Art Appreciation (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

I am by training an academic art historian, so the artistic level of the soldiers I buy is very important to me. I also like to see the evolution of style in military uniforms and equipment, so my collection is rather eclectic with examples so far from the Middle Ages through World War II. Like many of you I display my soldiers in a multi-shelve glass cabinet and rotate some of them outside the case into changing dioramas. We often talk on the forum about the increasing levels of quality in the sculpting and painting of figures, especially in brands such as King & Country and John Jenkins. I began to realize that so many of the great features of these figures are lost in the "crowd" of soldiers on our cabinet shelves or in our dioramas. Thus I have recently initiated "art appreciation days" in which I select a single figure from my collection and place it for a day on its own pedestal and in its own display case under its own light next to my reading chair in my study. At different times I change its position so that I get to appreciate the details and craftsmanship from all angles. In order to accomplish this I purchased a small glass case with a mirrored back that was made to display a single collectible such as a baseball. Such cases may be readily found at craft stores like Michaels. To set the figure off I place it in the case atop a hockey puck which gives a nice plain black ground for it to stand on. I have 2 kinds of pucks--a shiny regulation one and a dull black soft puck used for practice (sort of the whiffle ball of hockey). I change my display each day and gradually am working my way through my collection. By singling out a figure from its companions I believe we really get a better appreciation of the quality of workmanship that is now a part of our hobby. Below are photos of the process:
1. Start with a set
2. Pick a single figure
3. Find a small case to display it in under good lighting
4. Place the figure on a "puck" base
5. Sit back and enjoy
6. Voila! Art Appreciation
I would be interested to know if others have tried this. If nothing else it makes the individual soldiers in my army feel appreciated.
Randy

 

[The Lt.]

Very nicely done Randy and a nice way of showing off a figure of the day.......The Lt.

 

[OzDigger]

Great idea PolarBear, but it's so hard to get a puck downunder, even a dull one.

 

[Canadian Samurai]

Great solution Randy! I like to build squads and formations but like you I find the crowd detracts from the beauty of each individual figure because the viewer's eye is so overwhelmed it can't appreciate the details. A puck looks like it makes for a very nice base (in Canada they're a dime a dozen) but another good option for a base might be those little rotating turntables you can get at sports collectible stores.

 

[PolarBear]

CS

I like the turntable idea. It would be great to have a motorized one that slowly turned like the cars at the annual auto shows. How big are the sports collectible turntables and what are they used for--autographed baseballs?

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

Oz Digger

If you can't find one downunder I could send you one of the lightweight ones if you give me your snail mail address. I like those best-you can see one in my last photo. There is no writing on them. I am thinking of using some of the heavier shiny ones for 1/72nd scale dioramas. They are less porus and should take ground cover better.
Randy

 

[storch]

Great idea! Where can I get a mirrored case like the one you use?

Gil

 

[Alexdakar]

CS

I like the turntable idea. It would be great to have a motorized one that slowly turned like the cars at the annual auto shows. How big are the sports collectible turntables and what are they used for--autographed baseballs?

Randy

They have motorized turntables for 1/24 scale cars which I have one and 1/30 - 1/32 tanks fit perfect on it.

 

[PolarBear]

Gil

You can get the mirror-backed display cases in a variety of sizes from Michaels Arts & Crafts Store. If you don't have one locally they can ba purchased online. Here is the link:

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayproductlist?categoryid=98312

If you have a local Michaels the best time to get them is when they go on sale-usually at 50% off. Michaels also puts a flyer in Sunday newspapers with a 40% off coupon each week too.

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

Alex

Thanks for the info on the turntable. Can you post a picture of one of your tanks on it? What is the price range?

Randy

 

[PolarBear]

This is what gave me the idea of using the hockey puck for a base:

Randy

 

[Leadmen]

Squadron Hobbies and Tamiya company made or sold turntables for models or figures. Usually about $10.00-25.00, depending on size. Check squadron shop-www.squadron.com Leadmen

 

[PolarBear]

This is the Tamiya turntable that Leadman is refering to. Did not find on search of Squadron site. It did, however, turn up on Ebay and also British model sites, for example: http://www.fusionhobbies.com/Tamiya-Display-Turntable-p/ta73001.htm. Perhaps as mentioned earlier car collectible shops may stock it.
Randy

 

[Alexdakar]

Here is the one I have with a felt top. They sell them also with mirrored tops.

 

[PolarBear]

Alex:

Very nice! Thanks. Is the motor strong enough to move the vehicles--is the tank polystone? It says that the turntables run on batteries? D size?

Randy

 

[Alexdakar]

Alex:

Very nice! Thanks. Is the motor strong enough to move the vehicles--is the tank polystone? It says that the turntables run on batteries? D size?

Randy

Yes, I turned it on and it rotates without a problem. I uses one D size battery.

 

[Leadmen]

Nice pictures Alex. I knew they made them somewhere. Squadron might have sold out. I did see them in their monthly sales flyer in the last year. John