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Hi guys,

I only got into Warhammer 40K a few years ago. In the beginning I thought that the modelling tools from Citadel were the best that would be available. After all, this is a company whose reputation rests on the quality of the miniatures that it sells - so the same should apply to their tools and brushes, right?

Wrong. I started speaking to a more experienced hobbyist at work and he gave quite scathing reviews of many modelling products produced by Games Workshop. At first I didn't believe him, but he gave me a Pro Arte prolene brush to try out. The difference was unbelievable and painting immediately became much easier.

Now I'm much more sceptical about GW modelling tools. My current annoyance is my Citadel miniature files which I bought a while back. They are pretty rubbish - they lost their teeth within the first few uses (and were quite expensive too!). I was wondering if anyone could point me at other miniature files that they have found to be good.

Any help is much appreciated.

Scott

You can generally expect non GW hobby supplies to be at least 50% cheaper and often still better quality.

As for files. I think every crafts store should have a set of diamond files that will file down everything you want to.
What you should avoid is really tough metals that you might come in contact with while conversting/scratchbuilding. GW metals are no problem but harder stuff is a no go and you will risk ruining the files and clippers.

If you can beat this for $3 with a stick let me know. lol
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-piece-needle-file-set-468.html

How are the quality on those? That is so cheap it's stupid (in a good way). I use the game force 9 ones and wouldn't get anything else at this point. They have a sharper point which I like.

I have set I've been using for a few years. Haven't been able to wear them out. Metal in miniatures just isn't that hard to begin with. If your wearing files out they have to be super cheap.

I used them last night to clean the flash and mold lines of 3 15mm Old Glory Tiger tanks. Mine came in a nice little carry case as well so I don't lose all of them.

I picked up a set of files at MicroCenter, of all places. Maybe $5 for a set of 12. Got them a few years back and they're still going strong.

GW stuff is rubbish. Don't even bother with it.

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. I live in the UK so it's probably not worth me shipping $3 files - they look ideal though so I'll see if I can track down some equivalents from here

Any more suggestions are very much appreciated

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=needle+files&_sacat=0&_from=R40

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-36325-12-Piece-Needle-File/dp/B0001K9TK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361728048&sr=8-1

I got these. They're pretty decent quality.

Skarwael, I was just about to post a link to those. I think I'll be buying those.

scottmmmm wrote:
Skarwael, I was just about to post a link to those. I think I'll be buying those.

I was going to get some really cheap ones, but the good reviews convinced me. They've got a thumbs up from me aswell.

As you are in the UK, it costs only around a fiver for a decent set from Stanley or Draper. Pop down to B&Q or Homebase and grab a set. They are often offered in a set of 12 but to be honest you only need the basic six.

A friend of mine at work got some super cheap ones off eBay that he described as being like a set of needles that slave children in India had beaten flat and scored a file pattern into. He wished he had gone for the Draper set which was about £3 more.

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/stanley-0-22-500-6in-needle-file-set-6pc-p23251?gclid=CLqQyaPqz7UCFabLtAodingASA

 Kilkrazy wrote:
A friend of mine at work got some super cheap ones off eBay that he described as being like a set of needles that slave children in India had beaten flat and scored a file pattern into.

Haha! I looked around on eBay earlier and some of them did look a bit questionable.

I just ordered the draper ones recommended above. Got them from eBay for £5 (+£1 for postage). I will definitely report back here once I've had a chance to try them out. My next step was going to be B&Q or Hobbycraft as some people have suggested.

You can't really go wrong with Draper or Stanley tools.

Just to close this thread off, I got the Draper 12 piece file set from Amazon and it has been excellent so far. There are so many different file shapes and they seem to be wearing better than the Citadel ones already. All for just a few pounds. Highly recommended.

Thanks for all the advice.