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Custom display case

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  • Member since
    July 2019
  • From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Custom display case
Posted by Bobstamp on Monday, November 15, 2021 10:14 PM

When I restarted building scale models a couple of years ago, I soon realized that I would need to protect my completed models from dust and damage. When I had completed three models, I ordered a custom display case from Modeller’s Workshop in Montreal.

It was a pleasure working with the owner, Rick Shousa, and after a few weeks my display case arrived. It’s beautiful, with white base, sides, and back, and is doing its job perfectly. After installing my three completed models in it, I decided they would benefit from having some risers, so I order somemade of clear acrylic. Those arrived last week. Here’s how the display case looks:

I plan on ordered another case, much smaller, for my nearly complete hospital ship model. 

I learned that custom display cases are not cheap, but cheaper than Caribbean cruises (which I would never take anyway).

Bob 

Tags: display case

On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame. 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Monday, November 15, 2021 10:38 PM

Looks great Bob.  I'm guessing you're going to need a few more Stick out tongue

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Monday, November 15, 2021 11:02 PM

It looks good but how hard is it to get out without moving the models?

Lately I've been thinking of getting some cases but not sure what size or type.

  • Member since
    July 2015
Posted by MR TOM SCHRY on Monday, November 15, 2021 11:03 PM

Thanks Bob!  Your display case looks great!  I've been searching for a way to keep my sailing ships protected from damage & dust so I'm going to look into these.  

TJS

TJS

  • Member since
    July 2019
  • From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posted by Bobstamp on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 12:19 PM

ikar01

It looks good but how hard is it to get out without moving the models?

 

@ikar01: 

 

It does look nice. I’m very pleased with it. The display case is in two parts: the white base is one, and the white sides and back and transparent front and top make up the second part, which you just drop onto the base once the models are inside. The parts fit together virtually seamlessly. 

 

Sounds simple, right? It isn’t.

 

My first effort, removing the books on the bookshelf to make space for the display case, placing the aircraft where I wanted them on the base, dropping the top into place, and sliding the whole thing onto the shelf didn’t work at all. The planes slid around and the yellow T-34B, which really wants to be a tail sitter, sat on its tail.

 

Next, I took the books off the shelf above, along with the shelf itself and the studs that support it, slid the bottom of the display case bottom onto the shelf, placed the three models where I wanted them on the base, and then carefully lowered the top over the models. But even then, a slight jar moved the models slightly, and I had to try again. I finally got the top in place without moving the models and replaced the shelf and book above, but I expect I’ll be going through that process again: we live in a ferro-concrete apartment building, but tiny vibrations from traffic and activity in the building will probably move the models around a bit. 

 

All in all, it would be better to have the display case sitting on a table or sideboard, but we just don’t that luxury in this small apartment.

 

Bob

On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame. 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 1:12 PM

Here are some cases that I grabbed over the years

The tall one in the middle I just got this year from a local house sale for $125 the two short ones were custom by a company called GEMO that used to advertise in FSM and the two on the right were pretty cheap from a small shop

 

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  • Member since
    October 2021
Posted by PhoenixG on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 8:20 PM

Wow, that display case showcases your models beautifully. 

I've just started looking at some of the mass produced display cases so this post was perfect timing. 

Thank you for sharing it and your experience with the vendor!  I've bookmarked them for future reference.

On the Bench:

Bandai 1/72 Defender Destroid

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 9:08 AM

One thing you could try next time is using a white glue to keep them in place.  Once it dries it should hold them as long as there isn't too much shaking when putting the case into its slot.

  • Member since
    July 2019
  • From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posted by Bobstamp on Thursday, November 18, 2021 10:48 AM

ikar01
One thing you could try next time is using a white glue to keep them in place.  Once it dries it should hold them as long as there isn't too much shaking when putting the case into its slot.

That's an interesting idea! I had't thought of that. But white glue isn't water soluble after it dries, iirc. Is there a similar glue that could be removed without damaging the acrylic risers?

Bob

On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame. 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Thursday, November 18, 2021 12:52 PM

 Maybe a rubber cement, once dry it can be rubbed off of smooth surfaces. Not sute how it will react to plastic or paint.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • From: Maryland
Posted by wpwar11 on Thursday, November 18, 2021 2:49 PM

That's really sharp.  I'm looking for a case for a 1/32 Corsair that I'm gifting for my brother.  This might be the way to go.  Looks like you have some space between the top shelf and clear case top.  Small lights might look nice shinning down on the models.

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