Worried about shelf collapse

[Bluebottle]

Hello...I'm just setting up a new military display cabinet for part of my collection.

I'm fitting 1/4" glass shelves about 28" long and 8 " wide.

the problem is I have quite a few mounted 90mm with substantial bases like this Chota Sahib Skinners Horse.
I've displayed like this for years with no problem with 4-5 models per shelf and foot figures.
But all of a sudden I'm worried. After a bent leg horse due to un level shelf...pointed out to me here...
Im now worried about the strength of the 1/4" shelf system.

could any one give me their opinion as to if I should put perspex pillars aligned under the shelves to support each other ? Or is the glass probably strong enough. ?
or is there any way I can strengthen them ?

I need reassurance and my brow soothing !

 

[Tecumsea]

It always pays to put the heavier pieces in the corners of cabinets where the shelf supports are, just to be safe. To be honest use as much support as you can without destroying the look of the cabinet and display. I have 4 one metre wide cabinets housing around 650 figures but l try to put metal to the edges and resin or smaller metal in the centre.

Keith

 

[DEL]

Kieths dead right about weight distribution. From the photo it looks as though the shelf supports are a bit delicate you might also have a problem here particularly if you move your heavier pieces to the far sides..
For peace of mind I'd epoxy a ledge all the way round for the shelf to sit on. Something like 8mm x 8mm perspex using the existing supports and a spirit level.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Bluebottle]

Thanx for your input, hmm...I'm not risking it anymore ...I'll support the shelves in the middle with perspex columns. Also the suggestion about shelf support . I've gone years with just the shelves but I was young, gay, debonair and didn't worry. Now I'm Victor Meldrew and just imagine the worse.
4 one metre cabinets and 650 figures !! You realise you can't take them with you ? Or are you not planning to go ?

 

[Tecumsea]

A big skip will suffice and l won't be around to worry about it.

Keith

 

[blaster]

 

[Banjer]

A big skip will suffice and l won't be around to worry about it.

Keith

I think most of us are in the same boat. My grandson says he will have them but I have my doubts.

 

[Bluebottle]

Brilliant cartoon Blaster !!! And utterly true !
Sure, I worry over my little metal children and wonder what will happen to them when I'm gone. Kids say they will see to them....yea ....e bay for sure.

 

[Ferris]

How about live testing?
Weight the figures on one shelf, find a brick or rocks of that weight, put them on the shelf and let them sit there a week or so.
If you have a spare shelf you could even increase the weight in steps and find the breaking point (which will happen in the middle of the night, when all is quiet, I’m sure )

But perspex pillars should do and dont look too bad either.

Cheers
Adrian

 

[Warren SMITH]

Skip method for mine.. Probably even the boxed ones as well.. I dont expect my kids to keep any of my stuff.. I'm enjoying it now..
Alough I have suggested an auction house.. If anyone is still interested in the hobby in 20 years time.. Ive even all but stopped buying new stuff as there is no more room to store and display my collections.. Not just model figures, cars, bikes, 1/6 scale figures, star wars, tanks, planes.. Books, Uniforms.. the list is long..
Way to much for trips to the post office and with the cost of shipping around the world..

 

[gentleman in khaki]

Hi, my twopence worth. I had the or similar problem with IKEA Billy book shelves. They started to sag in the middle so I got solid 2x1 inch oak, cut accurately to support the centre of each shelf. This was carried on to the lowest shelf. The weight was therefore distributed evenly and no more sagging. You do not need to glue anything as the friction fit caused by the shelf above does the job. Problem solved! I did this three years ago and there is no visible change. I hope this helps you.
Cheers Paul

 

[Bluebottle]

G I k .....is that your lute ? Impressed ! You play too ?...... A good fix for sagging shelves as you described.

well, I'm now building my third and last military cabinet. Ply base and mahogany veneered with brass fittings and fancy handles and hinges etc plus inner lined (quality) LED strips right at the front . 1/4 plate glass shelving although I did consider perspex using two layers . but where necessary perspex pillars for support . As most new figures are now resin etc weight isn't a problem. My old mounted Poste Militairs along with ground work and considerable cherry wood bases really added the weight .
A few years ago there were quite a few 90mm figures quite well painted on e bay. I bought quite a few . All by the same person judging by the bases. I thought then that this was someone's collection now deceased. This is what started me thinking about the fate of my little precious babies. If I can't find a suitable donor...I'll burn t'buggers !

 

[gentleman in khaki]

Dear Bluebottle, thank you for the reply. My picture is from a few years ago now. I no longer play the Lute and have now concentrated on the Classical guitar. I have discovered that since retirement I have even less free time than when I worked! Something had to go, so it was the Lute. Let’s hope you fill your cabinets for many years to come!
Cheers,
Paul

 

[Babelfish]

Brilliant cartoon Blaster !!! And utterly true !

Collapsing shelves must be the ultimate modelling nightmare scenario for all of us.

I've also heard of bitter exes unceremoniously chucking finished models into a large black bin bag at the end of a relationship.

Fortunately I haven't personally suffered either to date (touch wood!!)

- Steve

 

[blaster]

Hello Bluebottle and all,

Following on from my cartoon post, I felt a tinge of remorse in appearing to be callous towards the mental anguish of all fellow modellers’shelving problems.

I am now sharing my should be patented idea with all as penitence. I note that the shelves have holes into which short stubs are inserted and then the glass shelf sits on top precariously. There is concern that (a) the shelves may get dislodged or (b) the glass is overloaded and cracks in the centre due to the weight. Hence all the advice to place heavy figs on the sides. All these considerations don’t give any assurances.

My suggestion is to locate metal rods of the same diameter as the stubs into the holes. Two rods per shelf, all of the same length. That should address (a) and (b).

As to how you would fit rigid rods into fixed lengtth shelves, that requires another round of penitence.... hahaha. Rgds Victor