As a miniature painter and hobbyist for many, many years, it is rare for me to find a product that excites me. “The Hobby Deck” by Frontier Wargaming is one of those hobby products, as it fills a gap in niche that I haven’t seen. The Hobby Deck, as it is coined appropriately, is a portable lap desk purpose-built for miniature painting. It fills that hobby void between a dedicated hobby desk and deployable painting carry case.
In this article, I share my full review of working with The Hobby Deck from Frontier Wargaming over a period of 6 weeks. If you’re not familiar with Frontier Wargaming (FW), they are a company based in Riga, Latvia (EU). They made their debut with the ever popular Paint Case (see my high marks for the FW Paint Case 2.0). With The Hobby Deck, Frontier Wargaming is bushwhacking their way into your new hobby space that you never knew you needed: Your living room sofa, your bedroom, or a random lounge chair in a bustling, local coffee shop.
Disclaimer: Frontier Wargaming provided me with a free review copy of The Hobby Deck. Of course, with any review, I maintain my liberty to express my honest opinion, good or bad, about any product tested. I hope you find this review helpful!
If you’re looking for other options for a portable “lap desk” for painting miniatures, you could try searching on Etsy. I tend to browse Etsy a lot for new, bespoke hobby gadgets. There are so many creative artisans and hobbyists out there, that you never know what you’ll find!
RELATED: MY TOP 13 BEST PORTABLE MINIATURE PAINTING WORKSTATIONS
Summary Review of Frontier Wargaming’s “the Hobby Deck”
In the world of miniature painting and tabletop gaming, having the right tools and workspace can significantly enhance your experience. “The Hobby Deck” by Frontier Wargaming promises to bring convenience, quality, and versatility to your painting sessions, whether you’re cozied up on your couch or soaking in the morning sun in bed (sitting up, of course). As an avid hobbyist, I was intrigued by the concept of a portable, all-in-one hobby station.
“The Hobby Deck” is not just a painting station; it’s a well-thought-out companion for any miniature enthusiast. With its dimensions of 470mm x 310mm x 110mm and weighing in at 4 kg, it’s both functional and sturdy. Crafted from natural wood, each unit has its unique texture and color, adding a personal touch to your hobby space.
The varnished wood grain is particularly aesthetic and attractive in my opinion. Each piece cannot be reproduced exactly, so your Hobby Deck totally yours. Top that with the possibility of including a personal custom, laser-engraved logo or bumper sticker-length text, and you have something that you’ll be proud to own. But it’s not just about looks; the functionality of “The Hobby Deck” is where it truly shines.
Pros
- Portable and versatile, allowing painting in various settings
- Bright, well-placed LED light bar enhances visibility
- Customizable with magnetized shelves and interchangeable modules
- Very, very strong wooden construction in the hobby deck working surface
- Attractive design with quality materials and the option for personal engraving
- Innovative features like the smartphone holder add convenience
Cons
- Included miniature painting holders may not suit all users, especially for larger hands, heavy or bigger models
- Workspace may feel limited for those who are used to larger setups
- Premium cost
Key Features at a Glance:
- Versatility and Comfort: The detachable cushion, filled with buckwheat hulls and encased in natural linen, allows you to paint comfortably from your lap, making it a cozy station wherever you decide to set up.
- Modular Design: It comes equipped with two tabletop station modules of your choice, offering flexibility and customization to your painting routine.
- Convenience at Your Fingertips: A dedicated phone stand ensures you can follow tutorials, watch your favorite shows, or listen to music without missing a beat.
- Thoughtful Additions: The enamel mug, serving dual purposes for your paint water or a comforting cup of coffee, is a testament to Frontier Wargaming’s attention to detail.
Unboxing and First Impressions
The Hobby Deck arrived safe and sound in a fairly dense cardboard box. To reduce waste and production cost, everything in the package came with just the right amount of packing material. I didn’t have to deal with the enormous amounts of bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, etc., that often come with hobby products of this size.
As I unwrapped everything, I also realized why things didn’t require so much packing material. The quality of parts, sub-assemblies, and such were top-notch. Nothing in The Hobby Deck is not fragile. It’s a robust product and made of pretty strong wood (mostly) and other accessory materials.
My Hobby Deck arrived with our Tangible Day logo emblazoned on the top working surface. The laser engraving appeared well-defined, sharp, and created a wonderful contrast against the organic wood grain visible on the varnished top surface. Also check out the details below.
Thoughts on Assembly
Out of the box, “The Hobby Deck” requires some assembly. The process is straightforward, taking about 45 minutes to an hour, with all necessary parts fitting together seamlessly, thanks to the high precision cuts.
The Hobby Deck comes with a small tube of white glue. I can only assume it’s standard PVA glue, or a wood glue. But in either case, a sharp scissor or knife will need to clip off the tip of the glue tube. It was plenty to perform the entire assembly. You’ll need glue to put all the punched out shelf parts, metal disc fixtures (that go underneath the shelf modules), and the armature for the super-bright LED light bar.
While glue may not be necessary, since the parts fit tightly together through friction. For long-term durability, it is highly recommended in my view.
Another tip for those who do pick up The Hobby Deck, do put aside a good hour or so to assemble it.
While I’m sure more experienced hobbyists who enjoy assembling things could be efficient, you may need to do some dry-fitting or a touch of sanding to get pieces to go together smoothly.
However, once you finish assembling The Hobby Deck, you’ll totally appreciate the thoughtful design elements and features that are in it. This, I will get into further below. But before I do that, I want to just rave a bit on how cool and amazing this thing looks when fully assembled.
Looks and Feel
The wood used in “The Hobby Deck” is not just any cheap, low-density wood. It’s a premium-feeling natural plywood, and the grain adds an aesthetic appeal to your painting space. I mentioned this before, but it really is pretty.
I don’t know a ton about furniture craftsmanship, but from all appearances, the finish on the Hobby Deck impressed me enough to really appreciate the overall attractiveness of it. I don’t think photographs do it justice at all!
It is worth underscoring that the deck has a heft and density to it. While the cushion under the deck applies firm but conforming padding when you have the hobby deck in your lap, the overall weight feels good and adds to its stability while painting.
You can lean your elbows heavily on The Hobby Deck and it won’t creak, bend, or warp at all. Everything is solid and you can trust the surface “to be there” when you’re working with your miniatures.
I think a part of this sturdiness comes from the short side and back walls on the Hobby Deck, which add to the lateral strength, counter-acting any torsional force to the working surface. While I didn’t try standing on it (I’m 170lbs), I’m sure it wouldn’t budget at all.
A quick note about the cushion under The Hobby Deck: The cushion is filled with what feels like typical bean bag material that shifts nicely to conform to your legs while it is on your lap. The cushion itself uses semi-textured durable fabric that uses Velcro to attach to the bottom of The Hobby Deck.
The Velcro hook and loop attachment feature was a fantastic choice for Frontier Wargaming. I much prefer this Velcro system than zippers or buttons. With Velcro, you can tuck a portable battery between the Hobby Deck and the cushion, running the wire of the LED light bar through, and creating a self-contained powered lighting system.
Moreover, the space between the cushion and The Hobby Deck top could serve as a secret storage area, e.g., for a wet palette, a pencil case filled with some brushes or hobby tools.
Modular Features, Shelves, and More
The heart of “The Hobby Deck” lies in its meticulously designed features, each catering to the specific needs of miniature painting enthusiasts.
The LED Light Bar
The LED Light Bar is a game-changer for The Hobby Deck. While I think the same LED light is included with the Paint Case 2.0, Frontier Wargaming chose the perfect lighting system for The Hobby Deck.
RELATED: BEST HOBBY LAMPS FOR PAINTING MINIATURES AND MODELS
With a USB connection, the LED light can be powered by any 5V portable battery pack. It’s incredibly bright, ensuring that every detail of your miniature is visible. The LED light bar slides right through a modular armature that moves up or down. The entire desk surface is lit in a soft, but really nice neutral cool white glow. Sure, it’s not a Redgrass R9 Task Lamp, but as a portable system, it’s perfect.
If you’re looking for a supplemental portable USB powered light that would work alongside your Hobby Deck, then the Uberlight Flex Light Portable Lamp could be a great option for painting miniatures on the go (check out my full review here).
The Removable Pillow Cushion
I mentioned the pillow cushion above and how it functions as more than just comfort or stability; the pillow and hobby deck combined also create a clever storage solution, e.g., battery pack for the light, tool/brush storage, and more!
The removable pillow feature with Velcro is also a thoughtful feature for easy maintenance. At some point you’re going to want to clean that fabric. Just detach the pillow cushion and hand wash the fabric, and replace the cushion back under The Hobby Deck. Easy enough.
Modular Shelves and Design
As I was assembling The Hobby Deck, I learned to appreciate the modular compartments even more than in the product photos I saw on the Frontier Wargaming website.
The magnetized shelves and interchangeable modules allow you to adapt to your changing hobby needs. Whether you want specific paint holders for Citadel pots, dropper bottles, or a stable surface for your tools, “The Hobby Deck” comes with modules that fill your current task.
What is interesting is that the embedded magnets in The Hobby Deck do add some future proofing to the product. If there’s a module or shelving style that you think would help you, I’m sure Frontier Wargaming will be able to create that for you and it would be compatible with The Hobby Deck.
Or…you can design and 3D print your own modules to work with your Hobby Deck!
In general the magnetic system work really well. Metal discs that you glue to the bottom of each module connect right up to the magnets in the hobby deck.
Yes, you’ll have to do some lite-gluing, lining up the metal discs under the shelves to align with the magnets. But it’s simple for anyone to do. Overall, the magnetized shelves and interchangeable modules offer a level of customization that adapts to your workflow, ensuring your paints and tools are right where you need them.
Quick side note: As I worked with The Hobby Deck, it also doubled as portable laptop desk. I just cleared the space (detached the magnetized modules) and plopped my Apple Macbook on the desk (deck) and used it draft a few emails. Then just as quickly, I put all my shelf modules with paint pots in them back on top again.
A Metal Mug with Magnets Serves as a Stabilized Water Rinse Cup
I did not expect the white metal mug with the Frontier Wargaming logo on it to be that big of a deal as a paint water rinse cup. I mean, it’s a “cup that holds water” for rinsing your brushes. But, the way Frontier Wargaming continued with the use of magnets impressed me with how thoughtful it worked together.
RELATED: THE UNASSUMING CITADEL WATER POT FOR MINIATURE PAINTERS (RECOMMENDATION AND REVIEW)
The metallic mug magnetically attaches to the hobby deck through an embedded magnet in the deck’s surface. While care is needed when tilting the deck, it’s a secure and convenient way to keep your water rinsing needs close by without worrying about it sliding off the hobby deck onto your crotch.
It’s a fabulously simple approach. If there’s one limitation, other than the strength of the magnet (it’s strong, but does not “lock in” the metal mug), it’s that the metal rinse mug doesn’t hold a lot of water; maybe 200ml (or no more than 8 oz). I do like having plenty of water to thoroughly clean my brushes between colors. Then again, there will be compromises with a portable laptop-style miniature hobby desk.
A Smartphone Holder that Works
Often it’s the small things that make a big difference. The smartphone holder attachment is one such feature. It fits snugly on the side of the hobby deck, accommodating even large phones in various orientations.
This feature is perfect for those long painting sessions where you might want to watch a tutorial, enjoy a podcast, or just have some background music.
On the resting surface of the smartphone holder are two rubber pads that prevent your smartphone from slipping off too easily. A light tilt and your phone will stay put.
What is interesting, too, about the smartphone holder is that it is slots into the back wall of the Hobby Deck and you can move it side to side like it’s on rails. Or, you can remove it quickly altogether.
As with the LED bar, the ability to move the smartphone holder around also gives this feature more subtle utility than at first glance. For example, if you’re filming a vlog of yourself while painting at the Hobby Deck, you can slide your smartphone camera to right where you need it (within reason, of course; the holder doesn’t tilt in the fore-aft direction).
Miniature Painting Holders
The Hobby Deck comes with five painting holders, which are small laser cut “stands” that you can use to hold your miniatures more ergonomically while you paint. Each stand needs to be assembled, but once you do, you’ll see how they work with your Hobby Deck. They slot into the hobby deck surface using a lock and key system (so they don’t slide off); check out the photos for what I mean.
RELATED: PAINTING HANDLES AND HOLDERS TO IMPROVE YOUR MINIATURE PAINTING COMFORT
To hold the miniatures on the stand, you’ll need sticky tack or other adhesive. Although these stands also come with the Frontier Wargaming Paint Case systems, I’m not sure they are entirely necessary here as most of us already use Painting Handles from other companies. Sure, these slot into an included modular shelf, or directly in the Hobby Deck surface, but I find them to be limited in use.
The painting handles are small, require a bit of extra work to use, and won’t hold larger models or be very comfortable for most of us even with medium-sized hands. The miniature painting handles are a feature that I personally did not find that useful, but in the overall totality of The Hobby Deck system, it’s no big deal.
NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT?
Despite my enthusiasm and high recommendations for The Hobby Deck, I would be remiss for not making a few notes that would improve the overall system.
As I mentioned, the miniature painting holders are a cute, if not entirely useful addition in my opinion with The Hobby Deck. They work, but I think even just including one painting handle that had full functionality that didn’t require adhesive to work with miniatures would be great. Something like the Green Stuff World Miniature Holder or the Universal Hand Free Work holder would be an amazing modular feature if incorporated into the Hobby Deck.
Another area of improvement–not to be confused with limitation or drawback–is a possible inclusion of a way to expand the workspace size. Although there’s ample room as a portable workstation, I did have trouble using my standard-sized Army Painter Wet Palette on The Hobby Deck.
Sure, my wet palette sat in the middle of my working area, but that didn’t leave much room for a paper towel, a scattering of paint or tools, and definitely didn’t make it easy to keep a large model on the deck when I had to put it down. A potential improvement could be a side add-on module for additional workspace.
Of course, these are only observations. The Hobby Deck is the “total package”. It’s all there in The Hobby Deck. Everything you need is integrated. Personally, I am thoroughly impressed with mine and plan to use it whenever I want a change from my studio space.
Pick up and go!
Conclusion
Overall, The Hobby Deck is a thoughtfully designed, versatile, and convenient solution for miniature painters. Yes, The Hobby Deck on the premium/luxury cost side. But, you are paying for the luxury of an all-in-one, purpose built hobby desk that sits on your lap.
The Hobby Deck is the comfortable hobby desk you can take to any room in your home or favorite locale to work on your hobby.
Well, what do you think? I’m sure you may have questions or comments. I’d love to know your thoughts about “The Hobby Deck” by Frontier Wargaming. Leave a comment below!
Tangible Day on YouTube (Miniatures and More!)
