Help, Having trouble with creating a display

[JustinG]

Greetings,
I like looking and seeing everyone's beautiful displays of their collections.
I am trying to find a way to display my shield collection. I am having a hell of a time figuring out how to get these pieces to a nice display.
For those who have their nice shadowboxes or cabinet displays, did you purchase these from somewhere, are they hand made?
Who has the little display stands for the badges and tinnies that I see many people have?

I would like to display some of my collection on a wall, thinking like a thin style shadowbox. How to get these badges to remain in place on the felt is the pain and what has me scratching my head.

Please help me!

regards
2dresq907

[TJ Suter]

I make all of my own frames as it is just about impossible to find frames of the right size and depth. Having them made by a professional outfit is cost prohibitive as well. So, I found myself in the position of either making them myself or doing without.

Here is a link to some pretty cheap easels:

http://www.jpscorner.com/Easels_Display_Stands.htm

[Eric Gaumann]

Michaels has some nice, shallow display cases that work well on the wall.
They are hinged for easy access.
Lemme go see if I can find a link. (Hoping they have Michaels in AK)

Here's a small example as they make larger ones as well. Or perhaps made larger ones as I just searched the Micheals site and couldn't find any more of them!

[LuftMike]

Michaels is a good spot for frames. I buy the Barnwood ones for my Canadian Cap Badges to give them a "rustic" appearance. Just note that the ones you have posted are filled with the fiber fill used to preserve insects (check the label that comes on the shadowbox). Replace them with 100% polyester batton, or the chemicals will ruin your treasures.

2dresq907 Check the British and Commonwealth forum under this link http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=325652 this is my collection, and I've found that the Riker type mounts make good displays. A simple backing of Wool or Muslin cloth provides a good backdrop and prevents cloth from slipping. For metal items with pins and lugs, just cut some small slits in the backing material and insert them so they don't slide!

Remember, the frame is only 50% of your display, the other 50% is HOW you display it!
Have fun

[adlerfan53]

I use the frames from Michaels as well. Sometimes you have to make some small modifications to keep everything in there tight. They are pretty cheaply made but they are decent for the money.

[Eric Gaumann]

Re: the Michaels frames

I throw out the fiber fluffy stuff and use a large sheet of colored paper with or without some sort of design on it depending on the display.

In my example above I picked something akin to feldgrau as a background but in almost every case a light background helps show the items better.

I glue the paper to the backing material (after a good rough sanding) and use thumbtacks in the case of suspended Soviet awards to grab the pin of the suspension. That way they can be easily removed from the display for closer inspection.
On screwbacks I just drill a hole. On pinbacks I'll drill small holes and use fine wire to hold the pin. That way I can remove the award for closer inspection or to photograph it's reverse.

[JustinG]

I would like to thank everyone for their wonderful suggestions.

I have purchased some stands and I have checked out Michael's Craft store.

I am also looking at perhaps getting a shadowbox coffee table. I have seen some a while back, they are hard to find, but, I hope to have a nice display and have my Kriegsmarine Flag along with my photo album and tally cap and KM awards one day in that display.

Finding a good Flag 150cm by 250cm Flag is difficult as well.

Thanks everyone.

2dresq907