Need a source for wall-mounted display cases

[bbussey]

I'm out of space in the company display case, and the manufacturer that made this case no longer exists.



I need a new wood display case.  This one is 2ft x 4ft.  I'd like to find one that is 3ft x 5ft, with the sliding plexiglass doors.  Are any on the market, or am I out of luck and have to build my own?

[GaryHinshaw]

Todd Treaster (trainbuff1) is the king of display cases.  Maybe shoot him a PM?

[rickb773]

http://tracksidedisplays.com/HTML/N%20PAGE.html

I have their display cases in both N & HO scales. They have several attractive variations.

[BCR 570]

I ordered the ones from Fifer Hobby Supply but they are quite a bit smaller than the dimensions you have indicated.

TIm

[Sokramiketes]

If you can get away from wood, the extruded aluminum components from Showcase Express are fantastic.  Because you can butt sections end to end, an 8' long case is easy to build, and perfect to display full length passenger trains.  And if your product line expands, it's easy to increase the size of the "case".

http://www.showcase-express.com/

[John]

Todd Treaster (trainbuff1) is the king of display cases.  Maybe shoot him a PM?

+1

[Sokramiketes]

Here's the clean look of the aluminum Showcase Express case system.  I started swapping out passenger trains with Z scale crap, but you can get an idea of what 8ft will fit. 

[bbussey]

Here's the clean look of the aluminum Showcase Express case system.  I started swapping out passenger trains with Z scale crap, but you can get an idea of what 8ft will fit. 

The extruded aluminum might work.  I'll have to run it by Gayle and see what she thinks.  Are there grooves in the shelves that act as railroad rails, or does the equipment just sit in a channel?  I'll check the website later tonight.

[Sokramiketes]

The extruded aluminum might work.  I'll have to run it by Gayle and see what she thinks.  Are there grooves in the shelves that act as railroad rails, or does the equipment just sit in a channel?  I'll check the website later tonight.

There are nice grooves that act as display track to keep equipment aligned on the shelves.

[Lemosteam]

Here's the clean look of the aluminum Showcase Express case system.  I started swapping out passenger trains with Z scale crap, but you can get an idea of what 8ft will fit. 

Boy would that look really nice if it were anodized black with brushed divider edges.  The raw aluminium washes the models out, especially the stainless cars IMHO, but I love  the refined look over the wood.  Very nice.

[LV LOU]

 I made a bunch of these for myself,never though of making them to sell.They're 2' X 3',hold 75 or so locomotives.I made mine with swinging open plexiglass doors,but I could make them with sliding glass..Hafta consider pricing,never though about it before.Just the case,no glass,unfinished,maybe 100 bucks..Actually,a few years ago,I was considering unassembled kits,got really busy with my shop though.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Lou, I would love  a few of those kits or unfinished cases.

Maybe we could set up a group buy if you and others are interested.

[LV LOU]

 Dan,I'll have to see what material would cost for them.The last one I cut out was four years ago.I make them from lattice,sometimes it's impossible to get.What I could do would be cut out all the shelves,sides,tops,and spacers,and ship just those pieces,and then you can assemble it yourself on a piece of Masonite.Masonite is dirt cheap,I think a 4 X 8 sheet is still less than ten bucks.You could make 4 cases from one sheet.I make smaller cases from Masonite,they cost almost nothing to make,but,they're a lot of work to cut out..I actually started making these for the Hallmark Ornaments,sold a bunch of them to friends..

[peteski]

Bryan,
my absolutely favorite case are made by Hotchkiss Mfg.  They used to be a case manufacturer up to that early 2000s, producing cases for many US manufacturers of collectibles (like model cars, trains, baseballs, dolls, etc).  Their cases used to be sold through Walthers and Micro-Mark.  They closed up shop due to Chinese competition. WHen I needed more cases few years back I kept searching for them and I found out that the couple who were the owners (it was a Hotchkiss family business) still have the have a shop set up with all the equipment and they can still be hired to manufacture those cases.  I bought my first Hotchkiss case back in the 90s. Since them I have bought several more (couple just last year).

The cases are made of oak and clear acrylic. I just love their open look. That is achieved by having the sides and front made from a single piece of acrylic. The top of the case is also clear.  Yet the cases are dust-proof since they cover fits tightly all around the back and the base.  The clear acrylic shelves also add to the open look. Here are couple of photos of one of the cases.


Clearcase01_800.jpg


Clearcase02_800.jpg

What is really nice is that while they can custom make them in many possible sizes. They had several N scale size cases shown in their catalog but I further customized them by changing the shelf spacing and narrowing the shelf depth to 1". I also had them reduce the overall depth.  As you can see, I installed pieces of Atlas flextrack on the shelves (using 00-90 screws, so there are no glue marks to show on the clear shelves).  To make this easier for me to do I ask for the shelves to be shipped uninstalled.  Since these are custom made, that is not a problem.

Let me know if you want more info. I have scans of their last printed catalog which can give you an idea about what they offer in standard sizes.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Lou, just the back is masonite, correct?
The furnature in the room is birch, so any birch, pine or light colored wood would work.

Dan,I'll have to see what material would cost for them.The last one I cut out was four years ago.I make them from lattice,sometimes it's impossible to get.What I could do would be cut out all the shelves,sides,tops,and spacers,and ship just those pieces,and then you can assemble it yourself on a piece of Masonite.Masonite is dirt cheap,I think a 4 X 8 sheet is still less than ten bucks.You could make 4 cases from one sheet.I make smaller cases from Masonite,they cost almost nothing to make,but,they're a lot of work to cut out..I actually started making these for the Hallmark Ornaments,sold a bunch of them to friends..