Tek Workbench

Lets take a tour of my workbench and I will try to point out some of the tools I use to build and paint my models and scenery.

As you walk into the game room the workbench is just to the left. There are a series of drawers that hold all kinds of bits. I keep clamps, elastic bags, hair ties, green stuff, bases and basing items, magnets, stickers and other items. This is more long term storage and task specific items as you cant just grab form these drawers while sitting at the main workspace. You also see some of my scrap MDF. I use the MDF as a pallet, spacers, temporary bases or even as stiffeners for the inside of building joints.

In this picture you see the main work area. The foam tray at the front holds sculpting tools, metal files, and odd shape brushes (makeup applicators but they work great for texturing and weathering). Sanding supplies, cork adapters for my model holders rulers, writing tools, scissors and my magnifying glasses There is also some blue tack and sculpting clays stored in there. Along the back are my paints. This are include my Citadel paints and my Vallejo paints. There are also weathering pigments and paints from several companies that I have been sent to try out. The tower at the center holds my primary brushes. There are Citadel brushed in there but the Army Painter brushed are my go to. Laying between the Citadel paints are my Winsor & Newton brushes for when I need that something special. On the wall you see some of my paint charts, paper towels (can you have enough) and my glues rack. The main work area is cuting matts with glass plates. I like the glass plates as a work surface because its a known flat surface you can cut on it, use it as a paint palette, wet it when using green stuff and sculpting clays and almost everything can be scraped off to bring the surface back.

Pulling out a bit you see the whole work surface along with some of my recording equipment. I want to add some LED type task lighting to brighten up the are and make the light more constant all the way across. To the right of the paints are cutters, saws, knives, Q-tips, toothpicks, barbecue skewers, cork and brass rod for pining. Behind that and along the wall is a bottle of glue and a container of little green army men. These are 50 for 10.00 dollars at most dollar stores and I use them to test new color schemes or brush techniques.

Continuing the tour of my Workbench

In the corner you see the computer equipment and monitor, storage for my spray primers and clear coats. Next to that is my collection of Army Painter paints. These are my primary choice of paints and will be used for brush and airbrush work. I store them upside down to see the color rather than the caps. Also I think they mix better once you flip them back over (I add a glass bead to every dropper bottle of paint once I’ve opened it to assist with mixing). In front of the paint is my Dremel stored in tis bench press adapter. For boring out holes for magnets, setting specific depths, and making sure a hole is straight and centered the bench press is invaluable. I can pull the Dremel out for sanding, cutting and other things. You also see the clear plastic cups used for mixing two part resins and glues.

Next is the spray booth. It has internal lighting and a blower to vent fumes to the outside (it actually came with an adapter to work with most dryer vents) The spray booth is lifted up to a comfortable working hight using a home made drawer that stores tool manuals, spare tool parts and my glass scraper. I have  two airbrushes connected to my compressor. The compressor is an Aspire Pro TC910. U feel having a storage tank is a must so you don’t get a variable pressure at the airbrush. The airbrushes are a Universal 360, and a Patriot 105, both by Badger. To either side are things like distilled water, reducing agents, mixing mediums and cleaners. You can also see my T Square, and drill hanging out as well.

Last, but certainly not least is my 3D printer. I have an Prusia I3 Mk 2.5 and love it. Underneath it are some of my board game storage but also my hot wire cutting system and a small computer or electronics vacuum. This is great for cleaning the tools and small enough to get up on the bench and in and around the paints and stuff.

Let me know if you have questions.