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Made in gb
Stalwart Space Marine





Brighton - England

Hi, i am looking to start a new conversion project for Space marines. I was wondering what tools would be advisable to obtain; up until now i have just kind of improvised with tools i have had around the house. I will need to cut models strategically for repositioning. and then sculpt and shape green stuff etc.
So in essence what tools do you guys use? and if you have any links to good tools i can buy that would be great. I live in the UK also.
I really want to do these new models on a more measured and professional scale than before and i guess the right tools are the best start. Thanks.
   
Made in gb
Pestilent Plague Marine with Blight Grenade





Razor Saw (NOT a hacksaw. I used a hand hacksaw for years before getting a razor saw, there's a world of difference)

Scalpels (useful for shaving detail off and making fine cuts. get plenty of spare blades)

Diamond files

Pin Vice

good set of sculpting tools & a range of putties (Green stuff/Kneadatite, Procreate, milliput etc.)

basically all the stuff you'd expect. GW's tool sets are fairly decent, but overpriced - so look at what's in there and buy them from somewhere else

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Charax absolutely nailed it.
 
   
Made in us
Servoarm Flailing Magos





Alaska

Small clamps are helpful for holding things together until they dry (preferably ones with rubber coated tips so the metal doesn't mar any plastic).

I use a 1/16" (not sure what that is in metric) drill bit in a pin vice for drilling out gun barrels, drilling holes for rods, etc. It's about the perfect size.

For sculpting Greenstuff or clay, they make soft "shapers" in varying shapes and sizes. Good for smoothing out surfaces.

A sharp utility knife is always helpful... I get the snap-off blades as I think they are the easiest to keep sharp (and cheaper too).

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Made in gb
Stalwart Space Marine





Brighton - England

Thanks guys. especially interested in the saw, want clean easy cuts without losing too much detail
   
Made in se
Regular Dakkanaut






The longer you build/convert the more tools you'll have. For a list I'd mainly be parroting what's been mentioned, but I'll do so anyway cause otherwise my poor brain will have trouble with what's been mentioned and what hasn't.

Pinvice & various drillbits (my most used are 0.5mm, 0.8mm and 1mm for pinning, 2+mm for tubes and whatnot)

Knife (I prefer x-acto, but scalpel or snap-off blade are other options, as mentioned)

Sculpting tools (I use metal ones, bought a pack of 8 with different shapes, in a pinch I use a toothpick and knifeblade though). Also made a custom one that's just piano wire (essentially stiff metal wire) shaped into a triangle, mounted onto a old brushhandle. Similar tool actually costs a lot in shops apparently.

Files (bought some mini diamond files, didn't like em, prefer conventional metal files)

Sandpaper (whatever smallgrit you can find for general work, additionally I have 1200 grit wetsanding paper for supersmooth finish.. after finding it and using it I can't see how I ever did anything without it)

Saw (extensive knifework otherwise, personally I've ended up with a powertool, dremel equivalent), lately I've been considering a mitrebox as well.

Measuring device (I mainly use a metal ruler for cutting aid and a plastic caliper for fine measuring)

Tweezers, scissors, clamps, cutters for snapping plastic, tong for bending metal bits/wire etc

The list can go on.

As a bare minimum, I likely couldn't do much without my pinvice, knife and files. All really depends what you prefer personally, I have three sets of files and at least three types of sandpaper for minor reshaping, several knives, heaps of sculpting tools (bought AND selfmade), rulers and calipers and whatnot. Saw and powertool.... I still to this day look through tool sections at shops I visit just to see if I can find anything useful.
   
Made in gb
Rotting Sorcerer of Nurgle





Portsmouth UK

If these guys don't sell it, you don't need it -
http://www.squirestools.com/

Check out my gallery here
Also I've started taking photos to use as reference for weathering which can be found here. Please send me your photos so they can be found all in one place!! 
   
Made in gb
Stalwart Space Marine





Brighton - England

Thanks guys, really nice to have some help!
   
 
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