Work benches
Timber work bench
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The idea of a workbench came to mind when visiting the Kempton Pumping engines. There was a pile of track, stock and furniture in the car park, which were immediately photographed, for inspiration. It didn't take long for this project to start.
The frame is made from scraps of square strip wood and thin ply left over from 16mm coaches and wagons. The vice is plasticard. The plywood comes in 0.8 and 1.5mm thick sheets and is very useful for all manner of projects. PS: I've subsequently been challenged, by a certain individual, into making a metal-workers bench and have been sent a specific page from a catalogue to-boot! |
Metal work bench
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Rising to the challenge, the catalogue page was transferred into a drawing. Using CAD, whilst the bench is drawn full-sized, the model dims are also displayed, which saves time.
Although the whole model could have been made in plasticard, brass tube end-frames seemed better and more appropriate, especially as the correct size tube was 'in stock'. A simple jig enabled a matching pair to be fabricated. From here on, it's all plasticard. The cupboards formed the structural frames, by using thick card. Thinner black card was used to simulate the angle frame stretchers. The vice was lots of scrap card laminated up, with no preconceived plan. Then it was 'file-away', with one eye on the catalogue and one on my own workshop vice. The latter was particularly useful for understanding what went into what. Finally, details like hinges, locks and handles were added. There are two beautiful moulded plastic bolts for the vice base, made by Grant Line. The whole bench was spray painted in grey primer. I'm not sure what colour to paint it or how the raw, sheet metal effect will be achieved ... The vice was given an overall coat of hand-painted grey acrylic and then the blue elements painted afterwards. Alright Mr C? |
