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Model Car Display for Show NOT Diarama


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Can I see some ideas on a displays for a Model Show. Something with maybe has mirror, light or lights, glitter floor bottom, etc . I know a lot of shows don't allow these but I like seeing them and want to do a couple. Not talking about diaramas. Just to show off the car, paint, and maybe undercarriage. Thanks!

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Home made?  You will need some glass (or acrylic) cut and polish the edges, then a piece of mirror.  Connect them with a framework similar to what Scale Motorsports uses. You can use Plastruct styrene shapes for that.

In the end I'm not sure if that will actually save you any money compared to buying the the Scale Motorsports bases.

Edited by peteski
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I use a number of different bases. All are quick and easy to do.

 

The easiest is to spray the underside of a bit of glass with black paint. Sit the model topside and the job is done.

 

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A bit of heavy card covered in PVA glue or spray glue then sprinkled with sand and small stones, plus a piece or two of railway modelling scenic stuff is fine for a 4x4 or off road display. There's a P40 on this one, but the ideas the same whatever sits on it.

 

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White foamboard can be sprayed any color and cuts real easy for very quick displays.

 

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Patterns or textures can be found on the internet, printed off and spray mounted to card for yet more easy displays.

 

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A bit of imagination goes a long way.

 

Tony.

 

 

 

.

 

 

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On 9/24/2024 at 9:26 AM, Ralphie said:

Those are ideas but was thinking of something along these lines.

65684d3c58537397d013eb574029696c.jpg

In your initial post you asked for mirror - something that shows undercarriage. This has neither, and it is more like a mini-diorama, but depending on the people running the contest might be allowed just as a display stand for a model.  That would be something you would have to ask about before entering the contest.

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If you are considering mirrors, as mentioned in your initial post, they can be purchased fairly reasonably at Walmart and Hobby Lobby. To raise the model above the mirror some people use regular automobile lug nuts painted and placed one under each tire or maybe two if you are adventurous. Personally, I use communion cups turned upside down and placed on a mirror. I have rectangle and oval shaped mirrors. The communion cups are leftovers from my years as a minister.

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If you want my opinion, there is such a thing as a display being “too busy” and “distracting”.

Of course, in a contest atmosphere, maybe some people are looking for something to distract attention away from the model......if you catch my drift.

Personally, my philosophy is to keep it simple and let the model do the talking.

 

 

 

Steve

Edited by StevenGuthmiller
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2 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

If you want my opinion, there is such a thing as a display being “too busy” and “distracting”.

Of course, in a contest atmosphere, maybe some people are looking for something to distract attention away from the model......if you catch my drift.

Personally, my philosophy is to keep it simple and let the model do the talking.

 

 

 

Steve

I think Steve is right. Is the display part of an overall model or is it a distraction. For example I built the Bates mansion from Psycho. The base was built to match outside still shots from the first movie. The base is part of the model. I've seen other models where it seems like the base is trying to distract you from deficits of the model. Of course that can be a good thing. At a contest a person had a really nicely built GT40. the builder asked why it seemed to get ignored then the discussion came around to the left side door being opened (driver sits on the right. The judge suggested he get a mechanic filter to be looking into the car. The mechanic would be a distraction from the non driver's side door being opened.

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If you want something easy to make and cheap, I go to Hobby Lobby or Michael's and look through their scrapbooking paper section. They have 12x12 inch sheets of paper, some embossed and some just printed in all sorts of styles. For a friend's kid, I built a model and since she liked purple, I found a sheet of glittery purple paper and glued it to a piece of 1/2 inch foam board. Total cost about $3. They also make it in a wood print that looks pretty good as a weathered backdrop for photos. Hobby Lobby also sells 12x12 sheets of adhesive vinyl for Cricuts which can be stuck to a base. I think they even have a chrome finish one.

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For a clouds worth of Angel Hair, and what car show display doesn't need Angel Hair?,  pull apart a plush toy or a cushion. Blame it on the dog...

The Hurst Olds I built a while back has a sort of car show display made out of the kit box. There's also a shot of it sat on wool stuffing used a tire smoke. The same stuff makes perfect Angel Hair.

 

 

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