Since jumping onto this forum (yes I am blaming all of you[;)], LOL) and back into the hobby in general I am running out of display room.
I currently have two shelves on “my wall”. Yes my lovely bride actually gave me an entire wall for Rugby photos and trophies, hunting and fishing photos Civil war stuff and my models [:D]!
Looking at what is available I would like to have a case that hangs on a wall. I have priced out one that is 48" long by 36" wide with a depth of 9" and 10" between shelves…lets just say sticker shock was a mild description of what I suffered when I got the quote.
Joe,
This is my display case. It sits on the floor instead of being wall mounted. I bought it at Wal Mart as a “you assemble it” book case. www.bellevillercflyers.com/gallery/album43 .
Guess it depends on how much money constitutes sticker shock. As an alternative to a wall unit, how about an inexpensive curio cabinet?
Not sure what’s available in Virginia, but at some of the inxpensive furniture houses in San Diego, one can find nice looking curios for not a ridiculous amount of money. I picked up a nice traditional unit with a mirror backed display area of about three feet wide X six feet high X about a foot deep with five glass shelves for about $700. Certainly they weren’t giving it away, but it is a beautiful piece of furniture and they had some other nice units for even less.
This topic comes up every once in a while & I agree with Darwin. An inexpensive book case is probably the lowest cost option. You can add glass or plexiglass shelves for a little more $ & even glass/plexiglass doors to help reduce the dust proble which is the bane of all model displays. The total cost will be signifiantly lower than buying the custom display cases. Another option is to watch for stores going out of business. If you get lucky, you might pick up a used case on the cheap side.
Yes sticker shock was the $700+ range…considering I can get curios or barristers (like Darwins) for about $300 to $400. I was really hoping to go up on the wall…check out www.gemodisplays.com and look at thier small display case…if that can be set up to be hung two of those may cut the mustard quite nicely.
Check out garage sales ! I picked up an old display cabinet with mirrors and a slidding curved glass front for 40 bucks which i stripped sanded and varnished myself. It looks really good and its something i can be proud of .
I picked up a glass curio cabinet, about 6’ tall with 6 glass shelves for about $250 at an unfinished furniture store, I can fit about 5-6 1/72 airplanes per shelf and there is room for more shelves too.
My brother also scored me two Ikea display cases at a garage sale for $10 a piece!
Hello, had this problem awile back… I build 1/48 scale aircraft needed something to house everything from B-29 on down,decided to build one myself spent about $ 150 on wood and hardware about $350 on glass shelves it stands bit over 6 foot tall 4 foot wide and 35 inches deep I have approx. 100 aircraft in it… your best bet is to build it or convert curio cabinet to fit your needs hope this helps
Civil War stufff…Back the bus up! …Joe,… you dont do reanactments do you? I have an original '58 Springfield with bayonet, among other goodies. Stuff?..STUFF? Yeah baby…Cival war stuff.
I also got lucky on some display cases. One’s a wall hanger, and the other is a floor model. Got’m cheap from people who just didn’t want them anymore. Keep your eyes open, and good luck Joe. Oh yeah… Steelers[tdn]…Browns[tup] [:D][:)][:)][:D]
Uh yup…Civil War stuff. I used to re-enact, Confederate impression, post Sharpsburg (Antietam to all you Yankees) Just sold most of my stuff. Kept the weapons though. Two Pattern 1853 Enfield rifled muskets. I have also two repro’s, one of which I had a custom barrel made for it…one HECK of a deer rifle! Both those are 1853 Enfields. 1840 Federal Musician’s sword, some nice original prints, one is a numbered Rick Reeves which I picked up for $65 bucks at a going out of business sale. Also sold about 100 books…the uniform was hard to part with. I was a “Progessive” a/k/a stitch counter and the kit was spot on, to include original tin types. Just as a passing note I have a .40 cal Bedford school percussion rifle…made it myself…see attached photo’s…
some Civil War Stuff
Bedford School rifle
Bedford School rifle detail @ lock
current model display situation
In regards to Steelers v. Browns, talk is talk…internet or face to face…howz about a wager?[}:)] Head to head, no points, win both games and win the bet…shall we say we put up something from our respective stashes?
Another option is to check out estate sales and auction houses. It’s hit and miss like garage sales but you have a better chance at finding furniture like shelving and cabinets there than at garage sales.
C’mon Joe, Just a little tease. A dig here, a dig there, that’s what Steeler and Browns fans do. A wager.?..ARE YOU NUTS? Nobody in the State of Ahia even knows who’s on this team, or what to expect, let alone have a winner. Have faith?..NOOOOOOTTT!!
Since the real team moved to Baltimore, it’s been pretty ugly to be a Browns fan. I wish my team was under the stable ownership of the Rooney’s, but no such luck. Tell you what, I’ll just send you a Tamiya F15E now and we’ll call it a draw. BTW I love Cowher…ex Brown.
Oh yeah, You’ve got some great CW items there and should definitely be on display. I used to belong to the 1st Virginia under Col. Maurice Whitlock( recently deceased). Also, one of my best friends is CR Childs, owner of County Cloth, makers of some of the finest Historical Military clothing and uniforms in the world. Love that CW stuff!
No Worries Man…Steelers/Browns is like peanut butter and jelly, can not live without them! Charlie has some great stuff…I was a Ben Tart guy myself but Charlie has an all cotton jean cloth that I was about to get before I dropped out…for our bet I had a Trumpeter 1/32 MiG 15 all lined up for you…
Ok… So you actually know Charlie… we’re like ham and eggs… He’s a good guy that makes some quality stuff./…unfortunately, he doesn’t make anything that fits my fat behind.
Tell you what… let’s do the bet anyway…straightup, I’m already assuming my team sux, but Ive got the stones (because I bleed orange&brown) to bet a dead horse. Afterall…what have I got to lose. You said it…no points…a win is a win.
Oh lord…what have I done…Romeo oh Romeo…wherefore out thou Romeo.
What I did for my display case was to wait for a store(such as a cosmetic dealer) to go out of business. Then, when they sell off items you can usually get a good deal on such things as display cases,etc.
My display case came via that route. A large department store in my city closed and when they were selling off assets, I managed to get to the site early and I got a 6 foot x 3 foot display case. Three glass shelves and an all glass front.
I paid $100 for it.
The back of the case opens to allow models to be placed inside.
Right now, I have 9 models in it.
However, I am going to have to juggle things around because when my 1:32 Academy F/A-18"C" needs a spot, it is going to get plenty crowded inside the case.
It’ll look like an aircraft carrier flight deck.
Still, display cases are a MUST because the greatest enemy of all models is dust…They absolutely need to be stored and displayed in a dust free situation.
I’m sure Ikea will have some relatively inexpensive wall mounted cases. In the UK they do a CD rack, which has wooden back, top & bottom, the rest being glass, with glass doors. The shelves rest on a metal ladder up each side. One of those would be ideal for most 1/72nd kits, but a bit small for bombers etc. have a look at their local store if you have one within striking distance.
I’ve not given a moment’s thought to storing my kits, but I have ceilings & lofts [;)]
Try the DIY method. Go to Home Depot, get the wood measured and cut, and assemble a nice looking shelf yourself. Granted it’s more work and may not look as nice, but it’s fairly cheap.
The bet is on…I do have a 1/32 Trumpeter MiG15, if you’re interested. I would like 1/72 WWII fighters, specifically a Spitfire (warming up for next year’s Battle of Britain Group Build). Loser pays shipping of course…
Or for one even better how about a post with a photo of the loser dressed head to toe in the oppositions fan gear…I imagine you would look quite dapper in Black and Gold! (No Dawg Bones please, it is a family show after all!)
Oh man…you’re killin me Joe. I thought about the photo post too, but then after coming to my senses, because I’m probably gonna lose anyway, I would have to go out and actually by a terrible towel. [BH] No…no…no.no, can’t make myself do it.
Sorry…don’t have any 1/72 kits, but would part with a Tamiya F15 C. Needs a resin pit, but builds up to a nice model. Anyhooo, maybe I should be more optimistic,…that’s why they play the games.[8D]
I got really lucky and scored this case from a friend that owns an optical clinic. All I had to do was donate a couple of builds in which they display aviator sun glasses with the models. The doc said he’s seen a huge increase in sales of the old style pilots sun blockers.
I also have a three tiered wall hanger with lights I got from my dad. Both cases were free. [}:)]
