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Hi everybody,

Just back in the scene and looking for some tips to 'do it right' the first time around.

I have not been able to locate a Sticky on this anywhere, and so I thought I may need to make a thread. If there is an old one, it is too far gone for my limited search-fu and threadnomancy skills.

So, if you have any recommendations for Paint Caddies; LED lamps; magnifiers; vices; Airbrush setups... please post them here. Perhaps we can edit and organise this thread into an FAQ of sorts, listing alphabetically and identifying the basic specs of each required item in a hobbyists workspace.

Mods, if this is not the correct sub-forum, please move. My apologies in advance.

Well, I use a small-ish (24"x48") folding table as my modeling workbench. I have all my tools and paints in small plastic containers, several of which fit into a tackle box that I keep at the back of the table. This leaves the front free for a construction/painting space.

I also have a small TV stand that I now use as a storage cart that I can wheel under the table. I keep additional paints and "on-deck" models/bits in it. The advantage of the cart is that it can effectively increase my table space when I'm working, but when I'm not I can push it under the table and maximize the floor space in my Man Cave.

Organising? What are you talking about boy? Put everything random on the table when you use it. Take a look at my desk.


Best table organising ever!

Here is my old setup. Ive moved house since this but my new setup is pretty similar.

I have no pics of my old workspace but it was really nice. It was a computer desk that had big cabnets at booth ends of the piece where I could put my boxes of paint and other assorted hobby supplies. To the right of the desk was a pull-out "pencil box", where I would store all my tools. More importrantly, it had a shelf right on top where you could show off your best works.


With moving into a new house, the thing was just not willing to go without breaking apart. Now, my hobby table is simply an old dinner table.

This is what iv got at the mo, the biggest thing i can recommend over almost everything is, work/desk space, the more you have the happier you'll be. Although if your like me, you'll just fill it all up and have to tidy up every other week. Next thing is storage. Then you can start thinking about the details.

You know, I don't think there is anywhere near A correct way to organize things. So long as you're able to find what you're looking for within a reasonable period of time, and have the tools at your disposal to get what you want done to the quality level you want it done at, I don't think it really matters all that much. As for the specifics:

Paint Caddies- Dont' use one myself. I just have my paints arranged on my desk in rough order of how frequently I use them.

LED lamps- I used a regular flex-stalk incandescent desk lamp for forever. Once that finally broke, I got the cheapest desk lamp I could find, which was one of those architect lamps like the kind in the Pixar logo (except it clamps to the side of the desk, rather than having a base)

magnifiers- I'm so nearsighted, I don't need magnifiers. When I'm not at my desk (and thus working in poorer light, I have a pair of +175 reading glasses I sometimes use.

vices- Why would you need a vice?

Airbrush setups - I don't have an airbrush myself, as I don't have that many vehicles to paint.

I think the one that's missing is a hobby knife. I have a pair of X-acto knives with an endless supply of blades (my hardware store loves me). What I do is swap between the two (they have a slightly different finish on them) so that one has the newer, sharper blade and the other has the older, duller blade that probably has the tip snapped off. Older blades can still be useful (for cutting things off sprues, molding GS, etc.) and I use them as much as I can to preserve my newer one.

Eventually my newer one breaks and I'm left with two bad blades. I then swap out the older, worse blade for a new one. This will continue until I'm done breaking blades (I bet I've gone through at least 100 by now).

I use my huge wargaming table to place my "not working on them" figs, various card board boxes for storing finished minis according to some category and actual work is done on a small folding desk. It has these neat drawers and raised areas where I can place things like my ultrasound washer and my brush cup. and the desk itself has all these random wipers and things I'm working on.

On a related note, I'm getting one of these:

I have a couple of the paint carousels from this company: http://www.paintier.com/

I have a dremel with a dremel workstation for assistance in converting and because I use magnets to save money on weapon loadouts.

For magnifying very small details (doing eyes etc.) I use one of these: http://www.telesightmagnifiers.com/catalog/i157.html I find it better than a desk mounted magnifier but it does take some time to get used to.

I have an Iwata CR airbrush and a sprint jet compressor which seems to work well enough for tank spraying at least, I also have an extraction setup as I work in a small room.

I use lots of liquitex products such as paint additives and inks and I have a large array of sculpting tools and brushes, my new favourite of the latter being Raphael 8404.

All of the above still don't help me be more than a very average painter at present, but I'm practising, and that you just can't buy.

I highly recommend you get a big cutting mat. This can double as your paint surface and just general work area. I have a green one that is about 30"x18" and it works great. I keep all my paints in two small boxes and my tools in another. That way I can quickly set up in the dining room and put my stuff away just as quickly.

For lighting I use a standard flex necked desk lamp with a halogen bulb that I've had for like 3 years. I store all my rare earth magnets on the flex neck of the lamp for easy access!

But as other poster's said, it really depends on whether you can have a permanent space or temporary space for working on minis. Good luck!


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh I forgot I also have one of these:



Not that particular brand, but one very similar. The ball in socket joint allows for any angle you want. It is very handy for holding things while I saw, holding models together while glue dries and the like.

This set up is awesome and (relatively) cheap.

I'm getting one later in the year for my small painting desk.
Currently my paints are piled in boxes, or spread out on the desk.

http://www.miniaturescenery.com/CategoryPage.asp?Code=CAT_ACCP