Has anybody made their own glass or acryl display cases?
Are there instructions available how to build these?
I would like to display my projects individually in such cases but the price is a bit too high if you have the case custom-made...It feels stupid to pay 100 euros for a case for a 30 euro model...

Toni

I have only little experience with htat.
In the past, I made a glass case. I had five pieces of glass cut at the right size at the local DIY shop. I then assembled them (I think that was with epoxy). That was quite cheap, but you have te make sure the glass edges are treated so you don't cut your fingers like I did.

More recently, I found a plastic aquarium at a flee market that was the perfect size for my model. All it needed was a glass plate on the top.

But I know that case making is a trade in its own right. I saw that Micromark has cases in their catalog. Maybe European companies have them too.

Jan

I use the same technique used for building home aquariums - using acrylic instead of glass and CA instead of silicon glue. They don't look so nice as those formed in one piece of acrylic but are much cheaper, and you can build them the size you want.

Hope it helps, but feel free to ask if you need anything.

I will put up icture of cabinets I have made for fossils as a cabinet cbuilder now but really a mechanic. I can do both
Latter

okay put them up the pics of cabinets

http://community.webshots.com/user/reef12

Give it awhile to update site their are about 6 pics of cabinets.
Chow

There wa s a article in FSM a fwe Months ago.... I'll Look shortly

Matt

The article was in the Nov. 2001 Finescale Modeler


HTH

Matt

Matt, thanks for finding out which magazine this article was in. I need to construct a couple of acrylic cases and this is exactly the kind of information I needed.

Not a problem. I've got all of the FSM's ive ever got stored in binders for easy ref.

Yeah, I have got to organize mine at some point

The real nice ones with clear (and non-obscuring) edges are manufacturered in a similar fashion like models ie a casting process.... I believe I've seen those in Tamiya and Italeri catalogues but you could also have a look here (rather more $$):

http://www.mycreativedisplays.com (err... nothing to do with me )

http://www.todaysacrylic.com/

http://www.theshowcasecompany.co.uk

Otherwise your choices would be glass or perspex - perspex being my favourite as one can work on it easier. If you want to get really serious you could get yourself special circular saws for perspex - a normal one will do it too, you just have more sanding and polishing work.

Making a display case of perspex is easier than most people think - you need 5 panels which should suit your dio base or at least a simple piece of flat wood to put your model on, some perspex glue and time. The polishing process is a bit painful and you'll have to live with obscuring edges....

If you just need to display a few models, you can look in garage sales for used aquariums. You might even be able to find some used ones at pet stores or second hand stores.