Hey guys, I once again come to you with a conundrum and will be grateful for your help
So I decided to display each of my tanks with their respective available shells
But there’s one problem
At 1/35, they’re so damn small and light, they just roll and blow away at the slightest gust of wind
Now sure, I can glue them to something, but, I’d like them to be pick up-able, and inspected from all angles by people and myself. But I don’t know how to do that. How do I both secure them, but also make it so they can be removed and inspected?
No idea, even after brainstorming for days.
Also, with this specific ammunition (or any two piece ammunition), I would like to display the shells and casings separately
But I’d like them to stay upright, and I can’t do that, because the armor piercing shells have a tracer stub that won’t let them stay upright…
So, I know I’m asking for a lot, but does anyone have any ideas on how I can secure my shells so they don’t roll off or blow away, while also making so they can be picked up individually?
Would appreciate any help! Thanks!
You might consider inserting tiny magnets (0.5 x 1mm) into holes drilled into the cartridge bottoms. Depending on the respective shell, you’d have to cut off the bottom first and then cement it back. On a metal base, they would stand securely enough, and with the AP projos, a hole in the metal base would help.
In addition to what Peter ( @PzAufkl ) suggested I would suggest
mounting a magnet in a display stand and adding simple pieces of
iron (cut off iron wire for instance) inside the shells.
I think it is easier to find slightly larger magnets and iron wire is
easy to find.
What about a “stand” with holes in it? Like a stencil except the shells would be in the holes. Make it from clear plastic and the shells can be viewed from any angle.
First of all, thanks for all the responses guys!
Alright, so, magnets do sound like a good idea, it’d be the best way to both make the shells “stick”, while also being very easy to just pick up and place again
For plastic/styrene shells I could probably cut them, drill a hole with a pin vise and insert a magnet (would need a really thin magnet though, that’s also strong enough)
But metal shells would be a problem, no? Most metal shells are brass, and brass isn’t magnetic, right?
A stand with holes (like a pencil or acrylic bottle holders right?) is an option, but since shells are usually flared, they won’t be able to insert or be picked up from the top, they’d have to be inserted and picket from the botto of the hole
The hole only needs to be one third of the length of the shell and it can be a little lose.
I would go for magnets. The magnetic forces will reach through the brass.
I second that, and for the magnets: as I wrote, they can be had in 0.5 x 1mm, neodyme to boot, from those Chinese mail order firms, 20 for about € 5.- or less, free mailing included.
Ah wait, are you suggesting I drill a hole in a brass shell?
I don’t think I have the tools for that! Neither for cutting the shell in half nor for drilling!
Even if you had the tools it would be very difficult to hide the hole afterwards …
I would go for some type of display stand, either a flat “plate” with holes
It will have a back “wall”, and the dividers between the shells will be cut into triangles, and the front will be open so they can be retrieved!
Now the way we make it so they don’t fall forward is just by making sure the dividers holding each shell grip them tightly!
This might be a good idea, I think, it will show off most of the shells, will grip them, and will make it so they can be freely removed and inspected. The rack itself can be glued to the shelf or a big heavy plate or whatever so it doesn’t fall or blow away!
Now, if this does sound like a good idea to y’all who are smarter than me, I’ll just need to find a material to make these 39 odd racks haha
Ideally it’d be a transparent material, like clear acrylic sheets, but I couldn’t find any thin enough… It’s either thick sheets or way too thin ones that are flexible and wobbly
Maybe something similar to the PE we get in kits? That’s think but strong, and can be cut. It’s not clear, but, beggars can’t be choosers
Either way, I’ll need to actually find it, haha
There are clear styrene sheets (Evergreen) which I think are reasonably stiff.
The whole contraption will be rather small for 1/35th scale shells …
I would suggest making the base from a thicker styrene sheet, more weight,
and maybe let the holder lean backward, maybe 10 - 15 degrees,
to help prevent the sheels from falling forward.
Maybe even make the base a bit larger to gain weight and foothold…
Oh yes, all of these are good suggestions that I’ll apply! I’ll put the backing holder at an angle, and of course I will make the base sturdy and heavy, it doesn’t need to be dainty like the rest that’s no problem. Maybe I’ll even just add a small square at the bottom to hold the shell, because if it’s transparent, it’s no problem, like this:
But hmm, I can’t find the Evergreen sheets anywhere that ships to Israel at an affordable price, unfortunately
Do you think these will suffice?: Link
Specifically the 2mm ones, they seem reasonably stiff as opposed to the thinner options. Will be easy to cut, and they’re super cheap!
Well, if you can consider going as thick as 2 mm there is another option.
The clear “lids” on CD-cases are 1.1 or 1.2 mm thick, really stiff and should be available for cheap at second hand or thrift stores.
Find the least scratched ones, styrene can also be polished and/or made shiny with acrylic floor polish.
Oof yeah okay I just now checked how much 2mm actually is haha, yeah that’s too thick
1mm seems fine though? And the 1mm sheet is wobbly but not too much…
Again, unfortunately, second hand or thrift stores, don’t really exist where I live.. It’s kind of a bygone thing. I may have some old CD cases lying around somewhere though, but I presume it’ll be hard to cut and shape the without snapping them into irregular shapes
