What tools are recommended for converting?

[squidstudios]

I keep seeing these rad conversions and reposes which quite clearly involve cutting up a model's parts and stitching them back together. Cutting heads off, breaking legs at the knees, you know...the good stuff. I get the sense lots of this stuff involves a tiny saw of some sort. What tools are required to do this, and more importantly, where can I get them?

I already know about and own the following:
-jeweler's files
-pin vice & brass wire
-small snips
-armature wire
-epoxy putty

[CeltKhan]

Depending on how fine a conversion you want, you'll either need a jeweler's saw or a modeling hacksaw (the former destroys less detail, the latter doesn't burn blades as quickly). If you're planning on sculpting greenstuff, there's a set of sculpting tools from P3. Xacto knife is a given.

[squidstudios]

Depending on how fine a conversion you want, you'll either need a jeweler's saw or a modeling hacksaw (the former destroys less detail, the latter doesn't burn blades as quickly).

Can I get some help as to where I might find these, or maybe a specific product or two to look for? I find a bunch of stuff when I Google it, but which is good/inexpensive?

And I have an Xacto too, but as it is a given I failed to mention it in my list.

[TheBigRedMachine]

Your best bet is to try a hobby store like hobby lobby. An interesting on-line store is Micromark, More tools than you know what to do with.

Other than that to convert you need a jeweler's saw. A dremel will be useful at some point as you need to grind or cut thicker parts. Sculpting tools to return details that were removed.

[Cannibalbob]

Can I get some help as to where I might find these, or maybe a specific product or two to look for? I find a bunch of stuff when I Google it, but which is good/inexpensive?

And I have an Xacto too, but as it is a given I failed to mention it in my list.

Ignore the hacksaw comment and look into a jeweler's saw. You can find good ones at any store that is heavy into models - such as Hobby Lobby (or wherever in your area deals with military/aircraft/car models).

A good place to look, if you have an idea what tools you need, is ebay. Or, go to the www.thewarstore.com and look through thier modelling links.

[lunchbox1584]

micrmark is a great place to get stuff off the internet but i always try and give my LGS a visit before going to the internet.

I have to say a jewelers saw is a must, sculpting tools are always needed because some how green stuff always finds a way to be usefull, hobby knife, and last while not really needed is a camara to post pic's of the minis you converted.

[CeltKhan]

Also, model railroad stores and R/C stores tend to carry these sorts of things as well. I prefer to shop local rather than online, since I can look at the merchandise to determine if it's what I need.

As for the hacksaw, to each his own. I don't own a jeweler's saw because I can't source the blades locally (and I've got a few sawblades which don't fit in the saw I DO own, grumble grumble) and because it's a bit fiddly. I'm more of a "hulk SMASH!" cutter when it comes to modelling. If I want the head off a mini, I'll take snips to the arms, saw off the head, and dremel off any extra metal I couldn't get rid of with the saw.

no, I don't generally end up with "spare parts" off my source models.

[squidstudios]

Thanks for the tips! I think I'm well on my way to finding the few tools I still need now. Next stop: "fixing" my Avatar.

[Bert_the_Turtle]

There's this stuff called "Blue Tac" you can use to temporarily hold things together. It peels off cleanly without damaging anything. Teachers use it a lot in classrooms so any teacher store or craft store will have it, be able to order it, or be able to tell you where to find it. It should be sufficient for short term use while you pose things or see if you need to paint something before attaching it to the model.


Everything else I was going to say was covered already ^^;;

[Invaderzahn]

If you're going to be doing any really heavy converting you may want to think about a variable speed Dremel tool and a flexible end attachment.

[TimVanBoening]

I have a set of small files I got from Harbor Freight Tools that are very good from cleaning models to whatever else I can think of.

I would say a good tool is an idea what you want to do beforehand. Know how the body looks like in different poses, muscles and where they are and such. I've seen models whose arms and shoulders look completely unnatural in their pose because the person wanted it a different angle. For good looking conversions, know how the body looks.

Kind of a cheesey idea for a tool, I know, but models that don't look realistic...well, they don't look realistic.

[Revenge_Served_Cold]

I have a set of small files I got from Harbor Freight Tools that are very good from cleaning models to whatever else I can think of.

I would say a good tool is an idea what you want to do beforehand. Know how the body looks like in different poses, muscles and where they are and such. I've seen models whose arms and shoulders look completely unnatural in their pose because the person wanted it a different angle. For good looking conversions, know how the body looks.

Kind of a cheesey idea for a tool, I know, but models that don't look realistic...well, they don't look realistic.

I'll second this one. I'm currently breaking apart a couple of my older models because of how I posed the arms.

[RandomX]

As you get deeper into cutting and changing around your models, you are going to want to look into a good dremel tool.

But other then that, like others have said, the jewelers saw is a must. The other things that you listed is about all that there is to it.

-Eric