discussion Model making area / desk now pretty much sorted

[pjgtech]

After having spent the last few weeks, properly setting up my model making area / desk, it is pretty much sorted.
This is our small spare bedroom, previously used by me as a study, when I used to work from home using my work laptop.
It is a nice warm, secluded, quiet part of the house.

Lighting was just a basic middle of ceiling bulb. So I've added a more suitable and adjustable desk mounted lamp. Plus I have a small led side lamp and a magnifying glass with lamp, the lamp can be used on its own to light from one side. So with all three lights on, (main and two small sides) the work area is now well lit.

Desk needed clearing, as it had loads of IT stuff on there, laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, various other bits. I now have a monitor stand so the monitor is lifted up and space underneath to put a laptop and keyboard when not in use, freeing up most of the desk space. The monitor stand is large enough so that I can also have a smaller laptop on it next to the monitor.
I find it handy to have my laptop on whilst model making, as I can browse the web, watch YT vids, listen to music, or the radio, upload photos, etc.

My actual model making working space is therefore about 3/4 of the total desk top area.

Rather than having all my model making gear strewn all over my desk, as was the initial set-up, I now have two proper paint stands, one with additional storage above, and one just a basic paint stand. Although I have other bits on the paint stand, and so far, I still have capacity to add more bits, paints, etc. (Although I'm sure I'll fill it up at some point).

Lastly, I seem to have all the basic modelling tools now, after spending a small amount on additional bits, to add to the bits that I already had.
So I appear to be fully up and working now as a "proper" modeller..... (sort of). I know there will be lots of peeps on here with far larger, and far more advanced set-ups, eg: painting booths, photo booths, etc, etc. But, this is my set-up, and its enough to get me going and give me a good starting point.

Cheers (couple of pics)

 

[Jim R]

That's a very useable space. The main things are decent lighting, a comfortable chair, a bench at the right height and the things you need most within easy reach. You seem to have all that. Having a warm, dedicated place to work means you're more likely to spend time there.
Happy modelling

 

[pjgtech]

Updated, I now have full use of my whole desk, for model making, not just half of it, Wheyheyyy!
This effectively doubles my model making area.
The desk was previously also being used to house my laptop, keyboard, mouse and monitor along with few other bits.
I had two narrow bookcases next to my desk, but I have moved one of those to another room, and stuck a small narrow desk into that space, which now holds my laptop, keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc, which then frees up the other half of my desk.
I still have my old canvas sheet under the working area, but I now have two A3 cutting mats rather than just one and lots of room to the side for my new magnifying lamp, for those small fiddly bits.
But, I have already expanded to fill up the new area as well..... !!! [Doh!]
Pics...


Yes, I know there's stickers on my bookcase and printer! When we moved, we were very organised and labelled everything to make it easier for the movers, and although we have been here three years now, we still haven't removed some of the stickers!!!! Lol...

 

[PaulTRose]

All you need now is somewhere to store the stash that will grow out of control......somewhere out of sight of swambo who will cast disapproving looks upon the aforesaid out of control stash

We have all been there

 

[pjgtech]

All you need now is somewhere to store the stash that will grow out of control......somewhere out of sight of swambo who will cast disapproving looks upon the aforesaid out of control stash
We have all been there

If Swimbo did decide to criticise my model collection/gear, I would have two words for her to consider...."Shoes" and "Handbags". She would then have no further comment to make on the matter, Lol....

TBH, she is as good as gold, and has "put up" with my other hobbies without a cross word for years, including excessive buying of "stuff" for Cycling, Golf, squash, motorbikes, shooting, tools, camping/bushcraft and now model making.

It has always helped that we both worked and always earned about the same, and we have a joint account which we both pay money into every month, and all the bills etc come out of that joint account. Then whatever is left in her account is hers and whatever is left in my account is mine, to do with as we see fit. Simples.

 

[pjgtech]

Another little update, I have now added my newly acquired additional tool storage/paint stand from our very own SMS.
From half a desk I am now fully filling up the whole desk!
I think I need to stop now though, before I start encroaching on other rooms in the house!


As you will also note, the most important item for any hobbyist...... a proper brew!

 

[minitnkr]

Very nice.

 

[pjgtech]

Another addition to the model making area.... I have been buying more paints and had run out of places to store them, so.....
Via our very own SMS a nice Hobbyzone paint storage stand corner section with base.
I do like these, relatively cheap, easy to build, seem strong and are very versatile.
Pics....




So now my work area is complete.....for now!

 

[LeytonO]

Where will the airbrush, compressor and spray booth be going?

 

[pjgtech]

Good question.....?

 

[LeytonO]

Mine is plonked on top of the tumble dryer in a spare bedroom and they share the same venting solution.
The other spare room is now a hobby room, my wife does lino cut printing and I use it for modelling.
Also houses my large inkjet printer and mount cutting stuff, pair of active speakers and a sub too.

 

[pjgtech]

I don't think my wife would appreciate me using yet another room for "man" stuff., bearing in mind I already use the garage, small garden shed, garden log cabin and spare room! TBH, there is more room in this small study (spare bedroom) as it has a small sofa bed that we never use, so I could get rid of that and free up the other half of the room, if I really wanted to.
Bottom line is that no matter how much room you have, you will always accumulate "stuff" to fill that space.
Doesn't help having more than one hobby either.....!

 

[LeytonO]

Very true, chap I worked with said no matter how many cupboards he built his wife always filled them straight away.

 

[pjgtech]

Its getting bigger!
I am accumulating so much "stuff" that I have decided that my desk can accommodate another small storage unit, (to the left hand side) and the existing ones can go a bit higher, so I can put a base unit under each one.
Therefore I have bought a couple of Hobbyzone standard base units, not delivered yet. This will mean the whole length of the desk will have storage units at the back and the existing ones will be going higher up the wall, which will give me more storage space and hopefully free up the front desk space.
Then thats it, no more...! (Yeah right!)

 

[Richard48]

Nice set up chum.I miss having a nice space like my shed at parents.Im resigned to trying to build stuff on a dining room table in our small flat.My output of kits so small as i just not got room to do stuff justice which is a source of much frustration.
All the best from Richard

 

[Airborne01]

f Swimbo did decide to criticise my model collection/gear, I would have two words for her to consider...."Shoes" and "Handbags". She would then have no further comment to make on the matter, Lol....

You definitely have a suicidal bent - are you seriously considering '... she would have no further comment ... ' as a valid statement? Shoes, clothes, handbags, yarn, foo foos etc - they're all part of the security network that allows us to continue plastic bashing! Get ye to a monastic retreat and reconsider Sirrah!
Steve

 

[minitnkr]

....looks like you turned the corner.....

 

[pjgtech]

x3 more HobbyZone base units added to the LHS.

So existing units now raised up a bit more, so more model storage, so less "stuff" on the desk / work area.
Now just waiting for the SMS to get some more paint stands in stock and I will add one of those to the top of the LHS and also waiting for the SMS to get the cornet base units back in stock and I will invest in another one of those to raise up that section. Then that will be it, honest!

 

[pjgtech]

Edit, corner base unit, not cornet base unit!!!

 

[Jim R]

A fact worth bearing in mind - "The more space you create the more modelling gubbins you have to buy to fill it and when full you worry that you have no space and so need to create more. And off you go again!"
It's all good fun though