Excelsior Entertainment Forums

Talaminiatures => General Discussions => Topic started by: MadBrad on June 03, 2008, 10:19:56 AM

Title: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: MadBrad on June 03, 2008, 10:19:56 AM
This past Saturday, I had the lads over for a game of Twilight Imperium.  On the way out to pick up some dinner, I noticed a neighbor had a gun cabinet out in front of his house with a "Take Me" sign on it. 

Needless to say, one of the stronger lads and I dragged it home.  I picked up a can of stain that matcheds the original color, and have cut 4 new shelves.

The case is solid pine - not gonna win any fine furniture competitions, but it is solid - and I will need to get a new piece of glass for one of the doors. 

So, for about $50 in supplies, I think I'll have a good looking display case, and a project to keep me busy for the next few days.   
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: luckyone on June 03, 2008, 10:26:11 AM
Post some pictures if you get a chance.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: DogOWar on June 03, 2008, 10:31:11 AM
I woulod like to do something like that.  Out where I live, gun cabinets are not in shourt supply. ;D
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: Topkick on June 03, 2008, 10:59:05 AM
I may have to go shopping at Big Lots and see what they have in glass front cabinets. I need a home worthy of the beautiful convesion of Mitch Hunter Veez did for me.

See it here  -  http://forum54.oli.us/index.php?topic=4907.0
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: MadBrad on June 03, 2008, 07:30:02 PM
OK,

Here's the goods...

I have 4 shelves, that I am staining over the next couple of days, so imagine the upper cabinet area with 4 additional shelves.  The lower cabinet area is about 11 inches deep, and about 14 inches tall.  Cabinet is about 4'10"tall, and 37.25 inches wide and 8.5 inches deep.  Total package is almost exactly 6 feet tall. 

The picture of the two wooden doors shows one side I stained, and the other that needs to be stained.  Hopefully shows kind of a before and after.   

(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/th_100_1377-1.jpg) (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/100_1377-1.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/th_100_1376-1.jpg) (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/100_1376-1.jpg)
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: Alxbates on June 04, 2008, 02:14:45 AM
I'm getting the dreaded red x instead of your pics.  Bad links, maybe?
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: MadBrad on June 04, 2008, 07:51:05 AM
Hmmm...the picture links seem to working fine for me.  anyone else having problems?  If so, I'll re-try the links. 
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: joshuaslater on June 04, 2008, 08:19:27 AM
1. I can see the pics.  I'm impressed by this project.
2. Topkicks Veez produced model rocks.
3. Keep goin' Brad, and show us how it's done.

Cheers.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: Alxbates on June 04, 2008, 09:47:13 AM
OK, the pics seem to be working fine for me today.

Hm...  probably some stupid Alaska internet crap... I was having connectivity issues all day yesterday.

-Alex
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case in Progress
Post by: MadBrad on June 06, 2008, 11:49:31 AM
Just an update. 

Shelves are done, and I am thinking about 1 more coat of semi-gloss urethane finish. 

Pic of the chop-saw, because we all secretly love power tools.

Pic of the shelf suspension braces I made.  Just took simple quarter-round trip, and cut to length.  Of course, it would help if the lumber yard would sell stock that is actually 8 inches wide.  The lenghts of wood sold as being 8 inches wide, are actually 7.25 inches wide.   So, at one point or another it will be off to the lumber yard for some .75" trim to backfill the space behind the shelf.   (This is the part of the project where I keep chanting beneath my breath...measure TWICE cut ONCE!)

So, later this afternoon I need to call around and find a piece of replacement glass. 

I might actually get this thing done today, as planned!

(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/th_100_1379.jpg) (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/100_1379.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/th_100_1380.jpg) (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/100_1380.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/th_100_1381.jpg) (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/100_1381.jpg)

Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Case Finished!!!
Post by: MadBrad on June 11, 2008, 07:53:42 PM
After blood, sweat, tears and many curses at fate and the gods of crroked nails...

The free gun cabinet to miniature display cabinet!   

-  drumroll, please -


(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/th_cabinet2.jpg) (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/cabinet2.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/th_Cabinet1.jpg) (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/MadBrad_Warzone/Cabinet1.jpg)


I decided on green felt to top the shelves, partly for the contrasting color, and partly to keep the mini's from scratching the wood.   

Though I would have done a couple of things differently, I think the overall look is still very good, and most importantly, I get a new display unit for a grand total of ~ $66.   Can't beat that!

If anyone gets inspired, lemme know if you have questions.  I'll happily trade ideas or blatantly make something up. 


Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: Topkick on June 11, 2008, 09:03:06 PM
Nicely done sir.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: Coil on June 11, 2008, 10:59:41 PM
I agree that looks great.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: Veez on June 12, 2008, 04:17:26 AM
The felt was a stroke of genius.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: semai99 on June 12, 2008, 04:44:12 AM
Nice looking Cabinet, another thing you could do is put some 1/2 depth shelves in between the main shelves for extra storage, thats if you need it to put characters etc on them.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: MadBrad on June 12, 2008, 07:30:37 AM
Nice looking Cabinet, another thing you could do is put some 1/2 depth shelves in between the main shelves for extra storage, thats if you need it to put characters etc on them.

Not a bad idea.  I'll have to get it moved to it's new location, start loading it up and see if I need to add some more. 

Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: Topkick on June 12, 2008, 08:29:03 AM
You may hear a distant rumble to the East of you when I get some free time Brad. That will be me stealing your thunder and making me one of these bad boys. Unless you already have ideas for a new prototype and need to sell this one. In that case load it and your favorite army then head east on I-70. I will load my fav army and head west. When we meet, we can have a massive battle, load the display cabinet in my turck, have dinner and then go our seperate ways. I know you love this suggestion as I am using the old Jedi typing trick.  ;D

In my best Snagglepuss voice: Heavens to mergatroid - truck even
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: joshuaslater on June 12, 2008, 08:48:26 AM
Applaud button's in effect.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: Fremen on June 12, 2008, 11:39:21 AM
What a fantastic Idea!  I've been dreaming of having a display case for several years, and I think this will be cost effective enough to actually do.

Awesome  ;D
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: luckyone on June 12, 2008, 02:06:54 PM
Very nicely done! I wish I had one. I own two rooms in my house - the garage and the basement (BTW we have a crawl space).
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: Glenn M on July 12, 2008, 06:25:39 PM
So, do you plan on painting the miniatures in that case ;) ?

Anyways, it looks fantastic and I'd like to have one of them in my house.
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: DogOWar on July 13, 2008, 06:28:23 AM
the display case turned out very nice. 
Title: Re: New Project - Miniature Display Completed! With photos.
Post by: MadBrad on July 13, 2008, 08:42:24 AM
Everyone, thanks for the kind words!   I have modified the designe, and am putting in half shelves to maximize the capacity of the cabinet, and will have pictures up in the next day or two.  It was a fun project, and I'll be happy to compare notes if you want. 

@Glenn  Yes, someday, those figures will all wear color!   That day is still disturbingly far in the future.  But, someday!