As I watch the works of John, Nick, Jerry, Cheyenne and everyone here, I often think "where do they store these masterpieces when they are done?"

Some of the size and scope of the dios here are amazing. I am having trouble with just my little 12" x 15" and thinking of how or where to display it.

Do you cover it with plexi to keep off the dust? So they go to a museum? Do you think your kids will give a crap when they inherit these works of art (and to me, they truly are works of art with just as much love, blood, sweat and tears as any painting or sculpture). The imagination and effort makes it seem a shame to think there isn't something permanent about it.

Maybe when I hit the lottery, I will open the Diorama Museum and Hall of Fame in Tehachapi, CA. But seriously, what do you do with your dio when you are finished and ready to the next challenge? I already have an idea about mine...

Mine will be donated (going to a very good home) to help the new guys remember the Marines and Sailors we lost in 2006. Finding it a home was a HUGE part of the drama when the person who first commissioned the project backed out on me, I'm going to be out a chunk of change but it will get done and it will have a home (and not in mine where I would have to find a place for it).

That's why I build mostly tanks now Smaller...

I buy display boxes; this ensures that they are protected from dust and damage, and it also makes them more easier to transport.

(I move a lot...)

We are in closing today and I will NEVER move again. I have moved a total 8 times since 1982. I am glad we will have a home and I can decide where to store items for a permanent forever home.

But what happens when the inevitable happens? Someone is going to have to deal with my shi... I mean stuff, including these projects. What then?

Yeah; that is a concern... I guess we just enjoy the hobby, and let others figure out how to clean up after? (Or maybe get a Viking funeral.)

I have been donating a lot of my American tank models to the local Legion. They have a museum room and a friend and I built a case in there for them. They have been very well received and I am glad others are enjoying them .

I put mine in a closed plastic container,put them on a shelf until I get tired of moving them around and then I throw them out.
J

Your work goes to the dumpster? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Do you salvage vehicles or figures and reuse them in another scene? Man, send me those figures... I'll start a drone army with them!

My wife is a retired teacher, at one time she had 30 or so aircraft hanging in her classroom depicting the history of aviation. When she retired we gave some of them to deserving students, the rest we gave to a new first year teacher for her classroom. You can usually always find teachers willing to take them. I have a modeling friend who has donated many to a local retirement home for their display cases. I occasionally build one for a veteran I've met here in our town. I'm also lucky enough to have a LHS that takes unbuilt kits for "trade credit"-- that keeps me in paint and supplies (or the occasional new kit) without too much outlay. I have two kids and a son-in-law who've "staked a claim" on a few of my models too. If you have a LHS, they may take them for display too. But when my wife asks me what I'm going to do with all the models (built and unbuilt)-- my answer is always that it's not going to be my problem!
VR Russ

Into tupperware and into storage.

Recently, I've been storing the good built ones in plastic containers and placing them into my basement drawers for storage. That way they're dust-free and won't be damaged inside their containers. The best ones I keep in my display cabinet.

I threw out many that I built as a kid because of the poor construction quality (and when I didn't even use paint or decal them).

However, I'm sure there are places that will take built models if you donate them. The local Recruitment Center, VA Hospital, charity, universities, and ship and aviation museums might be a place as are the local hobby shops or model clubs. You would be surprised what people will take, especially when it's FREE to them---and the keyword is "FREE (donation)." There are many people who will take free stuff; you don't have to throw it away in the trash. You could probably take a tax credit too as "donated goods" if you give it to a reputable organization (the VA Hospital gives out tax credits for donated goods and will take unbuilt kits).

Or you could sell it at a garage sale at a reasonable price.

Now selling built kits for money is a whole other story and might be (a bit or a lot) harder.

Yep. Tupperware and storage or large cardboard boxes for the larger dioramas. I'm kicking the idea around about taking some of the large dios apart and making smaller vignettes/dioramas. Mainly because when I look closely at the old ones I can see where repainting could improve the figures etc. Since I haven't been too productive for the past several years (probably because I've run out of places to safely store anything) maybe reworking the older stuff into smaller/easier to store would be a reasonable alternative.

Cheers,
C.

Hi Andras,

What display boxes do you buy and where? I haven't built any dioramas yet, but need safe storage for my tank builds... Thanks!

[quote]

"Or you could sell it at a garage sale at a reasonable price."

Speaking of that, I held a garage sale last year, and my workbench is out in the garage-- I just happened to have a Mini-craft KC97 and B47 refueling combo that I had hanging form the ceiling above the bench. Adjacent to the bench, I had a diorama of an M48 at Hue City. Both had been collecting dust for a couple of years. The second customer saw the KC97/B47 and about fainted, stating he'd been a KC97 pilot and had never seen a model built of that refueling operation-- he told me some great stories, and made a couple of small purchases for his wife-- so I went in the garage and pulled the model off the ceiling and handed it to him, thanking him for his service-- I thought he was going to keel over on the spot-- he handled the models like they were gold-- and offered me $50-- but I told him they were a gift. He and I have become good friends and talk occasionally about the "old days"of refueling from props. Towards the end of the day, a retired Marine happened to glance at the M48 diorama, and said he was there in '68, and loved the diorama. I blew off the dust and gave it to him. His wife bought $100 worth of stuff. So the garage sale thing is a good idea-- you never know who will stop by!
VR, Russ

Well first I put all my work on a train , ..... then .......

https://youtu.be/i9flhhwkTTA

Great discussion folks! It is an interesting dilemma and presents lots of solutions, some very creative... and I love the story of the refueling diorama and the former armor guy. Very reasonable and very generous.

Thanks for contributing...

@ Jerry – I've heard that from you before and it pains me to even think of your builds ending up in the trash, but I understand the need to make room. Just remember to post your works in feature articles with lots of photographs (and solid links) and all will be forgiven!

@ Cheyenne – Model railroading at it's best! ... Oh behave!☝️

@ Patrick – Great topic!

I don't have that many completed works, so it's plastic boxes for the lot o' them. In addition, I've been "somewhat" diligent about keeping my stash under control. ... Currently living in Denial, Colorado!

Happy modeling ... anyway!
—mike

This is obviously a trick question...


Nobody actually finishes building anything, they just start a new one !

I just take stupid pictures of my models and post them on Facebook. It's probably not the most grownup thing to do with them.
https://www.facebook.com/littlearmymen

Love your page and stumbled upon it not long ago! Great job and it always gives me a laugh!

I agree! Love the German officer looking through the telescope at the "mountains" !
J

I have a spare bedroom where I display most of my dioramas. Bought some shelf supports and installed each one separately. Some trial and error finding the studs behind the drywall of course!

If you have small kids, an acrylic display case is always a good idea, will save your nerves not to mention many hours of dusting.

If you run out of waist level space you can always switch to shadowboxes which like to be at eye level instead. This is actually what spurred me to build my first shadowbox: http://creativedioramas.com/2016/05/spinner-over-police-hq-124/

While the replies all show thought and/or concern over what to do with our "stuff", I'm gonna have to go with Spongya's idea and look into that Viking funeral thing. I wonder if it has to be outside the territorial limit??

Mine go into my display cabinets. Unfortunately, I'm close to the bursting point. Ikea has a narrow glass cabinet with 2-3 glass shelves that can easily be adapted to 4-5 shelves, and would be perfect for 1/35th scale or smaller models and vignettes.

My grand daughter likes to spend a lot of time in my work room. I hope she picks up the hobby. You guys are so morbid! I know we will end up there sooner or later. I guess its their problem then.