Modelcraft Plastic Modelling Tool Kit (9 Piece Set)

the mat could have been bigger

A good cheap set for £10. Very surprised to see it now going for £75 with £20 shipping from the US, but probably harder to find this exact set anymore. However I certainly wouldn't pay the current extortionate price from certain sellers on Amazon, as of May 2017.At any rate the clippers and file are perfect. The mat is fine for smaller models, but you may want a larger one if you're into making something bigger. The knife is the only part that really lets it down; it's plenty sharp enough and comes with spare blades, but the screw tightening mechanism comes loose far too easily. For me the only time it didn't loosen during use was after a long hiatus from model making; in trying to replace an old rusty blade, the blade snapped completely because I couldn't get enough grip to loosen the screw thread. It was fine after rummaging around for a good pair of pliers, but it doesn't say anything in favour of the quality of the mechanism, despite the handle otherwise feeling quite solid.Overall though, even the knife isn't that bad. If you can find it for about £10, that's as much as I'd say it's worth. I am still using this set 2 years later, knife and all, so it certainly isn't bad value for money. I rate this product 4 stars for the price I paid initially, and would recommend it for beginners if you can find it for that price.

This is a very useful kit for beginners who are looking to start model building. The pliers are perfect for gently nipping plastic parts off rollers, and the file is quite good at sanding down nubs. However, the knife is a little flimsy (though entirely usable), and doesn't compare to a proper rigid hobby knife in terms of cutting power and rigidity. On the whole, I'd say this kit is great for beginners who aren't looking to pay a fortune for professional tools, and the pliers are probably going to last you an entire career. You'll likely be tossing away the knife as soon as you get a better one, though. The finish given by the file is also rough; you'll need extremely fine sandpaper and oil-based markers to completely erase any marks left by separating pieces from their rollers, so keep that in mind if you want your kits to look 'professional'. You get what you pay for, but I would say this toolset is still pretty good overall. I'd buy this, then buy more expensive tools individually. That way you won't get screwed over by buying a very expensive toolset with one or two tools of substandard quality.

First thing I did was cut my fingers on the clippers because of a sharp bent piece at the end. Then cut my fingers again on the base of the file which also had a sharp offcut on it. Since this is a kit I'll try and review each piece separately.Clippers - Stiff and really badly painted, the paint on the cutters themselves peeled off immediately upon taking them out of the blister packaging. I had to put some WD40 on mine because they are so stiff they're getting stuck shut and hurting my hands to use. Generally very uncomfortable to use, can't see myself using them for long periods of time like I did with my previous ones. Edges of the cutters are very rough and feel badly made.Cutting mat - Not much to say its a mat. Feels firm and strong, numbers are clear.File - The base of my one has a very sharp off cut, which as I mentioned has already cut me. Will have to see about trying to smooth it off, maybe get a grip as it is very thin and quite hard to hold.Knife - Was very loose when I took it out, but upon screwing it up a bit it feels sturdy enough. Doesn't feel like it would last very long though as the blade slips a little when pressure is put on. The kit comes with spare blades, however I don't want to be going through one blade per cut. Will probably end up throwing it away after a month or so.Overall, this kit was very disappointing. I was hoping for something a bit better quality especially upon reading some of the reviews. I'll have to see about travelling to a model shop somewhere, see if they have a better kit.

I bought this along with another similar item for Gundam builder kits, however, I only ended up using the scalpel/knife tool from this because the counterpart tools from the other kit are all higher quality with the exception of the blade.

Great product but it took 3 attempts to deliver the parcel due to Amazons knife policy. Not a problem but it is worth noting that this product needs to be signed for by an over 18 and can't be left thought letter box or neighbours etc.Product itself is perfect for Warhammer model building and similar craft products.

These items are good value for money if you have not got a lot of money and you need a starter set these are very good they certainly do the job but you can buy more expensive when you get more into model building but very strong and reliable items

Great kit for the price you pay, the sprue cutters and the scalpel blades and holder are excellent. The file is very useful on larger models and is perfect for beginners. The cutting mat is nice an resilient, very small so good for portability and keeping in your transport case