discussion More newby questons

[Guest]

Hi all again , strange question here , what to you guys do with your old models , surely you cant display them all , do they go in the loft ? being new to modeling again I have got the bug again , I`ve got 2-3 projects going at the same time so I`ve always got something to do , problem being once built what do you do , the way I`m going I will have to kick the wife and my little ones out to make room for the models.

With diorama`s sizes can vary big time , as with all models they attract dust , with display cases being very expensive and standard sizes does any one have 4mm glass panels cut to the right size and make their own ( I`m pretty handy with a mastic gun ) , is this cost effective

Sorry if this is a doughnut question ,

Richy

 

[Guest]

Certainly not a doughnut question Richy! Matter of fact, I'd wondered the same thing coz I've only done 2 models so far & both of them are in a cupboard to stop the dust buildup! From my browsing of ebay, I reckon some people sell their models & dio's (and some of them are way below the standard of most on here!) but rather than glass, I'd go for perspex. Patrick

 

[Guest]

Hi Patrick, my mate used to have his own fish tank buisiness years ago and they were only put together by a neat clear silicone joint in all the corners , hence my question does anyone make their own , if you go to your local glass shop and ask for 2mm-3mm float ( picture frame glass ,they will cut 5 pieces to size and will sell it to you as long its not for a window or door ) its has to be cheaper than ready made display cases which are standard sizes and very expensive and if made right will look alot better, at the end of the day its only an up side down fish tank that does not have to be water tight ,

Perspex is good but how many companys will cut it to your size for 1 model even if you do it yourself how do you get a nice edge , your local glass shop will cut any size glass you want.

I maybe wrong

Just trying to bring some ideas to the forum

Richy:thinking:

 

[Guest]

No, it's a good point & not one that I've investigated yet. But you've given me an idea-I buy picture frames from my Poundshop to use as dio bases, so why not spend a fiver & get the glass for a case? How would you stick it together though-superglue? All thoughts gratefully received for another victory for the cheapo brigade! Patrick

 

[yak face]

No, it's a good point & not one that I've investigated yet. But you've given me an idea-I buy picture frames from my Poundshop to use as dio bases, so why not spend a fiver & get the glass for a case? How would you stick it together though-superglue? All thoughts gratefully received for another victory for the cheapo brigade! Patrick

did someone just say poundshop!? Ah its my fellow poundshop raider ,patrick! Good idea with the picture frames, you could make a fair sized glass display case and have five bases for dios all for a fiver,lovely!As richy says a bead of clear silicone on each joint would hold it together fine,just be careful of the edges and the fragility of this thin glass. Ive got all my models in two purpose built cabinets at the back of my garage,no one can see them but at least it keeps the dust off. I like to think of my gallery on here as my display cabinet where people can see them.As for the e-bay thing ,ive often thought about selling some-have you seen how much some people will pay for a model thats already been made?!!Im always dubious about their chances of survival in the post though!(no offence to any posties on here!!) If either of you go with the picture glass case idea,post us some pics up, im sure it will be of great interest to a lot of people on the forum. cheers tony :goodidea:View attachment 20447

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[Guest]

Blimey Tony, that's some collection you've got there-it's like your own show! I'm gonna nip down to the jolly old poundshop today & see what I can find so I'll keep you updated on that. Patrick

 

[Guest]

Any room for the car ????

 

[yak face]

Any room for the car ????

there might be if i cleared the golf clubs,garden furniture,plant pots,bikes,etc but then id have to build another garage to put all this crap in !!!!!:emo:

 

[Guest]

I wonder how many garages are actually used for keeping cars in them! btw where can I buy this clear silicon stuff from? all I've got in the cupboard is bathroom sealant & that's not clear. TIA Patrick

 

[yak face]

I wonder how many garages are actually used for keeping cars in them! btw where can I buy this clear silicon stuff from? all I've got in the cupboard is bathroom sealant & that's not clear. TIA Patrick

hi patrick, b and q do one for about £6 ,their own brand kitchen and bathroom sealant ,translucent .You might get it cheaper elsewhere, most diy shops should do it, hope this helps cheers tony

 

[Guest]

Thanks Tony, though I've no idea where my nearest branch is-one of the downsides to living in central london is a lack of shops other than dorothy perkins etc! My poundshop didn't have much in the picture frame section today so that little project can wait until next week. Patrick

 

[Guest]

Hi all , Patrick you could try screwfix online their delivery service is 2nd to none and have a massive stock , bearing in mind you will need a silicone gun as well - tube of cheap clear silicone & a gun - between £10-£15 max and the silicone will last an age . pending on the sizes of the glass cases made I estimate 1 tube could make between 10 to 30 no problem.

I will be giving it a go myself.

Richy.

 

[spanner570]

A word of warning men!

I have been involved with glass in one form or another (and silicone) all my working life.

PLEASE REMEMBER...Fish tank glass is toughened, the outward pressure of water at the bottom of the tank is terrific, hence the special glass.

Picture glass is very thin and should never be used for anything else. The glass is supported in the rebate of the frame, the thick cardboard backing and the picture. Take away all these elements and what little strength there is in the glass will be gone....So will your arteries!

Please leave this thin stuff where it belongs.

Here's a tip. Go to the pound shop (yippee!!) and take a close look at the pictures, I have purchased them in the past with thin perspex instead of glass..I have one in the shed at the moment and it's 30"x 24".

Whatever you do stay away from picture glass for model cabinets, PLEASE.

:giljotiinRon

 

[Gern]

That's a collection anybody would be proud to own!

:respect1:

Gern

 

[Guest]

I take on board what your saying Ron , and good advice it is , would normal glass which I believe is now 6mm ( I might be wrong ) be ok , its still got to be cheaper than buying ready made perspex cases, what do you think ?

Richy.

 

[spanner570]

I take on board what your saying Ron , and good advice it is , would normal glass which I believe is now 6mm ( I might be wrong ) be ok , its still got to be cheaper than buying ready made perspex cases, what do you think ?Richy.

Glad to help, Richy.

The thing is, I'm dead against 'ordinary' glass in any location except windows! It is lethal stuff.

Even small display cases in museums ect are..or should be, toughened and they are rarely, if ever, moved. Make cases out of ordinary glass of any thickness and put them in a home environment.... you have dysons, cloths, wives, children, pets, you, all sorts of hazards.

Go for perspex. I have a shop close by here who will cut it any size, almost any colour and on a par with the cost of 6mm glass. Is there not such a place near you? (yellow pages?)

Believe me, I speak from over 40+ yrs. working with glass and I still hate it with a passion!!!!

At the end of the day though, it is your choice.

Cheers,

Ron

 

[Guest]

Again wise words Ron , custom cut perspex is an area I`m now going to look into and if you say its not that much more expensive than getting 6mm glass cut then its a better safety option,

I`m 42 now but when I left school I was a window fitter for 8 yrs and have seen 1st hand what broken glass can do to a human being , saying that I`ve never been affraid of glass myself as long as you treat it with respect, but I take all your points on board especially as I have 2 little boys.

Thankyou

Richy.

 

[spanner570]

Just one more pointer Richy. If you find a place doing perspex, ask for any offcuts of the stuff, it cuts easily with a hard point hand saw and would be a darn sight cheaper than them cutting it for you.....About £6.00 will get you the saw.

Let us know how you progress.

Ron

 

[Guest]

Just googled custom cut perspex - got a company where you can put your own sizes in etc - just done 500mm x 500mm - 2mm clear & it came up with a price of £3.25 give or take a few pence , times that by 5 = £16 odd quid ( mind you don`t know what the postage is ) as said before its an area definately worth looking at.

Cheers

Richy.

 

[Guest]

So now I've spent nearly £5 for nothing? Oh well, better that than losing a hand or some fingers! Thanks for the advice Ron, I have to admit that I had 2nd thoughts once I saw how thin the glass was. It's perspex all the way for me! Patrick