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Hi folks - my wife finally got fed up with my modelling corner and told me to tidy it all up or get rid of it all - maybe this is the motivation I need to paint properly!

Currently it looks like this:



and I'd much rather it looked like this:



With doors on the front.

Few features I think I'll need -

* Lockable doors up to about 4ft so the kids can;t get in
* Built in extractor so I can airbrush safely
* Lighting - lot's and lots of lighting
* rack space for paints, GW pots and vallejo airbrush
* draws for tools, pots, potions and various dangerous chemicals
* Space for storing board games (see pic) and minaitures in battlefoam
* all enclosing front so when it's all shut, it looks like normal furniture
* Enough space to expand!


So - what I'm looking for is advice and ideas

* Have any of you done this before?
* Any idea what are must have features?
* Any examples of really great self contained desks you've seen elsewhere?
* Anythign else?
* Any idea what it might cost?

Huge thanks in advance

Some things I think are a must-have if I ever built one:
1)Area for paints (sort of like a spice rack) because I keep buying doubles, and can never find the ones I need.
2) Modular storage for sprues. I am currently using something from a local hardware store with lots of little compartments, but having something bult in would be awesome.
3) Source of light: Incorporating a light into the underside of the shelves, or making sure there is enough room for a light.
I like the small shelves, but I would make them shallower or you might lose stuff.
Cost wise, if you make it yourself out of particle board, it might cost $100CDN and some time, but new, who knows.

Save yourself the hassle & do what i did - pop along to a charity shop that carries furniture & pick up an old writing bureau for about £30.
Mine is real wood & if I could get off my lazy butt I would strip off the varnish, re-varnish parts in clear & paint other parts in semi-gloss black & replace the handles. Probably cost less than £20 for materials & end up with a solid piece looking how I like stuff to look!

Thanks chaps - it's a bit difficult to see but that desk is a writing bureau, it folds up again to hide the business parts of the desk.

There's lighting underneath the shelf as well, and batons glued to the wall for the small GW pots so technically it does everyting I need it to right now - but - the benefits and drawbacks of having children I'm afraid! Can't have teeny tiny choking hazards or hazardous chemicals available to small hands, plus there's always the nagging feeling that I'd be more likely to paint if everything was well organised and available when I had a few minutes!

I've been thinking of just writing a spec and asking a furniture making form to do it all for me but I'm still a bit vague on what's actually needed

I would be interested to see what you come up with, i am in a similar spot with a hobby corner.... and kids who want to touch it, so i've been looking into a self contained unit. unfortunately premade desks dont seem to be up to mustre in my oppinion.

my Must list would be:

1. Paint storage enough for the GW collection plus others
2. Power supply, enough sockets for lighting, compressor, sonic cleaner, Dremel, spare?
3. Storage for my compressor.
4. Showcase space, i dont play 40k so i spend alot of time on my models so i'd like somewhere to show them.
5. Storage, for bits/ basing materials other bits and bobs of hobby stuff.

Theres probably more. but alas i am at work right show (sshh)

Pre made never seems to be good enough, quality is a bit crap and it doesn't fit the gaps you have!

The dimensions of the alcove itself are:

width - 1040mm
height - 2565mm
depth - 380mm

Ideally I'd like to display but I;'ve also lost that argument, the 2,000 books are out, no room for the models as well! (shame)

I would ideally like to bring the whole thing out further than the depth of the alcove but have been told that's not allowed... So instead I can bring the bottom part out further than the depth of the alcove - probably 700mm which is how far the bureau folds out to.

A fold down work surface comes down to reveal the main work area and rests on the storage units underneath.

I've already got some lighting built under the top shelf which has some lighting to spotlight the paints, but it's no good for painting work as it's too far back. I thought I could make short draw that pulled out above the main work are and had strip lights built into it, would mean I could get rid of the spot light I hope as it's bloody ugly...

Any pictures of anyone's set up would be awesome