I know this sounds ridiculous, but I have never made modeling chocolate before and instead of using candy melts I was wondering if I could use chocolate chips (60% bittersweet). Thanks!

I can't remember where I heard this, but I read somewhere not to use chocolate chips for anything except cookies really, as they have something extra in them which helps them keep their shape, but won't allow them to melt properly.

Wish I had something more concrete to show you, but I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

I use chocolate chips ALL the time to modeling chocolate. The recipe is 16 oz of chocolate chips to 3/4 cup of light corn syrup. If you want white modeling chocolate, use 24 oz of white chocolate chips to 3/4 cup of corn syrup.

I've used them with no problem. The ravens on my Halloween cake were made with it.