I've been in the process of clearing up and sorting out my hobby space, partly so I can have somewhere else than the kitchen table to work at during the day, partly because it was getting to the point of only having a small workable area not covered in bits and pieces.
My models aren't a problem, I've been using stackable A4 plastic document boxes in shelves for a while now and they just grow vertically not taking up too much space.
My paints are well organised in MDF paint stands (though any more and I may have to buy one of Mr Leon's nice new ones).
My main issue is all the other bits and bobs. Flocks, glues, epoxies, little trees and clumps and rocks and sand and so on and so forth. Not to mention magnets and magnetic paper, bits of card, carpet samples I'm definitely going to make into fields some day, lollypop sticks and coffee stirrers, craft knives and clippers.... Added to that I'm finally getting around to making some terrain which will likely fill a box I'm ending up with a bunch of plastic boxes all kicking about my feet with lids that barely* close.
So does anyone have any clever tricks for storing things beyond plastic crates and plastic baggies? Currently looking through various craft storage options on Amazon but most seem targeted at smaller things or much larger things...
*By which I mean... don't.
I know the feeling. I'm trying to track down the company that makes the TARDIS! :D
Quote from: Ithoriel on 10 June 2020, 09:41:50 PM
I know the feeling. I'm trying to track down the company that makes the TARDIS! :D
;D if only...
This is my current thinking as it should fit under my desk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00YOUKDSQ
And the drawers seem deep enough to hold most of what I need.
But still open to any clever suggestions others have come up with over the years!
I picked up a three-drawer bedside cabinet for twelve quid from a local British Heart Foundation charity shop. The drawers are full.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7678/QpiJ7L.jpg)
As you can see, the more storage you have, the more stuff you keep :)
Yup that's pretty much exactly how my desk looked before I spent the past few evenings clearing it! No doubt it'll return to a similar state in time...
Quote from: Ithoriel on 10 June 2020, 09:41:50 PM
I know the feeling. I'm trying to track down the company that makes the TARDIS! :D
Don't get the BBC one, it is a cheapie made from plywood.
Make sure you get the one with Freema Agyeman and David Tennant. :x
For on desk storage I got various drawers and paint racks from Hobby zone in Poland. Despite being in Poland delivery was quick and not too expensive
For bigger stuff, various drawers and cupboards help.
The drawer unit you linked to on Amazon looks very like ones we have bought from Home Bargains for about half that price.
For the smaller bits and pieces, flock etc, I have this:
(http://kiwidave.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/140381481/Storage.jpg)
It's about 55cm high by 30cm wide. No idea where I got it from - possibly a hand-me-down from Dad.
Currently on the floor in my office, I don't have a permanent set-up (yet)
I bought in a sale a six drawer unit from Hobbycraft
(https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/supplyimages/604123_1000_1_800.jpg)
I find it takes some of the small Really Useful Box .. err .. boxes, and I would also recommend the plastic boxes you get from a take-away.
(https://www.cater4you.co.uk/acatalog/500cc-take-away-container-300.jpg)
You can buy them from Amazon - £7.70 for 50.
Thanks for all the answers.
I'd forgotten about hobby craft actually, will have to have a browse.
Hobby zone looks good though they appear to be out of stock on most things currently.
I have stacks of take away boxes that I use for both food leftovers and hobby bits, but I find they tend to be flimsy and prone to cracking if opened and closed a lot. I've seen a few like that six drawer unit, I'll maybe do some measuring of my various bits and pieces to see what fits where.
Kiwidaves unit looks well, I've seen RUB do a similar style but the boxes of it look very small.
The drawers in my unit are 9cm wide x 150cm deep x 5cm high. They have moveable internal dividers as well. I can email you a picture if it helps :)
I use the RUB for things I want kept - like flock.
The take away boxes I use for storing unpainted figures. I write on the top of the box what is in it (by unit) and mark 'em off as they get painted. If they break, they break.
(https://static.theworks.co.uk/images/5051265729507_M.jpg)
The Works sells collapsable storage boxes - 2 for £10. These are good and roomy and I use them (on shelves) for things like unmade kits, spare PVA glue - the larger items. Mine have WWI recruitment posters, world map and moustaches on them. Not Frozen.
Honest.
Why would I lie?
Leave me alone.
Just let it go, will you!
VHS video boxes are also good, if you can still get them ;)
Quote from: Kiwidave on 11 June 2020, 07:07:40 AM
The drawers in my unit are 9cm wide x 150cm deep x 5cm high. They have moveable internal dividers as well. I can email you a picture if it helps :)
Interesting, searching DIY/tool storage gets more things more like that, rather than the tiny containers "craft storage" gets you. No need for a picture, the one you provided already is good thanks. Given me a new area to explore, cheers.
Quote from: fsn on 11 June 2020, 07:10:10 AM
I use the RUB for things I want kept - like flock.
The take away boxes I use for storing unpainted figures. I write on the top of the box what is in it (by unit) and mark 'em off as they get painted. If they break, they break.
Fair enough, I keep my unpainted figures mostly in foodbags (the plastic zip kind) with what they are jotted on them, usually with some spare bags for padding then try and store them in the appropriate project box (or at least do now that I have extra ones made up). Flocks I've currently mostly still got in the resealable bags they came in, but have some plastic containers/jars that I use for storing flock mixes for a particular army.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 11 June 2020, 01:59:17 AM
Make sure you get the one with Freema Agyeman and David Tennant. :x
I would rather have the one with Karen Gillan. The BBC can keep David Tennant.
Hell, yes!
Quote from: Orcs on 11 June 2020, 10:08:17 AM
I would rather have the one with Karen Gillan. The BBC can keep David Tennant.
Well, at least we don't have to compete. :)
Quote from: Kiwidave on 11 June 2020, 06:29:41 AM
For the smaller bits and pieces, flock etc, I have this:
(http://kiwidave.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/140381481/Storage.jpg)
It's about 55cm high by 30cm wide. No idea where I got it from - possibly a hand-me-down from Dad.
Currently on the floor in my office, I don't have a permanent set-up (yet)
All of the above.
Yeah some of the tool/DIY storage options are looking good. Going to do a bit of measuring over lunch and see what'll fit where.
I bought a 20 pack of 16" pizza boxes from Amazon, then a stack of .8mm 39cm square mild steel plates to line their bottoms.
Each box holds plenty of figures.
Boxes are about 40mm deep and stack 6 high without problems.
Easy transport, I keep bin-bags handy for waterproofing.
Quote from: Kiwidave on 11 June 2020, 06:29:41 AM
For the smaller bits and pieces, flock etc, I have this:
(http://kiwidave.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/140381481/Storage.jpg)
It's about 55cm high by 30cm wide. No idea where I got it from - possibly a hand-me-down from Dad.
Currently on the floor in my office, I don't have a permanent set-up (yet)
Quote from: John Cook on 11 June 2020, 11:19:16 AM
All of the above.
What? :o Even the fake pearl necklace? B)
I'm pretty happy with my figure storage:
(https://i.imgur.com/t2a25O1.jpg)
The labels were just quick sticky ones I made when sorting through stuff, will add more permanent ones soon.
The top two sections are mostly in progress or just starting stuff. The bottom two sections are finished figures and various odds and ends I won't be needing in the near future.
Quote from: Westmarcher on 11 June 2020, 12:07:40 PM
What? :o Even the fake pearl necklace? B)
You never know when you're going to need a pre-made sphere. Stuff like this usually ends up as part of any sci-fi scenery I get around to making.
And I like looking fabulous, darling ;D :O)
You know what would be nice...if the sellers actually listed the internal drawer size on their products rather than the overall size and having to guestimate based on that...
Think I may go for a stack of drawers for the big stuff then something like this to organise flocks etc:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008DHZXRC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&psc=1
Though may be a bit small still, as a buyer listed as 3.5 cm tall 5 wide 13 deep. Might be okay for a bag of flock and lollypop sticks and the like though.
Quote from: Kiwidave on 11 June 2020, 02:26:52 PM
And I like looking fabulous, darling ;D :O)
So you should, luvee! :-[
Ended up ordering a set of plastic drawers for under the desk and a small compartment storage for the top of the desk. So of course took that to mean I should stop tidying up until they arrive and get on with some proper hobbying ;D
Easy pack away paint station.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/3771/9607770767_3fa6714471_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/fD1kw8)IMAG0178 (https://flic.kr/p/fD1kw8) by Last Hussar (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lasthussar/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5441/9611003996_48dc1e51d0_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/fDhUDs)IMAG0176 (https://flic.kr/p/fDhUDs) by Last Hussar (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lasthussar/), on Flickr
That's pretty handy LH, nice and portable too. I've managed to set up in a way that I can have a permanent paint station and workstation at the same desk. The downside is it's using the fold up catering table I tended to use for gaming on, so I'll be confined to dining table sized games for a while, though I've been working on minimising some projects to work like this for a while anyway as its easier to set up a quick game that way rather than hauling fold up tables down from the roofspace and clearing enough space in the kitchen to set them up, set up the game, play the game, pack it all away again anytime I want to game (meaning I don't get to game very often!).
Quote from: Last Hussar on 12 June 2020, 09:20:51 AM
Easy pack away paint station.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/3771/9607770767_3fa6714471_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5441/9611003996_48dc1e51d0_k.jpg)
by Last Hussar on Flickr
Could only see one corner of the image. Seemed a pity to miss out on the whole set up. Hope you don't mind the resize.
Ithoriel, Resizer Champion of the Small Screened and Downscaled :D
A handy setup - a couple of questions:
How do you manage to use so few paints? I have a painting station, that has space for 20 or so paints in two rows at the back, but the work area in the front always has at least as many bottles of paint on it again.
Secondly, how do you hold figures when painting them? I have mine attached to lolly sticks to make painting easier - I get about 8-10 figs on one strip, held in place with double-sided tape.
I'm not good enough to use more shades.
Many years ago. early in my pursuit of 10mm nirvana I found that every commercial storage box I looked at was just too deep for most 10mm figures and so you stored more empty space than figures.
I realised the only solution was to make my own and came up with a multi-drawer box. Most drawers are 18mm deep for infantry and small vehicles. Larger vehicles go into drawers which are 24mm deep and cavalry fit nicely into those which are 30mm deep.
Most are built from 6mm plywood and for the first one I took great care in assembling it with fine nails and glue. For the boxes that came after, I just carefully clamped and glued the pieces together until the joint had hardened.
Very clever Chris, lightweight but sturdy.
Nicely done Chris, good woodworking skills. And a good solution to the 'box is too tall' problem that often occurs with 10mm figures.
For the rest of us with less skills, there are a few options that I have used
1) Add a tray to a standard box file. This can either be a piece of MDF, or a quite like to use Foamcore, add a couple of support strips along the boxfile, I've used small strips of wood, or foam core. This can let you get two layers of troops in one box. With these I sometimes cut the shelf to be 2/3rds of the length of the box so any tall figures have the full height available to them.
2) Drawers like the Bisley ones for storing documents, these drawers are pretty shallow, so you get a lot in a single unit
3) MDF trays to go into Really Useful Boxes, there are a couple of manufacturers (at least) making these and they can really increase the volume of figures you can get in a RUB. Available in multiple heights to allow you to tailor the heights for different types of troops.