Scale Model Shop

**spanner570** · 05 February 2011, 09:48

Mark, it looks very nice and you've done a neat job, but please be careful if it's ordinary glass and not toughened. Having been in the building trade all of my working life, I have seen what glass can do to humans and animals.

To be honest, the only place for sheet glass is in windows, and that's bad enough!

Please keep the case away from children, in fact out of reach of everyone, Sounds obvious and I'm not trying to preach but it is very dangerous stuff.....

Cheers,

Ron

**Guest** · 05 February 2011, 11:52

Yer diden't think cheers for the comment maybe i use acrylic instead so moore cheaper thanks

**spanner570** · 05 February 2011, 13:13

No probs. Mark. What you have is what some call picture glass, obviously for Picture frames....Hence the 2mm thickness.

Acrylic is fine. I use perspex. (Probably the same stuff!)

If you go to your glass man there is every chance he will stock some and he might give you some offcuts, or at least for the price of a pint! lol

There is a thread somewhere on here about this very subject, I don't know where though.

Ron

**Ian M** · 05 February 2011, 14:47

Reminds me of the days when I used to go to fish shows- Yes aquarium fish show. We made small show aquariums from 3mm glass stuck together with silicon. The stuff you use to seal the bath/shower tray in the bathroom with.

Any way. What I want to say is when the box is made and stuck together with silicon they are tough as old boots. I never managed to break one.

As for Acrylic sheet, (which is not the same as perspex) I found that Silicon sealer just don't stick it. It might if you rub the surfaces to be joined with fine sandpaper first. My first attempts at a case in acrylic was a farce. After sticking it together and leaving it for a couple of days to cure, it fell apart when I started to handle it to build the diorama in it! (Somewhere on the Volga in the GB).

As for being cheaper than glass, I'm not sure about that either! I just paid over £70 last weekend for acrylic sheeting for a case for my Corvette. OK its a meter long and half a meter high, but £70!

One thing Mark, in DIY shops you can get brass angle strips in a selection of sizes. Not a s easy to use as the lead tape, but looks good.

Ian M

**spanner570** · 05 February 2011, 15:08

All good points and advise Ian, but I will always maintain ordinary glass whatever the thickness, belongs in one place and on place only...In window or picture frames.

I've seen too many injuries with the stuff, so it gets my respect, always...

I suggested to Mark he might get the offcuts of perspex from a glazier for the price of a beer 'cos that's what happened to me. Probably gone up to a crateful now, though!

Cheers,

Ron

**Guest** · 05 February 2011, 17:29

I think it's a great opportunity for us all to share an idea and then dig a bit deeper and identify the concerns, which we should all be aware off. All credit to Mark for taking the advice given by Ron so positively and many thanks to Ron for pointing out the potential pitfalls with the idea.

My own personal soap box is home made spray booths so I can fully understand how Ron feels.

Great thread guys and thanks to all for remaining so open minded.

**Ian M** · 05 February 2011, 20:31

On the subject of Acrylic and perspex. You can buy a glue for one of these that more or less dissolves into an invisible join making the joins look like its all one part. (does that make any sense)? Does anyone know what its called and where it can be purchased.

Also for the brave Acrylic sheet can be bent. You need a former and a heat gun and a good eye and a good portion of nerve. Clamp the former where you want the bend and then heat the sheet until soft enough to bend over the former. It can be done over a square bit of wood but is easier over a round one. Two things come into play. Its not as hard an angle so less chance of it splitting. It needs less heat so less chance of melting it.

So one piece for the front, back and sides. Then trace the shape onto the top, cut out and glue on. Once dry file the edges flush to the verticals.

Well thats the theory at least.

Ian M

Scale Model Shop

Display case on a budget

Display case on a budget

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