Die Cast - Summer 2012

Top and bottom: Carney Plastics can make just about anything you can imagine, to fit any scale. ;e 1: 24 case up top and the 1: 64 case at the bottom both feature angled shelves for a better view, and can hang on a wall or stand on a table top.

Building momentum

Larger cars can take up beaucoup real estate, they’re harder to keep clean, and putting them on open shelves and the tops of televisions is an invitation to dust and other disasters. Single-car cases? ;ey’re cool for standalone models, but they’re a heavy financial hit for larger collections.

If you have the budget, or the talent, you might consider building your own enclosed cabinets. A better solution for most is store-bought cases. IKEA’s “Billy” series is the most flexible wall unit lineup on the planet, and they’ll ship them to you. Base pieces are fairly inexpensive, with heights, widths, and depths that allow for semi-custom installations along walls, around corners and above or below window and door openings. Even better, the available glass shelves, glass doors, custom lighting and special angled shelving (great for displaying car books among your models) can be bought and installed in an afternoon with professional results.

If you aren’t in a rush, keep an eye out for used store fixtures. When a retailer remodels or relocates, and tosses their old displays, it can be a major score if you’re on the scene with the green. Some stores give them away; others will sell cases at a bargain, especially when compared to their original price tag. ;e caveat? Wear and tear from years on the sales floor. Caveat, part II: moving these heavy glass and steel behemoths can be a real chore— make sure you have the “carry” part of “cash and carry” figured out before you make a deal.

Middle: Hot Cases makes this tough, stackable storage/ display case, and it’ll fit a ton of loose cars in foam trays, or carded models without the trays. ;e covers snap shut for an almost airtight seal.