Hobby Desk Modification

Model Master paints are my preferred, even if they are a bit pricey. Testors was the first model paint I ever used and after 25 years its hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I do try other brands but always wind up relying on Model Master. I try to keep one enamel and one acryl per color.

I prefer draging my better half to the hobby shop than going alone because she provides the reality check and keeps the kitchen cubbards from becoming paint storage lockers and me being in debt.

The desk can hold all my building materials but all my references have to go on the book shelves.

I've never maxed out table space on one kit, but thats because I build primarily 1/72 and 1/144 kits, 1/32 would probably be a tight fit.  

AWESOME 

does it have a place for your ref materials and spare parts

That's a lot of model master paint you've got there and model master isn't cheap.                      

I don't suppose you could build a 1/32 jet on that, eh? neat setup. 

Nah.. it's a piece of cake taking the rack on/off the wall.
Couldn't be easier.

The shelves are tilted about 10 degrees relative to the bamboo tray.

dahut wrote:

Very nifty, although I should like to see that shelf come off the wall without a bottle or two spilling off in the jostle. The tilted shelf is a start, but why not employ an old seafaring trick if you want to add mobility? To the tilted shelves, add a keeper across each shelf's length, about 1/3 up the bottle height. A few lenghts of hardwood dowel would suffice, judging by your good skills.

Roy

Very nifty, although I should like to see that shelf come off the wall without a bottle or two spilling off in the jostle.

The tilted shelf is a start, but why not employ an old seafaring trick if you want to add mobility? To the tilted shelves, add a keeper across each shelf's length, about 1/3 up the bottle height. A few lenghts of hardwood dowel would suffice, judging by your good skills.

Dude, you need more paint! Not nearly enough.

Andy 

#12Wings, 

This is actually the Monogram 1/90 AC-47, slow and steady progress. I've chopped the molded in figures out of the seats, added generic bulkheads and a floor, some fuselage ribs in the area visible behind the door mounted mini-gun, kevlar blanket over the port windows and new hinges for the one remaining cargo door. Building this to give to my dad as he flew aboard these with the 4^th Air Commando Squadron in Viet Nam. Once the build is complete I will post it in its own topic.

jwb,

Without attempting I managed to apply a wash while working on the Spooky, looking further worn with a miserable attempt at cleaning it. What a hobby.

deattilio wrote:

If enough people similarly modify their hobb desks does that qualify as a group build - loosely any way?

Only if you add some weathering and a panel wash, and someone points out the actual shelves were a scale foot wider..... 

squeakie wrote:

You know I build off my fly tying bench whenever I can actually see it. I thought I had a nice one at one time, but yours puts mine to shame! Where did you round up the actual desk? I'm so impressed with it, that I may just make a move in that direction. gary

The desk is a computer desk I picked up at Wal-Mart for under $100, I've had it several years now and works pretty good.

I like the portable paint rack, that is cool.

If enough people similarly modify their hobb desks does that qualify as a group build - loosely any way?

squeakie wrote:

You know I build off my fly tying bench whenever I can actually see it. I thought I had a nice one at one time, but yours puts mine to shame! Where did you round up the actual desk? I'm so impressed with it, that I may just make a move in that direction. gary

I'm not even sure if I have a desk under all my fly tying stuff.........

As for thoses paint shelves..........I forsee one in my very near future.

deattilio wrote:

Thanks for all the positive comments. You can probably blame the OCD but for the most part it looks that clean through the week, the weekends a different story though. I got the first three trays at Wal-Mart for $7.50 per, but that was all they had. I went home thinking I only needed three, after all this was a unplaned impulse project. I had to venture back out for a fourth tray which I found at Bed Bath and Beyond - but at $14.99 per. Had to cough up the cash as I was already committed.  The whole project only chewed up about three hours of my time. That was less time than what I spent mounting my original three shelves. Be fore warned though, bamboo proved tempermental to being screwed, nails are definately a no go. I fastened the first three together then mounted that in place. Then I mounted the fourth into its position (not to mention having to hack off about 1/3 of it for proper fit) to the wall then to the previously mounted trays. Good luck to anyone tackling this simple project and be sure to share the handy work.

You know I build off my fly tying bench whenever I can actually see it. I thought I had a nice one at one time, but yours puts mine to shame! Where did you round up the actual desk? I'm so impressed with it, that I may just make a move in that direction.

gary

Well, after being inspired by deattilio's idea, I made a paint rack too!

Here's most of the materials.  $10 bamboo serving tray, $5 in wood, $3 for fasteners.

I sanded the wood, stained with a MinWax water-based stain that
I like to use for my model bases.  It turned out to be a close match!
Then I clear-coated with spray can for protection.

Tada!  Fits almost all of my paints.  Now I can see them much better.
Note the handles on the sides, which will allow me to easily take the
rack on/off the wall, and carry it to a working table.  I also slightly
angled the wood peices backwards, similar to what deattilio did, to
keep the paint bottles from sliding off.

Shelves were match-drilled.  Like deattilio stated, you have to be careful
with the bamboo splitting.  You have to pre-drill every hole.  The
rack has wall hanging hardware, and some sticky pads so I can rest it
on a table without scratching things up.

Thanks for the idea, D

Thanks for all the positive comments. You can probably blame the OCD but for the most part it looks that clean through the week, the weekends a different story though.

I got the first three trays at Wal-Mart for $7.50 per, but that was all they had. I went home thinking I only needed three, after all this was a unplaned impulse project. I had to venture back out for a fourth tray which I found at Bed Bath and Beyond - but at $14.99 per. Had to cough up the cash as I was already committed. 

The whole project only chewed up about three hours of my time. That was less time than what I spent mounting my original three shelves. Be fore warned though, bamboo proved tempermental to being screwed, nails are definately a no go. I fastened the first three together then mounted that in place. Then I mounted the fourth into its position (not to mention having to hack off about 1/3 of it for proper fit) to the wall then to the previously mounted trays.

Good luck to anyone tackling this simple project and be sure to share the handy work.

That's very creative.

By incredible coincidence, I spent 10 minutes drawing up a simple
wall-mounted rack earlier today.  Your idea looks easier though :). 

Where can I find those trays?

 Have to have a place to work....nice modification....a bit crowded for my taste, but then I knock things to the floor with my elbows!

 Building a bench from scrap 2x4 I've collected and a nice piece of 3/4" plywood I bought. Building it in an 'L' shape....to keep the paint away from my elbows! 

Sweet!

But, tell the truth.....its never really that neat......is it?

I'm jealous.

 Where di yiu get the silverware trays?