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Post by Starryeyes on May 24, 2015 20:14:09 GMT -5
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Post by barten on May 24, 2015 21:54:43 GMT -5
Comments welcome... Ever since this thread started I've been taking a long hand look at MY modeling area.. I've always been one of those guys with a high anxiety level so patience is slim and none... Thus my work area reflects exactly that... A room full of mismatched "stuff" that I've made work resulting in an unorganized conundrum .. The old bathroom storage cabinet is 30" wide and DOES house some of my paints , all my air brushes , and compressor..,but as a result of its 30" width I ended up placing a 36" wide paint booth on top .. I've started going through some of my used supplies and older paint and "things" to start clearing clutter.. I have made some progress but still lots more to do as time permits... I have a nice drafting table off the kitchen area upstairs so I still have a place to build while weeding through stuff downstairs... The best analogy I can convince myself of is that I didn't collect all this stuff overnight therefor it's not going to disappear overnight !! Enough rambling .... Besides the info here in this thread (and in the other work-space-related thread, on these forums) I have been reading as many old articles as I could, related to other people's work areas. Not just car modelers, or figure modelers -- but anyone building and/or painting stuff. If I could lay my hands on it, I wanted to read all about it. And what I'm learning is that virtually NO one has EXACTLY the situation they want. The ones (the very, very few!) who do have that, almost always went through MANY changes, upgrades, and just plain "trying stuff" before they got things to where they felt it was really efficient / pleasing / "just right". So my point is: don't feel badly, bud! You are right there in the big middle of the same demographic, along with the rest of us! :-) As for me: late last year, I got one "work area" basically straightened out. (And I posted pics of that, in the other workspace-related thread.) It's not perfect, in terms of de-cluttering -- never 100% finished that chore, from before -- but months later, it's enough to see the floor; and still get stuff done. (In other words, I didn't have to throw everything out. I just had to come up with better ways to sort / store / organize ... and when that didn't work, to also prioritize!) That level of "much better than it was before" success probably pushed me, emotionally, to keep going in other areas. Having seen it work, once, now I'm working on a secondary, indoor hobby area. (Upgrading my new-to-me workbench, in part of a bedroom. Pics of that, posted in that other thread.) That's going well, but is only maybe half done-ish, as far as the big stuff goes. (The shelves themselves, etc.) With the little / decorative stuff for "later". (Settling into the "new home".) But I can see the light at the end of that particular tunnel, too -- (And yay! It's not an oncoming train!) -- which has begun to drive some de-cluttering efforts in the garage. To look at it, the garage is still in "totally hopeless mode" at the moment ... BUT now that I made progress with first one area, some months ago, and then began making some pleasing progress in another area of the house ... yeah, the garage will also get dealt with, too. My confidence levels are increasing. To others, right now, I'm sure the garage looks hopeless. Now, to me, though -- because of the other successes -- I can see it being done, before summer ends. In other words: pick one battle at a time. Let yourself celebrate that battle, when it's won. The feeling that results may help you to go fight your next battle. Slight "subject bounce": You mentioned a drafting table. Got any pics you can post? (If not here, then in the other workspace thread?) I ask because I'm considering doing one, likely from scratch (by which I mean: instead of buying one, I'd make one with whatever I have laying around and/or can obtain locally, very cheaply) ... and seeing a set-up that other people use, and like, will give me ideas for making something that I'll like. Next "subject bounce": Whilst looking around in the garage, earlier today (to go find some plywood I could re-use), I came across a project that I'd forgotten about. Basically, short story is that I wanted a light table of some sort; if at all possible. Or, if not a table, per se, then something akin to one of those wall-hanging devices doctors use when they read X-rays. And I was planning on building it, all from scratch ... because I couldn't see lucking out enough to find the raw parts I'd need, to do something like that. And one day, lo and behold, I drove right by the raw materials. And asked the owners. Who let me have them, for free. Long story short: a local business had some metal-framed solar panels that got badly cracked, when big hail (or something) busted the operating mechanisms. I'd have to take that busted stuff out of there, to get "just the frame" ... but it looks like normal glass could be cut to fit into the existing slots ... and if so, lighting it from behind would complete it. TOTALLY LOVE the light box idea and I'm telling you just start asking friends and people telling them what you are looking for. Because someone has it laying around and is wanting it out of their house. And tell them what you have and dont want.. . . you help them and clear out your space too. It is all good and if you are patient and pray  you can find almost anything you are looking for. And why not wait for the best. As a kid I built on a big old wooden desk. . . .loved it. I too am continually looking at work spaces for ideas. I'm telling you there are some REALLY creative people inventing some great features for our hobby rooms. Thanks everyone. GB barten |
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Post by wardster on May 24, 2015 21:55:28 GMT -5
... and what looks like a re-purposed music stand, changed around a bit, to hold up a lighted magnifier!?! Brilliant!
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Post by Starryeyes on May 24, 2015 22:07:19 GMT -5
... and what looks like a re-purposed music stand, changed around a bit, to hold up a lighted magnifier!?! Brilliant! I wondered if you'd catch that... I've played music for 40 plus yrs. this was an old cymbal stand that I found stashed away that didn't match any of my present hardware.. I removed the boom extension and inserted the light.. BOOM! A hybrid stand ...lol ... |
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Post by wardster on May 24, 2015 22:30:05 GMT -5
TOTALLY LOVE the light box idea ... Thanks, man! (He says, blushing!) It'll be a while before I get any pics going, on that particular project ... but I'll keep taking pics in mind, for when I get to that project. Still happily plugging away at some upgrades to my latest "secondary workbench" project ... so the light box project(s) will have to wait a bit longer. (But hopefully not too much longer!) ... and I'm telling you just start asking friends and people telling them what you are looking for. Because someone has it laying around and is wanting it out of their house. And tell them what you have and don't want.. . . you help them and clear out your space too. It is all good and if you are patient and pray you can find almost anything you are looking for. I have to say that you helped me out, a lot, in getting myself a new chair for that secondary bench. And another cool item. I hit up a local thrift store a few more times than I would have, normally, over the last week or two ... and I picked up a handy garage-organizing whatzit (probably some old TV stand or something, originally) for $4 bucks (actually, I paid $5 ... I threw in a tip, I was so happy over it) ... and was so jazzed that I came back a few days later, and found a brand-new-looking, height-adjustable, nicely swiveling, comfy chair. Paid $5 for it, instead of $60 or more at some store that would have sold me the same thing, in the same condition, as a "new" chair. Which of course means I'm hitting up the handful of local thrift stores, a lot more often than I normally would. (Prior to this, I was mostly just looking for tall thin drinking glasses, as I find they're good organizers for small tools like X-acto knives and paint brushes, etc.) And why not wait for the best. Truthfully? Because I'd screw it up in ten seconds! (Well, maybe six. Depends on how much coffee I had, earlier that day.) Furniture as nice as what StarryEyes shows, above, would scare me into never entering the room! I think I'm more comfortable having stuff that I can bang around, a bit, without worrying about "ruining it" too much. Well, that WAS my plan till I found that really nice chair, so cheaply! I guess I can make a concession or two, here or there. (Heehee.) As a kid I built on a big old wooden desk. . . .loved it. As a kid, I built stuff on what used to be a train-scheduling desk. My grandfather had apparently worked for a railroad, at one point or another, and they gave him the desk. I totally ruined the (slate?) top for it, with X-acto knife cuts! (they used to write on it with chalk, if that helps to narrow down what the "panzer grey" surface would have been.) Haven't seen that work bench since 1978, and only have memories of it ... but I must have had some very good times at that hobby work bench, 'cause here I am, 40 or so years later, still makin' / paintin' stuff and enjoying the heck outta it! (Just doing it on different work surfaces, etc., now.) I too am continually looking at work spaces for ideas. I'm telling you there are some REALLY creative people inventing some great features for our hobby rooms. Thanks everyone. Yeah, there's some people I want to pin a medal on, idea-wise. Some here; and some in random wood-working and/or ship-building articles, and what not. One of my favorite "dude, that's too cool" ideas was that some wood-worker took the lower part of a dentist's chair, and gave it a new "top," and made an easily-adjustable-for-height temporary type work surface out of it. The idea for him being that he had all kinds of "normal" workbenches, already. So this was gonna be a totally different purpose, for him. At that particular work station, he was likely to be standing: so backaches could easily result if the height wasn't just right. The projects he worked on might vary in height; so, it was nice to be able to lower the upper surface for tall objects; or raise it, for shallow work pieces. Not like I have any dentist's chairs sitting around, to Frankenstein up in a similar fashion ... or even the same needs he had, project-wise ... but I do have broken office chairs I was about to throw out. And in some ship-building books / magazines I've recently been (obsessively) reading, they had some relatively crazy-cool ideas for "Lazy Susan" bench-tops and/or organizers. One of my "way later" project ideas might be a mash-up of those ideas. That is, using the rolling / swiveling bottom part of one of those rolling chairs, with a custom-made Lazy Susan organizer on it. Ideally, I could then swivel it around, clockwise or counter-clockwise, to get to (whatever cool stuff that's stored in/on it) ... and then if it's in the way, just push it out of the way, when not needed. (Roll it under a tall counter?) To be honest, I don't know how useful that would be, in my present circumstances. I can totally see that being useful, if a person had a garage with a concrete floor, and worked on cars a lot. (As I got older, I started being less patient with certain tasks. These days, I'd think it's a major inconvenience to have to crawl out of underneath a car, to go get some wrench or something ... and then climb back under, and get a little more done ... and then need yet another tool that's halfway across the garage. How cool would it be, I ask myself, if you could load up a custom-made / rolling / swiveling "tool chest" with all of those kinds of tools!?!) Keep the ideas and cool "I got it for next to nothing!" stories coming, guys! They're very inspirational! Back to my secondary workbench project! (Was mainly reading posts and typing this, while I waited for some wall primer paint to dry, on that project ...) |
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Post by wardster on May 25, 2015 20:42:23 GMT -5
Turns out the light box project got bumped up, a little bit. The local power was out for about five hours, today, but I had enough light in the garage (with the door opened, manually) to sort through that mess a bit more than I had intended to ... and what do I find but a big sheet of tempered glass! Someone had given us a metal- (aluminum-) framed screen type door, with an optional glass for it, years ago. The frame was all bent up on the door itself -- too much to bother trying to fix -- so I had cut that up enough to dumpster it ... and kept the glass. But forgot that I'd kept the glass ... probably because, at the time, I couldn't cut it and had no project for it, that wanted to be that big. So, I took the metal frames for those solar panels apart ... and darn if the tempered glass doesn't slide into the pre-existing grooves in the solar panel's frames. The safety-type glass on the solar panels was so busted that when I got it out of the frames, I could just roll the whole glass-and-electronics portion of things up, like an old carpet, and get rid of it. It'll still be a while before I get to seriously work on that project (cutting the frame pieces to exact size; figuring out a backing plate for it; figuring out some lighting for inside of it) ... but that project got bumped forward, unexpectedly, today!
Total expenditure out-of-pocket, so far: zero dollars. And I have nice metal frames for it. And now, have tempered glass for it, too!
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Post by barten on May 25, 2015 21:16:26 GMT -5
Wardster... some great thoughts and ideas.
VERY COOL ON THE LIGHT BOX!
Congratulations.
GB
barten
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Post by barten on May 29, 2015 8:22:21 GMT -5
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Post by wardster on May 29, 2015 10:50:42 GMT -5
Bleepin' awesome! Looks great! I'm happy for ya, dude!
What's the story on the shadow box type thingie? (The one with the tube of glue in it.) Homemade? Hand-me-down with some history? Or ... ?
I ask (in part) because, one, it looks cool; and two, it fits those items too well. Almost like the shelves were put in around the items; not the other way around. Or maybe one shelf was removed, towards the bottom, if it was a found item that was made to work for what you're doing?
And in the second-to-last pic: is that a giant experimental pinstriping brush? (Heehee!) Or someone's pony tail from youth, more likely? |
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Post by barten on May 29, 2015 11:57:31 GMT -5
Bleepin' awesome! Looks great! I'm happy for ya, dude!
What's the story on the shadow box type thingie? (The one with the tube of glue in it.) Homemade? Hand-me-down with some history? Or ... ?
I ask (in part) because, one, it looks cool; and two, it fits those items too well. Almost like the shelves were put in around the items; not the other way around. Or maybe one shelf was removed, towards the bottom, if it was a found item that was made to work for what you're doing?
And in the second-to-last pic: is that a giant experimental pinstriping brush? (Heehee!) Or someone's pony tail from youth, more likely? Thanks. I'm excited, too. The shadow box was a gift from a friend, it was her dad's and they were dumping it. . .and then the shelves were a perfect fit for these kits. I have refitted small shadow boxes to fit the collection. I have always loved fitting things into display cases so I find what fits and adjust if needed. Adding in balsa wood shelves in this one below.  My wife's braid, when I met her, her hair was down to her calves. her braid reached below her waist. It is short now. That is my only memory. The green to the right of the desk is stained glass. Another thing I will be doing in this space. I have to finish this one lamp I started a while ago.   It is really fund going through all the stuff in storage and bringing it into the light of day again. I'm bringing in the car books and putting them on a shelf my grandfather built. I have hotwheels in a display my dad built also going into the room. Thanks for the comments. GB barten |
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Post by wardster on May 29, 2015 12:22:24 GMT -5
Very inspiring stuff, Mr. Barten! Nice to see multiple hobbies being brought into your space: the stained glass lamp, for instance. On that same general subject of "Let there be light" ... Wardster... some great thoughts and ideas. VERY COOL ON THE LIGHT BOX! Congratulations. Thanks again! Before I took them apart, and tossed the busted bits, I took a "before" pic. Here's how big those solar panels are now:  It will likely be a while before I can take time to "get serious" about re-building what's left of those big solar panels -- (just the metal frames) -- and re-purposing them, to make myself one big light box. I'll likely do a "build thread" on that, when it happens ... but for now, I just wanted to post a pic showing how big those suckers are; partly to encourage others to look around for recyclable goodies! The display case thread (elsewhere on these boards) got me thinking about how I might re-use the "scraps" from the light box project. I'm gonna have to cut the frames up, to size them to the (also free!) big sheet of tempered glass I have ... which may open up "small shadow boxes" as another possible way I can get more use out of the raw bits of those solar panels. |
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Post by barten on Jun 1, 2015 7:01:43 GMT -5
Very cool, Those are huge? ? ? ? would make a great light/work table. I didn't think tempered glass could be cut? I agree there are so many things being thrown away that can be used. IT might be a good thread on what you recycled for the toy room and your builds?
I do have everything almost into the room now. I have tools and some lighting and action figures that have to come in yet. These are all my model kits that have been in storage and moved from basement to living room to the garage to the shed back into the basement and then to their final resting place. . . the new toy room. I hope they are all in good shape after all those moves.  These are all the diecast up to about 1/32 scale.  The four lower cabinets are filled with all the loose diecast - there are 24 clear plastic cases and About twenty original car cases I will be taking pictures of all that too some day.  These is AFT track and accessories. I have 6 vintage sets of HO scale and 1/32 scale too. They haven't made the trip yet.  Book case My grandfather built.  Desk covered boxes are awards and signed photos.  My most cherished awards. Chosen by Darryl Starbird and George Barris in the KKOA 1st annual model show in Selina Kansas. Unfortunately, I had to leave early for the 12 hour trip home and I missed the awards in person to get my picture with these two giants in the industry. However I did get to hang with them all weekend, and even had dinner with George, Elden Titus and his wife Tammy. It was one of those "How did I end up here moments". It was very cool to hear all their stories.  I would recommend anyone who loves a kustom build in 1:1 or scale to go to the KKOA (Kustom Kemps of America) Leadslead Spectacular in Selina Kansas, you will NOT be disappointed. It is three days of non stop Kool stuff. including drag races of these custom cars, bands, great food and Ttey always bring in top celebrities too. I met Dave Stuckey (the little coffin designer) and his granddaughters. These Kustom car greats were just walking around and talking to everyone. This is dave and his granddaughters. I love this shot.  NOW I HAVE TO SORT THROUGH EVERYTHING . . .and decide what is going to fit and what is not? Then I can start building again. GB barten |
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Post by bubbajoe on Jun 1, 2015 9:41:23 GMT -5
Very cool, Those are huge? ? ? ? would make a great light/work table. I didn't think tempered glass could be cut? I agree there are so many things being thrown away that can be used. IT might be a good thread on what you recycled for the toy room and your builds?
I do have everything almost into the room now. I have tools and some lighting and action figures that have to come in yet. These are all my model kits that have been in storage and moved from basement to living room to the garage to the shed back into the basement and then to their final resting place. . . the new toy room. I hope they are all in good shape after all those moves. These are all the diecast up to about 1/32 scale. The four lower cabinets are filled with all the loose diecast - there are 24 clear plastic cases and About twenty original car cases I will be taking pictures of all that too some day. These is AFT track and accessories. I have 6 vintage sets of HO scale and 1/32 scale too. They haven't made the trip yet. Book case My grandfather built. Desk covered boxes are awards and signed photos. My most cherished awards. Chosen by Darryl Starbird and George Barris in the KKOA 1st annual model show in Selina Kansas. Unfortunately, I had to leave early for the 12 hour trip home and I missed the awards in person to get my picture with these two giants in the industry. However I did get to hang with them all weekend, and even had dinner with George, Elden Titus and his wife Tammy. It was one of those "How did I end up here moments". It was very cool to hear all their stories. I would recommend anyone who loves a kustom build in 1:1 or scale to go to the KKOA (Kustom Kemps of America) Leadslead Spectacular in Selina Kansas, you will NOT be disappointed. It is three days of non stop Kool stuff. including drag races of these custom cars, bands, great food and Ttey always bring in top celebrities too. I met Dave Stuckey (the little coffin designer) and his granddaughters. These Kustom car greats were just walking around and talking to everyone. This is dave and his granddaughters. I love this shot. NOW I HAVE TO SORT THROUGH EVERYTHING . . .and decide what is going to fit and what is not? Then I can start building again. GB barten I see you a die cast collector. as well as a model builder...i collect early matchbox, corgi toys, london, midge toys, barclay, tootsie, lone star and a few other makes.... you can find me prowling flea markets and yard sales every Saturday, if you are looking for a particular car... let me know..i keep a note pad with want lists for collector friends of mine with me when i'm on the hunt. your toy room is really looking spectacular....wish i had half that much space..most of my collection is in the closet..sigh |
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Post by barten on Jun 2, 2015 10:11:41 GMT -5
Bubbajoe, Thanks for the offer, . . .I will let you know if I need anything? I love all the little cars. . . . I do hit the sales too. But not as often as you. But my budget for cars is no more than 50 cents unless it is a rare redline. . . I might go $1. If they want more I tell them someone will buy it. . .and it is a good car. And leave it for the next person who has deeper pockets than me.
I don't know London, barclay, Lone star? I might by sight but not name.
I would love to see your collection.
GB
barten
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Post by wardster on Jun 2, 2015 19:46:51 GMT -5
Very cool, Those are huge? ? ? ? would make a great light/work table. I didn't think tempered glass could be cut? I agree there are so many things being thrown away that can be used. IT might be a good thread on what you recycled for the toy room and your builds? Yup, they're huge! And no, tempered glass cannot be cut. (Not by me, anyway; and not by anyone I personally know.) So what will happen will be that I'll end up leaving the glass the size that it is, now (since I have no choice, if I'm gonna use the "given to me for free" glass) ... and instead, I'll be cutting the metal frame pieces until they fit right around the "freebie" tempered glass. As it turns out, that will be a relatively easy task ... since the top, bottom, left, and right sides of each frame are just extruded aluminum, which screws together. And yes, it would be cool to see some threads start up, regarding cool stuff (for our work areas, or whatever) that were made out of recycled materials. When I find the time to get back to the "big solar panels turned a light table," I'll probably start up a build thread on that ... (under "tips," maybe?) ... |
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you can find almost anything you are looking for. And why not wait for the best. As a kid I built on a big old wooden desk. . . .loved it. 
