I know modelers accumulate a lot of completed kits in their place aside from those which they sell, give or throw away. With the scarcity of enough space (a common problem I believe) there must be a lot of novel ways in displaying or keeping completed models.
For me, I bought this showcase for about 45 US Dollars (a bargain actually) a couple of months back. It is quite small but I found it to be a good storage cabinet and show case. I am planning to buy another of this sometimes later.
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!
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
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.
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[:D]. If I ever move it’ll be a nightmare[:p]
G.L.
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!
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!
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).
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.[:)][:)][:)]
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.
