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Hey everyone,

So my 40k Models are rolling in day after day and I'm going to have a lot of free time to paint and assemble them during my winter vacation!

I'm composing a shopping list for all the essential tools and general use paints a beginning modeler would need!

Mind giving me some input on what tools you use/recommend and which citadel paints I can't go wrong with buying?

Thanks again!

Agrax Earthshade and Nuln Oil
Those two are always helpful.
Other than that, just choose what paints you need for your army.
Don't buy GW tools, they are overpriced. Just go to a local Art store and find something.

From start to finish, off the top of my head because I am bound to forget some;

Dishwashing detergent to wash all the models
A good pair of clippers to get the models from the sprue (I love the Xuron professional sprue cutters, but the Citadel ones are apparently good too, there are numerous threads on it here)
A good xacto knife and lots of blades to clean the mold lines and injection points
Some nail files / emery boards / diamond files / metal files to clean up some more
Some high grit sandpaper to remove the scratches you just made
Some good glue, revell contacta and a really good super glue are recommended (learn how to use them, too)
A pin vise / drill and a few small bits (1mm, 1.2mm, 1.4mm etc - these are your bolter barrels, and pinning points)
Some paper clips (1mm) for pinning
A pair of pliers to cut them (DONT USE GOOD CLIPPERS YOU MANIAC)
A good spray primer, rustoleum 2x is ideal. Get a matt finish, and use black for darker models, or grey for lighter ones.
Paints, you want a black, a white, a slightly lighter black and a slightly dirty white - then you want whatever colours you will be primarily using - warcolours make great paints, vallejo do to, even the GW ones are fine. You will never get a consensus on the best paint brand, because their isn't one. DO NOT overbuy paints, the wasteage will be extreme. Buy like 20 paints maximum and then add more if you need them.
Definitely get some washes, agrax and nuln as mentioned above are amazing.
Brushes, you will want to go to Michaels or whatever other craft store there is, get some decent, small, hair bristle brushes - a 00, a 0, and a 1 at a minimum. You will probably also want some larger brushes for your basecoats and washes. Don't spend a huge amount just yet, your will likely kill your first brushes.
Get brush soap if you do buy expensive brushes
Get a palette from the art store too, anything that lets you mix paint on it and can be cleaned - I like the look of the new GW ones, but have never tried. I use the old GW ones myself.
Get some gloss varnish you can paint on, ardcoat or vallejo. Get some microset/microsol OR vallejo decal fix/decal medium - these will make your decals look good.
Get a spray varnish, like testors dullcote

That'd probably cover most of it

Thanks for the information guys, I appreciate it!

If you're going to be building any terrain.

You'll want some foamboard/foamcore
PVA glue
Pins
Old messed up brushes
Much cheaper paint
Craft knife/xacto blade
sand rocks bark

just naming some of the most commonly used stuff on my desk