Where to find nice display platforms?

[Didymus]

I have 1/18, 1/24, 1/32 and 1/43 models. Most are in cabinets, so they don't collect dust. Acrylic boxes create a lot of glare and reflections, so you can't see the models very well surrounded by all that plastic. I don't even use cases for exposed models - I'd rather carefully dust them now and then.

I would like to just set each model - whether or not it's in a cabinet - on a good looking stage of some sort, something that elevates the model a bit and doesn't take up a lot of room. The bases that come with most models are either cheesy plastic or they take up too much room. Or both!

Does anybody make good-looking display stages in the right sizes? Thanks in advance for any tips.

Didy

[Rockefella]

If you know what you're doing in the shop you could probably build yourself a nice case, but I'm guessing you don't want to go that method.

[mclaren_crazy]

I have two of the same one from ikea and just painted them black to match my room, i really like them. Assembly is easy too.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/store...roductId=11638

If you want pics I can take em

[Timothy (in VA)]

I actually display my 1:24 models on a cabinet organizer my mom got from a kitchen supplies catalog. They're made of white plastic, and not really high quality, but they've got three stepped levels (like theater seating). There might be similar products made of better materials.

Ah, I found a picture. The ones I use are like the larger ones in the inset picture (with the soup cans). It's obviously not the manufacturer's intended use, but it works for me .

EDIT: This place has them in clear acrylic (16th item down), and is "also useful for showcasing collectibles in display cabinets."

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by mclaren_crazy

I have two of the same one from ikea and just painted them black to match my room, i really like them.

I'm not sure whether that link still goes to the same place; I see a very cool looking all-glass cabinet that would look GREAT with cars in it. Ikea does it again!

But I can't imagine painting that gorgeous glass cabinet black. Must not be the item mclaren_crazy was referring to.

The organizer Tim mentioned would be nice for 1:43 models, but I'm looking for something a little more, uh, decorative. Maybe DIY is the solution.

Suggestions much appreciated.

Didy

[drakkie]

I can really suggest going by Ikea too. We have got a nice one too recently from there. They sell so much stuff, it is worth a look.

[Matra et Alpine]

Got two of the IKEA ones myself.
A very common suage over here.
Intending to copy mate who has added additional glass shelves for 1/43 size in between standard ones.

VERY quick snap of the two contents at the moment.....

[mclaren_crazy]

Originally Posted by Didymus

I'm not sure whether that link still goes to the same place; I see a very cool looking all-glass cabinet that would look GREAT with cars in it. Ikea does it again!

But I can't imagine painting that gorgeous glass cabinet black. Must not be the item mclaren_crazy was referring to.

I kept the glass there, the top and the bottom though are a light wood grain colour

Matra IM pretty sure we haev the same one

[Didymus]

I keep my cars in a couple of wood cabinets. I added glass shelves in-between the wood shelves.

I have mostly 1:43 models, and they need a lot of light to be easily viewed. I put lights on the bottom of those wood shelves, strip-lights in one and very small halogen shelf-lights in the other. That way, a lamp on the bottom of one shelf illuminates the two shelves below.

The strip lights give off a nice yellow light that my wife likes in the living room. But they're a bit dim. The halogen lights are definitely on the warm (as in ouch!) side, and that worries me a bit, plus I think they give off quite a bit of UV. The models don't seem to get too hot, and I use those lights for viewing only. It's hard to tell; I just hope my gems won't be damaged over time. Your thoughts?

I couldn't find any other bright, unobtrusive shelf lighting except for fluorescent, and it gives off a nasty greenish light. My cabinet has "smoked" doors, not exactly ideal for models, but the halogen lights show them up pretty well, even through the dark glass. The bluish light would look better with modern cars than with the older cars that I like. But they're okay, except for that heat/UV question.

Any suggestions about shelf lighting would be much appreciated. Are there any lights that can be unobtrusively attached to the bottom of glass shelves? Maybe something battery-powered?

I would definitely like to put my cars on good looking (polished acrylic?) bases that don't take up too much additional room on the shelves. And models displayed in the open definitely need to be perched on something. It would be nice if all the stages were similar in design, to "harmonize" the whole collection. I'm thinking of fabricating something myself, and I've got some ideas about designs, but I'll need to buy or borrow some power tools to get what I have in mind.

Didy

[mclaren_crazy]

Here are pics of my two, just some quick ones for here. I havent installed the lamp on one of them yet though.

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by Matra et Alpine

Got two of the IKEA ones myself.
A very common suage over here.
Intending to copy mate who has added additional glass shelves for 1/43 size in between standard ones.

(What's a "suage"?)

I looked at the Ikea cases yesterday, but I'm curious how additional shelves were added. The ones I saw had a framework of steel or aluminum rod. Seems like it would be tricky to add shelves without welding some additional brackets on to the armature. Or maybe fabricating some very clever extensions held on by set screws.

How did he do it?

Didy

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by mclaren_crazy

Here are pics of my two...

Now I see what you mean by painting the top and bottom black. Looks great. And they'll look even better with more shelves, closer together.

My cabinets are getting a bit crowded, and that's clearly the way to go when I run out of room.

I'll send along some pics tomorrow. My cars are mostly European from the 1930's - 60's, quite a few Le Mans cars.

Didy

[henk4]

I may need a bit more parking space than the average collector, but this is my solution.
It is a system called Lundia, which you can expand in many ways. The only disadvantage is that the glass door do not close 100%. Also you might want to close off the rear side of the cupboard, which i did not.

[Didymus]

Here's my little collection. Seems to grow daily, though. A 1:18 BBR Ferrari 375 Plus spyder is on the way. It will rule the roost; all the other cars are cringing in fear - yes, even the GT40 test mule.

And I'm working on getting some acrylic stages. They'll go under the cars in back first, to make them more visible.

Didymus