What Does Your Workbench/Work Area Look Like?

My shop is pretty small. So much so it's hard top photograph without a wide angle lens. It's just a small service room in our home, usually used for maids quarters in these houses.

I made the shelves form PVC pipe and plywood. Nothing fancy but it works for me and it's my private space. It has an adjoinming bathroom that makes it good for cold nights since you have to cross the backyard to get to this room. Got a little stereo in there and a TV with a bluray to keep me entertained when I'm doing my thing. About 200 kits. 

Built this desk late last year.....

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[View:/themes/fsm/utility/ By cowinacape at 2011-07-03:550:0]

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[View:/themes/fsm/utility/ By cowinacape at 2011-07-03:550:0]

Then just a few weeks ago, I built this out of some scraps that where bound for the dump if I couldn't figure out what to do with them...

By cowinacape at 2011-10-08

I also built a 3x4' paint rack and a spraybooth/drying over combo and have a 2x4' folding table at my disposal, everything is on wheels as I plan to be moving in short order so I tried to keep all the pieces portable. Just need to add a couple of cheap sets of plastic shelves or such to it, and I am set.

Actually I just need a permanent place to set it all up but everything in time

Here is my one of my caves.  Since the kids moved out on there own, I took over one of the bedrooms and made it into my hobby room. ( it was also her idea :))

Soon I will be adding to 42" H x 24" W cabinets that we got from Lowes since they weren't what we ordered, so they reordered the correct ones and let us keep these two, they will go above the counter top bench and shelves will be made in between them.  :)

Subhuman,

I love that fold-up job! Great idea! The only thing I wouldn't like about using it is having to put up everything that's on the folding part before you fold it up. I'm the kinda guy that likes to just leave everything where it's at until the next episode of modeling. My wife can't stand that, which I guess is why my mancave is downstairs in the basement so she can't see it. Believe me, this is the only area of the house where that kind of stuf is allowed to happen. The rest of the house goes by this rule - everything has its place, and everything had better be in it!!

MSgt,

Cool mancave! Looks like you have two work benches. Is that a correct assumption? How many kits in the stash?

After seeing a few of the mancaves here, I guess I'm missing a couple of things in mine - a computer, and a TV/DVD player. Can't believe I overlooked those two. I do have a radio, though, with an iPod dock, so that helps. I will definitely have to get a TV/DVD player very soon.

Electric Blues

I made the shelves form PVC pipe and plywood. Nothing fancy but it works for me and it's my private space. It has an adjoinming bathroom that makes it good for cold nights since you have to cross the backyard to get to this room. Got a little stereo in there and a TV with a bluray to keep me entertained when I'm doing my thing. About 200 kits.  

Nice mancave, Electric! I like it. Are these pictures pre- or post-Red Arrows Hawk build? I don't see it on the bench anywhere. What's your next build gonna be? Might I suggest that Ar-196 you've on the upper left shelf? I would love to see that one being built...........

There have been many times that I wish I had a bathroom downstairs either in or near my mancave. Going up and down the stair case gets old very quickly............

DD...   mine is a mess at the moment,                 I will try to get some pics up in the next day or so.......

Bill

It's just a small setup in the basement:

I don't believe all these clean work areas... The picture I posted was taken about two hours after I got it set up and started building on it, and I haven't seen the cutting matt since...

Here's the latest pic I've got. With the addition of "big boy" illumination.

Right side/facing the wall is the main build/detail/decal area. Left is airbrushing and "where the %&@*@* is sprue D?" space. Being in the garage, the floor is concrete, but that doesn't mean parts don't get lost down there all the friggin' time.

But...moving in less than three weeks, so it's very much a stripped shadow of its former self right now. 

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do about the bench at the new house. 

Devil Dawg

Electric Blues:

I made the shelves form PVC pipe and plywood. Nothing fancy but it works for me and it's my private space. It has an adjoinming bathroom that makes it good for cold nights since you have to cross the backyard to get to this room. Got a little stereo in there and a TV with a bluray to keep me entertained when I'm doing my thing. About 200 kits.  

 

Nice mancave, Electric! I like it. Are these pictures pre- or post-Red Arrows Hawk build? I don't see it on the bench anywhere. What's your next build gonna be? Might I suggest that Ar-196 you've on the upper left shelf? I would love to see that one being built...........

There have been many times that I wish I had a bathroom downstairs either in or near my mancave. Going up and down the stair case gets old very quickly............

Glad you like it Devil Dawg! The Hawk is done. Here it is hanging out with a couple of other models.

Yes sir...the AR-196... yeah...that one... hmmmm.

To be honest, I'd love to build it but would want to go full detail on that one, so I was kind of waiting to get a few more airplane kits built before I tackle it. Gorgeous kit though and  inexpensive as well.

Right now I'm doing a quickie build, Revell Germany F1 in 1/24 (Hamilton's ride),  while I decide my next project.  With your suggestion though... sure, why not? I think the AR-196 will be next. Maybe even do a step by step thread with it.  What section of the Forums would be the correct place for something like that?

My work area(s) still has much to be improved. I was able to negotiate what little space I have, but its secure enough out of the little hands of my rugrats.

For starters in my work bench (desk) I need better lighting, and I also need something for paints.  Its a small student desk tucked into the laundry room, and the freezer also doubles for holding the laptop for music/photo references.

And I have a small piece of my bench in the garage for airbrushing, with the compressor tucked down to the left.  Currently there's not proper ventilation or lighting for the spray area.  Again on the list of things to do.

Electric Blues

 

I think the AR-196 will be next. Maybe even do a step by step thread with it.  What section of the Forums would be the correct place for something like that?

 

Man, that Hawk looks great! Great way to display it, too. That Gee Bee diorama is awesome. You should post some pictures of that.

Believe it or not, I have that exact same TV stand for my living room TV set-up, with the same DirecTV receiver. What a coincidence! No models on display on it, though. I would be fearful of dogs/wife in cleaning mode to display them anywhere other than my small display case (which used to be a rifle display case).

As far as the proper forum for a step-by-step build, the Aircraft forum is where I would put it. Thanks for considering my suggestion.

Display case! That's something I am sorely lacking!

To be honest, I haven't seen anything on the local market I like. Importing one from the USA is out of the question due to weight and size issue. Having it built is the only solution but an expensive one, running about $300 to $400.

There is a smalll town a few minutes from home that is almost entirely dedicated to carpentry. There are many shops and I've had furniture made there. They do wonderful work. Although I saved my "modeling budget" a few times to have one built, I always manage to blow it on more models.

I really do need one though. I have about a dozen models scattered around the house and they are all getting trashed with the dust and cleaning, despite everyone's best efforts to save them. I really have to get on this. I've searched high and low on the workspace and display threads here but have yet to find a design I like enough to have made. I keep looking though since there are always great ideas on these threads and I've learned something from all of them.

Re - Dawg - you are correct, a desk on one side of the room (which was free) and a counter top with two cabinets we bought at Lowes.  Approx 40 kits right now mostly all planes.  The ship in the pic is the USS Constitution 1/96 I bought along with another one for $25.  The ones under the counter are all Japanese planes.  

What you dont see is the closet (we are remodeling the house) which is re-dry walled right now.  I will be moving the clothing bar up higher, then building more shelves under the shirts etc.  And I have a few of the plastic posts from a neighbors deck fencing thanks to the Good Friday tornado which destroyed there deck and the fence.  I saved some of the 1 x 1 pieces and the 6 x 6 posts from their fencing for use with the model building.  Some of them have already been used as supporting 'jigs' to prop planes on while building of them.

Mike

Here's mine:

Ok, I'm impressed. TWO spray booths??!!!!   Wow! You must finish a lot of kits in a year to have two spray booths.

That Thunderbolt on your bench is looking pretty good. When's the projected completeion date?

      Sorry, couldn't post before the pics once I had them up, but these pics begin pointed at my desk, and then pan around the room counter-clockwise.  My stash is on top of the tall black filing cabinet, and has grown a bit since these were taken.  Red tank behind chair is the airbrush hookah, and in the last pic you can see my spray booth made out of a Rubbermaid tub and bathroom fan kit with dryer ducting.

Man, I love that wood & glass display case that you have, Dirk. Looks like it's almost full, too. What's your current project?

I took these photos about 3 years ago, so I apologize to anyone who's seen them already at the other forums I frequent.  The bench itself, down in the basement:

Some of the things you see there are still there, incrementally closer to completion

If we could stand where the bench is and look back towards the camera, we'd see my stash:

and then this pile in a spare room upstairs:

That pile has gotten bigger, since I took that photo.  And this bit in a box on the floor in that room:

and then this, in my kitchen.  A little lubricating oil for the ol' brain box:

Best regards,

Brad

I have two separate areas, one for assembly & one for painting!

The assembly area look suspiciously like your average dining room table,

The paint area looks suspiciously like my kitchen.

One of these days I'll get something proper sorted out, but until then I'll give the photo's a miss!

the Baron

and then this, in my kitchen.  A little lubricating oil for the ol' brain box:

 

Best regards,

Brad

That's a dark ale there......Hmmmmmmmmmmmm ........... Maybe Guinness? Looks good, whatever it is!

I love the projects on your bench. I've never attempted a figure. I do have the "Memphis Belle" resin figure by Legend Productions in my stash. Myabe I'll give it a try one of these days.

Man, you've got some kits in your stash that I've never seen before. Like that Brewster Bufflo - I never knew MPC made a kit of that. Or the B-24 and P-40 combo. Never seen those two in a kit together. Cool stash! You need to post pictures of just your stash - I'll bet you've got some relatively rare stuff in it.

What's on the bench now?

dirkpitt77

 

 Sorry, couldn't post before the pics once I had them up, but these pics begin pointed at my desk, and then pan around the room counter-clockwise.  My stash is on top of the tall black filing cabinet, and has grown a bit since these were taken.  Red tank behind chair is the airbrush hookah, and in the last pic you can see my spray booth made out of a Rubbermaid tub and bathroom fan kit with dryer ducting.

LOVE that display case! Love that you're using a tool chest as a ... tool chest! Great ideas!

the Baron

I took these photos about 3 years ago, so I apologize to anyone who's seen them already at the other forums I frequent.  The bench itself, down in the basement:

 

 

Some of the things you see there are still there, incrementally closer to completion

If we could stand where the bench is and look back towards the camera, we'd see my stash:

 

 

and then this pile in a spare room upstairs:

 

That pile has gotten bigger, since I took that photo.  And this bit in a box on the floor in that room:

 

and then this, in my kitchen.  A little lubricating oil for the ol' brain box:

 

Best regards,

Brad

That looks like a room I'd be comfortable in but your last picture? Brad, that's just being cruel. You made me get up and go to the fridge.

Good looking shops guys. I am actually moving in two weeks so I'm looking at these photos trying to glean any ideas for my next shop. My wife has given me the two car garage in the new house to build my man cave... very excited. Like most of you, i have had a number of different set ups over the years. Everything from the corner of a small closet to fairly large bed rooms and basements. One thing i'm planning to do in this new shop that I haven't before is a sitting area for friends and to kick back with a reference book and a cup of coffee.

   Thanks, Devil Dawg!  I picked up that display case from an acquaintance who owns a cigar shop.  He bought new ones and gave that one to me for free!

       Currently working on Revell's old Kenworth W900 truck.  It has some accuracy issues, but it's been a lot of fun so far adding some scratch and greeblies to it.  Maybe I'll shoot some pics and post up a WIP.

Devil Dawg

Ok, I'm impressed. TWO spray booths??!!!!   Wow! You must finish a lot of kits in a year to have two spray booths.

That Thunderbolt on your bench is looking pretty good. When's the projected completeion date?

The one with the aluminum foil inside the cardboard box is a drying booth not a paint booth.

I completed that Thunderbolt kit back in 2007 in a group build. This is the finished product:

Here's my bench.  Hand built originally for reloading ammo.  Not into that much anymore so the supplies all got moved to the bottom.  You can see my 3 WIP's, a Hughes 500D CHP 1:48, A Crown Victoria, and my A6M2 Zero for the GB.

You can also see my meager stash of ~25 kits up top.