What Locos Do You Have "Under Glass"?

I have not run my Lionel Hudson 5354 and keep it in the Lionel supplied display case on a wall mounted shelf above my desk. I never get tired of looking at its construction and many details. I run the 773 Hudson. Dick

Come to think of it, I once put an entire steam freight  set under glass. That was a bit of a project.

 

Bob C.

Only one on permanent display, our Centennial gold Hudson.  My wife bought it for me, but she says it stays on the mantel.

 

The cover is off for the picture. 

 

I have other trains on shelves downstairs, but they get run on occasion.

Same here.  Although I might like a case for my father's Lionel 252 and its three passenger cars.

 

I have none under glass as I run all I own.

-Greg

I really like everyone's cases and displays. I too have made them for my prize engines, however, I just ran out of room them all as we have a small home. So , My wife and I invested in a beautiful curio cabnet. Since the glass shelves are thin, I cannot display any diecast in them. I need to invest in thicker glasses shelves...about another $200.00.

 

Lee - I love  your office display. How nice that you are able to enjoy at work. I could never trust this in my office. I would be afraid it would be gone the next morning.

 

However , a great conversation starter!

 

Great Thread!!!

 

JoeG

Lionel Gold Hudson, MTH Gold Hudson, C&O Yellowbelly(dosen't run well on Super'O'), and R I Chrome General.

 

Boxes??  I have many under boxes.

Hmmm, someone mentioned "in boxes", I've got a few of those.  Wish I had room to display them (PRR K4, Grey NYC Hudson, JLC GG1).  Anyone have recommendations for quality display cases at reasonable cost?

None under glass. They are all on display somewhere, and they all get run at some point.

I second GGG's response.  Well said sir!

 

For those of us that collect models AND run them we basically have 2 options.  Tuck them away in their boxes or wherever and only enjoy them when we want to run them or actually display them so you can ALWAYS enjoy them. 

 

These are acrylic cases from Custom Display Cases.  When I want to pull one out I just slide the front panel over or just lift it up and pull it out completely.  They are always clean.  I have a 7' case on order currently and plan on 2 more after that.  Not cheap, but they let the most light in of any wall cases I have seen so it was an easy choice. 

 

 

 

None "under glass" but 8 devoted to a life of service on a bookcase - my G, O, S, OO, HO, TT, N, and Z scaled NYC steam engines of various classificatiion on my multi-gauge/scale layout.

Don't have any under glass right now, but really like seeing what others have shared.  I'm very impressed with some of the display cases that people have.  I'm considering doing something like that in our new log home - along with the new to-be-built operating layout, of course, to replace the current one.

Neat thread!

Makes me want to display. I have many on loan to a museum I guess that counts as display ;-)

I agree, I like 30thSt displays.  I have K-line coal loader, I may look at making a display scene for the J and a string of PW N&W operating hoppers.  G

This is a VERY interesting Photo bradrock!

 

 

I wonder if this is things to come:

 

GP9 Phase III with 3 48" fans

Rs1 Chopped Nose

Did I see a U25B in another photo?

Actually, not under glass but the USA made LTI 1-700E (best ever from the USA) resides in a fenced in park on permanent static display in Lionelville. 

Historians have been looking it over to hopefully bring it back into railfan service.

Joe 

I consider myself about 85% operator and 15% collector. I sometimes buy something for the primary purpose of displaying it but if I have to opportunity to run it I will. Hey, the point is to have fun and there's no wrong way to go about this hobby.

 

This is the display case. I sometimes rotate what goes in there. Since I don't have a layout at the present time at least I can look at the trains and run them on my small test track.

midnightwrecking:

 

"...shelf queens awaiting a spin or the hacksaw..."

 

Now THERE'S a man after my own heart.

Thanks for the very nice replies to this topic.

 

Bob C.

I was kind of hoping this thread was dying out, so I took a couple of pictures of some 1/48 airplane dioramas I have under glass.  Don't mean to get off topic, but I will anyway.  The last is a B25 helping me with my paper trail.  Farrah is my office assistant making sure of,... well, everything.

Perhaps relevant to the OP is, I make the platform with 1/2 smooth plywood, circle it with 3/4" quarter round, which I paint the primary color of the model.  Need work on my plexiglass gluing, but I have ideas to improve that.  Which reminds me, I have a B24 I need to finish.  I just need to paint my crew and put it together.  Enjoy your modeling. 

It's a good thing that there are no earthquakes in Minnesota!

Had these guys in the portables at the TCA show in Denver last year too.



Otherwise most of the collection lives in two rooms. ��

You guys have some darn nice display items. I am impressed.I thank you all for participating in this post.

 

Bob C.

WILLIAM 1

 

I too have built several model planes and put them under glass. Your models look pretty neat. I also built a B-17 as you have. The post is not off topic since it involves the construction of plexiglas cases. Thank you for sharing.

 

When I made cases the results were pretty good. I assembled the case using masking tape then applied the cement via capillary action using a balsa stick honed on the end to a chisil shape. After I had hit the non taped joints, I went back, removed the tape and applied glue to those locations. when that was done i used a liquid polishing compound to remove any glue overage.

 

Perhaps some members could share their case making techniques on this topic before it dies.

 

Bob C.

Bob, this is a technique I learned from a master instrument maker at work. You would either need a good exhaust hood or do it outside with plenty of ventilation. He used Methylene Chloride aka dichloromethane as the solvent. You need a pan long enough for the longest edge of the case. Pour about 1/16" deep of the solvent and place the edge in the solvent. Hold it there about 30 seconds and then place against the mating piece And clamp. This usually requires a jig to hold them at the required angle. Let them set a few hours before finishing. Excess plastic that had oozed out would be trimmed on a mill or with a knife then polished using white diamond compound on a buffing wheel. After polishing the joint would be undetectable. 

He also had a jig for bending using heat tape.

Considering the effort and equipmet needed I will buy all my cases from Dave's Bases and Cases. Not only are his prices very reasonable but he uses real glass so no worries about scratches.

 

Pete

I have some simpler solutions in mind.  My B24 is going to be hung, to display the bomb load and some innards hopefully, no case this time, but when I do an enclosure again, I'm using carefully laid tape and the same glue. 

I want to know what Lee paid for his case.  When I find that out, I'm sure the first thought will be, ' I'm in the wrong business'.  As always, cheers.

NORTON

 

As I write this I am watching reruns of the Honeymooners and of course I am enjoying the character of Ed Norton.

 

I like your input on case construction. It is sophisticated and should yield superior results. My method is sort of a poor man's approach.

 

Bob C.

Erik, 

Who makes the FEF-1?  Love it.

Thanks!

RoyBoy, yes it's good there are no earthquakes in Minnesota, but even so these cases are actually very sturdy.  There is not doubt some considerable weight but they haven't bowed a bit.  Each one is actually 2 separate cases stacked on each other, which probably helps.  Anything beyond a certain length actually gets a front reinforcement.  I'm curious if anyone else has purchased these same cases and if they have any feedback.  

 

Nick

 

The funny thing is that I bought my first On30 ten-wheeler (Bachmann ET&WNC # 11 wuithout sound) to just put under glass. I never intended to have a layout but I bought a couple of boxcars to make a short consist, again, under glass, then the realization hit me I could build a short switching layout on one wall in the toy room. Then, my wife pointed out that I could move stuff around in the room for maximum floor space. Then, the realization hit me I could have the ET&WNC layout I'd always wanted.

All that just from something I never intended to run and just put under glass. And no, that loco never spent a day under glass and it sitting on the layout right now!

I have a lionel HO scale GS-4 #4449 painted as the American Freedom Train under glass. I bought the model when I was about 12 or so, still sitting in a hobby shop in Johnson City, TN. An hour later, I got to sit in the cab of one of the last running steam locomotives in the US, North American Rayon Porter Fireless 0-6-0 at Elizabethon.

The Freedom Train rolled through my hometown in Florida when I was a little kid and it was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. Thankfully it stopped for a display setup and I got to tour the entire train days before my 7th birthday. I remember it was if was last week. I live relatively close to the real 4449 now and have talked with Doyle McCormack a couple of times about seeing him at the throttle of that GS rolling past me at the Seaboard depot platfom in Tallahassee that cold November day. I even got to repeat that experience, in Portland, by standing on the ground as 4449 rolled by just as close, with the same man at the controls, painted again in Freedom train colors.

The model is a little beat up here and there from being dropped twice and several moves over the years. But it overlooks my On30 layout from the book case.

I am writing this at the same time you are figuring out you forgot to post a picture, I'm sure.  Did you see my P51, p51!

None.

 

If I was going to have something "under glass", it would likely be that MTH G Gauge Challenger or whatever it was I saw at a hobby show once.

That lovely lady in gray is an Overland OMI.

=)

Go to our website and on the bottom it runs by... (Video)

http://coloradooscale.org


       

This may be off topic, but Farrah was asking for help at the office, being so busy, working, no time for fun anymore, I said ok, she's the brains of the outfit, and hired some new talent. Always room for more.  We need harmony at the office, and we all feel better now.

I dont have a photo of it to post right now, I knew that and it wasn't an accident. There's really not that much special about an old 70s HO GS-4 anyway, other than sentimental to me.

I did see your planes, great work. I especially like your model of the B-17 named "Chowhound." Scary that I knew the nose art just from the markings on the copilot's side without having to look it up, huh?

I'm also a life member of the 91st Bomb Group association...

Yes, she is the  Chowhound.  My B24 is named Flak Alley.  Outstanding nose art.  There are Flak bursts around and between her bare legs. It is a Revell made in Germany.  The directions are in 18 different languages.  Got to pant my crew.  That has been my stumbling block.  Time to give them an identity for sure and put her together.  Cheers.

For collector purists, I can understand the urge to keep valuable pieces like an original 5344 or some highly detailed brass under glass, but in my estimation, trains were made to be run. If I ever build a glass enclosed display case to keep some engines in view it will only be for storage until I can put them out to run on the layout.

 

Frank, nice display!  Prior to collecting and running trains I was a collector of 1:18 scale MOPAR muscle cars.  It's amazing how collections can get out of hand and there just wasn't enough room for large cars and large trains.  I'm envious of anyone that still has both.  Of course my car collection was an attempt to fill the void for giving up my real '71 Challenger and '69 Charger long ago.  Oh to be able to go back in time and not make that mistake again!

 

Nick