The Top Of My Bench

**treadhead1952** · #1 02-01-2011, 07:35 PM

Hi All,

I have actually gotten down to the top of my modeling bench! Which for me, is akin to starting all over again. You can also see why I photograph all my stuff with a solid back ground which is actually one of a few different pieces of cloth that I have laying about. With all the odds and ends of tools, and paraphernalia that I keep on hand since I model in card, styrene, wood and what ever else will hold still long enough to be formed into a model on my bench in various containers, it just isn't a good photo taking backdrop. I have a keyboard shelf that is about five inches below the bench top itself which also serves as the shelf that most photos get taken on. It makes for a handy place to do some tasks and a good spot to hold the key board and track ball mouse I favor as well as the wireless antennas for same, I hate all those cables and such dangling all about. I have a tripod that rests off to one side that I have adjusted to the height of the shelf so I can pop the camera in place, shoot a shot or two and then carry on with whatever I am doing. I have the monitor which is actually a 26" Westinghouse 720P flat screen teevee sitting at the back of it all so I can peruse DVD's, online teevee, or my favorite forum at my leisure as I work.

As you can see, the HMS Savage is awaiting my attentions, so I won't tarry any longer and get down to it.

bagpiper · #2 02-01-2011, 07:44 PM

Thanks for sharing this with us. Looks a lot like my own layout and many others I'm sure. I got to the stage of going through all my stuff and if I hadn't touched it in a few months then it went in the drawer. It was the only way I could keep everything off the workbench.

cheers
Jim

**redhorse** · #3 02-01-2011, 08:05 PM

That's a pretty slick setup. I like the TV idea.

**mchale** · #4 02-01-2011, 08:26 PM

wow thats is an awsome setup the savage looks nice i bet i am the only modeler here who sits on the living room floor or on the bed and dose models right now i am laying down on the living room posting this on my laptop

**treadhead1952** · #5 02-01-2011, 11:15 PM

Thanks Guys,

I do enjoy my time at the bench a lot more since adding the monitor to the back. It was sort of distracting to have the television sitting off to one side of the room while the bench was on another area completely. I could only focus attention on one or the other for a period of time. My compressor sits under the bench at the back with a switch and quick disconnect in a panel on the side of the bench so any painting chores can be handled without even getting up from the bench.

**ct ertz** · #6 02-11-2011, 11:08 AM

My area used to look like that, but now I have given my space up to the girl so she can paint. She is an artist and a fairly good one. My wife, ever thinking of me, brought home a huge tackle like box for me the other day, complete with a selection of Aleen's tacky glues in the little bottles and a can of clear coat spray. The top of the box is large enough to fit a couple of 1/50 scale ME-109s or other like size models that are in progress, and the draws hold all of the knives, colors, pens, tweezers and so on. It even holds my cutting pad and mouse pad, and skewers. And a couple of smaller removable boxes on the side holds scale chains, pre-made ships boats (salvaged from ship models that had been wrecked by the cat) and other small but useful parts. Its a great set up, and now I can still build on the kitchen table, but conceal all of my stuff in the hall closet when not in use.

But I still miss my work table though, I hope the girl puts it to good use. If I had had a TV set up Like Jay's, I might not have given it up so easily!
CT

**treadhead1952** · #7 02-12-2011, 11:46 AM

Hi CT,

I tried the compartmentalized modeling trip a couple of times but as my collection of tools grew with the addition of different types of media, the size of the chest to keep it all in would look more like a steamer trunk!

The company I work for has stuff made up with clear Plexiglas to hold handout sheets and display stuff for sale. These little racks are replaced when they either get too scratched up to look good or a part comes loose from a weak glue joint or rough handling. I got my hands on a couple of them and they work great to hold things like various sized containers of glue, polish, and such. The front edge also works as a great place to hold the mini pliers set by laying them over the top, handles down. Organizing your stuff so that like pieces are all together makes getting to them much quicker than if they are stuffed hither thither into a single large container.

With some things like wire, I find that several different sizes are useful to make up parts and pieces for different projects. Taking a hint from electricians and the technicians that work in the hotels and casinos, I made up my own little rack to hold the spools that come from Radio Shack, my selection of choice. Having purchased several packages of assorted balsa wood pieces over time, I found myself with some shapes that just didn't get much use. One of them is a "Dee" shaped piece in cross section that would probably be used for the leading edge of a wing shape in longer lengths. The 8 to 10 inch sections that I had on hand just didn't work for much other than chopping them up to make other shapes. Taking a couple of them and cutting one to the same length as the other and using a bamboo skewer to make the uprights let me make up this little storage rack. The over length uprights also make a handy place to keep a couple of spools of thread.

**Jerry V** · #8 02-12-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mchale

i bet i am the only modeler here who sits on the living room floor or on the bed and dose models right now i am laying down on the living room posting this on my laptop

Actually you are not..

I am building my models in the living room. There´s a high chair where I sit and cut my parts, having my model in front of me on the table when I need it. (If I do not need it, it´s in the hallway, stored safely away from my pets).

I am building the model in front of me at the table in the living room, or on the floor depending on what needs to be done..
I have my pc hooked up to my tv, so I am writing this message from the sofa..

Jerry

**airdave** · #9 02-12-2011, 05:12 PM

I quite often fall over and end up on the floor next to my work table
...does that count Mikey?

Thanks for sharing treadhead...its cool to see you can work in front of your TV/Monitor!
Sadly I don't have the room to work in front of my PC, although it would be handy during design work!

(Is this a share your workspace thread? ...it is now!)

My design work takes place at a private Computer area, which is where I spend a lot of my day.
You can see, my mousepad is actually a Cutting Mat (just in case!):

but my actual "build" location is a large wooden Coffee Table in front of my Living Room TV!
Work is usually spread out across this table,
and on the Sofa to the left,
Supplies are in drawers to my right,
and finished models go on the Wall Unit directly in front of me!
This is what the coffee table looks like right at this very moment:

**treadhead1952** · #10 02-13-2011, 07:53 AM

Hi Dave,

Cool looking Warthog!

As to a show your workspace thread, sort of, as well as, show off any ideas you might have on tool storage, supply storage, model storage, what have you. Being an apartment dweller, I had to come up with a set up that would allow the maximum number of functions in the least amount of space. I have six drawers, three to a side supporting my bench top that serve as paint storage, four distinct types and brands, supply storage and odd sized tool storage. Even with all of that storage area, I still have a bin on one corner of the top next to the monitor that houses overflow "wet" stuff (Turpenoid, Carpenters Glue, Bluing solution, Decal Solutions, Future, Modge Podge, and other things that are too big or used too often to stick in a drawer).