Display Cases for 1/48 Aircraft - Australia

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bob Raymount Hello all again. Could anyone in Oz please point me in the right direction for a supplier of reasonable quality display cases for 1/48 aircraft? I have been searching for some time and have not come up with anything. Thanks in advance for your time. Bob

Bob, most of the cases that look half decent and totally protect your model have to be ordered from OS.
It would be easier and cheaper to make your own, as I do.

I simply get a piece of 9mm MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) from the local hardware store and have them cut it to the size I require.
Then I get the local glazier to bang together a perspex cover to suit the size of the MDF.
I prefer perspex as I fear glass getting broken. But glass would be cheaper.
I use the thinnest perspex I can, usually 3 mm.

Now if you want them to be nice and flash cases, then you can also purchase edging for the base, which you cut to size and glue on, then stain any colour you want.

The BV-141 in my sig is on a custom base I made, and a piece of mirrored perspex is on top of the MDF.

All up, this case cost $50 to make, may seem a little pricey, but it will last forever, and I know that the model inside it will not get dusty or damaged.

Proof is, last year at our local show, my 1/48 A-10 Warthog was on display as first place winner, the BV-141 got a special mention, and someones 1/32 Zero fell of it's stand and landed smack bang on top of my A-10.

If it wasn't for the strength of my case, the A-10 would have been stuffed.

Bob,
I make my own display cases to suit each model - like Tweety says, I use 20mm MDF and 4mm perspex.
Using a Triton workcentre, I cut the base (wear a mask), rabbet the edges (4mm in and 4mm deep), and if I feel like it, chamfer the 4 corners at 45 degrees.
With the perspex, I cut the 4 sides, stick them together, then cut the top piece and glue it on.
Once the glue is dry, I hit all the glued edges with a belt sander - this gives a very nice even opaque edge that hides the glued edges.
For the base, I went to Bristol Paints and got a "fake stone" spray paint kit. There's a base color, and two contrasting shades of spatter paint - you can quite easily make the base look like granite or sandstone. Looks great.
Strawberry Productions (in SA) is just outside of Adelaide and they do the same thing - but you'll easily spend $50-75 for a display case big enough for a 1/24 scale car - let alone a 1/72 or 1/48 scale plane.

Many thanks for the info and instructions leemitcheltree and tweety1. I will have a go at making one myself and post a photo if it is not too ugly!!!

Regards,

Bob

If you decide to go with a commercial case, or just want to get some design ideas, check this site. www.gemodisplays.com

You guys must be diehards i just stick my models all 3 of them straight in the cabinet but cases sound like a good idea because even with the cabinet doors closed [and screwed shut tweety1] they still get dusty.

IMEX model company inc. has what your lookin for. No website, but their at Brooksville, FL 34609. $14 (US) gets you a clear case w/ black base big enough to hold a 1/48 twin engine bird. Sold thru Historic Aviation as product # 8992C. ($14.95) Check em out at www.HistoricAviation.com .

Revi

I made my own from perspex from the local hardware store and siliconed the joins.