Boxed models: How to display?

[SBF]

I have been collecting the Aoshima 1:24 models of the different R34 Skyline tuning shop demo cars, with a view to display them in my home office. I have 8 or so.

I don't plan to assemble them (because I'm a ham-fisted luddite) and love the box artwork, so I'd like to display them safely on the wall, I was thinking in a grid of sorts. I'd like to avoid putting holes in or marking up the boxes.

The décor in the office is going to be minimalist, so something like a boxy shelving unit isn't really ideal.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

EDIT: Please ignore grandma spec blanket.

[SBF]

EmailAddress said:

(If they have any value as boxed, bear in mind the cover will fade if displayed.)

Anything glass box / case / unit, or shelving is going to end up looking like a toy shop isn't it?

They don't really have any monetary value to be honest but you're quite right, I hadn't considered the fading issue.

And yes, you've hit the nail on the head, I feel like shelves, display units and the like will make it look a bit 'model shop'.

It would be nice for them to stand alone against the wall like a frameless canvas would. Maybe very small glass shelves might be the answer but I'm unsure.

EmailAddress said:

I'd pick three at a time and place them in deep frames with mounts and plaques, the rotate out every few months to keep the 'view' interesting.

Interesting, not something I'd seen before. Thanks!

[stevep944]

Scan and print the box art and mount them as pictures?
Thus preserving the actual boxes.

[Super Sonic]

stevep944 said:

Scan and print the box art and mount them as pictures?
Thus preserving the actual boxes.

This.
Bearing in mind the sun won't just fade the box art, it will raise the temperature inside the boxes, and plastic gets soft when warm.

[Murph7355]

Super Sonic said:

stevep944 said:

Scan and print the box art and mount them as pictures?
Thus preserving the actual boxes.

This.
Bearing in mind the sun won't just fade the box art, it will raise the temperature inside the boxes, and plastic gets soft when warm.

This all the way.

And if they have no real value...start making them (plenty of videos and threads on here that would help).

[Lighterman1]

SBF said:

I have been collecting the Aoshima 1:24 models of the different R34 Skyline tuning shop demo cars, with a view to display them in my home office. I have 8 or so.

I don't plan to assemble them (because I'm a ham-fisted luddite) and love the box artwork, so I'd like to display them safely on the wall, I was thinking in a grid of sorts. I'd like to avoid putting holes in or marking up the boxes.

The décor in the office is going to be minimalist, so something like a boxy shelving unit isn't really ideal.

Does anyone have any thoughts?

EDIT: Please ignore grandma spec blanket.

Your post compels me to ask something I've often wondered over many years, but never thought to question the knowledgeable - how might one acquire original model kit illustrative artwork (to me, at least, such images are indeed works of art)? Do collectors of original model kit artwork exist?

I, for one, absolutely covet much of this genre of art.

[RichB]

Murph7355 said:

Super Sonic said:

stevep944 said:

Scan and print the box art and mount them as pictures?
Thus preserving the actual boxes.

This. Bearing in mind the sun won't just fade the box art, it will raise the temperature inside the boxes, and plastic gets soft when warm.

This all the way. And if they have no real value...start making them (plenty of videos and threads on here that would help).

I would certainly make them because that's what the designer intended. Then display the completed model in front of the box lid art.

[Lighterman1]

EmailAddress said:

You'll enjoy this LINK about the history, and this LINK to their official site.

Thank you. That's incredibly interesting and insightful!

Would others have knowledge of original artwork employed to entice potential buyers of Airfix, Gunze Sangyo, Hasegawa, Heller, Revell, Tamiya etc kits? And, potentially, how to buy / collect same? I think this might be a fascinating distraction in its own right...

[Lighterman1]

EmailAddress said:

Hey OP, you can't even fk these ones up ...

Marketing said:

No painting required
The body color is reproduced by coloring the plastic material, eliminating the need for painting.
The glossy body is also a highlight.
No need for glue
No glue is required by adopting the snap-fit method.

I probably could fack - up a snap-together kit! But you chaps have inspired me to buy such a kit anyway. Should make an agreeable distraction from eating crayons etc...

[Yertis]

Lighterman1 said:

Thank you. That's incredibly interesting and insightful!

Would others have knowledge of original artwork employed to entice potential buyers of Airfix, Gunze Sangyo, Hasegawa, Heller, Revell, Tamiya etc kits? And, potentially, how to buy / collect same? I think this might be a fascinating distraction in its own right...

Amazingly it does come up on eBay – the Frog Supermarine S6 artwork was recently up for grabs. The chap who did a lot of the Matchbox kit artwork sells (or was selling) was selling his stiff fairly recently – https://downthetubes.net/roy-huxleys-matchbox-model-kit-art-and-more-offered-for-sale/

Otherwise the artwork is highly sought after, and nearly non-existent in the case of Airfix. So you're either buying the books or the boxes. I started collecting but realised it's an expensive and frankly pointless exercise, so gave up.

[Murph7355]

EmailAddress said:

The OP after feeling inspired...

Thing is, they're no worse off.

Nobody has to see it if it turns out pants. But if it looks good...

[Lighterman1]

Yertis said:

Amazingly it does come up on eBay – the Frog Supermarine S6 artwork was recently up for grabs. The chap who did a lot of the Matchbox kit artwork sells (or was selling) was selling his stiff fairly recently – https://downthetubes.net/roy-huxleys-matchbox-model-kit-art-and-more-offered-for-sale/

Otherwise the artwork is highly sought after, and nearly non-existent in the case of Airfix. So you're either buying the books or the boxes. I started collecting but realised it's an expensive and frankly pointless exercise, so gave up.

I'd never even considered that there might be books dedicated to Dinky/Matchbox/Airfix/Corgi - and other model kit - artwork. D'oh!

It's the depictions of cars (only) on boxes - that used to part me from my pocket money oh so many years ago - that now arrests my attention again.

With this in mind, would you be kind enough to advise of the publications referred to? I'd be most grateful, of course!

[A M G]

You can get ‘invisible’ floating shelves/brackets for displaying a stack of books. I’ve just seen that acrylic ones are also available cheaply. Essentially an L-shape bracket that screws to the wall. Why not mount with those picture hanging strips and tuck the “shelf” part between lid and box. Swap around and move as the mood takes…!