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28/02/2013 5:44 am
Oversized display cases: a plea to 1:43 manufacturers
Just got my Minichamps Mullin Collection Van Vooren Bugatti coupe, and it's a very interesting piece. But this post is not about the car, it's about the packaging!
Minichamps wants to make the Mullin Collection series look impressive--and so they've decided on a big, big display case with lots of "air" around the car. This is nothing new for Minichamps; the same oversized dimensions are used for the Heads of State cars, the recently released 1938 Mercedes record car, and some of their other historical models.
We see the same trend for oversized cases in the high end handbuilt Ilario/Chromes range. Large amounts of space around the models give a showroom feel, and add a luxe allure to the product itself. Who could object to that? Well, I didn't myself either...but now I'm on my 35th of these things and it's beginning to be a problem!
I've noticed that medium-priced manufacturers like Luxcar "upgraded" to large format display cases like the Chromes recently. Even Neo bumped up their display case sizes on their Rolls-Royce models. The Chinese Rolls-Royces from ATC and CMT have been put in cases so large that they've fashioned shoebox-like containers to house them!
All of the cases are attractive and some, such as the Minichamps, would look handsome on store shelves. Of course we all know that few of any of these models are actually still sold in stores.
Thank you, manufacturers, for trying to increase the attractiveness of the miniatures you make. I understand your impulse to show off and make each model special.
But please, manufacturers, understand that your models are not in isolation: they're going into collections, and collections need space. We don't have room for all the big display cases!
In fact, that's why many collectors switched from the 1:18 and 1:24 scale to 1:43: because they could collect more and display more.
It presents problems for collectors whether they're in urban apartments like my own, or even if they're in a house in the suburbs. How many does a collector have room for?
You have the dilemma of displaying it in its original case on the shelf--in which instance you run out of room quickly--or storing the case and other oversized packing materials somewhere, while showing the car separately, thus increasing the "footprint" even more.
So please, manufacturers, I beg you, before you consider another inflated, oversized box for your cute little model, remember we want to buy MORE of your products in the future--and that means we're going to need MORE room for them!
28/02/2013 5:48 am
Amen!
28/02/2013 6:21 am
Amen + 1
28/02/2013 7:06 am
Me too. Trouble is .....
... even when models come in smaller, neater boxes I nearly always take them out of their boxes so I can display about 20 models on a shelf (if they are worth keeping, the boxes go in the loft with smaller ones nested inside bigger ones to save space). But with all the fragile parts on many of the latest models - plus the threat of tyres sticking to shelves - there is a temptation to display them all in their boxes to avoid damage, and even if the boxes aren't lavishly over-sized that means about 6 to a shelf instead of 20. Big problem.
Some Forum members have posted pictures of their nice, spacious display areas (yes, all you Americans with your big utility rooms!) but compared with that, some of us folks live in rabbit hutches. And the rabbits need a bit of room to move around as well.
Oh my, it's hard life being an addict. And even worse if you're claustrophobic.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
28/02/2013 7:21 am
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
28/02/2013 8:04 am
Do What I do. I have some display cases like that, but what I will do is...........
put 2 or 3 cars in one display case depending on size and how it looks. Its a good solution for awhile anyway until you get more cars. I will also stack the display cases but leave the base off so light will filter thru the clear display case tops. That way I get light all the way from top to bottom still allowing all the models to be seen. I will stack them 2 high and then display a model on top of the last display top. Some of the nicer display cases are standard size so I will mix and match cases to get the look I want. But one I start stacking I leave the bases off. This method also gives extra dust protection. Be creative and you can find space solutions. RANDY
28/02/2013 10:51 am
I must disagree to some extent.
I really enjoy the cases in which my Chromes cars are displayed. I like the angle mount, and the showroom look. Same, of course, for the Ilario models. That said, EMC has more traditional mountings, but the base is still above the crowd. As far as the difference in price between a Spark Delage and a Minichamps Mullin Delage, I am guessing there is a large licensing fee to Mullin. There is a reason Peter Mullin can afford those cars. I do agree that the cases of the Mullin group and some of the 1/43 classics from Minichamps in the past are pretty large. They take up more shelf space than is really necessary.
28/02/2013 11:03 am
Well, the times are changing. I remember years ago...
we had a discussion in MAR about Brooklin's small "one size fits all" boxes...
Anyway, I display my collection in the showcase and store the boxes in the attic, there's room enough for them.
Ralf Buyer
Wiesbaden, Germany
28/02/2013 12:04 pm
.... and years ago in MAR I did a mini article about .......
boxes and paying over the odds for fancy packaging!
What comes round goes around!
Chris
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
28/02/2013 12:15 pm
Oooh, don't throw the boxes out!
Whether, they're big or small, oversized, silly or garish, keep the boxes!
Sure, the boxes don't matter when you've got the models in your display case. But they're not going to be in that display case forever. Someday, they're going to go to a new owner, or be sold. Those models will need their little houses to be safely shipped and collected later!
I'm just dealing this week with ---yet another---batch of old Bugatti models from a large collection where the owner ditched the boxes. It didn't seem like a big deal to him at the time. But now the models are devalued, the models that do sell will be unprotected and subject to damage, and the boxes themselves had a real historical interest.
28/02/2013 12:42 pm
Scott, I just added this bit as a throw-a-way comment!
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
28/02/2013 5:06 pm
I see, you were just tossin' out that remark!
03/03/2013 11:30 am
Automodello
When we designed our packaging, it was done to accommodate the largest 1/43 automobile we could think of, i.e., short of a truck. Hence you won't see this type of oversize packaging from Automodello.
Regards,
Jim Cowen
CEO
Automodello
847-274-9645
jamescowen@automodello.com
http://www.automodello.com
07/03/2013 3:42 pm
My wife finally got tired of 4,000+ on display so she bought me a 48'X26' Barn which will be instal- led next month the whole 2nd floor will be CARS, CARS & More Cars, All Little. I guess I'm outta the house. Of course the first floor will house the Packards (2)& RV + Micro Mini 4X4 Honda Pick-Up w/ Electra 225 Convert. I'm out of room before it's even built!