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[Martin (Admin)]

Evening all !

As some of you know I lost my "workshop" about a year ago, I need ideas for model boat building in a very small space...

[Welsh Wizard]

Smallgdn shed/Garage living room


Stav

[DickyD]

Very small boats

[dodgy geezer]

Go on - have a go at an EeZeBilt!  The egg-box construction is designed to be put together in the hand in kids' bedrooms, so you don't even need a work surface!  

I suppose one would be handy for cutting out the pieces first, though... but the cost of the materials is minimal.

And they store well - you could easily get 10 in a suitcase....

[richtea]

A cutting mat, craft knife and some tweezers and you can start your own Navy in 1/700 scale Martin.
Good eyes and a steady hand come in handy,
both of which I lack.
an OPTIVISOR helps the vision.
The steady hands even beta blockers won't cure.
Regards
Richard 

[irishcarguy]

Use every bit of space from floor to ceiling it is amazing how much space we do not use up high. Make your work table to fold up or down when not in use. Hinge it so it is easy to set up when needed. Get plastic or metal stacking containers with the little small drawers,some have 30 drawers per unit. You can fix them to the back of a door or side of a cubbord. Stack them from floor to ceiling. Have a container for each model with everything you need to work on that model in one place. Do the same for your tools. Get plastic pipe & put your dowels, wire, tube,strip wood. & any awkward to store items in the tubes, even cardboard tube will do. Make all power tools easily detachable from their mounting points. Have them pre/wired so all you do is plug them in, When not in use remove them from your work area. & last but not least Don't use Neils workshop as a model to follow, LOL. Mick B. PS = If you have a wall 8ft high & 10 ft long & you build a storage space one foot wide that will give you 80cubic ft. of storage. then if you make a folding bench 10ft long & 2ft wide that folds up or down,it will give you a working area of20 sq/ft. not bad when all you have covered of the floor is10sq/ft ,give a few inches for the bench when folded. feel free to ask anytime.

[tigertiger]

For storage of bits I use simple artists trays. These have compartments and lids. I them bought 10 of them and they stack easily in a tight space. Compartment walls can be taken out for bigger items. These take up much less room than the pile of fishing tackle boxes I would need to do the same job.

For tools. There are a few basic tools that you need. There are lots of tools that are nice to have. There are many tools that we buy and only use once (don't need). Forget the 'don't need' and 'nice to have' tools.
Some of the bigger power tools for DIY will do the job of the smaller modeling version, but you need to tidy up more with sandpaper after. Sandpaper/permagrit files take up very little room. DIY tools can be used around the house too. There is nothing that can be done with a power tool that cannot be done by hand.

I think there was a thread on here years ago with people listing basic tools required.
My list would include:
Cutting mat
Stanley knife
Razor saw
Jeweller's drill (hand drill for small bits down to 0.5mm)
Permagrit med and fine flat files.
Pencil
ruler
Sandpaper
Pad saw
Glue
A good lamp for close work

I am sure others can add to this list

[Patrick Henry]

I share my bedroom with my boat building...I have an old '50s double school desk with a shelf alongside it reaching up to a bookcase on one wall. The bookcase contains all my bits n' bobs in various small plastic containers and boxes, the shelf has my old laptop on it (useful for keeping plans and diagrams on screen) and my Graupner Multilader charger. The desk has my tools inside it, and I have a small ex-camera carry bag on my bedside chair with the more useful tools ready to hand.

On top of my wardrobe is a long cardboard box with lengths of wire and long pieces of whatever in it. And that's it...subs are on display on/in a couple of bookcases in my lounge.


Rich

[john44]

These posts sound more like a Monty Python sketch. any body live in a shoebox?

john

[bikerdude666]

do all my modelling on the breakfast bar or yesterday I was drilling out the holes in my revell Type VII-C on the coffee table in the lounge. Our 4th 'bedroom' is more of a storeroom, its got 2 floor to ceiling shelves, and wardrobes across 2 walls and a huge cupboard aswell, so I tend to keep my models and projects, fret saw, dremel case and everything in those cupboards. I've also commandeered 1 of the cupboards in the utility room for the batteries, charger and various other bits....

oh got a couple of boats under the bed aswell, but she's not seen those yet....

[dodgy geezer]

These posts sound more like a Monty Python sketch. any body live in a shoebox?

john

Looxuuryyy!

[wullie/mk2]

Ay when i were a lad. When I was a lad I had a huge cellar to work in. Nowadays I have a shelf in the kitchen as a workshop, could build up to a metre long at a push. For an accurate surface I have a glass topped coffee table, and the WC is my spray booth!! Anything is possible even with limited resources. The only thing I really miss is a small lathe, but soluble oil in the kitchen wouldn't be welcome methinks.

[Netleyned]

That's a nice racing sparrow methinks Terry 

Ned

[wullie/mk2]

Absolutely correct Ned, a Racing Sparrow. Nearly finished, will be ready for the nice weather.

[john s 2]

Martin. I know nothing about your home but i do wonder if your loft could give you the space you need?. That is of course assuming your home does not have a flat Roof. Yes any conversion would cost money.No doubt you know that if its within the existing space and is whats known as non habitable (means you wont sleep in it) dozing offs ok.Then PP is not needed. John.

[cuppa]

I work in a very small space and have clear any job away when the work session is over. I can't use power tolls so everything has to done by hand. Makes things take longer but it works in the end!

[More Coffee]

My work area is bewtween the washer and the deep freeze ,a 5x2ft area..with a little storage.. I poke things in the rafters,here and there..
LOL. It was everything to build a 36" Shelley Foss in that area..
I hate it really, my power tools are in the shed,I have to glass & sand outside and work in that little area..
Essentially its like trying to cook dinner having the stove in the kitchen, the fridge in the basement,the kitchen sink in the bedroom and the dishes a garrage.(which I dont have).
But I make do..
Im trying to organise that area to handle a 52" tug boat..with the hopes of being able to construct an almost 7ft long ferry.

It can be done Martin but its very trying..I wish you well.

[Artistmike]

As all these posts show, you're not alone ! .... I've always been a table top modeller and I think I'd be lost in a proper workroom !

If you think about it though, during any one modelling session, you're not usually using much in the way of materials or tools. It's just that you need quite a bit over a period of time, so it becomes more the art of storage than anything else if you are pushed overall for room.

I have learned over the centuries ( or maybe it just feels that long  ) to store things where I know I can lay my hands on them easily. These days this usually means many plastic storage boxes of various sizes, with ones for tools, materials, electrical bits, glues and fillers, handtools, etc. etc.  and it's important that you know what is where and that everything goes back at the end of a session....

I've found storage places for these boxes and after much practice I can now pop my cutting map down on the gate leg table I use, get the things that I need out for the session, and then get on with it. Returning everything afterwards. ...... I'm not naturally that tidy but the better you get at this, the more modelling time you get and the less hair you lose, tearing it out when you can't find something ! 

There's always a way ...... you just need to work out a system that works for you, so don't get discouraged.

[irishcarguy]

A very good post Mike, I am with you a 100%. Just don't let bits & pieces laying about when you are finished, a place for everything & everything in it place. Mick B.  PS = Tell us how you are making out Martin ,if possible show us the space you have to work with. Mick B.