Here is some basic pointers for converting Games Workshop plastic models.

1. Tools are important.

Its important that you have the right tools to do the job but it is far more important that you know how to use them and how to use them safely, You should always read any safety instructions the come with any of your tools , taking a few moments to read and understand any safety instructions could save you from injury.

Tools dont have to cost the earth and we recommend you check our places like ebay or local tool shops before making a purchase from an expensive "hobby" store , often you will save tons of cash by doing some simple research into whats on offer, dont forget just because it wasnt bought at your local "hobby" store does not mean it wont do the exact same job.

Typical tools for modeling are

Craft knife

This should be the first item any model maker should buy, a good craft knife will be a valuable tool and can last for years.Personally i always use a Swann Morton scalpel with number 10a blades, they are sharp and are easy to get hold.I have two versions of scalpel , and standard no3 handle (stainless steel ) and a black retractable handle which i can pocket when not in use.

Craft knives come in loads of different styles,sizes and prices but like everything you should use what you can afford and is easy to get hold of.

Clippers

I love flush edge clippers ! they make converting models so much easier, Although it pains me to do so , i must recommend Games workshops clippers , flush clippers are not easy to find and when you find them they tend to be for special electronics use and cost the earth , But Games workshops clippers are fantastic and they have been designed to cut plastic from sprues.

Pin vice / mini drill

These two items are the same in many ways any both do the same thing ....put holes into models ! A pin vice is a hand operated  mini drill that is used to hold a tiny drill bit that can drill tiny holes by a manual twist , they go through plastic quickly enough ,resin is no problem and work well on white metal.They are cheap enough to buy from most model shops and can take various sizes of drill bit.A mini drill is simply an electric motorised version of a pin vice , some people refer to them as Dremmel , though that is a brand name of a popular mini drill . These mini drills tend to be expensive and can be quite dangerous if used incorrectly as some have very high speed settings used for engraving etc.A mini drill is very good if you need to drill lots of holes quickly ,but to be honest a pin vice gives more control and less chance of causing damage to your mini.

Saw

This tool can come in handy if your converting metal models or need a long straight cut on a larger piece, the type of saw you want to use is really up to you.I have used several over the years and the three main saws i find useful are ,junior hack saw ,jewelers saw and razor saw .

each of the three has its pros and cons ,a junior hacksaw is very easy to get hold of and easy to use but the blade has a slight wave to its teeth to it leaves quite a wide cut in modeling terms .Jewelers saw is great it has fine teeth on a very thin metal blade so its possible to cut a curve , but the blades are very thin and break very easy and are not very easy to replace.Razor saw is brill , it has a fine tooth blade and will cut anything but they tend to be pricey .

It should also be noted that some mini drills have cutting disc's which changes them to a mini circular saw , again very usefull but can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Wire

If you want join to sections of metal together its best to use a "Pin" ,we will explain this later.Pins are made from thin wire , paper clips are popular as is brass rod and my favourite is florist wire.

Glue

Glue is quite a complex subject,basicly you need a glue that will do the job you want it to do.I always use super glue, reguardless of what model i  am building i always use super glue.I know super glue will stick what ever material i am going to use on my model.I use two different types of super glue , i use a liquid bottle super blue that has a nylon brush for almost everything  and i have a very special industrial super glue for sticking resin models.

The important thing to remember when using glue is that if you use the wrong type your model will fall apart, Most glues will tell you what they can be used to stick.

2 part Epoxy filler

Model filler is a convertors best friend,if used well  this can make a average convertion into a master piece , infact alot of the model artists use "Green stuff" to scuplt the original models.Green stuff or kneadite should be in your tool box if you intend to do any converting , this two part putty can be used to fill in any gaps left on your model or in some cases to sculpt whole new sections for the model you are building .