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A recent post by Dakka user Talys showcasing his enviable airbrush workspace several days ago was the last in a longstanding effort to convince myself to face reality and admit that there's really no actual "work" going on in the room I dedicated to being used as a "home office" other than painting and modelling. And as I survey my office -- multifunction printer/scanner currently doubling as my paint pots shelf and a near-empty filing cabinet as my "display" stand -- I realize it's time to turn this room into what it actually is -- a hobby workspace -- and renounce the lie this room has been living for the last several years. It's time.....to set this room free....

I moved everything out and left the desk that will become a part of my workbench:



Here's my running shopping list:

1. 2 x 6' Fold-Out Tables
2. 2 x Modular Plastic Shelving
3. 2 x 20" x 6" Craft Cabinet
4. 1 x Paint Brush/Accessories Rack/Organizer
5. 1 x Vallejo Paint Rack
6. 2 x Darice Airbrush Holder
7. 2 x Master Hobby Airbrush Booths
8. 2 x Airbrush Cleaning Pots

I'm a bit worried about the fold-out tables that they may be wobbly while I'm painting/modelling. Please share your experiences/recommendations if any. Also, I couldn't find much by way of paint brush and modelling accessory racks/organizers, so I picked that one out of the few and far-between I did find, so if you know of any others, let me know.

If anyone has any recommendations for the following, please share:

1. A swivel stool with (preferably locking) castors
2. Lighting for modelling (I was thinking a couple of inexpensive gooseneck lamps but not sure if I should be lending this decision a bit more scrutiny)
3. A formidable workbench. I was considering something with a wooden top and a vertical area for modular shelving. I found quite a few but I wanted to see what the hobby community suggests, or what I should be looking for. I also noticed its hard to find any where the surface of the bench is at a "seated" height rather than standing.
4. A rack for Citadel paint pots and Citadel air that isn't the GW $180+ version, if there is any.
5. An Imperial Aquila Flag. I seriously cannot find one anywhere.

If anyone has any suggestions, if I'm overlooking anything that is useful that I missed, war stories of their own putting together their hobby area, etc. please feel free to share. I appreciate the read and the input.

5. An Imperial Aquila Flag. I seriously cannot find one anywhere.

Could always try making your own. I found a sewing machine in my Dad's loft a while ago (now gifted to my much more artistically gifted sister ) and while I probably won't be any good at it, I can't imagine an Aquila is a complicated design.

Look forward to the room becoming a true hobby cave!

You'd figure I'd find at least a few on eBay. Nothing.

If I found a sewing machine in my attic, I might take a stab at it actually. But considering no such treasure troves exist up there, the time, effort, and blood spilt sewing it by hand is a bit steeper of an investment than I'm willing to make at this point. LOL

 hybridmoments82 wrote:
3. A formidable workbench. I was considering something with a wooden top and a vertical area for modular shelving. I found quite a few but I wanted to see what the hobby community suggests, or what I should be looking for. I also noticed its hard to find any where the surface of the bench is at a "seated" height rather than standing.

A workbench is probably overkill for most typical hobby workspaces. I do 99% of my work on my desk and only resort to my workbench, which is in my garage, if I can't fit my project on my large desk or it involves using power tools other than a Dremel.

4. A rack for Citadel paint pots and Citadel air that isn't the GW $180+ version, if there is any.

Build one.

It's cheap and easy, plus you get the benefit of making it exactly how you want. I build two of these for less than $40 in materials and a couple of hours on a Saturday:



A 2'x4' piece of pegboard is about $10 (a little more if you want white like I used) and the shelves are made out of 1"x2", which is also pretty cheap. That shelf is 2'x2'-6" and it holds 132 Citadel style paint pots.

That's quite reasonable and does not require an immense amount of handiwork. While I am the type that is more than willing to spend money rather than time when it comes to these types of things, this is very reasonable and much less expensive than the Citadel rack I found for over $180. A no-brainer. Appreciate the tip Scooty.

Hobbyzone make amazing racks and are relatively quite cheap

I enjoy having a separate workbench from my paintbench. Keeps the dust/filings/scrap away from the minis.


is what I use. Good hight for seated work, although the lower shelf prevents tucking to far under it. It was a gift, so I’m not sure exactly how much it runs, I can look up model/part numbers if you are interested.

Do you have shelf space for your finished stuff?

@Nevelon: That looks exactly like what I need. Did you order it online? If so, where from?

Also, could I take a peek at your painting area?

I do have shelf space for finished work, but that reminds me -- display case. Any recommendations for decent glass or plexi display case solutions? A DIY or store-bought?

Get a day light bulb
Ir one for a lamp. Its easier on the eyes and normal bulbs modify colours, that way you gets true propper say light even in darkest winter

 hybridmoments82 wrote:
@Nevelon: That looks exactly like what I need. Did you order it online? If so, where from?

Also, could I take a peek at your painting area?

It was a gift from my sister in law. I don’t think it was shipped. Looking up the part number, it’s this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/multipurpose-workbench-with-light-60723.html

My painting space is a huge mess. It’s an old table my mom used when she was an artist to frame pictures. Long on real estate, short on organization.

http://stores.ebay.com/Back-to-Base-ix?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Found these guys on ebay, I haven't ordered from them, but will once I have a place of my own. Not bad prices coming from Australia, and look nice.

Otherwise I'm sure IKEA would have some fairly decent setups for paint rakes you could find.

Not a fan of the back to base-ix stuff, hobbyzone.pl does a modular system that is jizztastic