Building a workshop

[Project D]

I've got an outdoor coal bunker that is about 6ft wide by 7ft long that I've decided to make into my workshop for building models away from the house. Its exposed brick, no insulation and even floors so a basic shell to start from. I already have a modelling bench so that's not a problem and have already sorted lighting and heating but was wondering what other facilities I'd need in a workshop and any advice any one has about building my first one?

Thanks for looking

[Thorvic]

Ventilation - an outside workshop will warrant alot of heating when your in it and the small area could leave you suseptable to the various fumes generated as part of the modelling materials we use. It will be especially important if your spraying with either rattle cans or airbrush to use a spray booth with its own ventialtion.

Other than that plenty of shelving and storage space to store the kits and WIP so they are ready at hand, along with space for tools and paints etc

[Hobbes]

If you have enough bench space, I'd dedicate one area to painting (next to the spray booth) and a separate area for sanding and other dusty operations.

Make sure your paint, solvent etc. can withstand the temperature swings (e.g. water used for acrylics - you don't want your paintbrushes standing in a layer of ice)

A tap and sink are useful for wet-sanding and for cleaning up acrylic paint.

[Project D]

Thanks for the advice, going to build a spray booth and some ventillation, i found a turntable on a car boot and thought it'd be useful in a spray booth so i wouldn't have to handle the models while spraying. I've got a writing bureau to use as a work bench for building models on but i'd not thought of other work areas Hobbes so thanks for the idea and i'll see what i can make.

[Project D]

Made a quick plan, what do you think of the set up?

[rickshaw]

Mmm, your computer might end up looking quite interesting if you're not careful about both paint and dust control.   They are susceptible internally to both.

[Project D]

Thats what put me off a desktop set up, i thought if i ever did take my laptop out while i'm working to look at reference pics i could store it away in a drawer while i do messy jobs. Hoping to start plastering after christmas and then slowly moving in and getting started for 2012

[sandiego89]

Major flaw! No mini-fridge for cold refreshments!

[Hobbes]

You've drawn the work surfaces at about 1x1.5 ft, which is barely large enough for the item you're working on. There's no room to put your tools, and e.g. other parts of the kit you're working on.

My modelling desk is about 6' x2.5'. On that desk, I've got a 4x1.5' work area, and the rest is for parking tools, instructions and kit parts that I'm working on/with. This gives me enough space to work on e.g. the An-124 (2' wingspan).

So I'd go with one large desk surface (7x2') instead of 3 small ones.

Put a narrow shelf above the workspace for tools etc, and put a chest of drawers somewhere to store tools, paint etc.

[Gondor]

The Stash Shelf is Waaaaaay too small in my opinion

Gondor