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Sorry if this should be obvious, I have only ever just clipped and glued models together so this is all new to me.

So I want to do basic kit-bashing and be in a good place to start model conversions when I become brave enough, what are some essential tools? I already got clippers, glue and a small layer paintbrush.

Another brush or two wouldn't hurt. I do almost all of my work with a W&N Series 7 No.1 and No. 0. Also, a set of diamond-coated needle files and an Exacto knife.

I'd definitely invest in a cheap craft knife, just in case you decide to start making conversions (far more control than just using clippers) - citadel plastic glue too for the same reason, if that's not what you use currently, since it fuses the model all together nicely

A pin vice for drilling out gun barrels and for pining minis if needed. Green stuff but I'd check on places like Amazon you can pick up about 36 inch rolls for a few quid. Might as well look for a small set of sculpting tools to go with the green stuff.
They will go for around a fiver and come in handy for doing things like hair and fur.

For working with greenstuff:

1) Hunt ebay for a set of clay modelling tools - you'll get a set of 8 or 10 metal tools which you can use to shape and work with In general the standard tool as sold by GW is the most basic one you'll probably use the most, a simple dull blade at one end and a little flat circle the other for pushing/manipulating the GS. The other tools all have their purposes that you can experiment with and slowly learn. Getting a set of clay tools like this is very cheap and they are exactly the same as many more highly priced tools in modelling (basically clay has a bigger market so the profit margins can be smaller)

2) Colourshapers. Colourshapers are fantastic for working with greenstuff. They allow you to smooth over the greenstuff surface and where it joins onto a model to give a seamless join and smooth surface. You'll find that it gives more control than the metal tools because the colourshaper gives a bit just like your finger would, but won't leave fingerprints on the greenstuff.
They are another clay working tool and prety affordable on ebay and the like. They come in three different levels of firmness from white (soft) to grey (middle) to black (firmest but still soft and flexible).

Colourshapers are a must have in my view if you're going to work with greenstuff, even for filling gaps on models when assembling they are an absolute godsend and make it a lot easier to get smooth transitions and fills.

3) You can use water or a olive oil to dip any tools you work with into when using greenstuff. This stops the tool and greenstuff sticking together. If you use water you will have to re-wet your tool more regularly than oil; but if you use oil you will have to wash the model (warm soapy water, worn toothbrush to scrub) once its 100% cured (leave at least 24 hours for GS to fully set). If you don't wash the model after you've worked with oil you might find glues and paints refuse to stick properly (exactly the same as if you'd purchased a resin model from most manufacturers).

4) Small nose pliers can be of help sometimes in getting bits into position when they are in a fiddly spot. Tweezers can likewise be of help here.

5) pin-vice set and some copper wire of varying thicknesses (P3 line does some neat "kits" where you get wire and drill bits in on pack or you can get this stuff cheap on craft stores or ebay etc..). A small hand pinvice is important if you want to pin parts together which can be a big improvement in strength of any join. Even on regular models there's many where a pinned joint can improve the strength of the model considerably (especially with resin and metal models where glue forms a sealing layer between two surfaces - as opposed to plastics where glue melts the plastic and thus doesn't have a sealing layer)


If you shop around the above list shouldn't run to you much in cost and most of it is of great help when assembling regular models in filling in gaps; fixing up joints; etc.... so its all well worth investing in.





Ps GW tools are well made and won't do you any harm; but honestly they are getting exceptionally overpriced now (something like £20 for a single pair of clippers!) Don't feel bad if you've got them, they are well made, just remember you can get a lot of that stuff much cheaper from craft stores or ebay these days.

Color shapers are some of the best tools I've found for woking with green stuff, especially when you're using it for gap filling.

A set of needle files and/or sanding sticks are a must.

Go ahead a get a decent craft knife and extra blades. I typically keep two on hand, one with a pretty new blade for cutting and one that gets abused for scraping mold lines. As the first one dulls, I move it into the second role and put a new blade into circulation.

A set of quality drill bits is money well spent as well if you work on metal models at all. Cheaper bits work fine on plastic.

I keep two sets of clippers handy, a general purpose set I use for metal and a thin-jawed set for only plastic.

I keep a few different sizes of painted floral wire on hand for pinning metal and resin. It's annealed wire so it won't ruin a set of clippers and it's way cheaper than brass rod.

I also typically have five different glues handy: thin CA, gel CA, liquid styrene cement that uses a brush or needle tip applicator, gel styrene cement and, finally, PVA for basing.

Poster putty/Blu-tac has a ton of different uses.

Pill bottles, paint pots and/or bottle caps are great for sticking models to (with the above blu-tac) as something to hold on while you're painting.

Tape, rubber bands, clamps and toothpicks get used regularly.

When you start working with large resin kits, a hobby saw becomes useful.

One thing I forgot to say, colourshapers can also be known as clayshapers.

In general anything that is used for a tool on clay works for greenstuff.

This is for some generic "starting the hobby" stuff, but I don't know how useful it will be. Sounds like you have mos tof this squared away:

http://myminiaturemischief.blogspot.com/2016/06/getting-started-tools.html

Alright so at the minute in my checklist I have.
http://elementgames.co.uk/paints-hobby-and-scenery/airbrushes-and-accessories/other-airbrush-items/x-acto/x-acto-no1-precision-knife-and-safety-cap?d=22&gclid=CjwKCAjwo4jOBRBmEiwABWNaMTBxNvXYoUncXS5kcZdrqBeyFBPXESLYbPqO836-0PA_BbENTk6YGBoCIscQAvD_BwE
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-FI/Green-Stuff
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Citadel-File-Set
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Model-Craft-Pin-Vice-Revolving/dp/B0037V3S08
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000V6MTDO/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1505973302&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=clay+modelling+tools&dpPl=1&dpID=41Th1PqJC9L&ref=plSrch
https://www.jacksonsart.com/colour-shapers-silicone-tools-black-extra-firm
https://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Citadel-Saw-2017

Is there anything else apart from wires that I should get or is there some better tools I should get over the ones chosen?

Almost everything you are planning to order can be bought cheaper somewhere else. Green stuff is just kneadatite or epoxy putty. Diamond needle files are half that price on Amazon UK. You can get saw blades for your Exacto knife, or else use a jeweler's saw. Shop around and save yourself some money.

Yep - do NOT..purchase anything from GW. Here's an example of why:

http://myminiaturemischief.blogspot.com/2017/07/hobby-tips-hobby-tools.html

 JoshInJapan wrote:
Almost everything you are planning to order can be bought cheaper somewhere else. Green stuff is just kneadatite or epoxy putty. Diamond needle files are half that price on Amazon UK. You can get saw blades for your Exacto knife, or else use a jeweler's saw. Shop around and save yourself some money.

Honestly at this point I don't really care about the cost, it's just all too damn confusing to me.

GW tools are not bad just very overpriced, like most ownbrand accessories. Head over to ebay and do some searching- here's 12 inches of greenstuff for far less than GW (more GS and lower price)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREEN-STUFF-KNEADATITE-12-INCHES-TAKEN-OFF-A-BRAND-NEW-ROLL-/192299846267?hash=item2cc5f6ca7b:g:UsoAAOxyfCBSAma4


For a hobby blade try Swann and Morton - they make medical quality gear and their non-sterilized items are cheap and very well made;

A Type 2 Blade and Type 2 handle go together really well. They've other handle sizes and blade types to choose from; though that should set you well.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SWANN-MORTON-ACM-BLADES-TYPES-No-2-7-10-11-16-17-18-22-24-28-PACKS-of-5/310851982903?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=610234237650&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SWANN-MORTON-ACM-HANDLES-ALL-TYPES-Nos-1-2-5-FOR-ARTS-CRAFTS-MODELLERS/401171209320?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=670728805638&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

(check those two links or search for them yourself as they have drop down menus to choose from the various items on sale - they should link to the chosen options by default though.

I just use an exacto knife, toothpicks, super glue, and a piece of cardboard.

My exacto gets used for all cutting and scraping, plus filing work. The textured grip does a fantastic job as a file.

I generally use the toothpicks for cleaning glue or holding things together.

My cardboard is just a mat to protect the table. I also use it to mix paints on or wipe off paint for dry brushing.