Have you ever tried collecting large model trucks just to find that they end up sitting somewhere and getting ignored? Is there any way at all that you can display these big models so that they will make much more of an impact? You could just pack them away in a box and take them out from time to time or you could actually build a display case for them. If you have ever noticed a museum display then you might have seen that they can make all the difference in the world between a mediocre display and a truly awesome one.
One of the first things to decide is how many of the model trucks you have assembled will need to go into your new display case. The flat part of your display case will partially be determined by this number. It will also make a big difference if you are going to make it a diorama or if it will be a static display. You might add any number of different touches just depending on what sort of truck it is that you have assembled.
Now that you know roughly how much space you need you will then better be able to decide how much space you will need in your home. One example of this would be for a 1:8 scale truck. If you are going to display two of them then you are going to need a board that is roughly three foot long and about four or five feet long. You will then have the space you will need to have your models placed where you want them and you will also be able to angle them so that they are not exactly parallel.
One of the best boards that you can use for this would be 1/4 inch plywood. This wood can look very nice if it has been properly treated. You must first stain it and then add a finish. Next you will want to figure out exactly how high it needs to be. One of the best steps to take first would be to provide support to the underside of the plywood deck. 2X4 lumber can work perfectly for this purpose. You might also want to use pine since it can be much more cost effective. Also, it will be out of sight once you have finished it. Once you have fixed the framework in place on the underside you will then be prepared to build the tall portion of the display. This part will be easy after having finished the first.
If the display is to be slightly higher than your waist then you should use the height of your own waist as the base measurement and build from there. An example of this would be as follows: If your waist is roughly 37 inches high then you would subtract the height of the top frame and the bottom frame from this number. You will then have the relative length that your support legs will need to be. In this case it would need to be 33 inches long on each one. If you intend to place a good deal of weight on your display then you might want to add extra support. Place each of your sections and attach them one at a time. Make sure that your screws are long enough to go through the plywood and both 2x4s so that you get the most support possible. This will pull everything down tight and give it the support it needs.
The last part of the base is the bottom. This will be basically the same as the top section as far as the 2x4 frame. Once this is in place you can then add your side panels. These just need to be plywood sections cut to fit over the holes on the side of the display case. Make sure that you measure these a couple times before you choose to cut them so that you do not chance a mistake. It is much cheaper to measure than it is to replace. Screw these down with some 1/2 inch screws and you will be done with the base. The only thing that you will have to do is add some trim and some finish as well.
If you want to add a cover to your display then you can use glass or you can purchase Plexiglas and cut it to fit in a box shape. This will look nice placed over your new model truck display. You can now be proud to show it to show it off to your friends and family.
If you want to cover your model cars then you can either purchase plexiglass sheets which you can cut and make into a box shape to set over your display or you can get fancy and have a glass cutter cut out individual panes and then you can frame them in on top of your display. Either way your model car display will look great and you can be proud to show it to others.
Have you or anyone you know ever built a model truck? If they have then they have had a part in keeping alive a hobby that has been around for many years. Model trucks are not only for those who love to build them. There are many avid collectors who love to build up their model collections. Have you wondered how a hobby with such a following ever get started?
As a gimmick, banks in the nineteen forties began to hand out model trucks that were actually banks. Made by a company named Banthrico these first die cast models were hollow and had a slit in the top for customers to drop their loose change into for safe keeping. Available in many different models, these banks normally had the bank's information printed on the roof of the cab or on the bed. These printed model trucks are still in very high demand today by collectors. Not too much later a company named PMC (Plastic Manufacturing Corporation) began to make a plastic version that was available to the public. The scale of the models at this time varied between 1:25th and 1:20th.
World War II saw drastic changes in the new model building hobby. As metal became scarce due to the war effort new hobbyists saw the birth of model building kits that were produced from both wood and plastics. Ace and Berkley were the first to produce these wooden model kits but not too much later the first true plastic car kit came into being. Made by the company Revell, one of the world leaders in hobby kits, the first plastic model was actually conceived by Derk Brand. Mr. Brand, from England, had previously created a line of 1/32 model kits for the Gowland Brothers. A few years later saw the birth of both friction and coaster cars that were used by auto salesmen in order to appeal to the parents of noisy children while their parents car shopped. Most of these were built by companies named AMT and SMP. Most of these all came already assembled.
Coming out of the fifties and into the sixties model building really took off. Several different model makers began production of their own lines and this time became known as a hay-day for hobbyists. From Revell to AMT and from Jo-Han to Monogram many different model makers began to finally produce the model kits with which we are familiar today. These kits came unassembled and were usually copies of the actual trucks that rolled off the production line at the beginning of the production year. Complete down to the smallest details these trucks were normally produced on a 1/25th scale.
Once model building reached the seventies the hobby began to decline. Other pastimes rose up to take the place of model building and many builders began to grow up and change hobbies. With the rise of the video game came a further decline in model building as a hobby though the late 80's did see some renewed interest thanks to the partnership of Monogram and NASCAR. The hobby has enjoyed a new lease on life thanks to some magazines that came into publication as well. Maybe not as strong as it once was the model building industry is still alive and well today.
Victor Epand has sinced written about articles on various topics from Shopping, Trucks and Interest. Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model cars, model trains, and model trucks. You will find excellent hobbying and trading resources here for