I quite like these clear supports for models seen recently on eBay.
They're called Ghost Stands and come in various sizes. It's a neat idea for displaying your FAB1 or Space 1999 Eagle at an angle.
I haven't got one but what do you think readers? A stocking filler?
Well I made some more room in my cabinet and got my Hot Wheels out and onto their own shelf (my handful of Redlines are on the shelf above).
It's not all of them but I'm pleased with how they look. Are you?
Have you got any Hot Wheels?
Having boxed up my excess die-casts I had some shelf room to create a secondary display, this time of my better condition models, some favourites, some Corgi Rockets and a few Redlines.
See what you think.
Over the past few years I've amassed tons of die-casts. It was great fun to do - they're just so plentiful and cheap at car boots - and many I spent hours touching-up with Sharpies and paint pens in my fave armchair, a really relaxing activity I first discovered with a Batmobile.
Alas, my cabinet is bursting with die-casts now, squashed on top of each other and my Hot Wheels and good Superfast stuff are waiting in the wings for shelf space.
I've decided to thin out the herd and heeding my old collector friend Casinelli's advice to "keep your best Woodsy" I've boxed up only those models which I can live without. Quite a few as it turns out.
I'll be sorry to see them all go but I'm looking forward to displaying my other stuff.
I'm sure there'll be a few you recognise. They include mostly Corgi, some Dinky, the odd Majorette, two Yatming, some SIKU and one Lone Star. Oh and a Blue Box.
Have you a lot of die casts? Have you had to thin out your collection?
It maybe a while before our new PM has a cabinet reshuffle but mine was accelerated by the arrival of three men of action.
A few hours sorting, shifting and stacking later, here's my two cabinets now containing my pandemic scratchbuilt SpaceX and Thunderbirds models, my Transformers and now complete with the new Action Man arrivals.
My die-cast case is choc full. Only redlines are allowed space from now on and they're thankfully rare!
John Marshall's book Action Figures of the 1960's is special to me. I bought it at the massive Strand bookstore in New York City in January 2001. My Missus took me to the Big Apple as a surprise for my 40th. In September that year 9/11 happened and the Strand really isn't that far from Ground Zero I don't think. Leafing John's book always makes me feel grateful to be alive.
Have you had a cabinet reshuffle? Have you any John Marshall books? Have you been to the Strand book shop?
Five years ago my cave looked like this, a mess!
Toys, books, games, even a pair of crutches!
Some of the SpaceX scratch builds I made are visible in the cabinet, all stored away in the attic now.
I'd also brought board games down from the attic because a collector was visiting to see if there any he wanted to buy.
I regret selling the rare Dekker Horror Make-Up, but it was a cheap car boot find and you can't hold onto everything can you!
Sadly, my new smaller cave is just as untidy! Its seems impossible for it to be any other way!
Are you an untidy collector readers are a neat one?
Clearing our my Father in Laws apartment in Germany I came across this old photograph amongst hundreds of ancient prints.
Its one of his German Friend's son's collection of cars and tinplate on his book shelves. I think the son was called Manhard. The shot is from decades ago, circa 1991 and I remember visiting him with my Father in Law.
The strange thing was that he lived in the very same flat that the Missus and me rented a decade earlier in 1981!
Small world!
Have you ever been back to the house or flat where you once lived readers?
Do you recognise any of these toys?
My super neat toy cabinet in the loft in 2011.
Its not like that now! Its a complete tip!
Is your cabinet neat and tidy readers?
TERRANOVA47's fabulous collection filling the walls in his American home. There's a few of those buses too!
Enjoy!
(Pictures of your walls, shelves, caves and cabinets welcomed!)
Before Easter I had the bright idea of putting all my die-casts in a set of see-through drawers.
I knew Junior would love to do it. He'd already done it once in my cabinet.
Missus Moonbase obliged and on a trip to B&Q she bought me a tall stack of plastic drawers for £30. Fab! They'd fit hundreds of cars in!
Junior did a great job filling each drawer with a single layer of die-casts. Hot Wheels at the top and the rest Superfast, Juniors and Whizzwheels.
He was thrilled with his work, which took several hours off and on over Easter and I watched it all, egging him on and discussing the merits if each and every car. It was great fun.
Job done!
Or so I thought. Like Iron Man's icing-up, I'd never considered the weight problem.
The cabinet buckled! The wheels bent over at right angles!
I was horrified! All Junior's efforts down the drain!
Fortunately he never saw the drawers sag, he'd already left after Easter.
In the end I've decided to re-use the drawers with much lighter plastic collectables. I flattened the drawer stand, re-positioned the wheels and restocked the cabinet with all the cars again, this time gaining much more space by filling the drawers with action figures hitherto in the cabinet.
Hopefully the drawers will hold. I'll have to explain it all to Junior on Monday when I see him again.
Anyhoo, here's my Star Wars drawer now, featuring the two newbies, Hammerhead and Power Droid.
Laid down.
Sat up.
