Displaying your LEGO (with layout)

[Luke_likes_Lego]

Hi All,

At the moment I have my town/train layout at table/counter height on my "table top" (cheap 'doors' from the hardware store), mounted on sawhorses and mismatching racks that I've built.

My dream way of displaying my LEGO, would be to replace everything underneath the table tops with uniform cabinetry, something like this:

The display could then be used for things that don't fit the theme on the table top (eg if tabletop = town/train, display could be space, star wars, architecture, VWs or whatever you happen to be into).

I was wondering, has anyone found a reasonably affordable way to achieve something like this? Glass cabinetry for shopfitting etc. seems so expensive.

Cheers,

LLL

[Hey Joe]

That looks like a great idea. If I were to do something like that I'd probably learn how to do it myself as, like you say, it would be expensive otherwise.

What about Ikea? Do you have them down under? They always seem to have something close to what I need.

Joe

[BrickG]

I've been thinking about displays a lot but don't know if I'll even be living in this COUNTRY for much longer... so I'm waiting until I have a more stable living place.

Anyways, my ideas are mostly wall mounts. Shelves put right in the walls. Made of mostly clear pastic with lighting built into the shelve floors and ceilings. This would be for the minifigures and smaller stuff. Then I'd like to some day make a huge mock on a table and surround it with plastic :P.

Anyways I'm not sure who you want looking at your stuff. Your idea wouldn't work for me because all the displays are ground level. Kids could see them well but not really adults who would have to look down or even kneel to get a good look. Might work for you though I don't know your goals. My stuff, if I ever actually do it, will be table level minimum.

[Spitfire2865]

Brick G- A way to solve the issue of visibility is to have the cabinet walls flush with the edge of the table, and to have glass sides and glass shelves. And also lighting inside.

I think this idea for a layout with displays would work perfectly and look amazing.

[Andy D]

Your rendering already looks very good. I think you have designed in a good "do it yourself project". Assuming the back and table top could be something like melomine (a white covering on a fiberboard). The shelf brackets are reasonably availabel, all you need to do is find a place to cut lucite to your dimensions then it is a relatively assembly. It looks very do-able. Be sure to post photis of your finished project.

Andy D

[Luke_likes_Lego]

What about Ikea? Do you have them down under?

Yes, but not in my state unfortunately ...they have some nice looking display cases.

.....Made of mostly clear pastic with lighting built into the shelve floors and ceilings.

Can't get pastic here either....we're still stuck with old-fashioned plastic

Anyways I'm not sure who you want looking at your stuff. Your idea wouldn't work for me because all the displays are ground level. Kids could see them well but not really adults who would have to look down or even kneel to get a good look. Might work for you though I don't know your goals.

Goal = Have a cool looking display..... has to look good from a distance as well as close up...therefore lighting essential, so low height not a problem.

I think you have designed in a good "do it yourself project".

Thanks Andy (I was afraid of that!)

LLL

[Vindicare]

Thats a great idea! I use below the table for storage right now. A cheaper way to achieve that would be a few small, 2 shelf bookshelves and get plywood or something and put it on the top. Could be a temporary fix till you find/make exactly what you want.

[adamreportingin]

Maybe if you look up ebay for some die-cast car display units or cabinets. They could probably used to display lego sets.

[Andy D]

If you can't get plastic or lucite, the only way I can see this dream being realized is to use glass.

You might look around and get estimates on having glass cut to your specifications, might be less expensive than you think.

If you are attempling to do this on a budget you might look at stores going out of business or remodeling, particularly jewelery stores to find glass display cases inexpensinely, then disassemble and repurpose the glass for shelves.

I still like your design, I hope you gt to make it happen. I know my new studio made all the differmce for me.

Andy D

[Luke_likes_Lego]

Hello again,

I've been tinkering around - and come up with a modular design that might be the one.

The design:

• is modular, so can grow with the display area
  
• is simple, just one opening frame
  
• allows for corners by having a 'frosted' side
  

Now, to decide how to build it

Cheers,

LLL