YorkNecromancer
08-07-2013, 07:58 PM
One of the topics that doesn't come up a lot is that of quality tools for conversions, and useful things for the work area. I thought I would share mine, as we've had a number of people recently suggest that more articles are needed for beginners.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015034_zps9f4ced23.jpg
So these are the only tools I really use with regularity; if you don't see it here, I can guarantee it's probably not going to come in useful. The golden rule with tools? NEVER BUY TOOLS FROM GW. This includes glues. GW's stuff is obviously overpriced, but more importantly, I have found it to be of inferior quality compared to the things you will buy from actual tool shops. Get to know your local tool shops (or hardware stores), as they are usually a mine of useful kit, and often at good prices.
So, my modeller's kit, starting from the top right and going clockwise:
Small steel set square. Absolutely critical if you want to scratch build tanks, buildings, and anything from plasticard. It needs to be stell so I can use it to cut clean lines without gouging it into uselessness. This cost me £2 from Halfords.
Pin Vise. A small hand drill, and an absolute workhorse. I use this for drilling out gun barrels, adding battle damage, and "pinning" older metal models (and occasionally plastic ones too). I put off getting one for years, as it didn't seem essential; seriously, it's incredibly useful. This one cost £3, again from Halfords.
Syringe. Why do I need one? For mixing paint! Every old pot you use can be washed out, and then used to hold new mixes of unique/useful colours. A precise, small syringe is perfect for getting your mixes just right every time. This one came from my school's science lab; I just asked if they had a spare, and they did.
Clippers. These are the only thing you should use to separate models from sprue. They are also highly useful for battle damage, though they aren’t solid enough for clipping things like guitar wire. I have a pair of more blunt clippers for that (not pictures as I use them more rarely). These cost £2 from Barnett’s, a local tool shop in York.
Steel ruler. I used to use a 30cm steel ruler, but having moved to a 15cm one, I wouldn’t go back. A steel ruler is critical for precise, clean cutting of plasticard, and I find 30cm just too big for effective use. This ruler cost £1 from Barnett’s.
Scalpel. I know some people love using these for removing mould lines, but honestly? I don’t; it’s too small and dangerous for that. I’ve cut myself way too many times. No, I use this for adding rivets to models, as well as carving hardened Milliput - an epoxy putty alternative to Green Stuff that sets harder and is more brittle than GS, but can be far more easily altered once hardened. You can get some really beautiful results from carving Green Stuff, and the scalpel is perfect for this. The scalpel was £1 from Barnett’s, and the blades cost between £3 and £4 for 5.
Craft knife. This is my workhorse blade. I literally use this for everything I convert, as well as tidying up mould lines and the like. The bigger blade gives greater control, as well as allowing you to use more pressure than with a scalpel, which is useful when cutting thicker plasticard. Of course, always bear in mind it’s not safe to ever push a blade too hard, or you’ll slip and do yourself a serious nuisance. Finally, the snap-off blades mean your blade stays sharper (and therefore safer) for a lot longer, which also works out a lot cheaper than a scalpel. This craft knife cost me £3 from Barnett’s, and replacement blades cost £3 for a pack of five – which will last you about six months to a year (depending on how often you convert models).
I’ve also just realised my tweezers aren’t pictured. I use them for sifting through my bits boxes, as well as holding fiddly bits in place. I’ve ever used them to sculpt GS (you can see the results on my Dark Eldar Grotesques here: http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?16703-Dark-Eldar-Grotesques).
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015132_zps2e5a9d17.jpg
This are my two desk tidys, in situ. As you can see, one is for tools, the other for wire, styrene rod, and plasticard off-cuts. This helps keep my working space organised, so I can find things quickly and effectively. You’ll also note the massive bottle of PVA. That was £2 from The Range (a UK chain of craft shops), and the previous one I had lasted me four years.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015142_zpsb90922da.jpg
These are my paint shelves. I couldn’t find anything useful, so I knocked these up out of some scrap foamboard I had. They’re pretty ugly, but they do the job. You’ll note I tend to remove the labels from my paint; it helps me see the colours more clearly, which makes blending an easier task. I also tend to cut the plastic ”hinge” that attaches the lid to the bottle, so that I can remove the pot’s lid and use it as a palette of sorts. This helps to avoid getting too much paint in the brush and ferrule, which obviously gives your brushes a longer life.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015153_zps3217f88c.jpg
This is my lamp; it’s one specially designed for crafts I bought from online for £35. It’s not ideal, as the lamp can’t be angled as I would like, but it’s still perfectly usable. It’s strengths are that it is a long bulb , which helps to avoid awkward shadows when painting, as well as a daytime bulb, which helps me to see colours correctly, rather than through the yellow “filter” of a regular bulb.
So, there’s my worksurface and tools. What tools have I missed?
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015034_zps9f4ced23.jpg
So these are the only tools I really use with regularity; if you don't see it here, I can guarantee it's probably not going to come in useful. The golden rule with tools? NEVER BUY TOOLS FROM GW. This includes glues. GW's stuff is obviously overpriced, but more importantly, I have found it to be of inferior quality compared to the things you will buy from actual tool shops. Get to know your local tool shops (or hardware stores), as they are usually a mine of useful kit, and often at good prices.
So, my modeller's kit, starting from the top right and going clockwise:
Small steel set square. Absolutely critical if you want to scratch build tanks, buildings, and anything from plasticard. It needs to be stell so I can use it to cut clean lines without gouging it into uselessness. This cost me £2 from Halfords.
Pin Vise. A small hand drill, and an absolute workhorse. I use this for drilling out gun barrels, adding battle damage, and "pinning" older metal models (and occasionally plastic ones too). I put off getting one for years, as it didn't seem essential; seriously, it's incredibly useful. This one cost £3, again from Halfords.
Syringe. Why do I need one? For mixing paint! Every old pot you use can be washed out, and then used to hold new mixes of unique/useful colours. A precise, small syringe is perfect for getting your mixes just right every time. This one came from my school's science lab; I just asked if they had a spare, and they did.
Clippers. These are the only thing you should use to separate models from sprue. They are also highly useful for battle damage, though they aren’t solid enough for clipping things like guitar wire. I have a pair of more blunt clippers for that (not pictures as I use them more rarely). These cost £2 from Barnett’s, a local tool shop in York.
Steel ruler. I used to use a 30cm steel ruler, but having moved to a 15cm one, I wouldn’t go back. A steel ruler is critical for precise, clean cutting of plasticard, and I find 30cm just too big for effective use. This ruler cost £1 from Barnett’s.
Scalpel. I know some people love using these for removing mould lines, but honestly? I don’t; it’s too small and dangerous for that. I’ve cut myself way too many times. No, I use this for adding rivets to models, as well as carving hardened Milliput - an epoxy putty alternative to Green Stuff that sets harder and is more brittle than GS, but can be far more easily altered once hardened. You can get some really beautiful results from carving Green Stuff, and the scalpel is perfect for this. The scalpel was £1 from Barnett’s, and the blades cost between £3 and £4 for 5.
Craft knife. This is my workhorse blade. I literally use this for everything I convert, as well as tidying up mould lines and the like. The bigger blade gives greater control, as well as allowing you to use more pressure than with a scalpel, which is useful when cutting thicker plasticard. Of course, always bear in mind it’s not safe to ever push a blade too hard, or you’ll slip and do yourself a serious nuisance. Finally, the snap-off blades mean your blade stays sharper (and therefore safer) for a lot longer, which also works out a lot cheaper than a scalpel. This craft knife cost me £3 from Barnett’s, and replacement blades cost £3 for a pack of five – which will last you about six months to a year (depending on how often you convert models).
I’ve also just realised my tweezers aren’t pictured. I use them for sifting through my bits boxes, as well as holding fiddly bits in place. I’ve ever used them to sculpt GS (you can see the results on my Dark Eldar Grotesques here: http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?16703-Dark-Eldar-Grotesques).
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015132_zps2e5a9d17.jpg
This are my two desk tidys, in situ. As you can see, one is for tools, the other for wire, styrene rod, and plasticard off-cuts. This helps keep my working space organised, so I can find things quickly and effectively. You’ll also note the massive bottle of PVA. That was £2 from The Range (a UK chain of craft shops), and the previous one I had lasted me four years.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015142_zpsb90922da.jpg
These are my paint shelves. I couldn’t find anything useful, so I knocked these up out of some scrap foamboard I had. They’re pretty ugly, but they do the job. You’ll note I tend to remove the labels from my paint; it helps me see the colours more clearly, which makes blending an easier task. I also tend to cut the plastic ”hinge” that attaches the lid to the bottle, so that I can remove the pot’s lid and use it as a palette of sorts. This helps to avoid getting too much paint in the brush and ferrule, which obviously gives your brushes a longer life.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/MaltonNecromancer/Summer%20Holiday%202013/2013-08-08015153_zps3217f88c.jpg
This is my lamp; it’s one specially designed for crafts I bought from online for £35. It’s not ideal, as the lamp can’t be angled as I would like, but it’s still perfectly usable. It’s strengths are that it is a long bulb , which helps to avoid awkward shadows when painting, as well as a daytime bulb, which helps me to see colours correctly, rather than through the yellow “filter” of a regular bulb.
So, there’s my worksurface and tools. What tools have I missed?