Display cases...

[dto]

Here is a photo of my Digital Navy Ochakov at the 2011 Western Ship Model Conference & Exhibit. The display case was built as described in my previous post -- note the tan matboard and the thin L-molding trim hiding the raw edges of the acrylic panels:


SVSM Gallery :: Western Ship Model Conference 2011 :: IMG_8228


The Ochakov was completed for the 2004 WSMC&E, and participated in other museum displays and model contests. But by 2011 it was already slightly "travel-worn", so I built the case to preserve the model for future shows. I wasn't going to include the original red stand, but it was so securely glued to the ship's bottom that I risked damaging the hull. One nice feature of this display case is that everything fits snugly inside a long comic book collectors box, making transportation and storage easy.


David T. Okamura

[RAFleischman]

Thanks for all the responses! Now I have to get off my butt and build a couple!

russ...

[Don Boose]

I'm looking forward to seeing Salt Lake City in a display case.

Don

[ridetheory]

Originally Posted by Jim Nunn

Here are two inexpensive display cases sold by IKEA. The first is good for aircraft and armor the second would be god for ships.

$65 - DETOLF Glass-door cabinet - IKEA

My wife keeps promising she's going to find me one of those rotating pie cases like you see in diners.

[Sakrison]

Originally Posted by Sakrison

For GPM's Bismarck, I had a plastics distributor cut clear 0.22" acrylic sheets for a display case, then built my own base and assembled the cover with gap-filling ACC.

The plastic panels were expensive (about US$125 for cutting and $115 for poliishing the edges) but my wife said, "It's an heirloom; do it right." (I love my wife!)

Cutting the panels for the Bismarck's cover was just too big a task for me to handle on my own: 54" long, 15" high, and 10" wide. As it was, assembling the cover required two of us.
--David

Here's the finished case. The base is 1/2-inch oak plywood laminated to 1/2-inch birch plywood and oak molding. The cover nests in a slot between the oak plywood base and the trim molding. For the feet, I used small (3/4-inch) wooden spools from the craft store, screwed to the base and with felt pads on the bottom.

The case weighs about 30 pounds -- acrylic is heavy. The ship weighs next to nothing.

The ship is on display at the Public Library.
--David

[RAFleischman]

David,

The case looks so well proportioned to the model. How did you come up with the dimensions of the case in relation to the dimensions of the model?

Would it be possible to get a copy of the graphic (attachment #1) of your design?

Thanks,
russ...

[RAFleischman]

Never mind (stupid me!)...I just right clicked and saved the image...I hope that is okay.

russ...

[Sakrison]

Originally Posted by RAFleischman

David,

The case looks so well proportioned to the model. How did you come up with the dimensions of the case in relation to the dimensions of the model?
Thanks,
russ...

I did some prowling around ship modelers' forums and found some general recommendations there. What I came up with for the Bismarck was about 2" above the model, 2 inches at either end, and about 1.5" either side. It was strictly an LAR calculation (Looks About Right) and of course it would vary depending on the size and proportions of the model Here are some links:
Building a display case for your model :: Articles/Shop Notes :: Ship Modeling Forum
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling...ts/f/7/p/35866
The Ship Model Forum • View topic - The ship models of Robert Wilson...
Model Ship Display Suggestions and Recommendations.
Model Ship Display Cases | Build your own model ship display cases | Wes Marden
Acrylic Display Cases - The Blog: Model Ship Display Cases

I've just scratched the surface. There are lots more links.

You're welcome to use the drawing however you can. if you have other questions about my display case, feel free to ask.
--David