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Hey all. Something that I've been trying to figure out and do is get some display cases for my basement apartment to showcase my minis. I've got lots of them that aren't for regular play and were bought for the fun of building, painting and displaying. Most of them have just been sitting in boxes and out of site for for a while because I have no where to display them. I have a couple of problems when it comes to getting them out. I bought a house for my parents and fixed up the basement for myself, I don't have a lot of wall space as it's an open floor plan design, which is problem 1. Problem 2 is that I have a cat that loves to chew on both plastic and resin mini's (he's ruined quite a few models on me, including several expensive Forgeworld limited edition figures) so whatever I put them in has to have a door that can close. Problem 3 is that I don't really have a whole lot of money to buy with. I've seen some nice ones that I liked (good example being the IKEA detolf) but most of them have the problem of either fixed shelves and/or not enough shelves and are designed for larger items, so having a large space between shelves. Was curious what other people use for their display purposes.

Also, wanted to add in that large gaps between shelves isn't a bad thing as I do have several large items to display, including: multiple Imperial Knights, a Warhound Titan and a Reaver Titan.

Try this:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/349068.page

Iv done the Aessedai thing

works fine. its relatively the cheapest and most convenient


you can check out Craigslist for display cases and can often get some really nice ones for cheap.

Retail display cases can be sub 100 or so depending on whats up or even free some times.

Alternatively you could get your hands on a normal standard book shelf, and get a glass front door for them.

buy some extra shelf pegs and shelves and you have as many shelves as you want.

+ led strip lighting on the backs of the doors.

i think IKEA also sells the door hacks.

Fancy ikea glass case for my current favorites; bookshelf for everything else.

Here's the ikea mod. Essentially you just use wire rope clips (IIRC 8mm or 5/16" depending on your countries measurements) to add supports for more shelves.

I've got 2 detolfs but I don't think I'm going to bother modding them just yet. Moving to skirmish games means I don't have enough to fill one of them, let alone two.

I use a lawyer's bookcase (basically a bookcase that comes with its own glass doors) bought years ago, so I do not remember how expensive it was or where I got it. Still, it is quickly filling up and I have been keeping my eye out.

At least around here, a number of thrift shops are selling display cases, whether they be all glass store models or more decorative home versions. A number of them are pretty cheap since they do not particularly seem to be a popular item anymore, but depending on the stock, there might be some work or refurbish involved.

I use ikea cabinets.

These are designed for displaying model railroad cars but IMO they are perfect for displaying all but the largest gaming miniatures.



http://www.customdisplaycases.com/train_cases.htm

Only real problem is they are a bit pricey. A 24x36 inch case is over $250 plus shipping.

Wanted to say thanks to everyone that's left a comment so far. The link from AesSedai is amazing, it's a heck of a project but one that if I can pull off would yield good. I was reading reviews on the detolf, a common thing that I'm hearing is that it lets in a lot of dust, anyone else noticing that? And mdauben, those display cases you linked to are amazing, probably well worth the price though, they look good.

You can make most cases dust resistant
http://massivevoodoo.blogspot.com/2016/02/tutorial-how-to-dust-proof-your-detolf.html

tilarium wrote:
Wanted to say thanks to everyone that's left a comment so far. The link from AesSedai is amazing, it's a heck of a project but one that if I can pull off would yield good. I was reading reviews on the detolf, a common thing that I'm hearing is that it lets in a lot of dust, anyone else noticing that? And mdauben, those display cases you linked to are amazing, probably well worth the price though, they look good.

Try this - http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/686343.page. Similar to AesSedai's article, but specifically addressing dust.

I don't they sit in a box until the next game.

I've got like 5 Billy bookcases from ikea, with half-glass doors and extra glass shelves: http://www.ikea.com/ie/en/products/storage-furniture/bookcases/billy-oxberg-bookcase-birch-veneer-spr-19023407/

Means the top half is display stuff, and the bottom half is covered to hide boxes and stuff. Keeps the whole thing largely toddler proof

My tutorial addresses dustproofing. Done correctly, you'll never need to worry.

 AesSedai wrote:
My tutorial addresses dustproofing. Done correctly, you'll never need to worry.

If only I'd read your tutorial fully before posting the link to the other one!

Still, can't hurt to have more information!

I might be doing something similar next year, so I'll definitely be referencing your tutorial for that!

How much dust do models accumulate in the case without the dust proofing? I know some times you don't want to completely seal a display case because it can create issues with fumes, moisture and pollutants not be able to escape, no idea if it'd be an issue with miniatures.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
How much dust do models accumulate in the case without the dust proofing? I know some times you don't want to completely seal a display case because it can create issues with fumes, moisture and pollutants not be able to escape, no idea if it'd be an issue with miniatures.

Hard to say. It really depends on your house. But dustproofing is definitely something you'll want to do with a detolf.

You probably still want to occasionally dust it out with a can of air like once a month at best.

@AllSeeingSkink - they accumulate a lot of dust with Detolf cases over a period of years (I have, I think, 10 or 11). But, if you go through them once every year or two with a compressor and airgun, it doesn't take long to blow it all off.

The unhinged corners can be easily dustproofed, but the side with the door, not so much, in my opinion.

A less dusty option is the Billy bookcase with the glass doors. It's also a great price. A positive is that you can set shelves wherever you want, and have them in either wood or glass. A negative, though; they are nice and wide but quite shallow, so not as nice for islands of models if you want to intersperse some terrain.

Billy bookcases with glass doors. I think they sell them under the name oxberg for £80. With glass shelves and led lights they look great. Only issue may be with BIG models like titans as the shelves aren't massively wide.

Mines a little more unusual - Some years ago I was working in a toy store that closed down. I wound up buying a couple of large display cases for next to nothing when they sold off most of their fixtures. Big, solid metal and armoured glass beasties... I have one in the lounge room with ornaments and household stuff in it, and another in the back room with my minis in it...



You can often score similar sorts of cabinets at closing down sales or at office recyclers, although they can get a bit pricey.