I’ve seen some posts of people who have built some really incredible workbenches and work rooms. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury. I model out of a converted tacle box on my kitchen table. For those who might be discouraged about their modeling center, I’ve enclosed pictures of my setup:
The setup:
The setup includes a tackle box by Plano, work-board, cutting mat, and work light. The box was slightly modified by cutting out some of the dividers on the trays to make more room. The work-board has felt pads on the back so that the board doesn’t cause any scratches. The work light is a very bright fluorescent that folds up.
This is it ready to go:
Inside of the tackle box:
The tools:
Inside the tackle box are the following items:
10 bottles of paint for current project
2 bottles of thinner
Razor saw, handle and miter box
Some popsicle sticks
6 inch and 12 inch steel ruler
“Helping Hands” tool with magnifier
tube cement, white glue, liquid cement, CA glue, Zip kicker
Masking tape
Rag
Painting palette
Elmer’s tack
Package of straight edge razor blades
Candle and matches
Piece of glass
Needle nose plies, Photo-etch cutter, Sprue Cutter
Scissors
5 sanding sticks
5 regular files, 3 micro files
Flex-I-File with extra sanding sheets
5 sanding films
Putty
2 clamps
Razor blade
2 eye droppers
4 types of tweezers
Toothbrush
8 paint brushes
Pencil and Highlighter
Etchmate
Waldron Punch set
Steel square
Reading glasses
Assortment of different razor blades
Pin vise with bits
Toothpicks
Putty knife
Scriber
I hope this might give some inspiration to those who feel they don’t have enough room. I like the fact that I can work in any room of the house. I can also easily lock my stuff up from my curious kids. The only downside is that I don’t like my paintbrushes laying on their sides, but oh well.
I had the best of both worlds. I have an extensive workbench, but I was also a “long distance Dad” for many years. I and both of my sons had workbenches in a box—each had a tool box with all of their tools and paints, and there was one box for kits under construction. My kids still keep most of their tools in the tool boxes.
I have a lot of the goodies you have there, but I never though of loading up a tackle box! Great idea! [:)]I’ve been having such a tough time with so much stuff “unorganized”.
Nice demonstration a “workbench on wheels”. I’ve got a small toolbox where I stash the stuff I’m currently using so I can go work in front of the TV or take it home for the week end.
Ya know, if I would have had one of those boards when I was a kid, it would have saved me a lot of grief! I didn’t have anything but the coffee table in the living room for quite awhile, but I made do, of course my mother always hated it cause I had to leave them there to dry, and my dad always took my side, silly, silly man he is [;)] I finally had somebody give me a small desk, and after awhile, I figured I would just make my own, its a rather simple design, its ugly, but its got lots of room and its strong.
I’ve got two sets of tools: my regular tools at my work station, and a separate set of tools for modeling outdoors or taking on the road. I ended up with a second set of tools because I got tired of trying to figure out what I wanted to bring to my outdoor workbench. The drill always went like this: Set up the outdoor workbench, bring the model and some tools out (“I’ll need the Number 11 knife, some files, the super glue and some flat black paint and brushes.”). Get nice and comfortable, begin to model, then realize I forgot the putty. Go get the putty. Back outside, apply the putty, rinse the applicator, then go back in to get a paper napkin for drying the tool. While the putty dries, paint a part flat black, then go back inside to get the paint thinner I forgot. (Meanwhile, the paint quickly dries on the brush thanks to the nice dry Phoenix air.) Once I’m done rescuing the paintbrush, the putty’s nice and dry, so I have to go get the sanding sticks as the file is too coarse, and well, you get the picture.
Finally got tired of bouncing up and down like a Jack-in-the-box gone ape, so that’s when I bought a terrific new fishing tackle box and a second set of tools. (I got a Flambeau Outdoors’ 7 Tray Hip-Roof Box at Sportsman’s Warehouse in north Phoenix.) This tackle box enables me to take the model on the road now; it’s relatively compact, but it holds a lot of stuff. And recently, I bought a little desk at a yard sale that fits nicely outside and I was FINALLY able to throw that rickety old tea cart I’d been using in the dumpster!
I dont have the problem of space to work in, ive taken over the garden shed. I just have the problem of other projects and complete things getting in the way. Currantly my workbench is home to a 1/8 scale Tiger Moth, 2x 1/16th scale Tanks, 1 Radio control truck, one 60inch pt boat for radio control, a f105 being repaired and a few plastic models. Dont ask how i manage to work amongst it all, as i dont know myself.
I do the same thing usmc1371. I’m on my second tackle box, though I’m going to have to find something larger- I’m collecting a ton of tools. We’re hoping to move into a new house in the next 6 months, and I so want my own room for modeling.
Hey, I know that one well. I started out like that, then it was to two tackel boxes, then this:
If you can fit that into four of your tackel boxes, I’d be soooooo amazed. You get your own room, it’s like moving into a new house. Gotta buy new furniture to fill the room. In this case, new tools that you now need.
Don’t let you wife know what happens when you get your own room[;)][:P]
Actually, I had my own room about 2 years ago. Had a custom made desk and a spray booth. Now I have two kids and no room. I’m a stay-at-home dad and I work part-time at night. My toolbox setup allows me to work at the kitchen table. I like that since I’m upstairs with the wife and kids while I’m working. For the little time that we are all home together, it’s nice to be in the same room.
My spray booth is in the basement sitting on a cabinet. I keep my paints in there. I generally do my spraying at night when everyone is asleep or on the weekends.
By the way, I did my 1/350 Arizona with PE on my kitchen table:
When I was a kid I started out with my limited modeling supplies in one of my desk drawers. I then moved up to a tackle box and used it for years. But now that I am back into modeling with my son I moved us both up to our own Black & Decker tool box (see pic below). Now besides the box holding our tools and supplies, we can pack our current project in the bottom for traveling or storage as well. We’re both in the same position, we build when and were we can.
[(-D] [(-D] Don’t bother staining it 60, just spray her down with some dark ghost gray on top and some light ghost gray on bottom and call it tactical camo… then you won’t have to worry about the cat finding it, it will be camoflaged and invisible to everyone but you!
