How do you displays your builds?

I just moved and in process of finishing model room. Just used some display cases I picked up from Habitat for Humanity RE-Store until I can build in wall display cases.

Murphy's Law

 

 

Very nice!! How deep are those shelves? I do mostly 1/48 aircraft but have a 1/32 that i'm wondering will fit or not. 

 

[quote user="the doog"]

You don't need to do plexiglass: you can get clear vinyl from Lowes or just about any Home store. It's thick enough that you can tack it onto the front of a cheap bookcase and it keeps the dust off. I couldn't even think of putting models out without dust protection; it's going to ruin the models everntually, getting into the finish and you can't get it out ater a while.  Here's a small bookcase I have with clear vinyl on it.

I actually use "Billy" bookcases from IKEA with the doors installed. They run about $80 apiece, and the doors are seperate pieces that go about $60 a side, so realistically you're into about $200 each. You can get extra shelf units for $10 a piece, so what you see here cost me about $220 each.

Very nice!! How deep are those shelves? I do mostly 1/48 aircraft but have a 1/32 that i'm wondering will fit or not. 

You don't need to do plexiglass: you can get clear vinyl from Lowes or just about any Home store. It's thick enough that you can tack it onto the front of a cheap bookcase and it keeps the dust off. I couldn't even think of putting models out without dust protection; it's going to ruin the models everntually, getting into the finish and you can't get it out ater a while.  Here's a small bookcase I have with clear vinyl on it.

I actually use "Billy" bookcases from IKEA with the doors installed. They run about $80 apiece, and the doors are seperate pieces that go about $60 a side, so realistically you're into about $200 each. You can get extra shelf units for $10 a piece, so what you see here cost me about $220 each.

I only got back into the hobby 6 months ago after a 33-year hiatus, so at the moment I only have four completed kits. I display them on my large entertainment unit in the living room. I'll have to look into other solutions as I build more (I have something like 12 unbuilt kits, including a pretty big Airfix HMS Illustrious which definitely won't fit in there).

JohnMatt

If you're a noob like me with only a few builds, this works.  I'm also a comic book collector and Star Wars fan, if ya can't tell.  These pics are from a few weeks ago, before I added my F-15E build.

The case was like $150 and I added the lights myself, maybe $30.  Nice and bright!

 

 

Nice display case. It's a perfect fit for your builds.

If you live near a K-mart or Sears see if they have posted their "Store Closing" and speak to the manager to see if you could pick-up or purchase their glass display cases. I know they are slated to close all of the K-mart's and Sears over the next 12 months.

If you're a noob like me with only a few builds, this works.  I'm also a comic book collector and Star Wars fan, if ya can't tell.  These pics are from a few weeks ago, before I added my F-15E build.

The case was like $150 and I added the lights myself, maybe $30.  Nice and bright!

Keyda81

Lol.  I landed up dealing with a few ticks this year.  Only deer I caped out where mine and hubby's, and both had ticks on them.  By far the grossest thing to me when dealing with taxidermy.  I even got over having to poke my skinning subject in the eye, lol.  As soon as I'm finished caping out the head, I wrap the cape in freezer paper, put it in the chest freezer, go upstairs, strip to my b-day suit, and have either hubby or my daughter do a "tick Check", then hop in a hot shower, lol.  They freak me out too.  If I ever find one on me I would probably quit the hobby.

Kansas was super bad with ticks...and even worse...chiggers. Got em almost every time out in the woods (muzzle loader season was the last half of Sept....still hot out! Been back in Michigan for 13 years now and have only seen 4 ticks...only one of which was on a deer (this past season).

Sorry for the hijack everybody...back to the subject at hand.

fermis

 

 

Keyda81

At this point it's where ever I can find a space, lol.  I have a few hanging from the ceiling, some on shelves, and a few hanging on the walls.  They are all currently in my living room.  But it's almost to the point of being too much, and I will have to start displaying them elsewhere.  Basement is not an option.  It's already split in half with hubby's gun business, and my taxidermy.

 

 

 

 

OOOoooo...taxidermy!!! You should be my long distance, FSM forum girlfriend!!!

I have always been interested in doing it...could save me a ton!!! I got some books for x-mas, some years ago and wanted to try it out. I was already tagged out, so I went to the local butcher shot to see if I could get a cape or two. It just so happened that a guy had brought in a massive buck that had already dropped it's antlers (this was the late "antlerless" season, in Kansas)...I got the cape and had my own nice rack to put with it. I got it home...started fleshing it out...and then...the ticks...OMG, the ticks that came pooring off that cape. I'm out! Those things gross me out...can't do it.

 

Lol.  I landed up dealing with a few ticks this year.  Only deer I caped out where mine and hubby's, and both had ticks on them.  By far the grossest thing to me when dealing with taxidermy.  I even got over having to poke my skinning subject in the eye, lol.  As soon as I'm finished caping out the head, I wrap the cape in freezer paper, put it in the chest freezer, go upstairs, strip to my b-day suit, and have either hubby or my daughter do a "tick Check", then hop in a hot shower, lol.  They freak me out too.  If I ever find one on me I would probably quit the hobby.

Thank you for the info, Don!  They're going to be 4 feet across.  I'm planning on using 1" x 12" lumber.  I'm figuring (hoping) the weight of the models wouldn't be all that great.  At 4 ft wide, I'm guessing I should be able to put maybe 5 modern jets or 6-7 WW2 single-engined fighters on each shelf.

Eric

modelcrazy

 

 

tempestjohnny

My display area in the furnace room is very long and very narrow. No room for doors on a cabinet. But I found some 16" wide by 8' long glass shelving at a store going out of business. Got it all for $50.

It does get dusty but.....

 

 

 

 

You got a lot of extra space there. You need to get busy.

 

I'm working on it......

Most real wood shelves do not sag much.  Particle board, a wood product, does, indeed sag after awhile.  Even pine shelves will not sag with reasonable distances between supports (do not hang a six foot shelf only at ends), and with plastic model loads.  If you do want to use particle board or fiberboard shelves (the material is cheap) put front and back edges made from real wood- say 1 x 2- on the shelves.

I'm actually going to build a couple of wood shelving units over this upcoming weekend.  A question for those who have wood shelves....How do you avoid the dreaded "shelf sag" over time?  I'm planning on using pine boards which will be 4' across.  Since I don't want them to sag (like the particle board shelves on my store-bought book cases), I plan on bracing the middle of the shelves.  Since I won't be using particle board, do I still need to worry about the shelves sagging over time?

Eric

fermis' room is one of the nicest I've seen.  I use #2 grade 1x12 pine sealed with Minwax semi-gloss polycrylic for easy dusting built into units about 5' x 5' and hung against the walls on 2x3's, the back of these units are 1/4 inch Luaun plywood

  Mine  are just in an unfinished basement.  I also have to hang the bigger planes or put them on tables.   My space is 13 x 13 feet including my bench which is an old maple kitchen table with a sheet of 1/4 inch clean plywood screwed to it.  That gets turned over or replaced every couple of years.

Eventually I would like to build out a nice war room like fermis.  I still have a career so maybe when I retire.

Keyda81

At this point it's where ever I can find a space, lol.  I have a few hanging from the ceiling, some on shelves, and a few hanging on the walls.  They are all currently in my living room.  But it's almost to the point of being too much, and I will have to start displaying them elsewhere.  Basement is not an option.  It's already split in half with hubby's gun business, and my taxidermy.

 

OOOoooo...taxidermy!!! You should be my long distance, FSM forum girlfriend!!!

I have always been interested in doing it...could save me a ton!!! I got some books for x-mas, some years ago and wanted to try it out. I was already tagged out, so I went to the local butcher shot to see if I could get a cape or two. It just so happened that a guy had brought in a massive buck that had already dropped it's antlers (this was the late "antlerless" season, in Kansas)...I got the cape and had my own nice rack to put with it. I got it home...started fleshing it out...and then...the ticks...OMG, the ticks that came pooring off that cape. I'm out! Those things gross me out...can't do it.

At this point it's where ever I can find a space, lol.  I have a few hanging from the ceiling, some on shelves, and a few hanging on the walls.  They are all currently in my living room.  But it's almost to the point of being too much, and I will have to start displaying them elsewhere.  Basement is not an option.  It's already split in half with hubby's gun business, and my taxidermy.

tempestjohnny

My display area in the furnace room is very long and very narrow. No room for doors on a cabinet. But I found some 16" wide by 8' long glass shelving at a store going out of business. Got it all for $50.

It does get dusty but.....

 

You got a lot of extra space there. You need to get busy.

What a score on the shelving, I really like that 

My display area in the furnace room is very long and very narrow. No room for doors on a cabinet. But I found some 16" wide by 8' long glass shelving at a store going out of business. Got it all for $50.

It does get dusty but.....

Wherever I can find space!  That means now, most go on some shelves in basement, in a rec room that has become more of a storage room.  After building models now for seventy years I have scores of models hanging around.  Some models of great lakes ships my wife lets me display in family room, but rest are in basement on open shelves, and yes, they collect dust- however, all except ships can be dusted quite easily. I have a couple of models on shelves in den, but space is limited there.

A club I belong to has one month displays at two local libraries, so a few of my models each year do get to be seen by public- and get dusted off if needed.

Most of my shelves were obtained secondhand from family and neighbors. Most are standard open book cases, but I also have a couple that are glassed in former china cabinets that are for my award winners. 

But yes, open shelves require regular dusting sessions. The glass displayed ones require less frequent dusting. 

I've been going at it again after a short 40 year lay-off.  Everything is so new these days, much better, better equipment, technique, communication and it's gonna be fun.  Although I am green as grass I have this question asnswered.  I think.  Hope.        The plaxiglass is a great idea but one can do the same thing with cheaper window glass and a scheme like some that are printed here.  Not as safe but cheaper.

     I have two situated in shelves with top mounted dorrs that open and slide backward - "lawyers shelves" perhaps?     Not many around like Fermis - that dude has time and money and skills.  Send me some.  All three.

Thank you!

...and, I pretty much do live down here...for about 6 months of the year!

Wow!! That's an awesome layout you have there Fermis, I could seriously just live down there. 

When I finished of the basement "War room"...I made a built in cabinet/shelf unit...(cabinet for the stash)

Also did a recessed shelf unit (back side sticks out into the storage side of the basement)

Last Spring...I had more builds than I had shelves for, so I built three more shelving units, using 1x12 pine, with some trim around the outside edge, that sticks up just enough to keep the models from sliding off when I rev up the guitar!

Dust isn't too bad...about once a year, I'll go through and dust em all. When my dog was still with me, he had to be in the war room if I was there...black labs shed a lot and I had to run the Hoover a lot...that kicked up a lot of dust. Back then I'd have to dust 3-4 times a year.