60 replies to this topic

[rmvw guy]

Ed you have been holding back on us!    Very cool!!!  Dioramas would be the way to go if you have unlimited space.  Here's a couple I have been adding to little by little. Let.s see some more dioramas!  This could be a whole different thread. It seems like I have been working on that VW forever.

Edited by rmvw guy, 14 February 2013 - 04:22 AM.

[jaymcminn]

I just scored a great old display case at a local thrift shop. I've been looking for one for a while and was just about to give up and build one (which would have been pretty pricey) when I came across this one. My house is pure mid-century modern and I've restored most of the pieces in it myself, but the perfect display case (mirrored back, 12"deep,glass shelves, just the right size) eluded me for years until last week when I saw this one for $75. It was dusty, the finish was faded and the whole thing leaned backward at a fairly precarious angle, but I knew that it was a pretty good 'un underneath. I talked them down from $75 to $65 and brought it home. The lean was due to the case missing a set of self-leveling feet on the rear, and the wood responded beautifully to an application of teak oil. The only real carpentry that needed to be done was to replace the base piece of the display area- I cut a new piece of 1/4" ply and covered it with green felt. I added an LED light bar to really showcase everything. My future plans are to incorporate some acrylic risers for additional display space and to showcase models I'm particularly proud of!

 

 

 

 

 

[rmvw guy]

Jason, That is a beautiful case and something to be proud of on it's own.  This could very well become a family heirloom some day.  My wife would never allow me to bring something like that into the house to be honest. I use to restore old furniture thinking I would keep it forever, now everything is throw-away pretty much, I finally gave up.  The Wife always seems to want something new.  Is that the Big Deuce I see ? Always wanted one of those, I have the Big T waiting for me still in the box. We need some really big display cases if we are going that scale, I love them though.

[charlie8575]

Nice piece, Jason. Looks like Heywood-Wakefield? If so, that was great furniture built to last a very long time.

 

Charlie Larkin

[dptydawg]

I have three old jewellry store glass case that I display some of my models in. I put a set of casters under two of them so that they can be rolled about easier. I sometimes set p displays at historical machinery events.






I also have a a 100gal aquarium that I use as a display case. Dioramas suck up a lot of real estate.

Most of my non diorama models are displayed on a large roadway diorama table ore on wall shelves








Thanks
Carl

[rmvw guy]

 

Wow Carl, You have some neat stuff there!  What a big traffic jam on the bridge and the truck coming out of the tunnel is neat.  There is just too much to mention here but, you've got me wanting to build a helicopter now.  They do take up a lot of real-estate like you said but, your dioramas are nice. Thanks for sharing them here. 

Edited by rmvw guy, 14 February 2013 - 10:40 AM.

[charlie8575]

I really like that display, Carl. You're giving me an idea to try replicating the old elevated Central Artery in Boston (pre Big Dig) or I-290 running through Worcester. 

 

Charlie Larkin

[jaymcminn]

Jason, That is a beautiful case and something to be proud of on it's own.  This could very well become a family heirloom some day.  My wife would never allow me to bring something like that into the house to be honest. I use to restore old furniture thinking I would keep it forever, now everything is throw-away pretty much, I finally gave up.  The Wife always seems to want something new.  Is that the Big Deuce I see ? Always wanted one of those, I have the Big T waiting for me still in the box. We need some really big display cases if we are going that scale, I love them though.

 

Thanks, Ron. I had a blast restoring that thing... it's kind of appropriate to put some time and effort into a piece of furniture that showcases the models I've put so much time and effort into. And yes, that is the Big Deuce... it's really nice to get that monster under glass!

[jaymcminn]

Nice piece, Jason. Looks like Heywood-Wakefield? If so, that was great furniture built to last a very long time.

 

Charlie Larkin

 

Thanks, Charlie. I can't find a manufacturers tag anywhere, but I don't think it's Hey-Wake. My guess is Lane or Broyhill from the late sixties. I might research it if I ever get bored and/or curious enough.

[dptydawg]

 
Carl how do you like that unimat classic ( or 6 in 1 tool ) I have been wanting to get one my self but I just have not gotten up the nerve or the money yet.

Hi Derick
The Unimat is OK for plastic but useless for anything harder. The mill set up works well. it is limited in the size it will handle. \i'm not a machinist so the unimat is probably a lot more capable than I am. I've had this one for many years now.
Thanks
Carl

[Cato]

Carl,

Very nice set-up for your big collection.

Mind showing that 100 gallon fish tank in more detail? Dimensions, brand and rough cost idea?

I've been considering such for a large scale model.

[dptydawg]

Carl,
Mind showing that 100 gallon fish tank in more detail? Dimensions, brand and rough cost idea?

Hi Cato
this tank is approx 47X17X23 outside dimentions. The glass is about 1/2"thick. I made a frame of coner moulding and added a plexi shelf in the middle and a plexi top. The whole thing weighs well over 100 lbs. I bought a heavy duty work bench stand when they came on sale at Princess Auto. mounted 3/4"ply fore shelves and top, put caster underneath it and the aquarium on top. All in probably about $200 for everything. I have no idea about the make. bought it from a large pet store that had a sale goiing on.


Thanks
Carl

[Cato]

WOW! 1/2 thick glass! That's an impressive display you made there and homeless fish must be jealous...

Way more than I need, maybe I'll look at 50 gal tanks-model only about 22" long.

Thanks for the education-appreciate your response.

[von Zipper]

There are some real nice pictures posted here, I really like those IKEA units - If I had the room for them.

I've been using  the good 'ol AMT cases for years.

[rmvw guy]

Christopher, These still look good and you have some very nice models.  This is how I displayed mine a longtime ago but, they got harder and harder to find and more expensive. What I liked about them they are truly dust free and you can drill the little holes out in the bottom for wires to hold the models in place.  Very nice collection, thanks for sharing.

[cobraman]

The cars I have on display are in 5 cabinets. 3 of which are converted gun cabinets. They make perfect display cabinets. I remove the wood brace that holds the gun barrels and because the back panels are too flimsy to support shelves so I put 1x2's in the back so when I install the metal adjustable shelf supports there is some "meat" to screw to. They really look good and can be found pretty cheap on Craigslist.

[Tom Geiger]

 

I like to display my models in old china cabinets. They are available for free to cheap. This is my main display case, downstairs in my office. I have my best stuff on display here.  Due to the height needed for displaying glasses and platters, the 3 shelves are far enough apart to add a shelf between each, doubling the capacity to 6 shelves.  China cabinets usually have lights and glass shelves so they're pretty much made to order display cases.  I paid $100 for this one at a consignment furniture store.

 

 

Here's my original display case / china cabinet that I've had in my model room for 24 years. I got this one free when a relative was moving. This is upstairs in my model room. Like the other cabinet, I intend to add an extra shelf between each existing one for a six shelf capacity. Not much in there right now.

 

 

Here's a display case that holds some of my old custom collection, also up in the model room.  My wife had this one for years, when one day on my way home from work, I saw a dark wood one just sitting at the curb. I had the Caravan so I stopped and grabbed it up. My wife liked that one better, so she traded me!

 

In this photo you can also see three wall mount cases that I have yet to use. I also have a small store display counter out in my garage. I got it for free, another curb find, but it doesn't have any shelves.  Eventually it will go in the same general area as the last two in the model room. We are in the process of selling my in-laws house so I may come into a third china cabinet. 

[rmvw guy]

Great idea Tom, a good way to recycle.  I used the AMT cases when they were about $3 each at Walmart years ago. I would buy them out about once a week.    They got too expensive when they went up to about $10.  Just got them back out after seeing Von Zipper's display above, think I have about 35 or so.  

Edited by rmvw guy, 28 March 2013 - 02:44 PM.

[cobraman]

Tom, those cabinets are beautiful. Word it be hard to add more shelves without destroying the look of the cabinet ?

[Tom Geiger]

Tom, those cabinets are beautiful. Word it be hard to add more shelves without destroying the look of the cabinet ?

 

I know how I'm going to do it.  The bigger cabinet has glass shelves with no front edge, just clips on the side. I believe I can duplicate this so it looks like it came that way.

 

The older cabinet actually has wood shelves with glass centers. I can't duplicate that but I'll put a 3 piece glass shelf between each existing shelf. I'll hide the mounts behind the vertical wood of the cabinet.  It shouldn't look all that bad.