New Man Cave Taking Shape Finally!

Sounds good O. If you're w/b on I-10, go south on Loop 303 to where it ends and turns into Cotton lane... keep going until it ends past the Gila River and up into the hills west of Estrella mountain... past us is nothing but open space...

stikpusher

O, I'm in Goodyear... 

Hey stik, I know where you're at! I've driven AZ-238 around the back side of Estrella Mount on the way back out to SoCal. Hooked up with 85 outside of Gila Bend and drove past the two RF-101C gate guards outside of Gila Bend Municipal while heading north to the 10. Next time I drive out to visit my brother, I'll be sure to honk on my way past.

-O

O and Drums, thank you.

O, I'm in Goodyear, a bit west of Ahwutakee (or however its spelled) We have Estrella mountain in between your brother and I. yeah, getting your new space set up is a great point to reach. Im happy for you on that.

Drums, I'm trying to wrap up kits at the rate of one a month or every other month. It all depends on what else is going on in life. So many house guests here...  I should have something else done in a few more weeks.

Sorry for the late response, but.... THAT surely is a nice set-up.

I'm really happy for you, looking from a perspective of post retirement, you have definately "earned" it.

With your retirement and a model utopia at hand, you should be cranking the models out now, right? 

stik, your room and shop look great! I'm happy to report that we're moving back into our place starting this weekend, so I'll be getting my "office" back. Despite being unhappy that my Huns and Apaches are on pause because of the move, your spots have me excited about getting my spaces set up (again). 

Oh, as an aside, what outskirts of Phoenix do you live in? My brother lives in Ahwatukee.

Thanks Tony. My "happy place" is finally a reality.

A hobby room to be envied,real nice.

The final goody above the bar has been installed... The Rowdy Ben Saloon sign... I received it as a combined fathers day/birthday gift in June from my kids, since that's when my birthday is, and finally got around to putting it up on the wall up top.

Many thanks guys! 

Patrick, I sure don't want you feeling bad about anything, especially a work or display area. That bottle of Patron would be nice! If you ever do make it out here to the Phoenix area, let me know. We've been working our way thru a bottle of Hornitos Añejo here over the past several months.  That stuff is too good to rush through. And yes, in case you are wondering, the empties you may have spied in the lower corner of one photo do end up as range targets on a hillside a few miles from here. Gotta love living on the edge of civilization in Arizona.

Jim, the garage floor is covered with an epoxy floor coating. I chose the red color so that small parts dropped would not blend in if I had chosen the gray or speckled color options. Just have to swab that deck every so often with cleaner to get rid of the accumulated dust that gets in there. 

Pat, i would have been quite content with a single car garage as my work area, but those aren't too common around here. I've always managed over the years to make the most of what has been available! And I do like the backyard garden workshop. That sure must give you pleasant distracting scenery.

Greg, best of luck to you on swapping out a basement shop for a garage shop. All I can say there is to make the best of what you get there. In the long run, Im sure that you will, amd be quite happy with your new happy place.

Thaks for the update on the garage/bench, Stik. It's a great space!

I will be giving up my beloved basement for a garage space sometime next yr, you have given me some hope. If whatever I come up with ends up anywhere near, I'll be happy.

Speaking of happy, happy building to you! I'll bet you must be more than ready.

WOW! Big place! we here in the UK only have single garages, full up with mainly junk, we neither have basements so have to man cave in the back garden.

Please enjoy your super space!

Stik, the "Cave"and the "Work Bench" are both fantastic. I had a dream of a Garage that looked something like that but I know that won't happen. Congrats on the final product of all your hard work. May you have many enjoyable years with them.

One question. What did you use for the floor of the garage? It looks great. One of my neighbors has one that looks similar. It's a clear resin finish that looks great but was VERY costly for a small one car garage.

Stay Safe.

Jim 

Hi, Stik -

I spent some time in my hobby space this AM, I was happy to have an area for building, storing, painting, etc. Then I came in and saw this post, doggone you Stik, you wrecked my day. You have the hobby space most of us can only visualize and wish for, I'd say perfect is written all over it. Congratulations, you saw the project through and achieved what you wanted.

The shelves in my actual work area are open, works in progress wait in there to be finished. My wife bought some shiny surface shower curtains and rods, that keeps the contents remarkably clean and completely dust free. That's in my garage, with your lounge area being so tidy some curtains on rods might be a good option for you. My curtains are black so nothing is seen, a simple sliding of the curtains exposes all to be seen. Just a thought.

Anyway, I'm very glad you have such a great retirement spot and such an ideal hobby arrangement. After all of your years of service, both military and at the Cop Shop, you deserve it. If I lived closer I'd bring a bottle of Patron Silver by and have a sip with you, then leave the bottle.

Patrick

Well, after 3 1/2 years of owning this new build home, and multiple delays for one reason or another, we finally have the garage portion completed. I had cabinets put in to hold the remainder of my stash and other things, plus I replaced the workbench that I had inherited from my late stepfather in law and had been using for the past several decades

my work bench

stash on the left, compressor and other items on the right

Stash cabinets, plus other items...

let the building commence!

Gil, Ben, and Dave, thanks to you all for looking in and your kind words.

Gil, there is plenty of room for the unbuilt stash now. It's gonna take some time to fill them up. And yes, I have already enjoyed a few relaxing hours in there.

Ben, I don't know about serious modeling discussions going on in there, but contemplations, oh yeah.

Dave, I did retire in March 2020, a few weeks before all the madness hit our country. I'm absolutely loving my new life in AZ. It's very relaxing here. 

WOW!.. nice cabinets and color choices. I really like the photo showing both walls covered in cabinets. I can tell already that is a location not only where your wife will find you, but also a spot where serious modeling discussions or contemplations will be happening.

Ben

Congrats on the new space. The cabinet work is awesome and your collection looks really impressive on those shelves! And clearly there is room to continue growing the collection

Hope you enjoy many relaxing hours in your new space.

That's why this is a "no more cats" home Gold. We have had many of those pets over the years, and do love them, but those same cats have also wreaked havoc with my models. No more. Besides, if they get out around here, they don't last - too many coyotes and bobcats in the area. Had a bobcat in the next door neighbors yard last week chowing down on a bunny it had just caught. 
I do believe that the wife has a crystal decanter in her fancy stuff somewhere. But that is in all of her fancy stuff. I'm perfectly fine pouring from the bottle.

Love all to the shelving, but the cats would have everything on the floor in a heartbeat.  Depending on how much wall space we end up with after the remodel of the living room (will end up about 11.5x24) will have to do something like that but with plexiglass fronts.

Don't forget to add a decanter of Drambuie for a little different sippin stuff.

Thank you Bruce! I'm looking forward to spending lots of "quality time" in there. 

Stik, 

Wow! Love the new man cave! Congrats!

Most añejo tequilas are pretty good. In the end it all boils down to personal preferences. 

Those are nice ones..Even Jose makes some nice once - just have to look up a few shelves, but ya - their worst is the worst!  Best bang for the buck in my opinion is Centenario Anjeo.

Thanks guys.

Beav, the center sections are big enough for large aircraft. Lots of room there.

John, I like Cazadores, Herradura, and Patron for my tequilas, amongst others. I have learned that Cuervo is Miller Lite of the tequila world.

If your going to drink tequila, drink good tequila.  Don Julio 1942 is very nice.  
I've been dabbling in ryes the past couple of years.  Big fan of Whistlepig. 

Looks Great, Stik! And you can play the home version of The 25,000 Dollar Pyramid. 

I kid. I need to figure out how to get my builds out of the basement shelves and someplace "safe". You have given me some ideas. T anks and fighters...easy. 2-4 engines, not so much.

stikpusher

Greg, I chose that ceiling fan because my son is assigned to the Flying Tigers wing. Keeps him in my thoughts that way.

Outstanding!

Awsome space Stik. The shelves and cupboards are magnificent and that fan is way too cool!