Model Forum / General / Models / September 2005

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Ron, ever wondered where the phrase 'loft insulation' came from? I have a
set amount of shelf space and when I build a new plane, if I want to put it
on display, one of the old ones have to go! When I was in colder climes I
would put them in sealed plastic boxes and store them in the loft space with
the unbuilt stash, but now that I am in the Australian tropics they are now
stored under the house, still in the same plastic sealed containers (with
insect destroyers sprinkled round). I just write on the outside of the box
the contents (aircraft, build date) and whenever the club puts on a theme
display I can get in and find the right ones.
Andrew

When I buy a model I also buy a perspex(clear acrilic) display case to
suit,or I buy a photo frame  for a base and try to cut a perspex cover
to suit. Once you have it made  u can stack them.............lol,I also
do own a few display cases ,like u have in stores,great for free
standing dioramas.

Never did find a way. Once the displays are full, the next kit that gets
finished implies a death sentence for the least popular one in the
displays.

Rob

If you live in UK, I bought a display case from IKEA called, "Detolf".  It
cost £35 and doesn't take up much floor space...?

Regards

Pat Macguire

I have same problem.  My wife does allow a few of the ship models
upstairs in main part of house, but I had to press hard even for that.
I also insisted on two race car models upstairs.  All planes reside in
rec room.  So even with big two story house with basement I still
struggle with places to display models.  I have two really big sailing
ship models that I am working on, and I know my wife will allow no more
ship models upstairs.

For those "few and far between" that *do* enter the 100% complete stage:

1) Most local hobby shops are glad to have them to display.  I think I have
more displayed in the "public eye", than I have here at home.

2) Some are lucky enough to be sold to collectors, at shows and
exhibitions...thus allowing them to be seen by others, and in areas
far removed from the local region of the country.  And, most importantly,
the responsibility of keeping them clean, and dusted, no longer lies with
me!...lol.

3) Finished models make *excellent* Christmas gifts for family and
relatives.

The point to all of this: Once one *does* finish a model; there are
alternatives to worrying about how and where *you* are going to display it.
You do not necessarily have to keep it.  Other "artists" share/trade/sell
their work....so why do modelers find that a difficult concept to adopt?

I keep mine in small plastic cases on shelves and in the entertainment
center behind glass doors. used to just display them uncovered on shelves
but dust is your enemy.

I have about 50 finished models and because they are 1/72 aircraft, they
don't take up that much room. Nevertheless, I have three display cases. One,
a converted wardrobe, is allowed in the "office" because it is quite
reasonable in appearance (i.e. antique, high quaility wood, nicely
finished). This one was a gift from my brother. I had to vanish it and get
some glass selves and door inserts. This stores my newer, "better" models.
The two other display cases (not as nice looking), are in the garage and
contain my older models.

I don't know what I'll do when they are filled.

Cheers
Ultan

Fortunately I have a 14x19 foot hobby room in the basement and have built
three display cases to hold my 1/48 planes. Just finished the third case
which is 6 feet tall 4 feet wide and 32 inches deep. Gives me a total of
seven shelves.If anyone wants to see a picture send me your email and I will
shoot it out to you.
Hub

Gasp!! You mean we have to FINISH them? What is the world coming to?

MB

Well, I store all my (mostly 1/48 aircraft) models in display cases
standing around everywhere in my appartement. I have three in the
living room, 4 in the bedroom and one here in my little 'office'.
As there is no wife that might complain I am free to have as much as I
want, limited only by space.
I am quite concerned about my finished models because in the earlier
years I had them displayed on open shelves and that allowed only a
very limited lifespan - the main enemies being dust and nicotin stain.

I once tried to give a relatively large number of 1/35 armor models to
the Panzermuseum at Munster. That correspondence lasted some years as
they were really interested but finally never had the space to
accomodate them. By now they are all sold via ebay and were quite a
success.
Not so with my aircraft models - I would never give them away except
for some of the older ones if the opportunity arises (gift or sthg
like that)
One of them display cases is filled with over 20 F-4 Phantoms, it is
never opened and the door gaps are sealed with tape. Long term
storage. I cannot even think of giving them away, impossible.
Ingo

What's a completed model?

Craig