Here's currently the work area for modelling. Do you see anything wrong here?
If you answered, "there's a huge distraction of the internet just inches away" then I'd agree with you. It dawned on me that while environmental reasons aren't a good excuse for not finishing things, they are probably not helping in the least bit. The ratio of time I spend sitting next to the workbench but playing around on the internet compared to actual modelling time is probably in the 1-out-of-10 to 1-out-of-20 range.
My thought is that the benchwork differs because the work is done in the basement. There are no televisions, computers, or video games in the basement and I am suspecting that is for the better. I've found that when I work on models next to the computer, I work on them for about 45-60 minutes before eventually playing around on the internet. Compared to when I work on benchwork, I can usually go for 2-3 hours at a time, sometimes more on a weekend where the wife is out doing something rather.
So while I continue to be an "armchair model railroader" for at least a little bit, I figured it would also be a good time to put together a suitable work area -- specifically one which is free from distractions and entertainments.
This goal inevitably leads to a question I'm sure many modelers have faced: What exactly do I want or need in a work area? I started by making a list of what I think are all the general activities that model railroaders engage in within a work space and shortened the list to just those which have some type of concerns for the space they use. Here's my list:
- Material measuring and cutting
- Gluing / assembly
- Painting
- "Wet work" (casting, mixing chemicals, etc.)
- Engine maintenance and DCC programming
- Photography
- "Infrastructure" construction (ie. benchwork, etc.)
Material Measuring and Cutting + Gluing / Assembly
It might seem weird that I called out material measuring and cutting into a different work area than gluing and assembly, but this is something I've observed is important. Too often I find myself using the one area I have available for both. Often this means setting the Chopper on top of whatever I'm working on, or trying to balance it on the side of the space somehow.
Having one area for measuring and cutting and another for gluing seems like a good call. It means you can have the Chopper and Duplicutter setup in one place semi-permanently while at the same time being able to glue something together and leave it alone while you work on something else.
Things that would be handy to have in this general vicinity would be the myriad of hand tools that modelers use frequently, like X-acto knives, rulers, straight edges, tweezers and the like. The Chopper and Duplicutter should have a forefront spot as well.
Materials storage (strip wood, piano wire, styrene, etc.) could be close by or have it's own area depending on the preference of the modeler. I imagine this area as being a single work bench, where half is used for measuring and cutting and the other for gluing and assembly. The cutting area would have a peg board with various small hand tools on it and a large shelf would go across the top of the whole workbench holding common but larger tools like the Chopper and Duplicutter.
One thing which I've never seen but I think it would be smart would be a triangular shaped shelf which stands so that the shelf part is 45° to the table. This shelf could have felt on it and would be for storing long slender tools like X-acto knives, but keeping them tilted up so that the blades are visible.
The gluing and assembly area would also (obviously) have the various selection of glues, tooth picks, post-it notes and wax paper. It also seems logical that the gluing/assembly area would be the place to have those small units that have all the miniature drawers in them. You know, something like this:
The whole thing together might look something like this (with gluing area on the left and cutting on the right):
Sorry, that sketch is kind of hard to see set against the graph paper.
I suspect such a workbench would be built fairly easily out of some 2x4's and a few things from Home Depot. My local store also sells actual "white melamine workbench" tops for a reasonable price which is what I'd probably select for the top.
Speaking of melamine, Darryl Huffman in this Scratch Building in Wood DVD mentions an idea of taking melamine shelves, cutting them into 2 or 3 sections, then doing all the gluing on those. They can then be moved and stored elsewhere while drying leaving your workspace free and clear.
Painting + Wet Work
Painting obviously needs a somewhat specialized work area. The two biggies are 1.) a painting booth, preferably with an external venting system and 2.) a sink. A key ingredient for this area would be lighting which is the same lighting as is on the layout.
There would need to be a storage area for paints, either many small shelves or one of those circular spinning deals, along with a place for brushes, the air brush, and a roll of paper towels that's easily accessible.
Given that the wet area would also likely be used for mixing and casting, having a cabinet type area for bowls, mixing cups, and molds would be handy.
I've seen across the internet a number of DIY paint booths which usually utilized a bathroom fan for venting (example). The key trick, of course, is to figuring out the external venting part of it. Given that I live in Colorado, just opening the window won't always be a preferred approach depending on the time of year.
Engine Maintenance and DCC Programming
This one puzzles me a bit. The best solutions I've seen have the layout yard with a track leading to over the workbench. This type of setup can be seen on Paul Scoles' Running Trains DVD for example.
That type of setup would be nice, but I'm not sure if I can swing it. This work area might be something I leave for later when I have a better idea about what I would like from it.
Photography
Taking pictures has always been an important part of the hobby and having a photo booth setup I think would make all the difference. I've noticed that with the popularity of Ebay, a number of manufacturers have started offering lower cost light tent kits and table top lights. Something like this, this, or even this. Having a small area where a setup like this was permanently set up and always available would be a big nice-to-have.
Infrastructure Construction
Lastly is workspace for those big jobs. A lot of benchwork might be built in place, but with a shelf layout (which I tend to prefer) having a place to bring the whole shelf unit in, set it down, and work on it seems like a good thing to have.
Given that this isn't the primary task for most model railroaders having a single table which is designated for this purpose and is clear of other modelling tools, paints, and such, is probably all that's needed. Power tools can be set up and plugged in as needed.
Other Thoughts
I think there are two more key ingridients.
First, having somewhere comfortable to sit or stand is a must. I found on Amazon medical stool for a decent price. These can be purchased with or without back supports. They look big and cushony and the ones I've sat on in the past were nice. They're made for people working after all.
Second, lighting. Most model railroaders already have an opinion of lighting so I won't beat that already-dead horse.
Wrap Up
Well, those are some ideas about what goes into an ideal model railroading work space. My next task will be to clear a spot in the basement and get started on it.
Addendum (2 hours later)
Speakers with some kind of working music are also a must!
Addendum (2 hours later)
Speakers with some kind of working music are also a must!
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