The Little World

I have just won Lotto. My ticket in the 450 Million Dollar Supergreed Draw Of The Millenium has won first prize and I am the only one in Australia who got it. All week long dump trucks have been backing up to the front lawn and tipping wads of $ 100 notes onto it.

Now I can indulge my wildest fantasies. I have gotten rid of the 1967 Toyota Corolla and had them deliver a 1968 model. The wardrobe is stuffed with fresh tee shirts and Moleskin trousers. The liquor cabinet has been replenished with Sparkling Porphyry Pearl and Cold Duck and I am ready to start on my hobby.

I’ve had them take away the Stratco tool shed that has been the home of my model workbench for the last three decades and I am looking for a design for the ultimate paradise – help me out, here.

a. How big a space do you need to do plastic modelling? Some people do it very successfully on a tea tray in front of telly. Others expand. I want to expand, but it’s no good going too big as you just have to heat and cool it.

At this juncture I would point out that the area where you might display or utilise your models is an entirely different question. The display room should always be separate from the building room if only to tame the dust problem.

I’ve experimented…and I think a building room of 3 metres by 5 metres is more than enough – particularly if you can have a separate storage area for kits and raw materials. 3 x 5 gives space for an assembly table as well as building bench, spray booth, and paint racks.

The ceiling can be as high as you like – as long as it is in keeping with the heating and cooling needs, more height is no disadvantage.

b. The assembly bench must be flat and square with a non-stick top. Also three times the dimensions of the largest model you intend to deal with,

The building bench must be large, sturdy, and able to be replaced as you drill into it and otherwise destroy it. It needs a bench vise and may need one in a small size as well.

c. You need lighting over the bench lights from several angles to get into the places that you cover as you reposition the model. Get neutral-coloured lights.

d. You need a comfy chair.

e. You need tool storage and caddies as well as paint racks to organise your colours. And brush holders that never let the bristles touch things.

f. You need mixing palettes and cups, scrubbing towels and paper pads, matchsticks, alligator clamps, and glue pads.

g. Power tools? I’d like a jigsaw with a table, a drill press with a small feed, and a bench grinder. Also a hanging dental motor and a selection of burs and polishers. They are far more precise than any hardware store item and much easier to change tools.

h. Spray painting  – a small booth with a big extractor that vents outside. Good lighting in the booth. A separate drying booth that is free of dust and air currents.

i. The biggest quiet air compressor that can be found – and multiple spray guns – .2, .4, and .8 nozzles on separate guns and all ready for use on a rack.

j. A stereo to listen to…but one that will not be affected by dust or overspray.

k. Insulation in walls and ceiling and a reverse-cycle air conditioner to keep the temperature comfortable all year long. Too much modelling time lost when you bake or freeze.

This is all do-able on 45 million dollars…and also do-able on very much less than this if you are prepared to take it in stages and make sensible choices.

Actually, apart from the air conditioning, I’m almost there already. I may have to save the 45 Mill for cream cakes and racy French novels.