How do you display your models?

This is my display cabinet. It's not big, then it doesn't need to be since I'm more of an "accidental" collector rather than a builder. About a 15 to 1 ratio, unbuilt well in the lead. Anyway, I made it of oak with 1/4" oak veneer plywood for the back. I had the shelves and doors cut from glass by the local glass shop. The lights are halogen puck lights with a dimmer and a touch pad attached tot he top hinge, to turn on the lights or change the brightness I just tap the hinge. I bought the lights and transformer at Lowe's.

 These are my display cases in the finished part of my basement,the one with the ships are from gemodisplays.com and the others are cheap curios bought from a discount store,they really keep the dust out.

 

 

 

berny13 wrote:

Dwight, good look case. It even looks child proof. I have several old book cases in my model room that I keep my books and models on. I also have an old entertainment system cabnet that I put in glass shelves to display some of the models. I also have a teak wood stereo cabnet in my living room where I did have some displayed. Most were moved and music boxes took their place. My wife said she needed some place to display them and since I had most of the other available space used up. Can you imagine, music boxes over models. [:0][:0][:0][:0] What is this world coming to.

 

Hey, I happen to be a music box fan myself! I find mechanical music incredibly fascinating. Then again, I'm also a mechanical engineer

Last year, I was lucky to find some of those clear acrylic cases (for storing shoes or clothes) at a yard sale. These cases used to be offered by K-mart and the like, but are apparently no longer made. (The stores now sell similar cases that are not clear but semi-transparent and tinted blue or green--not so great unless you don't want people to see your model.) The clear acrylic cases I got are large enough to comfortably hold 1/48 scale fighter aircraft or 1/24 scale cars (if a little too deep). Like other modelers, I have more unbuilt than built models, so display space isn't that much of an issue yet, but once I get a kit or two more built, I'm going to have to fit it in between or among all my insulators!

i have many kits tucked under my bed in cases, others on shelves and bookcases.
my land lady refuses to let me drill a few holes in the appartment to makes some more shelves....
silly cow..lol

The December 1990 FSM issue has the instructions for the case I wrote about earlier.
Yes, I've got all the issues back to February 1987. And my wife thought I would never need those old issues.

Rich

I display my models on some nice shelves, in my office. I'm restoring vintage Aurora monster kits, so I have been getting some mint vhs tapes of each of the classic monsters that are on the shelves. The tapes make for a nice display. I place the tape next to the model.
I also like posting my models on the web. I found a safe place that is free and I have had great success with the site.
I hope in a few years that I can have a traveling show of models to library's and hobby shops around my area. I did a small show this past summer.
I have two models on display at a local hobby shop.
I like knowing that I saved something that is forty years old.


Dale
http://community.webshots.com/user/dales_model_art

I like to tie string around the fuselage of my model aircraft and hang them on my back porch (which is enclosed). They look as if they are taking off into the wild blue yonder. They do get rather dusty. I refinish furniture back there and sanding dust has a tendency to accumulate on them. Periodically I wipe them down with a dry cloth. They are rather happy there.

Over and out.

Dwight, good look case. It even looks child proof.

I have several old book cases in my model room that I keep my books and models on. I also have an old entertainment system cabnet that I put in glass shelves to display some of the models. I also have a teak wood stereo cabnet in my living room where I did have some displayed. Most were moved and music boxes took their place. My wife said she needed some place to display them and since I had most of the other available space used up. Can you imagine, music boxes over models. [:0][:0][:0][:0] What is this world coming to.

Hey all - I happen to be a cabinet maker and architectural millworker by trade (25+ yrs. YIKES!! I've built many jewelry cases ). Home Depot and Lowes sell pre-manufactured parts, i.e. cabinets sides, tops, bottoms, and shelves, that can easily be put together by any modeler with basically only a screw gun (a drill with a screwdriver bit inserted). All that would be needed to add glass doors are some glass door hinges and the glass, and this, too is easy to figure out. Granted, the cabinet parts are made of white "Melamine", but its a start. When (if) I find the time I will post some simple plans for making your own, such as that by FSM (which I haven't actually seen, but it doesn't seem to me to be that difficult).
Glu snfr - if you find that FSM issue, please email me so I can see it.
So, now that I've said it here, I guess I'd better get drawing and scanning!
Just to give me some guidelines, I need some advice on what depth of shelf would be most useful for different models. We all model in different scales, so any and all advice would be appreciated.
I'll try to keep things simple using "off the shelf" (ha ha) items.
Stinger

A number of years ago FSM had an article on building a display case. I'll look through my back issues and try to find it. It measures about six feet high, 3.3 feet wide and about two feet deep. The entire case is built with 1x4's, 1x6's and plywood. I built in my basement with very basic carpentry tools and in my case, skills. The most expensive items were the glass shelves and plexiglas doors. it's huge and holds 50-60 completed 1/48th scale aircraft models plus qiute a few sci-fi models. One of these days I'll figure out how to send in a photo.

Rch

I was lucky enough to inherit my grandmothers prized maple hutch. Out went the Vivian Leigh dolls and in went the models. It works great, but since my girlfriend moved in she has been eyeballing it as a place for China to go, so I may be in the market for a case like many of you fellas in the near future.

Nice looking display nook, Dwight!
I have stuff sitting on small pre-fab bookshelves, on top of the TV, and one or two on top of my drawing table. You have exactly the sort of setup I need.
Gip Winecoff

Sorry Gyro can't see the pic. Must a problem with your server.

Hey Dwight,

Looks very nice. A friend of mine does wood working and I had him build a unit for me with oak. I could have put glass on it but after paying for the wood, I couldn’t afford it. LOL. Take care.

Mark

I am amazed to know how expensive this things can be in your areas, guys. It makes me feel so lucky to be here and to find something like this at a price you would consider really cheap. I guess, living in a 3rd world country sometimes has its good sides after all (aside from the free show of military hardware during coup attempts every now and then-LOL).

For ships, I think you pretty well have to keep them under glass as there is no good way (that I have found anyway) to keep dust off them, or to clean them once they get dusty.
I feel your pain when it comes to the cost of cabinetry, and kudos to Dwight for a great find. As a suggestion, try searching garage and antique sales for old china or curio cabinets. These would make great display cases and with room for many models too!

Me, I just put them any where I can find room and when I can get away with it, I move some of the wives stuff and hope she doesn't notice.

Yow, that's a great lookin' case, Dwight! And some good-lookin' models sitting in it, too. All the cases similar to that I've seen here in Japan are REALLY expensive. So, I just have my stuff sitting on various makeshift shelves and my computer stand.
My best ones I keep on display down at the hobby shop!

i am yet to finish a model properly....

other then that i currently store my "completed" models on book shelves, or bed side tables around the place...

thought, as i get more serious i want to have a display case similiar to yours :)

Hi G.L.,

At 8ft long, I think you've got yourself a good bargain. Should accomodate a lot of models.

Great find. What I did was go around to second hand stores and places that are going out of business, I was able to snag a display case (jewlery store type) that needed some glass for $60; the cost of the glass was about $30. So for about a hundred bucks I got a 8ft. long three shelf display case. It took almost two years to find this deal though and several conversations with my wife as to where in the h**l we're gonna put it, but I wouldn't trade it for nuthin'. Keeps the dust off great. If I ever move it'll be a nightmare
G.L.

Great find, Dwight! I was looking at something similar from a shop I used to work at, but they want over $4000 for some of those! I make do with a little 4 shelf bookcase type with a glass front. At least it keeps the dust off, but has no room for lighting. Maybe eventually I'll find something as cool as that. Like tigerman, I have more unbuilt than built, so space really isn't a concern right now.

demono69

demono69

QUOTE: Nice looking case Dwight and at a great price also. Unfortunately I now have more unbuilt kits than built, so space isn't important at the moment, they all fit on a bookcase.

Well, this has also two drawers at the bottom that can hold upto 8 standard kit boxes total.

However, 1/48 aircraft and bigger kits will not fit in this case. I have my F-22 on top of the stereo speaker.

Nice looking case Dwight and at a great price also. Unfortunately I now have more unbuilt kits than built, so space isn't important at the moment, they all fit on a bookcase.

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Sweeeet! All of my stuff is just setting on a shelf 'cept for the Titanic (on a custom mantle) and the USS Constitution (on top of the entertainment system). Your's should keep the dust off a lot better. Nice find!

-fish