The Little World

For several years I have tried to get to the model Car Sunday, but failed – yesterday I succeeded and found a very interesting product made by a local craftsman. The product is a range of portable modelling boxes  and the maker Garrett McIntyre from Collie in Western Australia.

His basic aim was to make a modelling desk/box that would allow people to work on kits with most of their tools and paints around them in an organised fashion and then to close it all up and move it between venues when required. Or close things away from disturbance in a busy household.

There is either an A2 or A3 cutting mat in the bottom, with a lip around the base to prevent stray parts from disappearing off into the carpet.

There’s a box at the left with a soft foam lining for tools, as well as for standard cement bottles. When the lid closes down there is also a foam keeper that secures the box contents.

On the back wall there is a series of niches to take standard hobby paint spray cans – secured with button magnets.

If you are using Tamiya or Gunze 10ml paint jars, they go into the wooden holder at the lower Northeast corner and are squeezed safely when the top lid shuts.

There is a neat routered section to let you open it easily.

The name of this game is portability, and I can see where it would be a real boon to a modeller who worked in a too-hot or too-cold shed. They could clap it to when the conditions were poor and bring the whole building hobby inside to a comfortable room. Likewise, they could take the case to a modelling club meeting, open it up, and carry right on whatever they’d started at home. There is room in the lid for the average model car or model airplane kit box. And unlike some gimcrack tea tray you make for yourself, this closed case can be taken easily through the house, stowed in the car, or taken up and down stairs without having to be a juggling expert.

And here is another good thing. Every configuration on this case can be changed – compartments added or subtracted – magnets or strips put where needed. Garrett is ready to work with you to make your perfect custom work station. Finishes are optional, and he has access to far more than just varnish or beeswax.

Look, go see what he’s done on Facebook or Instagram, or go over to his website and check out the prices. I freely confess that I’m going to be doodling, setting things out on a bench, and going through my tool collection in the next few weeks to see what my perfect workbench might look like. It’s cold now and I’m miserable in the Little Workshop…when summer comes I’ll be hot an miserable out there. Now’s the time to do something about it.