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Quite the displaysLooking for a way to show off your models? FSM readers have some great ideas. | In the March 2010 FSM, Editor Matthew Usher encouraged you to send images of how you display your models. We received a ton of photos of great displays, but unfortunately we could only pick a few to publish in the July 2010 issue. Here are more of our favorite displays. |
Noel Mackin
Erskine Park, New South Wales, Australia
After fighting to keep dust off his models for many years, Noel had glass display cases custom-made, saving room for future models. “I am always devising ways to utilize every inch of space I can muster,” says Noel.
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Ron Denning
Kansas City, Missouri
Ron hangs his built kits, scratchbuilt models, and collection of 1/18 scale aircraft from the ceiling and walls of his hobby room, dubbed “The Bat Cave” by his wife. He wallpapered with Ghost Squadron pictures from old calendars.
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William Maniace
Baldwin, New York
William’s display case started as a closet in his finished basement. He removed the bi-fold doors and added five shelves the full depth and width of the closet. It’s lit with rope lights mounted behind a 2" aluminum valance. The bi-fold doors were cut down for storage on the bottom. The bottom shelf is for the Cold War era, the second is for World War II's European, and the third is for the Pacific Theater, all in 1/48 scale. The fourth shelf is for 1/32 scale models, and the top shelf is for unfinished models that he may or may not complete.
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Max Kohnke
Jacksonville, Florida
Max’s wife made what they call the pilot room out of their family room. She put the room together along with the shelves to display Max’s models. The models are mixed in with various aviation paraphernalia and souvenirs.
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Bill Schroeter
Ocean Township, New Jersey
A wooden bookcase displays the models Bill and his son build. “We have another set of shelves that holds models damaged by pingpong balls,” says Bill, who wishes he could move his display case farther away from his pingpong table.
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Gary O. Watkins
Alliance, Nebraska
Gary displays his models inside a case at his local airport (fthe Alliance Air Base in World War II). Currently, there are 44 models out there, from a spacecraft to a steam engine. Each model has a wooden stand Gary made, with a small card that has the name of the model, who made the original machine, kit manufacturer, scale, and a short description of the model. “I’m told that passengers waiting to board or just arriving are very appreciative of the display,” says Gary.
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Mike Kolasa
Garfield, New Jersey
Mike’s set of three display cases includes two old china cabinets and a deeper cabinet he built to hold his 1/48 scale builds. He installed lights in all of them.
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Hans Dewald
Springs, Gauteng, South Africa
Hans builds fire engines, trucks, and cars, which up take less space than aircraft. He had his model display cupboards custom-made to fit his models. The cabinets are surrounded by boxes of unbuilt models. “I have more than 300 of these, a hoarding habit that most modelers seem to have,” says Hans.
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Howard Rifkin
Croydon, Pennsylvania
Howard built these cases from pine, dressed them up with some moldings, and stained them. The top shelves hold U.S. armor, starting with light tanks, then medium tanks, heavy tanks, and vehicles built on tank chassis. Next are German, Italian, and British tanks used in North Africa. After that are U.S. battleships and armored cruisers, USS Maine through Iowa, joined by aircraft carriers (fleet, light, and escort). World War I fighters and bombers of all combatants follow chronological order. Below that are U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force fighters, P-1 through F-89, again in chronological order, then U.S. attack and scout aircraft. Finally are U.S. bombers, B-10 through B-50.
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Richard Ellis
Jonesborough, Tennessee
Richard spent 23 years in the Royal Air Force, and during that time he worked on and flew a wide variety of aircraft. He decided to try to build a model of each type he was involved with, plus any light aircraft he has flown. “I was shocked when I worked out just how many there were,” says Richard. Currently, he has about five more to build, including the 1/24 scale Harrier centerpiece, which will be in an operational Falkland Islands setting. The models are displayed in a dedicated corner of the basement along with relevant photographs and memorabilia.
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Robert Meguid
Baltimore, Maryland
Robert’s cases are entirely store-bought, with glass shelves, glass doors, and light units installed. They provide a dust-free solution to displaying models, were reasonably affordable, and quick and easy to assemble. “However, the 11" depth limits the size of models,” says Robert.
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Tom Kupferer
Naperville, Illinois
“I’ve been building plastic kits since age 7, having started with the old, very simple Comet balsa kits,” says Tom. His collection includes more than 420 completed kits, the oldest (surviving) of which was built about 1960. The models are housed in 11 custom-built cases to protect them from cats and dust.
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Andy Mason
Seminole, Florida
Andy found this glass-and-mirror display case on his local Craigslist website. It has unique angled corners, mirrored sliding doors, and is lighted. “Best of all, it set me back a grand total of $50. I would have gladly paid double that for this beast,” says Andy.
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Mike Mackowski
Gilbert, Arizona
Mike proudly displays his models in a couple of display cases in his hobby room.
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