Hobby - My Updated Hobby Space

 Over the past few weeks I've added some paint racks and the Hobbyzone modules to my hobby space. Coupled with a clean up of my storage trays, reorganisation of materials etc it has made it far tidier.

About three years ago I managed to pick up three glass computer desks on TradeMe. They were a fraction of their new price but were ideal to create one long hobby desk. It is 2.7 metres long by about 90cm wide.

Over time it has developed into three work areas - modelling, painting and airbrushing. I have three lighting sources, the 2 white LEDs plus my painting light. The booth comes with its own LEDs.

I have one chair which I can move between the areas. The recent purchase of the Hobbyzone modules has allowed me to make the most of the space bunder the glass top shelves. On either end I have storage units that fix under the desks. These came from a local stationary shop.

My airbrush station is on the right. It has a booth with compressor underneath next to the storage. I'll move my spare airbrush parts and peripherals into the Hobbyzone drawers. There is a storage box on the shelf under the booth with my Badger airbrush paint set in it.

In the centre is my painting area. I have both a wet palette and a dry one that I alternate depending on what I'm doing.Paints are in the racks on the top shelf. Importantly there is space for my Citadel water pot.

On the right is my hobby area. I have a large cutting mat, a dremel and a vice. the glass shelf has my tools and glues. In the bottom right you can see my ancient paint shaker.

Really happy with the use of space. Think I have squeezed as much storage and working area into the area that I can. Also because it is in the Family Room, the extra storage has meant far easier to keep tidy.

Hobby - Hobbyzone Workzone Organisers (First Thoughts)

 So the Hobbyzone (hobbyzone.pl) package arrived from Poland on Monday and I spent the last two evenings putting together the various organiser modules.

The units come in two standard sizes: OM which are 30cm wide and OMs which are 20cm. This was good for me as I had a space of 85cm which meant I could go with a setup 2+1, leaving 5cms for cords and access. The height is 15cm.

All the pieces are well packaged in their own individual boxes. They come flat-packed, wrapped in bubble wrap ensuring no damage en route. Unlike a lot of mdf material, the walls of these units are very sturdy. Hobbyzone have used 8mm board which means that the finished structures are square and unlikely to bend/buckle. It also means that they will better sustain the rigours of hobby workshop life.

The shelf/drawer fascias and dividers (yes all the drawers have customisable dividers) are made from a laminate. This allows them to be wiped clean easily.

Construction was extraordinarily easy. They come with clear step by step instructions. All you need is PVA glue, a cloth, a craft knife and a smaller hammer. The knife is required to remove the small nubs left when the individual pieces are broken out. The hammer is to tap in magnets that come with the kits to allow you to join the modules together.

Overall I am very happy with the product. It is at the high end of mdf organisers, being extremely well made and well thought out. The number of different unit types means you can customise to your heart content e.g. I had existing paint racks so could concentrate on drawers and utility units (paper towel dispenser).

The other key takeaway was the level of service from Hobbyzone. Fast communication, fast dispatch and overall a fantastic customer service experience despite 12 hours time and 18,000 kilometres distance.

Highly recommend.

40k - The Long War Goes "New Edition"

 New Edition of Warhammer.......how have the lists changed?

Well, you see....here are the lists for this weekend's The Long War. 

Unfortunately Sam Whitt can't be with us this weekend

Lots of Space Marines - but the guys haven't got the memo re Salamanders yet - lots of Custodes and one brave soul bringing clowns.

Hobby - Hobbyzone Painting Desk Organisers

About the only good thing about our current lockdown is being at home when a parcel turns up......especially a 12kg parcel from Poland.

 

Last Monday I had the day off and ended up watching an old Hobby Cheating by Vince Venturella about how his hobby workshop was organised. This led me down a YouTube rabbit hole where I ended up checking out reviews for Hobbyzone modular organisers.

My table setup has a shelf running the 2.7m length and the space under it is dead space. I was aware of the Hobbyzone product but last Monday was the first time I'd really checked them out. A few hundred dollars later and i managed to solve that problem.

The individual units come packaged in boxes (including instructions and magnets). 

Massive variety of units that come in 20cm and 30cm widths. They also have corner units and end units. I have chosen eight units including drawer units, paint pot holder for old GW paints, brush holder, paper towel unit etc.

This evening I have put half together sans magnets with four more tomorrow.

I'll flick up some pictures when finished.

40k - New 40k Terrain - Command Edition Battlefield Expansion

 Last week I picked up a set of the Command Edition Battlefield Expansion Terrain.

Looking to use it to make up another Citifight tile when my additional Tablescape tiles arrive.

There are two ways to get this set. You can buy the CE Terrain kit which comes with a 22" x 30" cardboard board. This costs NZD 180 RRP (USD 90). Alternatively you can buy the Command Edition Starter Set (NZD 260/USD 165). With the starter set you get Core Rulebook, Necrons and Marines (Intercessors & Outriders). Breaking up the box provides very good value. I got the terrain for half the cost of the Terrain Box (no board obviously).

A lot of people are doing that. NZ locals should go to the 40k Trading NZ Facebook page. Overseas, I'm sure it's happening too.

40k - Detailing More Tiles

 Working on three more tiles

40k/30k - FW Hits It Out of the Park

 I think I've found my next army........I am Night Haunter!!!

40k - The Cult Are Always In The Background

 With the Goliath, I got three GSC Neophytes. I've painted these up and will include them in terrain on my Citifight table.

This will act as a reminder - in case we need one - that the Cult are always with us.

40k - Vehicle Tiles Slot into Citifight Table

 So this morning I sealed then inked the two tiles and have now slotted them back into the table.

They provide some cover for troops working their way through the streets. 

I have 32 tiles currently with another eight on the way from SWM. This gives me enormous flexibility in layout and the ability to create narrative battlefields where required.

40k - New Tiles for my Citifight Table

 During Lockdown #1 I built myself a Citifight table using the Secret Weapon Miniatures "Tablescapes" tiles and the new GW terrain.

Over time I have been adding details to it....be they barricades, minefields and crashed vehicles. These will act as scatter terrain cover as combatants move through the city.

I managed to pick up a Goliath truck which I constructed without weapons as a utility vehicle. It has crashed into some adhoc barricades made of doors, rock girders and an old bike (GW barriers from early 2000s). All my street tiles have had lampposts added.

Now waiting for added rocks to dry before I go in with airbrush to blend them in with inks.

The second tile has a Taurox crossing some mines and hitting tank traps. Again I have ink blending to do.

Taurox was completed without weapons. Both vehicles gave me an opportunity to practise my chipping technique. The Taurox is sponge chipping while the Goliath was salt-chipped.

Next stage is to seal rock material and blend it in.

I also have 3 GSC Neophytes to hide on the board in the corners of buildings 😁