My Work Bench & Area
Custom built folding work bench and area around it

Chaz Gordon
I started my return to Model making with the lofty idea of building a folding workbench to fit in with the decor of my home office, with a work surfact that folds away to cover all the model making stuff.

I had a small area to work with in the room, on a closed Chimney breast, above a small radiator, so whatever I did had to be built to fit.

I've spent a few years in the Motortrade in my past, so I have all the equipment to fabricate small to medium steel frames. A few lengths of 20mm ERW steel tubing (oddly almost exactly everything that I had knocking about the garage), A sheet of 3/4 and 1/4 Ply and 2 days work later, and I had a usable folding workbench mounted on the Wall.

I wanted to have my paints well organised, so bought a cheap paint rack for Tamiya jars on Fleabay, then proceeded to slice it up and glue it all together in a different layout with large quantities of Gorilla Glue, learning along the way how to use Gorilla Glue properly (And how not to!)

It also serves and my DIY Vape Mixing work area.

The folding bench survived about 3 Builds before it had several clamped on accessories and while it could still be folded, I'd have to find somewhere to store the Dremel Stand, the Work Magnifier and the Airbrush stand.

What I didn't account for was that when I last did Model making, I could barely pay the Mortgage payment each month, and all of my favourite Manufacturers were still in business and all my wish list kits were on shelves in Model shops and available to order as needed.

Fast Forward 20 years, Revell, AMT & MPC have been through a tough time and most of their old lines from my wish list are only available used on ebay with prices steadily rising, and Tamiya has drastically cut back the line of kits that I had my eye on, not to mention massively increasing prices for those out of production 1:12 Kits.

Not to worry, Mortgage is nearly done, I've seen quite a few pay rises in those 20 years, and my morgage payment is actually LOWER. so, now I can afford to build a STASH, and buy some new modelling tools.

That nice minimalist bench in the cover photo? That holds every modelling tool I ever owned up to 2 years ago, all of them from when I was a Kid to about 30 years old (when I stopped and put them in the loft).

Just 2 years later, My modelling tools fill two Keter 7 drawer rolling tool cabinets, another 8 of those little mini tool chests dotted around the room, a trolley from Hobby craft, and a Dremel Toolbox. And I still need to find somewhere for the mini compressor and the Airbrush booth I just bought.

The solution? We're planning to move to Cornwall so we can buy a bigger house. Fortunately for me, My Wife's hobbies have also filled the dining room.

Munkyslut
Good read Chaz!
Where in Cornwall are you moving to? I love that place, I gotta get a bolthole down there

Chaz Gordon
Haven't decided yet, but jobs won't be a factor, so we can pick the perfect spot.

Munkyslut
I like the north coast, Boscastle, Tintagel, but I also like Mounts Bay, Marazion, Mousehole.
I love the Lizard for the peace & quiet & views 😉

Chaz Gordon
St Austell is looking promising at the moment, nowhere near Newquay though, love the town, not a fan of the tourist industry.