They are in crap condition but that is from misuse.

I've had a pair of electornics/wire cutters. The spring died about two years into intensive use (I stole them from me dad), i've been using for six years now. It's not GW brand.

seeing as youre new to the GW hobby, welcome. This is also a fine time to heed advice of NEVER buying GW branded tools and supplies. you can spend $40 for the different tubs of basing material, or go down to FLGS and get 5x the ammount for $20-$30. You will have to mix it yourself, but... it is WELL worth the price. Testors glue is something like $5, GW branded glue is $15. You work the math out, and it does add up. GW saw is also ridiculously priced, and I got the same thing for much less non-branded.

It's a bit about hating on GW, its a bit about saving you money so you can actually afford that army.

Other tools you may wish to obtain that may not have been mentioned already:
-set of files
-tweezers
-sculpting tools (asking your dentist for the used picks is fine. You will have to grind some of them down. I actually use these for gluing fine detail on so I dont wreck something by using too much glue)

Getting into the hobby is expensive, and it might seem like a lot of cash to drop on all the tools, but later on, it will pay back. I can guarantee you that my first army and a half were poorly done because I did not have all of the tools, and needed extensive fixing.

LazzurusMan wrote:Use a sawring action, don't just press down on the sprue....oh....AND ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOURSELF


Nobody like getting impaled on a hobby knife ^^


LazzurusMan

They is no greater bond between you and your models than drowning them in your own blood after you cut your thumb in half. ^^

I have nothing against GW products. I just know I can get equivalently great stuff for 1/2 the price. I go to Harbor Freight. They have everything you need...sculpting tools, jeweler saws, files, flush cutters, whatever you need 2.99 USD.

nectarprime wrote:

MrH wrote:

Matrim wrote:DONT buy GW clippers. Infact, don't buy any GW modelling supplies. Much cheaper (and better IMO) can be found elsewhere.

Doh, too late. I just ordered the GW clippers, but I got them from Firestorm Games so they was a little cheaper.

They're fine clippers, some people are just really against GW. They will serve you well.

No, some of us realize that GW doesn't make their hobby supplies, they buy them from a private label manufacturer who slaps a fancy GW logo on the packaging so that the distributor (i.e., GW) can then charge a premium for the item. So basically, you're paying three to four different entities with each one taking a profit on the item before it gets into your hands. You can call it GW hating to make yourself feel better, but I call it being an educated consumer.

Don't buy hobby-branded tools unless you really have no other option.

I know they are rebranded. Hell, I buy GS from Kneadatite, not GW. I use Loctite glue, not GW. But if you're a beginner and you're not sure what you're supposed to get, spending a few extra dollars on GW clippers is better than getting something cheaper that POTENTIALLY could be a POS.

The GW clippers aren't too bad. Thats what I've been using for the past couple of years.