I am very new to armor modelling, and so far just finished 5 tanks, so I put them on top of my TV, but as I know that I will be pursuiting this hobby further, there will be lots of built tanks. I am thinking about build a glass display case with spot light mounted on top. My question is would the Krypton Spot Light's heat warp the plastic or resin in the long run?

I am very interested to know how you guys display your built models, I would guess that many of you probably have hundreds of them built....

Thanks!

I just display them on the shelves of a huge bookcase.

As far as the heat from the anti Superman light, I have no idea. Heat will certainly warp the plastic. I quess it depends on how far away the light is from the models.

Bookcase, what about the dust? must be hard to clean with all the small things attached to the tank, right?

ive been thinking of a glass display case also,but i think i will shop around for a low heat generating light system

I display my models on a bookself also.

I've read that the brushes you use to clean camera lens with are good for dusting a model, because it is very gentle (they aren't expensive either from what the article said). I was toying with the idea of using a can of compressed air for keeping dust off my models. Haven't tried it yet though.

There's a company out there that sells little flourescent lights that are used in display cabinets. I think they market them towards model builders. May want to check out the last issue of Fine Scale Modeler. I think that's where I saw the advertisement.

I bought a glass display case from IKEA for a couple hundred dollars. There are 3 glass shelves measuring 14 in x 14 in, plus the base. I can put 4-5 models onto each shelf and base. I plan on drilling some more holes into the wooden supports so I can place a couple more glass shelves into the case. They should easily fit in there with plenty of room to spare.

I also bought a spot light from them that gets screwed into the top that shines down. Although dust still seeps into there, it is very minimal compared to leaving the models out in the open.

HTH
symon

Dust is a constant problem. I display my collection on open shelves in our basement. (My wife does not want her house to resemble an armory!) To deal with the dust, I employ a hand held shower nozzle attached to the basement slop sink. I place the model in a spaghetti drainer. I then spray cold water over the model, hit it with the air brush to blow off the water and set her back on the shelf. If anything falls off, it is fairly simple to find it in the strainer and reposition it.
DJ

Dust can be a killer especially for dioramas and models with matt finish.
It´s possible that you´re not able to remove the dust at all once the model gets some.
If you have a computer in the same room, even worse. I find this small grained dark grey dust everywhere at office and on my computer. It seems to seek out any electricity.

I´d go for a shelf with glass doors, if I only had a place to put it out of the Wife´s line of fire...

Toni

What little armor I have I display pretty much the ssame as my A/C models, The Two that I currently have built are displayed in my modeling room on top of my stereo system. Which has a wood top. As for dusting, I simply take one of the large artist brushes that I have, Set aside just for dusting off my models. But I also use my Airbrush in conjunction with the paint brush to clean off my Tanks as well as my A/C models. Pretty much a simplistic approach. But I too have been thinking about getting a display case for the tanks.


DAGGER-1 " When Science Fails, Brute Force Win's"

Ahhh, dust, our common enemy!
One thing I have learned over the years is vigelance. It's a good habbit and keeps the enemy at bay. Each and every week my wife cleans and I do too. Dust is constant. Arrrgggg!
My method uses my airbrush. Each week I take the models one at a time outside the back door with my AB. Just takes a few minuets, but certainly keeps em looking good. I don't give the dust time to really attach to the models.
I found that if they remain in a glass cabinet, dust still invades. It's the comfort of thinking dust isn't getting to them, so you don't clean them much, but after a time the dust seems to glue itself to the model. So, even if a case is used, unless it's hermedically sealed, cleaning them is still nessasary.

So far, I'm a bit short on space... so my models sit on the top of the shelf in the kitchen...
But my girlfriend just loves all kind of handcraft, working with wood and such...
So as soon that I move to a new appartment, where I have much more space, she'll be designing
a glass window case for me, that we'll build together !

I display my Models and Dioramas in two places. One place is on book shelves in my workshop that are not enclosed by glass. So dust does become a problem. For this I use a small vacuum that I bought from Micro Mark a couple of years ago. It is great. I sometimes use a method similar to 210cav's. I wash the model with cold water and dry with a soft cloth. If any pieces fall off they will be in the strainer. I display other models in a glass diplay case that I had made by a local cabinet maker. :-)

I have a display cabinet for my models. I have custom cases built for odd-sized subjects - like a Dragon Wagon. And, during construction and finishing, I keep them in a little plastic container. Dust is only an issue for the display cabinet - not the custom cases or plastic containers.

Like Ken said - I have a spring cleaning session once a year for those models in the display cabinet, but the dust buildup is really light. I only need to use the airbrush itself to blow it off.

Gunnie

I went the way of Ikea as well,except I bought three kitchen type overhead cabinets and mountes them Over my desk area in my office/workroom. They weren't to priey and in stalled easily with room to add more cabinets.I chose cleaer glass fronts and while some dust gets in its minimal and cleans up easily with my little computer vacuum cleaner.

Josh

i have found some large curio cabinets at a reasonable price.i think thats what i am going to go with

Thank you guys for the advises. I think I am going for the glass case. I live in Hong Kong, so space is rather limited.And I cannot display them on an open shelf anywhere that is lower than 6 feet, or otherwise, my German Shepherd Dog is going to take an interest in them...He already managed to chewed some of the fenders....

Airbrush to clean the models?! I never would thought of it if not coming to this site. This site is great!

Thank you all! and happy modelling!

Hi!
I also use a display case with a large glass front door....
I didn't have problems with the dust (as this door is quite sealed) but from time to time I pick up my models and give them the Airbrush day....

I have two display cases. One for armor and sci-fi the other for figures and aircraft. I used to do the book shelf/case thing but got tired of dusting them and losing pieces in the process. I shelled out right around 400 for the 2 cases, but they have more than paid for themselves. Each one is 7' long, 3' deep and 3' tall with glass on the front, sides, top and mirors on the rear doors. Each has 2 forty watt flourescent lights with switches, and has 2 shelves each that can be adjusted in 3" increments. I would recommend investing in some type of display case if you plan on keeping them for any length of time. Just my thoughts on the subject. "Q"

I use a custom built cabinet with glass sides and doors. Very little dust gets in. Another method is what we see the car guys do, use those small clear plastic display cases. Just large enough for 1 model. They are stackable and NO dust gets in. I still have a dozen cars in these things. They only cost a couple bucks and there are a few different sizes available.

Don

These cases are exactly what I use. Plus the kit is mounted to the base from underneath via kraft wire. After the tops are on, I drill a small hole at each end and insert a screw. This way the kit is protected from unwanted damage, and so far the m113 an m577 I did for my dad are still dust free. They just started making them for 35th scale tanks also...check em out!

Hi Guys,
I've been displaying my two (yes two) finished models, along with a trophy in a lighted corner curio cabinet until my garage/ workshop conversion is complete. When it is finished there will be a wall mounted "Lawyers" bookcase out there.
And the airbrush/ cleaning thing is so "common sence" that it never occured to me either!!!
Chuck

I use a glass cabinet which is almost full. I'm going to pick up a new one from Ikea.