A Brutally Honest Review of Citadel's Tools

A Brutally Honest Review of Citadel's Tools: Are They Worth the Premium Price?

Meta Description: Thinking of buying Citadel tools? Read our brutally honest review of their clippers, mouldline remover, and brushes. We break down what's worth your money and what to buy instead.

Citadel (Games Workshop's brand) is a behemoth in the miniature hobby world. Their paints and models are iconic, but their tools—the clippers, knives, and brushes—often come with a hefty price tag and a distinctive red-and-white package. The question every hobbyist, from beginner to veteran, asks is: are they actually worth it? Or are you just paying for the name? We're cutting through the marketing to give you a brutally honest, no-holds-barred review of Citadel's most common tools.

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The Review Criteria: Performance vs. Price

For this review, we're judging each tool on two key factors:

1. Performance: How well does it actually do its job? Is it best-in-class, average, or poor?

2. Value: Is its performance justified by its high price? Is there a better, cheaper alternative?

Let's get into it.

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1. Citadel Moldline Remover

• The Claim: A specialized tool for quickly and safely scraping mould lines from plastic miniatures.

• Performance: It works. The design protects details and the hardened steel blade effectively scrapes away plastic lines without gouging the model like a hobby knife might if you slip. It's especially good for beginners who are nervous with a blade.

• The Brutal Truth: This is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. A hobby knife's back edge or the edge of a cheap metal file does the exact same job for a fraction of the cost. The Moldline Remover is a one-trick pony that takes up space on your desk.

• Verdict: ❌ Not Worth It. Save your money and use the tools you already own.

2. Citadel Fine Detail Cutters

• The Claim: "Precision engineered" flush-cutting clippers for removing parts from sprues.

• Performance: They are very good. The blades are sharp and aligned well, allowing for a clean cut close to the part. They are more than capable for the job.

• The Brutal Truth: While good, they are astronomically overpriced. You can find identical or superior flush cutters from brands like Army Painter or even professional-grade electronics clippers from brands like Xuron (the 410 Micro-Shear) for half the price. These alternatives often have a thinner profile, getting into tighter spaces.

• Verdict: ❌ Not Worth It. Excellent performance, but unjustifiable price. Shop around.

3. Citadel Brushes (Standard and Layer)

• The Claim: "High-quality synthetic brushes" for basecoating and layering.

• Performance: They are... fine. They have a decent point and decent belly for holding paint when they are new.

• The Brutal Truth: Their lifespan is their biggest flaw. The synthetic fibres break down and lose their point relatively quickly, especially for the price. For the same cost as one Citadel Layer brush, you can buy a pack of quality synthetic brushes from Rosemary & Co. or a Princeton Velvetouch brush that will last longer and perform just as well, if not better. For a little more money, you can step into a premium Kolinsky sable brush that is lightyears ahead in performance.

• Verdict: ⚠️ Decent, But Buy Alternatives. They won't ruin your models, but your money is far better spent elsewhere.

4. Citadel Painting Handle

• The Claim: A handle to hold your miniature for comfortable, stable painting.

• Performance: It's fantastic. The grip is comfortable, the adjustable jaws hold most base sizes securely, and it keeps your fingers off the model, preventing oils from your skin from affecting the paint and reducing smudges.

• The Brutal Truth: It's pricey for a piece of plastic. However, its design is genuinely effective and unique. While you can absolutely make your own by blu-tacking a mini to a pill bottle or a cork, the convenience and secure grip of the Citadel handle are tangible benefits.

• Verdict: ✅ Worth Considering. If you hate homemade solutions and want a purpose-built, effective tool, this is one of the few Citadel tools that justifies its cost for the convenience it offers.

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6 FAQs About Citadel Tools

1. Are any Citadel tools actually worth buying?

The Painting Handle is the main tool that offers a unique and convenient design that's hard to replicate perfectly at home. Some hobbyists also swear by their Drill for its simplicity.

2. What's the best alternative to Citadel clippers?

Xuron 410 Micro-Shear flush cutters are a gold standard for many hobbyists and are often cheaper. The Army Painter clippers also offer excellent performance for a much lower price.

3. Why are Citadel brushes so expensive?

You are largely paying for the brand name and the convenience of buying it at your local Games Workshop store. The manufacturing cost does not match the retail price compared to other brush brands.

4. I'm a complete beginner. Should I just buy the Citadel Starter Set?

The starter set is a convenient way to get everything at once, but you are paying a premium for the bundle. You can buy higher-quality individual tools (a generic hobby knife, better clippers, a cheap file) for less money if you're willing to shop around online.

5. Is the Moldline Remover safer for kids than a hobby knife?

Yes, absolutely. If you are getting a young child into the hobby and are concerned about knife safety, the Moldline Remover is a safer option. For teenagers and adults, a knife is more versatile.

6. What is the single best upgrade from a basic tool set?

Investing in a high-quality Kolinsky sable brush (like a Winsor & Newton Series 7 or a Raphael 8404) in a size 1 or 2. It will improve your painting experience more than any other tool upgrade.

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Conclusion: The Brutal Verdict

Citadel's philosophy seems to be: create decent, user-friendly tools and sell them at a luxury price point. With few exceptions, you are paying a significant brand premium for performance that can be easily matched or exceeded by more affordable alternatives.

• For Clippers and Files: Go to an electronics or hardware store. You'll get professional-grade tools for less.

• For Brushes: Invest in dedicated art supply brands like Rosemary & Co., Winsor & Newton, or Raphael.

• For Hobby Knives: Just buy a standard hobby knife with replaceable blades.

The Citadel Painting Handle stands as the one tool where the design arguably justifies the cost for those who value convenience. For everything else, do your wallet a favor and look beyond the red and white packaging. Your hobby experience will be just as good—if not better—and you'll have cash left over for more miniatures.

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