Converting a Backyard Shed into a Model Workshop

[mtaylor]

Bean-counters here?  At MSW?   I believe we have some rivet counters and some treenail counters but I don't recall seeing anyone counting beans. 

[Hank]

Rivet Counters - That was the term I was looking for!!!! Thanks Mark - you're d'Man!!!

 

And now, as Doug says "We've got to get back to work!" (Lemu's partner...)

 

Hank

[Hank]

Well, today turned out quite nice and I was able to finish the roofing (mostly). I've only a minor bit of finishing to do on shingles/flashing and some touch up around the eaves. The caulking is just about done, as well. Once Spring is here I will paint the trim/siding and all should be good. Here is the porch late afternoon after I climbed off the roof:

After I've completed the above mentioned tasks, work will return to the interior - I've got to again re-arrange "stuff" in order to gain access to the elec. panel so I can connect the receptacle circuit and make use of all those power spots! And then...on to insulation and paneling. BUT....not before a final decision on the size & number of windows on the right side (facing) of the shop.

[Hank]

Today turned out to be a good day (well, the afternoon did...) to head out and make further progress on ye olde work shoppe😏! So, I managed to do touch up painting on siding on the porch roof front and along the door frames, completely frame out and install another 36x36 side wall window, add more insulation, and finish installing the boat house beam/hook in the upper peak of the porch front. I'll add the block & pulley assembly tomorrow. Here is today's work:

[Roger Pellett]

Hank,

 

Looks Great!  You are proving that you can make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.

 

Roger

[Hank]

Roger,

Thanks!!! I appreciate the interest, etc.!!! So, today I added the block & tackle, finished the exterior of the side window trim/caulk, and am inside doing insulation work. And it IS getting a bit warm - it's 70s outside today!!

I may work a bit more today and then pipe down an early "chow" seeing as how The Admiral has choir tonight, so I'm on my own.!!!

 

ps - here in NC we use ALL the pig - sow's ears included!!!😂

 

3:38 pm EST - Well, since I'm retired and my own boss, I pulled the plug on further work today early. I did insulate the window side of the bldg. from stem to stern. My donated insulation is working great - it's 24" wide and my studs are approx. 22"-24" (the builder must have been on "something" when he framed it), so this is working out well. Staples here & there and good to go!! I may even have enough to do in between the roof joists (also 24" OC). So, with The Admiral enroute to her choir practice aboard Caddyshack Uno, I'm just going to relax, grill some pig, and watch The War of 1812 on PBS tonight; be there or be square!!!

Edited March 11, 2020 by Hank
further commentary, etc.

[uss frolick]

Put a little steeple and cross on the roof, and you got yourself a nice little country church! Reverend Hank has a nice ring to it.

[Hank]

I might have known that  the Frollicky One would say something like that!!!

 

There is, however, a small private cemetery 3 properties to the left of us (looking at my workshop) that borders 3 adjacent lots, but no ghosts that I know of.....highwaymen's tombstones...??

 

[mtaylor]

Is the block and tackle to suspend a whole hog for butchering?  

[Hank]

8 hours ago, mtaylor said:

Is the block and tackle to suspend a whole hog for butchering?  

Uuh-Oh...now I have a dilemma....what to do????

Do I take online ministerial courses or sign up at the local community college to become a butcher?????? - I CAN'T DECIDE!!!!!

I DO however, have to decide how to approach finishing the upper regions of the interior of the shop, as this is about to become important.

[Hank]

Well, that (what I said about the upper regions, etc.) can wait for another day. Today was interior paneling and I got that started and have the back wall partially paneled:

The panel boards are 4'x8' so have to be trimmed to size (height) and then marked and openings for the receptacles made. I have enough of these donated panels to do the back wall and part of the window side wall. Then, it's back to Lowe's to buy the remainder I'll need (MY $$  😢). Still uncommitted about the ceiling and the overhead you see in the photo. I did salvage some of the old 4"x1" trim boards that were going to the dump - I'll sand them and cut to size for window framing - why waste 'em, right? Morning is expected to be rainy so a good time to run errands.

[Hank]

So, yesterday was a warmer, more Spring-like day and I managed to get one task accomplished - trimming around the inside of the back window. Of course, I'm trying to use up existing building supplies on hand and in this case I ended up having to visit Lowe's once again in order to complete the job. But, I'm now in good shape to also do the trim around the side window once the paneling is up, etc. Here is the back window:

Outside I've also temporarily replaced the lattice-work in order that it not be laying around for the new lawn guy to run over when he shows up next week. Alas, my 22 year old lawn tractor may be up for quick sale due to the cutting deck being completely shot and I'm not wanting to spend more $$ on that. Plus, that time can be better spent working on THIS, wouldn't all agree? Priorities are Priorities 😌

Today may get a bit more paneling done inside as the weather is about 10° cooler outside!

 

[Hank]

Today was a fairly pleasant day weather-wise so I got some more work done on the right side interior of the shop. Since my last post I have rounded the back right corner inside and added a side window (also 36"x36") and have paneled around the corner up to that side window. Today I used my last sheet of donated paneling and then trimmed out the side window to match the back one:

As I've mentioned prior, I'm using all available wood on hand if it is useable, rather than buying, so things may look a bit "pieced together", but this is a budget-guided project, not a Taj Mahal!! I've got to make a landfill trip with the util. trailer to dump some rotted scrap lumber if the facility is still open to the public; won't know 'til I call, I guess. Then, on the way back stop at Lowe's and buy some new sheets of paneling; I need 13 to finish the inside walls but may not be able to do that in one trip, we'll see! Then a decision on whether or not to use lathe strips between the panels joints (rather $$$) or simply mix up a batch of Dunham ROCK HARD powdered wood filler and putty all the joints for sanding with the belt sander. I'm heavily leaning on Durham's - I want the walls to look decent, but certainly not some dainty ladies powder room, either!

Edited March 19, 2020 by Hank
spelling

[Hank]

Well, since The Plague has started, I've only spent a minimal amount of time out in the shop but more due to the inclement weather (damp/cold) than anything else. I've been slowly working around clockwise from the back on paneling the inside of the walls. I'm now working on the inside of the front wall and will probably be out there again tomorrow in addition to starting to plant some seeds in the raised garden beds. Today, visibly I was able to adjust the pulley & hook a bit to one side and installed my Americana Emblem on the front:

If possible, I'll try to get a shot or two of the interior to show where things stand, etc. 

[thibaultron]

Just a note: You might want to move the lower pulley over to the side opposite the door you always seem to go in.

[Hank]

10 hours ago, thibaultron said:

Just a note: You might want to move the lower pulley over to the side opposite the door you always seem to go in.

But, I'm left-handed!!!

[Hank]

OK, so today was to be rain (it WASN'T!!!) and once afternoon had arrived, I decided to go out and get further work done. Of course, having to constantly move STUFF around slows any meaningful progress, I did get the front wall paneling 98% complete (1 20" wide section to cut & install). I then cut and readied the next 4x8 panel for the left wall with only the 20" wide front wall panel to cut special tomorrow a.m. Insulation is installed up to this point, and then I will return to work on sanding the panel joints on the earlier side of the shop and get primer/paint rolled on. This should (I am using the word "should") occur Wed. afternoon or Thurs. a.m. I also intend to get any window/door/wall trim as needed cut and installed and painted, etc. So, here is the work as of today:

I know this must look like utter chaos (and it IS!!), but believe me,  THERE IS A PLAN !!! And....I do have a ceiling idea that may work, I just need to contact my building associates and mentors to make sure it's a sound idea. Nothing like going off the rails at this stage of the game, right????

 

[Maury S]

Getting ready for the final county building dept. inspection and of course, the tax assessor.

🙂

Maury

[Hank]

2 hours ago, Maury S said:

Getting ready for the final county building dept. inspection and of course, the tax assessor.

🙂

Maury

No, actually NOT!! The shed is built on runners, thus it's "portable" and a non-permanent structure - no inspection req'd. As for tax assessment, that would be up to the county to decide, not me! It wasn't considered of value when I bought the house.

[Nirvana]

That's the best part of having a shed on post or skids, so you can move it. Then it's not a permanent structure.
Part of International Building Codes.

 

[Hank]

Yesereee, Bob!!!😄

[Hank]

Finally....I did get some work done yesterday on the back & right side interior walls and the ceiling under the loft. I've now got all the insulation batts in place under the loft and have 2 more panels to install and that part of the interior will be done. The two pictures show this work - I've had to temporarily move the LED fixtures to one side or another in order to put the ceiling panel into place and then reinstall the light fixture. Once the ceiling is completed I'll then do trim work and hang lathe strips for the wall cabinets on the right side. Another "free-bie" from my contractor/realtor/friend who had no use for 3 of these cheepo units that were gutted from a renovation job. No problem, I've got them in the garage and rebuilding them for my use. They will work fine for my purposes. Hope to get some base cabinets from him, as well from another renovation job he has upcoming. Anyhow, it looks a mess, but progress IS being made:

If the weather cooperates and we get back from the city in time tomorrow, possibly another ceiling panel or 2 will go up!!

[Nirvana]

Hank, 

I guess you are just like me anxious to get work shop ready to create some dust again.'

Looking good! 

[Hank]

Dr. Per,

Yes, indeedie!! but, I fear at the present rate it may still be later this year before things are to a point where I can actually get back to work. However, not to be shy, I just purchased a new drill press for exclusive use in the model shop and I already have its first task in mind on the next project. I appreciate your kind remark and hope you're able to get the chips flyin' soon, also!

 

Hank

[rlb]

Well Hank, I have been watching your progress on the shed (I mean workshop).  And that is all wonderful and good, but the real thing I want to know, is what you will build in it?!  I am a great fan of your Peacock and New Jersey, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Ron 

Edited May 1, 2020 by rlb

[Hank]

11 hours ago, rlb said:

Well Hank, I have been watching your progress on the shed (I mean workshop).  And that is all wonderful and good, but the real thing I want to know, is what you will build in it?!  I am a great fan of your Peacock and New Jersey, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

Ron 

Ron,

Thanks so much for the interest in PEACOCK, NEW JERSEY, and my workshop!!! As a former FLETCHER class DD alumni, I am planning on kit-bashing the Revell 1/144 scale FLETCHER class DD kit into USS STODDARD (DD-566) in her 1966-67 guise. I served in her from 1966-68 and have always wanted to build a model of her as she appeared during my service. Several years ago I started her research (mostly on The Ship Model Forum as they are more modern USN oriented, etc.) and have already drawn up several scaled CAD drawings of her 01 Level, secondary 3"/50 gun mounts, and tripod mast & RADARs. So, that will be my first project in the new shop once it's been commissioned! Then, 1/200 scale kit-bash ARIZONA to 1940 PENNSYLVANIA waterline model, and possibly a resurrection of my research & development of drawings to build a 1:48 hull w/lower masts model of U.S. Frigate BOSTON (1798). This would be a hybrid construction of both POB & POF in order to show internal framing in a central area of the model. At least, that's my theoretical plan.

Hank

[rlb]

Those are all great subjects, and I look forward to seeing them develop!   

[Hank]

The last week has been nuts trying to actually get out to the shop to get anything done!!! But, I did manage over the last week to get 3 wall cabinets that were given to me repaired, repainted, and tonight hung in the right side of the back corner of the shop. They were the typical trailer trash particle board construction and it took a bit of work to repair & rebuild, but they'll work out - I put new REAL plywood shelves in them and that was a big improvement. A coat of paint and they're useable!!! I then filled them up with packed up tools in small boxes that I had packed up in 2018 when I was preparing for my 2019 Spring retirement and move back to the Triad of NC from the eastern part of the state where I worked. Here are the cabinets in place:

A bit of touch up paint and finishing the painting on the left side of the taller cabinet unit should have things wrapped up. Now, before you start in on the arrangement, I'll add this - I put in a flush mtd. top on the small unit to use for storage and that's why I arranged it the way you see it. Hopefully, I will finally get time to finish the other 2 ceiling panels (to the left out of the picture) that remain. I have them both pre-painted and only need to position & screw into place. However, I have a feeling that Honey-Do items are on the immediate horizon as The Admiral bought new plants today and you know what that means!!! It may be another week until I get back out here to continue things. 

[Hank]

With "honey-do" tasks completed by lunch, I spent the afternoon in the shop finally getting the last 2 ceiling panels under the loft area located and installed. I then installed one more wall panel on the left side, some more trim boards, and got the 3 LED fixtures back in place. I did a bit of touch up on the cabinets and more caulking on the wall panels (seams, nail holes, etc.). With possibility of frost tonight, I got a couple pix made and then locked up for the night. Got the plants covered and hope that they make it without problems. I hate replanting stuff!!!!

I'm hoping to continue work in the shop in the morning, but one never knows when The Admiral is afoot . So, here is today's progress:

 

Sat. a.m. - hope to get some general clean up & rearrangement of "stuff" again before tackling further construction!

Edited May 9, 2020 by Hank
Added 2nd photo

[Maury S]

Hank, remind me again the scale of the model workshop.  1:24?  

Maury