The Little World

No, it’s not a horrible new addition to home delivery of food and parcels. This bomber is in a box for a good reason.

When you start a collection of scale models, you really need to start with the biggest darn one you’re ever going to build and work back from that. Then, when you realise that you need to house the thing after completion, you can get a cabinet or showcase that size and be sure that everything subsequent will have display space.

I did not do so – deciding that the cheapest of the IKEA bookshelves would do the job. The BILLY bookshelves are inexpensive and sturdy, but they are limited in depth. 250mm is your lot – and some of the scale model airplanes I build just do not fit. The answer of displaying them in an open setting on a scale airfield works, but dust and air-borne oil take their toll.

A custom cabinet would do the trick, but these can be more expensive than I can pay -so I have discovered a workable alternative; cardboard dsiplay boxes.

These are available from a local small decor shop and are apparently intended as presentation boxes for baked goods. Cardboard, with a clear plastic window in the top. And big enough to swallow a lot of the 1:72 planes. I have successfully boxed a B-17, a Whitley, and a Privateer. Smaller aircraft are no problem, and you can fit two twin-engine bombers into one box.

This means I can transport models safely to club meetings or library displays. I can preserve the fancy paintwork from dust. And I can still see the model while this is going on.

Not all of us have a Dayton, Ohio or Smithsonian budget to display our collection – this is one way to deal with the tough ones.

Note: One day I will find a Monogram B-36 for sale and will have to re-think this strategy.