Buying and setting up the Ultimate Man-cave?

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Just a little background first,

As most know my mom passed away almost 2 years ago, since that time I have still been living in our home, the same home for the last 20 years, sadly she never got round to making a will so by some stupid law my brother is entitled to half. We originally agreed to let me live here until I moved on or sold it at which time I would give him half. Well a few months ago he served papers on me to force the sale and there's nothing I can do, so the house is on the market and I'm been relocated with my half of the sale.

Now, this is a perfect opportunity to find a place and turn one room into my ultimate man cave, at present I'm working on a small space and spraying in a spare room, so here's my thoughts.

I'll start with as much table top workspace as I can get along the walls, say 8 foot by 8 foot.

On the top I'm planning on two large spray booths (£300 each ) not the £70 ones.

For lights I have seen some nice 3 strip work lights that can take 3 daylight tubes each.

Two Iwata compressors with a selection of airbrushes, still undecided until I play with more at Telford.

Side wall shelves to stock all my paints instead of the really useful boxes there in now, and dependant on any deals, complete ranges of paint sets.

I'd also like to start filming some of my work so a nice set up of cameras, 2-3 seems a good number for different angles, though I'm not that good with my DSLR I plan to get me a new Nikon D820, having played with my friends I love it and can see me using it more than the one now and so learn a lot more.

New PC with two monitors for reference and play.

So, what have I missed?

Adrian

[eddiesolo]

So, what have I missed?

An invitation for all of us to crash your den and ogle the goodies and have a play...you lucky, lucky man.

Don't forget the fridge and music centre and a really nice comfy chair.

Si

[dave]

I'd pinch Laurie's trays idea for tools. Organised storage for spares/leftovers from kits? Shelving for reference books?

[Dave W]

You Definately need a fridge full of beer in there.

[stona]

It's your space and you should do it how you like, but that doesn't stop me throwing in my two bob's worth

Firstly why do you need two spray booths and two compressors? There's only one of you and you can't use two of either at once. These are also expensive items in the general scheme of modelling things and I just wonder whether such a substantial sum might not be better invested elsewhere.

I have two or three airbrushes which I use regularly, but I just swop one for another on the one hose from my compressor. I don't find it at all inconvenient.

I agree that you need as much work space as you can afford or fit in. My desk has another slightly higher shelf above it and I find it most useful. It's somewhere to put everything from paints and glues to mugs full of paint brushes which keeps them handy but off the work surface itself.

This is how my area looked about two minutes ago. It's exactly as I left it when I finished spraying the Night on the wing of that Spitfire, no tidying up, no cheating



As for storage just fit in as much as you can. I have a big cupboard and a sort of office cabinet for paints, but I always seem to need more !

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I'd pinch Laurie's trays idea for tools.

Just what I was going to suggest! I think Laurie's tool drawers are a great idea and I would incorporate them into any new work station. Paint racks are also well worth considering as you really need everythign to hand.

Many years ago I visited the workshops of Mountfleet Models when Frank Hinchcliffe was still with us and he showed me his work are where he put together his sample models for his displays at shows. He told me how important it was to have an island so his model ships could remain in the middle and he moved around them rather than have to rotate a very large model too frequently. This is almost certainly not needed for smaller plastic models but it was such an interesting idea that when I put together my latest modelling workshop I used the idea by having a sit down workbench in front of a window to give as much natural light as possible as well as having a kitchen trolley behind me for the main model to sit on. This way I have the benefit of a workbench for the smaller sub assemblies as well as the ability to walk around the main model and work on any aspect of it without having to move it.

If you have the opportunity to be able to get access to the ceiling space I would suggest fitting sunken spot lights above the work area. These give great light without getting in the way and can be supplemented with the smallest of desk lights if you need something more specific. Again my latest workshop has recessed ceiling spots above the workbenches as well as a ceiling rose with additional spots above the kitchen island.

Just some ideas to play with.

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Good idea to have a fridge though it would be wine in there more than beer

Steve, two booths are an idea just to keep all the dust and other airbourne pests off my work, the small ones aren't big enough or powerful enough for my needs with the likes of 1:48th Lancaster's, Wellingtons and Condors to be sprayed, not to mention up coming ships

My paints will all be on shelves within easy reach, and I like the idea of an island to work round though I think it may need a bigger room

I guess your right with the two compressors, I'm just thinking about my friend coming over and working on his builds at the same time.

Adrian

[stona]

The 'Exagon' booth you can see part off at the edge of my photo has served me very well and is easily big enough for my 1/32 builds. It has a snail fan in the back and shifts 300+ litres of air per minute. You can see that I vent it out of a window, but you can get the fancy attachments for a more permanent installation. The filter is easily changed and not too dear. It looks like it could do with a new one now

Cheers

Steve

[Neil]

No specific ideas, but to save spending on shelving/cupboard space, take a look at freecycle.org - there will be one for your local area and people put on it items they want/are giving away - as the name implies, they are free so if someone wants something they have to go get it.

You often find old bits and pieces of furniture that may well be what you need - no guarantee you will find what you are after but for free the price is always good.

Neil

[Ian M]

Ikea sell some very handy box storage, They can be clipped together to make larger units, I have several, they come in lots of different sizes..

If you want to keep the air sweet, how about a ventilation system for the room, that will keep the dust down and help remove pongs and fumes.

Ian M

[Guest]

You can Adrian add a tee junction to your compressor and run two hoses. then there is no need for two compressors.

I actually bought two £70 spray booths which are made to clip together. Did this for two reason for larger animals as a 1/48 Merlin Helicopter. Plus I keep all the paints, thiiners airbrush cleaner etc all in the extended spray booth. keeps all the messy items in one place. Used it a number of times and the concept has worked well. Also I have rwo fans which I have built into a plenum at the back resulting in one duct to the outside.

Also, after having an allergy to the new carpet and having it ripped out, decided to have a plank looking vinyl floor. Make it easy one to clear up any paint mess secondly to find dropped items on the floor thirdly to race around on my office chair from computer, work area and spray/paint area.

Make it comfy and friendly Adrian. I have surrounded myself in my re-vamped room with my models and pictures of my models. Makes the place so much more friendly and cosy. Also more likely for friends and family to take a look in. My youngest and little grandson 6 years old, on his visits, makes a dive for my room. Sits on my swivel office seat and studying the models spends 10 minutes chatting about all of the. You cannot beat that !

Music speakers multi tasking when model making.

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Thanks Laurie,

I'm hoping to have a few display cabinets in there to show some builds, where ever I end up I'll put laminate floor down, as you say its easier to zip around

Music will be via my PC's in my cave I've got some pictures and autographs that I plan to put up as well.

Sadly I don't have many books, just a years subscription to Fine Scale modelling and a couple of new books on the Mustang I plan to build next year.

Adrian

[Guest]

I got my work top from B & Q Adrian. 24"by eight feet. About £35 a kitchen work top. Bought some 2" dia. chrome circular legs with plates at the top on B & Q with a 2" by 1" fixed to the wall as support. Dead easy stuff and gives a solid base with maximum room under for bits and pieces.

I did much thought on the way I wanted to work. Where I wanted things. That time was repaid. i am really happy with my lot. Hope yours comes about soon.

Laurie

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I'm dependant on the sale of the house, part of me wants it to drag on making my brother wait, another part of me wants to get it done so I can move on and start a new chapter in my life

Budget wise is £2,000 too much to put aside to make my cave the ultimate hide away?

Adrian

[Ian M]

Budget wise is £2,000 too much to put aside to make my cave the ultimate hide away?

Can you ever budget to much on a man cave?

I think the more important thing is how you use the budgeted amount rather than the size of the budget.

As another has said, you will be pleasantly surprised at what can be found at a recycling centre. One I was looking at (in Denmark) had some solid oak kitchen units and work tops for under half price of new units and tops in laminated chip board!!!

The most important thing is you get what you want and are happy with it.

Lots of light, lots of fresh air, and lots of bench space and you will be well on the way.

Ian M