Hi. I’m Rob.

I’m Rob. I make things, take things apart, and occasionally discover why the instructions were written that way.

CraftyManiac is my workshop notebook: part how-to archive, part experiment log, and part evidence for the defence. The bench tends to collect wargaming terrain, bookbinding, leatherwork, laser cutting, small software tools, and anything else that looks as if it might become useful after only three or four completely avoidable complications.

This has been going on for a while

I started documenting terrain projects in the early 2000s through Dungeon Crawlers and TerrainMonster. Those old articles now live here alongside newer projects. Some techniques have aged beautifully. Some photographs were taken with what may have been a potato. Both are part of the record.

What hasn’t changed is the point: show how the thing was made, explain what worked, admit what didn’t, and leave enough detail that somebody else can build a better one.

The workshop rules

• Useful beats precious. A tool should be used and terrain should survive the table.
• Mistakes are research. Occasionally expensive research, but research nonetheless.
• There is always another material to misuse. Foam, plaster, paper, leather, acrylic, pumpkin stems—nothing is entirely safe.
• Explain the why. A list of steps is handy; understanding the decision means you can make the project your own.
• Finish is a flexible term. Many projects are simply waiting for their next unnecessary improvement.

What you’ll find here

Detailed builds, recovered classics, practical calculators, reviews with opinions still attached, and experiments from the point where “I wonder if…” becomes a trip to the hardware store.

Think of me as the shop teacher with access to the mad scientist’s cupboard: I’ll encourage you to try it, remind you where the sharp end is, and probably suggest weathering it before we’re done.

If that sounds like your sort of workshop, browse the articles or pick a topic . Bring your own eye protection.