Making a glass/plastic case to to protect and store select minis in?

[StreetBushido]

Hi! Long time viewer, first time poster.
I recently rebooted my hobby and realized that during my long (very long) painting hiatus i somehow managed to get better at the hobby. At the same time I came to the conclusion that I wanted to protect my favorite minis by doing more than just spraying them with a protective layer of varnish (which I don't really trust anyway). Pondering this I came up with the idea of constructing glass/plastic showcases to put them in. Problem is I really have no clue how to do that and I was hoping maybe one the incredibly talanted members of this site could have a few pointers and ideas about materials and so forth.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

EDIT: Before answering, please read my reply further down.

 

[freakinacage]

god knows but you can buy nice ones from ikea! welcome to the forums

 

[Einion]

Yeah, given the number of reasonable options to buy it might not be worth building from scratch. Although if you're handy you might like to do it anyway.

Older threads on display cabinets here and here.

Einion

 

[StreetBushido]

Thanks for the replies, guys, but I think there's been a failure to communicate on my side. I don't mean a cabinet, I mean a small box, just large enough to fit a mini in. That way you can have them out to view, but still have them protected from dust and scratches.
EDIT: For further clarification I would build one of these little glass/plastic cases for each mini that I want protected. I don't have the space/room for a proper cabinet, nor do I have the time or the minis (of a quality I would like to show) to fill one of those in a satisfactory manner.

 

[Tee999]

welcome to the forums,
I think what you are looking for would be something like these.

http://www.crystalcaseworks.com/

Tee

 

[freakinacage]

Old ferrero rocher boxes:

just aboutthe right size for a small group, uttey clear and you get free choccies with your case! Blue tack tem into the bottom so removing the lid gives a clearer view

 

[StreetBushido]

Yeah, Tee, something like that! But I'm not really interested in buying a custom made case when I can make one of my own. The question remains how to build one. The Ferrerro Rocher solution seems tasty, but how sturdy is that plastic? Maybe it's possible to cut one of those boxes up and make several smaller boxes?

 

[freakinacage]

tis study enough. a tad brittle if you stand on it though

 

[nels0nmac]

If you are a bab hand with a knife and ruler then to make your own you need sheets of clear styrene or acrylic. Styrene is easier to cut and is generally a bit stronger to glue but is not always "glass" clear and scratches relatively easily which you can't polish out. Acrylic is harder, clearer and can be polished. Joints are a bit weaker but for just being on the shelf would be fine. Acrylic is more expensive than styrene.
For both materials you would look at thicknesses of no more than 1.5mm thick, 1mm being preferable. Anything above that and it gets real hard to cut cleanly with hand tools.

Glue- I personally use Dichloromethane - Dichlo for short. It has the consistancy of water and dries without marks. It is also strong in that it melts the edges to give a really strong bond. Here's a link to an Ebay page of the stuff-http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EMA-Plastic-W...es_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item3cac57faa4

 

[Tee999]

street
i guess if you wanted to make something you could buy some wood and glass. or wood and clear plastic.
if you did you could made the bottom and top the same size and make 4 L shaped sides to glue the glass or plastic to.

something like this?

other than that. I liked freaks idea of the candy box.

if you just want a clear plastic box this site sells them from $1.90 for a 5/16" x 2 5/16" x 3 1/16"
to $4.10 for a 4" x 4" x 4"

http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=222

Other than that I have no ideas.

Tee

 

[Dragonsreach]

Tee99 That's a nice link but I prefer their http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=221&# version

 

[Einion]

Yeah, Tee, something like that! But I'm not really interested in buying a custom made case when I can make one of my own. The question remains how to build one.

Perspex and similar sheet plastics seem like the ideal solution and basic box designs and building procedures aren't particularly hard or complex, but do you have the equipment necessary to cut this kind of stuff?

The Ferrerro Rocher solution seems tasty, but how sturdy is that plastic?

Fairly brittle - they are after all intended to be disposable.

Einion

 

[Einion]

Just a quick safety note on Dichloromethane

If you're tempted to get any of this, use with good ventilation!

All strong solvents should be used with adequate ventilation, but halogenated hydrocarbons can be particularly nasty and the Permitted Exposure Limit for dichloromethane (also called methylene chloride) is astonishingly low - now set at 25ppm. For contrast: the PEL for acetone is 20 times higher; toluene's is four times higher. Even chloroform's is twice this!

So it's best not to use this much, or at all, in a domestic interior; if you must and you don't own a suitable respirator then it would be advisable to work by an open window or in a large space like a garage and have a fan blowing air past you and then over the working area and to the window or other opening.

Einion

 

[BPI]

Ferrero Rocher have been on sale in Morrisons the last couple of weeks, I have a fresh stash of boxes They stack on each other & help to keep the dust off. I also store half-painted minis in them so that they don't vanish forever into the cases! The little box with just 4 chocolates in it will hold Snotlings but is otherwise not tall enough, though 15/10/6mm models wouldn't be a problem. The large flat tray with 3 different kinds of chocolate is also a bit short, It'll hold LotR Goblins though. That box that Freak showed is the best. It'll hold a LotR movement tray of models too. I turn the box upside down & use the lid as the base, blutak minis/tray down, main box bit lifts off as the lid so that you can see your minis easily over the ~10mm lip without having to fish them out

Good luck making your own but there's no harm sending a memo round work asking for empty chocolate boxes! Most people just sling them anyway.

Cheers, B.

 

[StreetBushido]

Thanks for all the excellent advice, guys! Now all that remains is to find swedish retailers of these materials.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Thanks for all the excellent advice, guys! Now all that remains is to find swedish retailers of these materials.

If, If, If you are rally stuck I'm sure that people in the UK will help you out.
You send the money for the Ferrero Rocher's and we'll send you the empty boxes. lol

 

[BPI]

Just having a look about...

Custom made version of what you've described wanting to make...
http://www.sora-shop.com/Made-to-Me..._80_218.html?gclid=COeMgbusuKICFVKZ2AodeSMB6Q
...a reflective back panel seems an idea worth keeping in mind.

This guy has many, many options...
http://www.wholesalecases.com/
...1/64 Scale Truck Display on this page...
http://www.wholesalecases.com/die-cast-supplies.html
...looks like a useful size. Fit a unit with standard? Baseball cases for Dreadnoughts too!

Fun stuff

Cheers, B.

 

[IdofEntity]

If your friends collect dice make sure to ask for the plastic containers they come in. Perfect for storing mini's. I'm specifically referring to the Chessex dice.