Here’s why Games Workshop thinks their new Citadel hobby tools are the best, and we hope they work spectacularly enough for the price.
There will be four new Citadel hobby tools from Games Workshop, including clippers, a knife, mouldline remover, and a drill/pin vice (pictured above). As we said, these are quite expensive ($50 for a pair of clippers), and we expect them to be high-quality and work really well.
To be fair, there are more expensive clippers on the market for model kits, such as the God Hands line, but for the rest, it’s unclear what the difference in price may provide hobbyists above and beyond their current tools.
Why Games Workshop Thinks Their New Citadel Hobby Tools are the Best
Warhammer Community revealed details and product features for all their new tools, so see we’ll see if it may be enough to justify the price.
The Citadel team have been working the forges to create a new suite of tools that will make building your models easier than ever before – from snipping pieces off a sprue to cleaning them up and preparing for construction.
The whole line would cost you $144 if you grabbed all four, and perhaps being made specifically for GW minis, they will be a value to those hobbyists.
Super Fine Detail Cutters $50
The Super Fine Detail Cutters have been completely redesigned. The new blades are much thinner, with a single cutting edge to prevent pieces flying off the sprue. They have a narrower nose, meaning they can get into smaller gaps and require less force to use – we’ve tried them, and they make cutting plastic feel like slicing through butter.
A clever stopper system also makes sure that the blades don’t get dulled, so they’ll stay sharp. Plus, the new handles make them much more comfortable for those long box-opening sessions.
As one of the most basic hobby tools, getting a good pair of clippers is paramount to the ease of putting models together. However, you can probably just grab a pair from any hobby store with a fine point for much less than this.
Plus, it doesn’t seem like you would need something too fine to clip the current connection points on Games Workshop sprues these days.
Mouldline Remover $25
Mould lines are a reality of highly-detailed plastic kits. These thin lines of plastic are a relic of the moulding process, but they can get in the way of painting, especially on skin and flat armour. That’s where the new Mouldline Remover comes in.
Revamped with a more comfortable handle and a longer, thinner nose, this tool can now get into all those tough-to-reach spots. There’s even a notch on the tool that’s angled to clean base rims!
Mold lines can be super annoying, so this tool might just be perfect if you feel the same. Plus, this price isn’t as much as the clippers, but there are definitely cheaper alternatives out there, such as the Monument Hobbies Seam Scrapper for $9.50
Knife $34
Need to make a really precise cut? Faced with a mould line in a tight crevice? Looking to slice apart bits for the perfect kitbash? You need a sharp hobby knife. The new Citadel modelling Knife comes with six blades, and is safer and easier to use than ever before. Each blade fits into a single-slot screw barrel, with a securing thread in the middle of the handle to make sure it won’t come loose.
It’s also got a weighted back end for maximum control, helping to ensure any mishaps don’t end with your foot doing its part to praise Khorne.
This one might be worth considering as the other basic hobby tool for the new, improved handle. Not to mention how annoying it is when the knife gets loose due to the tightener being where you have your fingers on other hobby knives.
It also looks like it uses standard blade refills as well, which is another bonus. Still, and once again, there are plenty of good hobby knives out there for much cheaper than this.
Drill $35
Hollowing out gun barrels on miniatures is a hot topic among Warhammer hobbyists, but you’ll need a fine drill if you’re going to bore them out for that finishing touch.
The Citadel Drill comes with two 1mm bits and two 1.5mm bits – the perfect size for bolter barrels and heavier weapons, respectively. Its body has been designed for comfort, while the securing mechanism is in the middle, so it won’t unfasten in use. Drills are also vital for pinning parts together on larger models – especially heavier resin kits.
Drills are a little bit more of an advanced hobby tool, but for this product, there really doesn’t seem to be any features to justify the price, which is considerably more than most other manual drills out there.
Here’s a look back at the last set of tools they released back 2014:
Will you pick up these new Citadel Tools for Games Workshop or just pass on them?
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About the Author: Travis Pasch
Travis Pasch
Job Title: Head Writer & Editor
Socials: @paschbass
About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.
Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.
Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!
