Display cases? Display boxes? or no protection? With kits costing as much as they do today what are your thoughts. Early aviation has a particular concern as we have those areas between multiwing configuations that need protection.

I recently got a shipment from my box maker (Bill's Boxes of Kiowa Colorado). So I am prepping them for mounting my finished builds. These will be used concerning most of the ones you have seen through the past 2 years.

Well to be honest, most of my completed models go unprotected. As I'm the only one who ever sees they no foul.

Every now and again I do get the urge to preserve one, then I use acrylic / Plexiglas sheets (window glazing) from Home Depot to build a box. Only takes about an hour to build a box, and as my build don't usually conform to standard sizes, I'm forced to build my own or pay way too much for a custom box.

I generally like to display what few models I have completed out in the open where they can be seen. I don't have display cases at the moment, but when I move to a bigger place and have some room I think I will get a display cabinet. I actually have several boxes full of the kits I built when I was a kid, but they are probably in such bad shape I am afraid to take a look at them...

Here is my way.




Lars

Hi Stephen:

I protect my models with acrylic boxes. I made them in modular size so I can pile them.

I am following a different aproach. Actualy just the opposite. I mess my room so much that no one dares to enter thus all models are perfectly safe. And if anyone is stupid enough to enter my den...well I eat their remains on next breakfast fresh out of a self improvised trap out of modeling matterial:} You don't belive me? Well here's my room....

I wish I had the extra - room, cash, time, space for display boxes etc. I do not cover my finished builds with anything. Just packed in like a carrier hanger on shelves and dressers.

Hi Yalým

LOL! I'm glad I'm not the only one using the chaos technigue for building and storage!

I seriously do need to make an effort to clear up my workspace a bit (it'll never match the beautifully organised areas some of our members show in their pics) because it's such a mess, I'm running out of room to actually build anything in and I keep losing parts!

As for storage - most of my builds don't get any protection beyond being shoved out of harm's way into an old cupboard (if they're lucky...)

All the best

Rowan

I don't see the point making models as perfect as possible (as far as my skills go) if afterwards I would let them gather dust or within reach of "predators".

In the old days I had a whole collection of old furniture where they were kept safe and clean.

Now I am building display cabinets with easily removable planks which will be painted and form an airfield when put together on the table.

I stand in front of them with a 12 gauge, and Lord help anyone who cross the line too close.

All kidding aside, I have 3 curio cabinets, and when they get too full full, I'll do a tossing, and refill them. I'm afraid I'm not emotionally attached to any of them.

Hi Drabslab!

Great minds think alike... That's my plan too...

Jean-Luc

Hi gang

I have posted some pix of my working area/display space/library/dorm .... in my gallery form the start .. here are my cabinets ... though they are full now and the contents has changed a bit since ...







cheers

Steffen

Drabslab and Jean-Luc - Would that I were a carpenter (pun intended). What a great idea, I hope it works for you. I must confess I had a similar idea long ago, but alas it didn't come to life for me. I always seem to get caught up on something else rather than figuring out a way to display my models. I've had a few setting around for almost thirty years now that aren't too much the worse for wear just setting out, but I'm sure they long for a setting such as you propose.

P.S. and some are very much the worse for wear

You and I think alike Carlos! Mine are considerably smaller and tend to fit one aircraft in 1/48 scale. The basic inner dimensionsof 6" X 8" X 3.5" allow for one single seat aircraft in most cases (pun!). For two seaters I usually have to double either the 6" or 8" dimension. The base is acrylic as well with a simulated turf cover.

I have my box builder keep the protective gummed paper on the top surface of the base only. Add little thinned wood glue to the surface of the paper and then I can shake out a nice turf tea mixture. There are also some simulated static grass surfaces you can pick up in sheets and then cut to fit. I let that cure for about 6 hours and then spray with a dull lacquer coat. Then let sit for about 12 more hours.

My kits are usually pinned to the base through predrilled holes the tires and matching holes in the base. I am staring to add more figures than I used to. Finally when this has all cured and there is no chance of trapping gases, I attach the base and its cover with four small drops of Cyano at the corners. Wipe them with a paper towl and the seal is almost instant.

The cool thing is if you accidently drop the box while handling it. You don't have to look for the kit parts that might have come off. They are in the box. A couple drops of lacquer thinner and it comes right off. Believe me 'been there, done that." No dust problems. Only the corners are tacked in place so a temp change won't create trapped moisture that might cling to the inner surfaces of the cover. I have sold about 36 of my kits (since 1992) as desk top models. Nameplates are a nice addition as well. Usually about 2.50 - 5.00 USD in most trophy shops.

Hai Jean-Luc,

I sure am in good company here.

I have found a number of documents on the internet on how airfields are designed (handbooks of the US military). If uinterested I could upload these somewhere on aeroscale?






Hai Chuck,

I had a 1/72 airfield on the attic when I was a child. Unfortunatley, I don't have an attic where I live now so I had to think of something else. And this solution seems a good compromise. Protection against dust and grabby fingers and an airfield all in one go...

But don't ask me when this is going to be finished...

I keep my builds in a display cabinet that I got for $20.00 and a friend put more shelves in fo me.


The glass doors have been removed for the purpose of the photo.


This is a C47 in RAAF service during the '60's that is part of a contract I have with our Air Force's, Officer Training School, these cabinets dslaying these models are bullet proof glass.
Above the C47 is the shadow of a PBY 5 Catalina

Despite my attempts to organize, my storage and display is as random as the paint chips on my Finnish Buffalo and Aichi Grace! Most of my models are on unfinished wooden shelves or plastic shelving, and the newest-bestest are on the mantel, TV, or PC monitor where I can admire them most readily.

I have a few in cases, but most are out being constantly weathered by dust and my skulking cats. I'll post some pix ASAP, just for your amusement.

Rob is this not a tad expensive

Currently I display my models in the open as below (this is an old photo and I hjave built quite a few kits since)

However they seem to gather a lot of dust and so I was wondering how do you get rid of the dust, I am reluctant to dust with a cloth because of delicate parts. Also I have tried 'blowing' it off with an airbrush but that did not really work. Any suggesitons Cheers Nick

Are you sure that is true? Usually bullet resistant glass is a few centimeters thick at least, this looks more like the tempered glass used in glass tables and desks.

Nick and Michael,

I can only say what the RAAF told me in regard to their display cabinets, the outer glass on these cases is claimed to be bullet proof, the internal shelves are standard tempered glass of 6mm thickness.
When the RAAF had them made they forgot to include the length of the 48 scale Hercules, as it sits on a coffee table in the C.O's office.

Almost all the models are in 48 scale and when a few more are handed over after completion I'll take a pic of these two cabinets showing the finished [and models on loan] subjects.

This is a list of the models:-

*Bristol F2b
*Se5a
*RE8
*Sopwith Camel
*BE2c
*Tiger Moth
*Sunderland
*Wallrus
*Beaufort

#B24j Liberator
#Avon Sabre
#Carabou
#707T

F8 Meteor
P3c Orion
P40e Kittyhawk
DAP Beaufighter [Australian Production]
PBY 5 Catalina
B I/III Lancaster
B25j Mithchell
C130h Hercules
Spitfire VIII
F51d Mustang
CA-5 Wirraway
CA-12 Boomerang
CAC Canberra
F18c Hornet
C47 Dakota
Heuy [Bush Ranger]
Mosquito FB IV
DB-7b Boston [Pacific Export version of the A20a Havoc]
Hudson IV

* These are yet to be built
# These are the in progress builds

I am not the sole builder of these models I split it with the other 2 co-founders of our business.

Here is my helter-skelter method of displaying my models. Most on the wooden shelves are oldies, awaiting freshening up and/or restoration, such as my Reggiane RE.2002 Ariete II and Ki-100

Hi. I display my builds out in the open, that way I can dust them off now and then and enjoy them. I tend to make my bases with irregular shapes so a box type cover won't work. I just put up the shelves this weekend in the new house to keep them out of the "DANGER ZONE", [CATS]. Thanks for looking, Wingman out.

You mean we are supposed to keep them?






Matrixone

Fortunately, no biplanes were hurt in the last sequence of images.

Isn't it funny how the same subjects keep showing up in discard piles