Monday 22 December 2014

The Workbench: December 2014

Introduction

It's been about 8 months since I last posted any pictures of my workbench (here) and I thought it would be worth while to see how that compares with today's reality.  I'm expecting that it's much less tidy today; I'm having real problems in trying to keep on top of the mess and my ever-expanding range of interests.

OK, it's a mess...
As you can see from the picture above, I can barely sit at my desk, let alone do any work.  This is partly why I've not been doing much recently; I just don't feel much sense of satisfaction at making models in such an untidy environment.

In Detail

To the right of the desk (on the pull-out leaf) are a couple of part-built Old West buildings - an undertakers and a construction site.  In front of them are smaller outhouses (a garden cold frame and a hen house); the box on the right has a 28mm quad bike.

On the left hand leaf is a tray of models that aren't yet opened and started.  I'm being very conscientious about this: they mustn't be built until space has been made on the table by completing something else first.  The tray contains some barbarian heroes (well, heroines, I suppose) from Hasslefree as well as the "Daredevil sisters" (aka Angels from Captain Scarlet).  I wish to get some helmeted heads for the latter before assembly.

At the back are some ruined buildings from the Stoelzel's Structures car sales yard.  They are ruined in the sense that my builds of the models are warped and twisted, not that they portray derelict buildings.  I haven't yet decided what to do with these, so they stay there as reminders to go back to that project some time...

 On the desk itself, the extreme left has my collection of paints.  On top of these (due to lack of space, even though it is very awkward to use the paints) are a couple more trays.  The front one holds completed models that haven't yet been put into storage.  You may well recognise some of my recent works such as the undead dragon and the 2 Viridian skimmers.

Behind the completed models, another tray holds elements of my partly-finished Barbarian army for Hordes of the Things.  I think that 3 elements are painted and varnished; all the rest are only partly painted.

 The working part of the bench, in the centre of the desk, is very cluttered at the moment.  Some items come onto this space and move off it again very quickly, but many of the models have been here for months or even years!

 In a little more detail, the bench contains a few more 28mm Ancient Greeks.  These are nearly finished.  They will join (or maybe oppose?) Jason and the Argonauts when I finally get this project ready for the gaming table.  You can see here 3 archers, 1 new hoplite, a slinger and an old man.

Also note that my 3rd Viridian skimmer is just behind the Greeks.

 Next on the bench are 4 bases of Barbarians for Hordes of the Things.  Although I'm itching to build some of the heroes for this army, I've set myself the goal of completing at least some of the rank-and-file first.  It's not going very well; these figures haven't progressed much for months.

 Moving further to the left, I have a few modern survivors, with some cowboys behind them (as well as a lone zombie child).

 At the right hand end of the workspace are the horses for the first figures in my SAGA Strathclyde army.  This faction are notorious for the high proportion of cavalry in their warbands, though it is really the riders that are holding me back from completing the models rather than the mounts.  Anyway, if/when I complete the few that are here, I've got another 20 or so to build!

Mixed in with them are a few pulp villains and heroes.

 At the back of the workstation, partly hidden under the shelf, are my 28mm bikers.  They've probably been there longer than pretty much any other model on the bench.

 Here are the 4 Strathclyde riders.  As you can see, I've not managed to paint much of them yet, despite having these models since Claymore 2014 (i.e. August).

To the other side of the workstation, there are some new additions.  The guys in metallic green armour are my middle son's elves.  He hasn't done anything on these for many weeks and I suspect strongly that I'll need to nag him horribly to get them finished and moved out of my space.

Conclusion

It's nearly Christmas, when I know for certain that I will receive even more models.  If I cannot find a better way of managing this area (and if I cannot find more storage space!) then I'm in danger of drowning in figures.  Metaphorically, of course (I hope)!

I'm pretty much at my wits end here; I've no desire to cut down on the number of my projects, but equally I don't see how I can manage all the current ones either.  What to do?

26 comments:

  1. For me I cut down on the number of active projects sorry if that's not helpful.

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    1. Thanks, Robert. Part of me says that I need to cut down on my projects, but the other part says that I'd live to regret doing so :-) !

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  2. Cracking post C6, and I know where you're coming from. I have a tidy up once every now and then and simply pick 3-4 subjects I'm really keen on and the rest are boxed away in the loft. Obviously over time the table gets 'snowed under' again and I curse myself for putting x,y or z away only to get them out again a week or so later. But for a while at least I can see what I'm painting. Not sure if you have a loft handy to do this with though.

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    1. Thanks. I have quite a few boxes of partly assembled and painted figures already; perhaps it's time to relegate some of these to the same status.

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  3. My word you really do have a lot on the go! Every so often, I face the same dilemma and have to pack things away so as to make space.

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    1. Thanks, Michael. I think it's probably too much, at least for now :-) .

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  4. I think BK is giving good advice.

    Tidy away the stuff that ready for storage and throw away any bits od rubbish that have been put in corners.

    Look at the 'active' projects you have. If some haven't been active for a while, ask yourself why. If it's because you've moved on or can't face them, then leave them. It's not 'failure' to do so - this is just a hobby and you're under no obligation to do anything you're not enjoying.

    What's left? Look at them. Some might have deadlines or other obligations attached (such as your son's elves); others will be pure fun. Decide which are which (some will be a mix). Try and quantify them.

    Then pick three or four. Don't worry too much at this stage about what you will do once those projects are done (it's no use limiting yourself to four if you're then fretting about a waiting list of eleven more!).

    Best of luck!

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    1. Thanks, Edwin. I think you're right - a good tidy up often helps to sort out priorities most wonderfully!

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  5. Gotta be a little ruthless, pack away.. Sell off , or crack on...its a challenge though.. But I too find things go better with a semblance of tidiness

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    1. Thanks, Dave. Of course, selling stuff off has its own problems, both emotional and logistical :-) . I should certainly dispose of some stuff that is surplus to requirements, though I might wait until well into the New Year and avoid the currently busy postal services!

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  6. I wish I could clone myself so I could get twice as much work done. But that's pure fantasy and will never happen so you must learn to have more will power. Do what needs doing the most and ignore the rest. You have to teach yourself to be more disciplined and selective. Easy to say, I know, but very hard to implement.

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    1. Rather than clone myself, I think I'll try to live twice as long as average :-) ; that should do it...

      I'm not yet at an age where I would seriously consider downsizing (nowhere near!), but I can see the time will come eventually when a large collection of specialist hobby stuff wouldn't be fair on the relatives who survive me!

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  7. I have learned from hard-earned experience to box up every (identifiable) project (with a label identifying it) that I'm not currently working on. It is so very much easier to focus on getting this or that particular unit/vehicle/building/whatever if there's nothing to get in the way - and more importantly: distract.
    I have found that it has given me a different and more output-effective approach (having a deadline. like for my GoB Gondor army, also is helpful).

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    1. Thanks, Argonor. I really should box up and store the stuff that is not engaging my interest at the moment. Otherwise it's just a constant reminder that I've failed to make progress for a very long time...

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  8. Deadlines imo are the answer. Set yourself a date for a game (or games) that require some of your unfinished figures.I find that I work on projects more wheI have a deadline.
    I did recognise a few cobwebbed things from the past (the bikers and westerners particularly).
    With New year resolutions just around the corner, there's another option open to you.

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    1. Thanks, Joe. I found deadlines worked much better when the local games club was still going. Now that I'm not playing very often, deadlines often seem somewhat artificial.

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  9. Great post C6! I find it fascinating to see other peoples work areas, no matter the amount of organisation or chaos. Don't worry your not the only one whose workbench is a little cluttered.
    Be ruthless in boxing and labelling, then only work on one or two things until completion. Moving on methodically and efficiently, one or two at a time and I'm sure things will clear pretty quickly.
    Having said all that, I find my motivation and enthusiasm waning severely at this time of year.

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    1. Thanks, Bob. I think you may have something in the time of year. As the Christmas holiday period approaches, I often imagine that I'll manage a lot of painting whilst off work. However, other activities (cooking, visiting relatives, going out, watching TV with the family and so on) soak up a lot of time. Also, I find that the short (and often cloudy/rainy) days sap my enthusiasm a lot. Often my most productive period is in the spring :-) !

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  10. for what its worth I would pack all of them away and just tidy your space up so you can work in it again and see what new stuff you get from Santa. Hopefully these new toys will inspire you to get started again and then reintroduce the tidied up projects again as and when you feel like it.

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    1. Thanks! I think that packing away at least some of the stuff would be a good idea. After all, I *know* that I'll be getting at least some new toys for Christmas (if only because I chose them myself to make certain :-) ).

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  11. Ha Ha yes I know how that feels. In a way I am glad that I don't have a man cave as I imagine mine would be pretty much similar in appearance. Its good to see you have so many different projects on the go and if a movie or book peeks your interest in a certain direction you have things that you can pick up and work on. Its pretty much how things are here though on a far smaller scale.

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    1. If you have a permanent area for any activity then it's all too easy for it to become cluttered. When you "borrow" a dining table or similar then you *have* to be clean and tidy, I guess :-) !

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  12. That all looks and sounds familiar to me. All the best for holiday season..

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    1. Thanks, Clint. I don't imagine that my setup is the messiest in the world - but it feels a bit like that at the moment!

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  13. That's a lot of stuff you got going on, Colgar!
    I don't like half-finished things to lay around and I only start painting somthing I know I will paint before I move on anything else. I do have a lot of built stuff ready to be painted, though - just waiting for that bit of enthusiasm.

    I am no fan of self imposed dead lines, I don't want to force myself doing anything hobby related and I know I wouldn't stick to some deadlines that I devised if it's not really necessary to get things finished.

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    1. Ah, yes - it is a lot of stuff, isn't it :-) . You're absolutely right: arbitrary, self-imposed deadlines just don't work! I'm really going to have to find another way of dealing with this...

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