First some backstory. I have a collector friend who has over 600 models in 1:24 and 1:18 scale. He likes to brag about them and always eager to show a new arrival off. BUT, he doesn't display them! None of them!
He has them all in their respective boxes stacked in a bedroom closet. He and I have had discussions about this, as I don't understand why he has them if they are not going to be displayed. He says he doesn't have the room to display them, which I politely disagree as well.
He has two rooms in his house that could have shelves or display cases put in. But he is relentless that the cars stay in their boxes tucked away in that closet. I know they are not my cars, but it frustrates me. I personally see NO REASON to buy them if they are not going to be displayed.
OKAY, SO THE BURNING QUESTION...
How many of you guys display your cars and how many of you don't. If not, why? And even better question, why even by them if you are not going to display them and enjoy looking at them?
All of my cars are displayed in two different rooms. What's the point of having them if you can't see them? I also display all of the boxes in a bedroom closet.
I have far too many models to display them all properly; which is why, since I retired and downsized a bit, I have sold off some of them. I agree that there is no point to having a collection if it is not displayed, or at least rotated for display periodically. It is very hard to decide which models are to be sold though...very hard indeed. I love the way a number of Forum members show us pics and dioramas of their collections.
It depends on the type and scale of the models. For my 1/43 scale model cars I display most all of them. All my 1/64 scale train locomotives and freight cars are displayed. About 1/3 of my 1/64 scale cars and trucks and airplanes are displayed, but I do rotate them.
About 20% of my models are displayed and I technically have the room to display all of them, unfortunately I am the single viewer of my collection... So, I am not eager to move them out of my unfinished basement, renovate the basement, spent many thousands, and arrange them, sounds like a project after retirement. It doesn't bother me much that they are not displayed. I sometimes rotate the displayed models, but not as frequently as I wish.
Not every collector displays what they collect. I collect a myriad of 'things'. I only display that which I want to see most often and that, as it turns out to be, are Mint cars. I have learned over time that most visitors to our home also like to see the cars as well.
I have cars prominently displayed in every room of the house and basement quarters except for 3 bathrooms. My wife has confiscated several of my scale model cars for her own displays; in a guest bedroom, and her 'she cave'.
I have some in various types of enclosures and Danbury Mint 'covered' display cases, but most are on book shelves in plastic cases or, as with most of my FM & DM Corvette display, (though not all of them), on open shelves that I made for my computer room when I first built the house - seen here:
Nice displays Tony! I hope you don't have earthquakes in Tennessee! All of mine are in cases or curios bolted to the walls.
Thanks Pete. We do have 'quakes in Tennessee - west Tennessee. It is home to the New Madrid Faultline; in the Memphis area, 6+ hours drivetime away. Here in far east Tennessee, in the mountains, we are on pretty solid bedrock. The far & few between earthquakes we feel, are relatively minor.
I really like to display if possible but there are limitations of space. I use a large recreation room and a model workroom but leave the rest of the house ‘unmodelled’. My wife, who does not like clutter appreciates that.
I display approx. 700 1/43 models, about the same number of those around 1/64, mainly Jaguar and early Matchbox and a dozen or so each of 1/24 and 1/18. Also, one 1/12 and five 1/8, mostly Pochers. That’s likely about 15 percent of my collection, so I do have a problem. I do some rotation yearly but not as much as I should.
Some of my stored items are items that I am not as interested in any more. I do sell at toy shows every year but unfortunately keep buying. I suspect most of you have this problem also.
An afterthought. I had a good friend who continually bought models, automobiles and trains. His house was filled with them and he never displayed. He died earlier this year and everything was cleared out by his ex-wife to an unknown destination. (I did not ask.)
Whenever I questioned him about his collection, he just said, having it kept him satisfied. I reminded him that if something happened to him, he could not take it with him.
An afterthought. I had a good friend who continually bought models, automobiles and trains. His house was filled with them and he never displayed. He died earlier this year and everything was cleared out by his ex-wife to an unknown destination. (I did not ask.)
Whenever I questioned him about his collection, he just said, having it kept him satisfied. I reminded him that if something happened to him, he could not take it with him.
Not every collector displays what they collect. I collect a myriad of 'things'. I only display that which I want to see most often and that, as it turns out to be, are Mint cars. I have learned over time that most visitors to our home also like to see the cars as well.
I have cars prominently displayed in every room of the house and basement quarters except for 3 bathrooms. My wife has confiscated several of my scale model cars for her own displays; in a guest bedroom, and her 'she cave'.
I have some in various types of enclosures and Danbury Mint 'covered' display cases, but most are on book shelves in plastic cases or, as with most of my FM & DM Corvette display, (though not all of them), on open shelves that I made for my computer room when I first built the house - seen here:
WOW! Very nice Tony! I really like how you have your models displayed. Though I'm not a Corvette fan, I still am in awe at how great your display shelves show them off and I'd be captivated while looking at them. I wish more fellow collectors would share their collections.
for many years only about 80% of my collection was on display. Then about 12 months ago I converted a disused bedroom into my car room, ordering specially made wall display cases and floor showcases, so that my entire collection is now out and on display, and I love it! So good being able to look around the entire room and see model cars everywhere!
for many years only about 80% of my collection was on display. Then about 12 months ago I converted a disused bedroom into my car room, ordering specially made wall display cases and floor showcases, so that my entire collection is now out and on display, and I love it! So good being able to look around the entire room and see model cars everywhere!
Glad you finally have ALL your cars displayed. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if mine were in boxes in a closet. And now with all of yours displayed, I can totally understand the feeling you get when you walk in to the room and models surround you. It's like heaven on earth.
