Display cabinet suggestions? IKEA?

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Hi,

I guess I need a display cabinet now and am looking for suggestions. I imagine IKEA is the place to go, but reviews on all of their stuff is kinda mixed. Anyone here have something to recommend that isn’t expensive and isn’t too hard to assemble?

FWIW I’m in the Chicago area, so N American retailer options…

Thanks,
Phil

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Their best cabinet went up in price and down in quality a few years ago, and in fact I don’t think they even offer it anymore.

However, without knowing if you want display over a fancy cabinet that goes with your wife’s living room suite the closest thing to what I have is part of the BlÅliden line, item 005.205.19 for $80.

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/blaliden-glass-door-cabinet-black-00520519/

Four shelves of roughly a square foot in size which is a bit smaller than mine but I can fit a 1/32 WWII fighter or 3-4 1/24 scale automobiles on each shelf. The cabinet is about 60 inches tall and just over a foot each side on the exterior. LED lighting should be doable.

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I don’t know if it’s the same in the US but IKEA display cabinets quite often come up for sale on Facebook marketplace in the UK.

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While I love Ikea, and still have items I bought almost forty years ago, I have three of these for my models:

https://www.dutchcrafters.com/Amish-Sheffield-Barrister-Bookcase/tp/50688?so=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic_shopping&utm_campaign=Amish%20Sheffield%20Barrister%20Bookcase&utm_term=50688&utm_content=749&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=Shopping+Category+749+-+Office+Storage+-+Michael+-+Preferred&hsa_acc=9366795812&hsa_cam=11849452026&hsa_grp=120829629568&hsa_ad=486540598990&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=pla-1943736489109&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=11849452026&gbraid=0AAAAADugv5TJs8E4e6aNZ9AE6kNOKMTPu&gclid=CjwKCAjw56DBBhAkEiwAaFsG-k0V1VWHM0NwVHa0L9n-entCFBVLUgG6wFeHclMTbNmu73cDzAbSmxoC7jIQAvD_BwE

They obviously keep the dust off, and accessing the models is extremely easy - just lift the door, No sliding panels to deal with. Some day I’ll add a an extra level inside each one, but that day hasn’t come yet.

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Here’s a thought… If you have the room and access to a pick up truck and a couple of guys with strong backs. Jo Anne fabrics is selling out all shelving and display cases. And, I am sure there are other out of business places and probably brokers who handle re-sale of store shelving & such supplies. Good luck on your quest!

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I thought the same thing when Party City went out of business. They were selling it off in bulk, and most of it was ugly stuff I wouldn’t want in my house.
I have been visiting Joann’s every few weeks. Headed there today on our way to tour our daughter’s office at the U. They had some air fryers of all things that were 75% off.

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I went to a used furniture store. They have curio cabinets and other display cabinets. I bought a 6 shelf cabinet for $80/ Included a light and glass on 3 sides.

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Those Barrister bookcases certainly are elegant, with large glass windows giving uninterrupted views. You can also easily install lighting. But they are also certainly expensive.
:smiley: :canada:

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I have an IKEA display cabinet, but it has wood on all three sides and a glass door. I don’t think IKEA makes it anymore because I don’t see it. It definitely was not $80, but a lot more.

Some things to consider when buying a model display cabinet:

  • Ensure that the cabinet is totally sealed. IKEA makes cheap glass cabinets that have glass pane holders with gaps between the glass panes. Dust will get in between the gaps, leaving a fine line of dust where the gaps are, and eventually your entire cabinet will get dusty inside over time. Having a side gap on the front door where it hits the wood is OK, but do not buy any display cabinet where there’s gaps and no framing. Avoid the “Totally glass” display cabinets because there’s no way glass can touch glass without some form of framing.
  • Buy a cabinet with a frontal key lock, even if it’s a cheap swivel latch. Having a locking mechanism is a godsend because you know that the cabinet is shut and locked and secure. Some display cabinets just have a simple wood peg to open and close and if the wood warps or expands, there will be a gap in your display cabinet that dust can get through.
  • Avoid buying shelves and using plastic display boxes to display models. You want to touch and move your models as little as possible so a sealed display cabinet is the best. Plastic display boxes separate because there’s no locking mechanism. It’s like picking up a carton of eggs from the cover with plastic display boxes; the cover will open up and all your eggs will drop out. You pick up eggs from the bottom of the cartoon.
  • For older models, you can store them in the basement in covered plastic bins and boxes from the art store. I do this for my older models and smaller 1/35-1/20 figures to make more room in my display cabinet. If you don’t add a base to your finished builds, it’s easier to lie them flat or any way you can. I use Artbins.

If you’re worried about mold, moisture, and mildew in your plastic boxes in the basement, or in your display cabinet, you can buy little dessicant packets from Amazon.com.

My display cabinet looks something like this, but it was from IKEA. Notice the keys although mine has LED lights inside on the cabinet ceiling and white wood on all three sides.

https://www.displays2go.com/M-1352/Tall-Glass-Display-Cabinet-Two-Swing-Open-Tempered-Doors

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You should add to your list avoid cheap-ass (or homemade) shelves that collapse on your models.

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The IVAR shelf collection has always been my go-to for displaying my finished models.

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Highly modular and made of solid unpainted pine, which you can paint or stain to your liking.

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Some say the assembly instructions for IKEA products are written by the same person who does those for Dragon models…
:smiley:
Cheers,

M

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I remembered the name of my Ikea cabinets; they were part of the Detolf line which they no longer carry according to the website. The ones I linked to above are actually a bit shorter (5 inches) as well as a touch shallower and narrower, plus construction is very simplified compared to mine so this seems to be the Ikea Smart Shelf kit.

The Detolfs were wildly popular with the action figure collectible crowd.

A shelf can hold an average size 1/32 aircraft of WWII vintage. I’ve added additional shelves using clamps and brackets; you can buy 3D printed ones online but they were a bit too short for the size glass panes I used for the extra shelves. That allowed me to divide a “unit” into 2 or 3 smaller units depending on the kits.

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When I started buying them they were $60 and the stores had trouble keeping them in stock; the Atlanta store would not hold them or allow you to purchase them online – you had to come in person. Then the price shot up to $150 and the quality starting tanking. If you try to find one online ask if it was purchased before 2022.

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You might want to look at thrift stores to see if they have something you can use

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I always prefer customized cabinet from a local shop, I am free to set my desired dimensions of it, as long as fit with my working room, the house door entrance,… and how many finished models I want to accommodate, of course! :smiley:

Cheers,

Garry

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I like the Ikea Billy bookshelf with the Oxberg glass doors

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I believe that’s the reason they were discontinued. There were a few cases of the glass shattering and damaging the stored items / injuring people. I got lucky with my 5 pre 2020 vintage cases but I’m running out of room and I haven’t found a suitable replacement yet :cry:

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