Modeling Bench Tip

Great tip!

Last year at a garage sale I picked up several clear plastic boxes for storing shoes.. just like a shoe box, except plastic. Great for storing misc bench items.

I also clean and save those small applesauce, pudding and 6 or 8oz yogurt containers. Great for separating/storing small parts while building, and also for mixing up some nasty potion for seam filling or painting. Use 'em, pitch 'em!

Yeah and when someone disposes of an old refrigerator, the drawers can be incorporated into storage under the workbench too. Just make some guides to hold them.

Great idea, Gerald. I'm all for the recycling of what I already have in the house. Saves big money in the long run.

Baby food jars are terrific, too! When my friend's kids were little, I used to get a lot of baby food jars from him. My supply is starting to run low; maybe next time I go to California, I'll ask him if he's going to have any more kids.

Individual pudding cup or apple sauce containers are great, too.

If you know someone who works where electrical tape is used on a regular basis, see if they can get you some of the little round containers that the tape comes in today - they're great for storing small parts and very handy when you're applying decals (put about 1/4" of water in them)

I carefully cut open items that come in thermo-packaged acetate.  The acetates with large flat areas are great plaster molds for casting building walls, streets, sidewalks, etc for dioramas.  Large flat pieces of it also work well for stretch-forming canopies.  Save those shavings from pencil sharpeners (the real ones, not the little razor bladed ones) too.  It makes for great vegetation in certain applications.