Displaying Models You Have Built

Most children, especially the boys, have spent significant time collecting models of different things. The collections came in varied forms, from model airplanes, model cars, or models of monsters, such as Frankenstein, The Mummy, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon, among others. One should not forget the obsessions over military models and battleships, tanks, fighters, and bombers, among other things. They wish they had a few of them still around as they grow old. While some of these collections may have vanished like so many other things from your youth. However, some of them still sit in the most priced glass cabinets or, worst, in the dusty attics. On the other hand, some people have never outgrown collecting different models. 

Your model collection represents a considerable financial and time commitment on your part. Because they’re so delicate, you’ll want to find a technique to keep them clean and protected while you flaunt them to your visitors. This is precisely what most collectors look for to keep their collection clean and safe, so here are some beautiful ideas that might help you.

General Ideas on Displaying Models

Airplane Model

Dust, mold, and other airborne particles can harm model components and materials. Museums, corporate offices, restaurants, nautical companies, and private residences use display cases to protect their model ships, cars, or airplanes. 

Using a display box to keep your model safe is one of the many advantages of doing so. Having a case to display your favorite models is also a good idea for aesthetics. Put it another way; it’s like framing artwork with an appropriate frame. LED lighting aimed downwards at the figure is an effective way to draw even more attention to the subject.

To save space for future models, one collector had glass display cases custom-made after years of struggling to keep dust off his models. Another aircraft model enthusiast created a personal hobby space, which is affectionately referred to as “The Bat Cave,” adorned with constructed kits, scratch-built models, and an impressive collection of 1/18 scale aircraft. Fire engines, trucks, and cars take up less room than planes. A collector of the truck model has built display cabinets to his specifications. Surrounding the cabinets are cartons filled with unassembled model kits. 

Moreover, a collector of warcraft models had used timber to make model cases for his collections and adorned them with moldings before staining and varnishing them and arranging them according to their kinds and origins. How you can protect and display your most prized collections are unlimited. How you arrange and design it depends on your budget and creativity. 

Car Model Display

Car Model

A model car display’s highest goal should be harmony with the surrounding environment and its occupants, which is why model vehicles should be displayed in such a way that they complement both. It’s essential to avoid a display that appears “like a model car parking lot,” as commenter Pillarless Coupe put it. Whether they’re the centerpiece of a room or just a decorative addition, the best model car displays fit in with their surroundings instead of standing out as jarring focal points.

There are two schools of thought to show your model car collection: those who advocate prefabricated display cabinets and shelving systems and those who support custom-built diecast-specific units. A model vehicle collection can tell a story. They reflect their curators’ interests and passions. Collectors should strive to display their vehicles in a way that is visually appealing to enhance the narrative. Lighting is the first step, as the shadows often obscure cars on shelves. You must direct a light source to your collection.

In addition to the lighting, the surfaces on which model automobiles are shown make a significant difference. Most collectors recommend using mirrored shelves or backs, which can create depth to a display, to enhance the visual appeal. Glass shelves, on the other hand, are a good option because they won’t obscure your models.

In addition to lighting and shelves, there are countless options for showcasing your model vehicle collection. When decorating a room, it is a good idea to incorporate antique racing posters as part of the overall design. You may also add a more impressive virtual reality screen; for example, scale-model car transporters are used by some curators to display their cars, while others have made fantastic dioramas to contextualize their collection. People who don’t consider themselves automotive aficionados are enthralled by these displays because of the richness they offer. A model car display that expresses your enthusiasm in a captivating way is within everyone’s reach, even those who are limited by space, budget, or other factors.

Ship Model Display

ship model

Dust and grime can ruin a ship model, so keep it clean. Displaying a model ship behind glass or acrylic has long been a tried-and-true method. As a general guideline, the display case should be at least 2 inches (50 millimeters) bigger, higher, and longer than the model itself. For a more “balanced” display of a model with a bowsprit, try leaving additional room at the stern. Real glass is generally more resistant to heat and sunlight than acrylic, but acrylic’s lighter weight and neat, transparent beveled edges make it an attractive alternative. When it comes to safety, tempered glass is a great option. 

Houston Display Furniture has the best wood and glass display case for your ship model. Also, they’ll be able to build you a display stand to match or complement your case. Display stands and cases are shipped in flat packaging and require a few simple tools to assemble. The glass is purchased locally and then added.

Just like car model display cases, it is possible to get stunning results for your ship display with internal display case lighting. The most important thing to remember is to choose lighting that produces as little heat as possible before using it. When it comes to in-display case illumination, it is suggested to use low-voltage LED systems. The longer the model and the display case last, the better it is for their health and well-being. LED lighting also has the advantage of being adjustable in terms of color temperature and intensity via remote control and the bonus of not emitting any color-fading ultraviolet emissions.

In Conclusion

In addition to the necessity to maintain the actual models, there is a slew of smaller components that must be carefully stored and protected. It’s much more fun to model in an organized space, and architectural drawer cases are perfect. These cases can also be used to make the model-making workbench of your dreams. Put your most often used tools on the wall in a small display case.

Unlike plates or dolls, models don’t have a particularly vital side to their design or function. The point is that they want to be seen from every angle. Displaying a doll is as simple as setting one up on a shelf and placing it against a wall. Models are more challenging. Showing some models is relatively simple. Cars, ships, and other watercraft will all fit in a display case of this size. Taking a plane is a little trickier. The most important tip is to locate a local plastic or glass fabricator and have them construct an adequately sized box out of transparent acrylic for several of your models.