I think the most common excuse I have come across when asking people why they don't take up this fantastic hobby is: "I don't have space". Sure, whilst surfing the internet, one can come across a myriad of different workshops and hobby rooms, most of which are enough to make the most experienced modelbuilder envious! HOWEVER.... there is always one workshop that is better than the previous. Big or small, there is no "perfect" workshop.
A workshop or workspace, is what you make of it.
As for me, my workshop is my "happy place". A place where I escape from the busyness and stresses of daily life. It is a place where I can ponder life and reflect on the path I've been on. A place where I can sit and chat with my Creator, a place where I can simply BE.
Let me show you how my workspace has changed, or evolved through the years.
By 1987, I had my first home. It was a one and a half bedroom apartment, and though I did not have a dedicated room, I did have a corner in the half room for my 1.5m x 0.9m desk. This would be my work area till 1992. Considering that I had almost no tools, this was all I needed. (At least I still had hair!)
Life happened, and between 1992 and 1994, I had no home and my things were in storage.
The Lord blessed me and I bought my first house toward the end of 1994. It was a three-bedroomed house, and of course, I used the one room to put my trusty desk and this area was my work area.
As can be seen, my collection of tools had grown by his time. I also had space for my bigger tools in the garage.
But still I did not have a dedicated workshop.
The photo on the left shows that one really does not need a lot of space in which to work on a model. Sure, it is great to have space for you to be able to spread your tools and parts, but in the end, you only need a little space to actually be able to work on a part of a model. (Suffice it to say, this will be dictated by the scale in which you are working and the point of building that model at which you find yourself at!)
I happily worked under these conditions but always longed for a dedicated space that I could call my workshop. This changed in 2013 when I could finally extend my house. For the first time, I had my own dedicated workshop. Happy days!
The following photos show how this workshop has evolved and slowly but surely, filled up!
I generally try and keep it orderly, although I somehow don't think that my wife agrees with me on that........
The initial plan was that the workbench would be the one on the right, the assembly desk being the long one on the left. The small desk in the corner was meant to be my planning, research and area where I would draw plans.
As with, what I suspect to be the
story with all modelbuilders, the space slowly but surely, filled up, areas overlapped, grew and changed. (There is a three metre wide built in cupboard against the wall that the you cannot see from where the photos were taken. I use this to store anything that I do not need or use often. I am indeed spoilt for space).
Today, the area in the corner has become my airbrushing area. When I use an airbrush, I keep the spray contained and focused on the part that I am busy spraying. Most importantly, the models I make do not need to be completely dust-free as the finishes are not glass-smooth. As such, I do not need an extraction fan. Hence, no spraybooth. I simply just spray.
I know people will disagree with me on this, but please don't mail me if you this is you.
In the interest of health and safety, I hasten to add: when I use aerosol paints, (rattle cans) then I do so outside. There is a big door on the right of this room, leading to my back yard.
This is my happy place. It is my place of quiet. It is my place of peace. It is my place of challenges. It is my place of joy. Yes, this is my happy place.