The Bigbee Line Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I was wondering. How many of use have a dedicated work area for modelling etc. I have tended to use whatever was to hand, usually the front edge of the base board I was working on. Today I took a bold step and used some spare timber and a few Ikea Ivar shelf components to create a small bench. No excuses now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clagsniffer Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hi ernie, I'm very lucky to have a very understanding other half and have managed to bag the garage as a layout room, but also use the 3rd bedroom as a modelling room! In there I've got and ikea Fredde workstation http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50219044/which is perfect for kit building, weathering etc, plenty shelf space. The only trouble is keeping it tidy! I also got permission for a 'test plank' to check operation after decoder fitting etc, though I'm not sure an 8ft x 2ft area classes as a plank! Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornbyandbf3fan Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I use half of my corner desk, with the floor underneath for storage Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frappington Jct Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I use a humbrol portable workbench which is kept on top of whatever else happens to be on my chest of draws at the time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campaman Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I have a full sized office desk as my modelling table in our conservatory and plastic drawers on wheels for storage, the wife has a large table the other side for doing her jigsaws on, so we can also spend time together when doing our hobbies, the actual layout is in the shed which is a short walk down the garden from the conservatory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share Posted October 1, 2014 I use a humbrol portable workbench which is kept on top of whatever else happens to be on my chest of draws at the time Any chance of a picture? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium CloggyDog Posted October 1, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2014 I built my old workbench at school, part of my O-Level (Grade E ) Only recently retired (it was getting very battered indeed and was always too high, requiring sitting on an uncomfortable bar stool) in favour of 2 Ikea Laivas (£10 each) and a standard office small swivel chair. Much more comfy. One Laiva is dedicated to the spray booth and painting, the other for general modelling work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium CloggyDog Posted October 1, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2014 Any chance of a picture? Probably this: http://www.scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/all-other-subjects/all-things-tools/75-all-other-tools/1686-a4-cutting-mat-and-workstation-from-humbrol I know folk who've knocked up their own versions from ply and stripwood. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mike Bellamy Posted October 1, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2014 Probably this: http://www.scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/all-other-subjects/all-things-tools/75-all-other-tools/1686-a4-cutting-mat-and-workstation-from-humbrol I know folk who've knocked up their own versions from ply and stripwood. My son got one from GreenScene at the Derby show that had been laser cut from thin ply with several holes cut for paint pots - although it isn't on their website . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Ernie, Another idea which you might find useful is to get a couple of bits of 100mm x 50 mm, and some 12mm or 18mm tubing conduit. In one piece of timber, drill as many holes as you can in two or three parallel rows, of such a size that the tubing is an interference fit. Screw the two pieces of wood together to give you a 100mm x 100mm cross-section. Cut the tube into lengths of 55mm for the first row, then 75mm, and finally 100mm. You then have something that'll take anything from different-sized drill bits, via files, to paint-brushes. If you have very small drill-bits, then some holes to take smaller bits could be drilled at the front- the wider type of drinking straw, used in 'hip' eateries like Leon would be ideal for these. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frappington Jct Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 In reply to 'The Bigbee Line' (my reply button doesn't include a quote), this is where my (very messy) workbench currently is: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Jackson Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 This is my dedicated area/workbench in my bedroom, it's taken me about 2 years to get it to the point where I finally like it, before it was on top of the chest of drawers but now as you can see its on the shelf, much more friendly on the back and neck. Storage is on the far left and under the bed lol. It looks a bit thrown together but it does the job hahaha, Nelson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigtech Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Hello all, right now I use a cheap picnic-table fitted with fold-up legs (it's no longer required for picnics...) in our bungalows 3rd (spare bedroom), which is opposite the lounge - not ideal but it does the job as the layout is in the loft, and the table is warm, dry with plenty of natural light and I can still use the pc or see the tv.and of couse it can be easily moved if need be! Regards SIGTECH (Steve) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium HillsideDepot Posted October 1, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2014 This is my "workbench", looking rather a muddle as usual! The bench is merely a home-office desk, I think from Argos. On that is a ply and strip-wood working area with a cutting mat glued to it. On that rests a glass sheet (to keep things flat & true) and hidden under the building is another smaller cutting mat. The grey drawer unit nearest is part of my paint supply, sorted roughly by colour. The off-white drawer unit at the far end of the desk is on casters and has more paint and a supply of Wills sheets and assorted useful bits. On top is the all important DAB radio with iPod dock. I really need to re-organise that area to accommodate my tablet as well. Behind the bench the bottom shelf is for small tools, with a 3 drawer unit at the far end for transfers. The next shelf is a loco rolling road, which is easily switchable between DC, DCC and DCC programing. The next shelf is wider and on the underside is a 3 lamp lighting unit which illuminates the work bench. The shelf itself has my passenger stock in the blue drawer unit then assorted part built items fill much of the rest of the shelf. The black boxes on the next shelf contain my freight stock, and the bigger boxes on the top two shelves contain delights such as several DMUs ready for rebuilding, coaching stock awaiting repaints and road vehicles sufficient to model a good stretch of the M25! In the corner of the room are the two boards of Westonmouth Central, which is currently in store. The space will also accommodate Mortimore's Yard if I swap the layouts over. Above the stored layout are shelves of locomotives & DMUs, including a number in store for future projects. Along the opposite wall, and out of shot, is Mortimore's Yard set up and operational. The trestle legs are spaced such that I can use them for either Mortimore's Yard or Westonmouth Central as I choose, despite the layouts being different lengths, without disturbing the hundreds of EFE buses stored beneath. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZ Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I found a pine computer desk in Lidl for around £24 a few years back. Two drawers and shelving below on one side and the slide out keyboard shelf can be used for instuction sheets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I built mine myself to fit in the end of the shed, under the layout. I've added a bunch of task lights since this picture was taken, and the bench is now covered in junk. I use an old piece of double glazing unit as an assembly area, as it's perfectly flat and ideal for squaring up kits on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 If you'll forgive this topic being slid slightly sideways - there is a "how-to" for a small portable one here - that some might find useful http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/mrh-2014-10-oct/simple-portable-workbench Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nevadablue Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Thanks for the link! I had forgotten to get the September and October issues of the magazine so I did that while I was there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlandman Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 My modeling desk needed to be portable, movable so in the the immortal words of Clint Eastwood. 'You adapt. You overcome. You improvise' I made mine from a dining table from Homebase, with a few modifications. See if you can spot them. Original incarnation Adapted top for more leg room and easier access to underneath. On the side of the desk I have built a holder for plasticard and I have put some small cuphooks on the sides of the shelves to hang such things as rulers, set squares, facemasks and optivisors. An anglepoise lamp clamped to the shelves supplies the lighting, using a daylight equivalent bulb. The storage underneath holds Really Useful Boxes with regularly used items and the right hand has my compressor, glue bottles and spray cans. Other items are stored in a Really Useful wheeled trolley that can be moved to the side of the desk should I need items from that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 My work bench...an Ikea table at the end of the kitchen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TheQ Posted October 14, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 14, 2014 I had / have a work desk in the corner of the living room Unfortunately SWMBO had a tidy up!!! it moved to a corner of the hall way, it's buried under every model (in box) and all spares I had in the house to a depth of 3ft plus. I don't think I'll get near it again till it moves to the shed! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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