Acrylic Display Case for the EFX 1:100 Scale Millenium Falcon

IF you have finally received the much delayed Millennium Falcon from EFX, then you will be needing a display case for it, we have a new display case designed specifically for the EFX 1:100 scale Millennium Falcon. The top part of the base has a hole cut to sit the EFX base into, and the cover has a hole at the back, out of sight, so you can access the switch for the lights on the Falcon.
You can find out more about this display case on our website,

Taxidermy Display Case

We received this photo from one of our customers, she had a beautiful Owl she wanted to display & protect. We supplied the black base and display cover, made to her sizes, she just entered the sizes into our website at www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk and ordered straightaway.

Taxidermy specimens  are supplied either cased, or uncased.
Cased Taxidermy generally means they are supplied sealed inside a display case, or picture frame, and usually have other items inside, like grass or rocks, to set the piece in its natural surroundings to create a 'scene'. Obviously these will not need one of our display cases. They are already protected, sealed within their own environment. The only disadvantages being you cannot inspect them so easily for insect damage and also you wont be able to see them as well as if they were uncased.
Uncased Taxidermy is supplied as is, with no surroundings, the owl in this photo was supplied with its perch and sturdy wooden base. These allow you to inspect them very closely, to appreciate the natural beauty, you can even touch and feel them. This means you can have a greater appreciation of the taxidermy animal/bird. The disadvantages of this are of course many.

• If people aren't careful touching then physical damage will occur. 
• Over time the natural oils on people's skin will damage the animal/bird. 
• Dust will also land on it and the colours will appear faded. 
• Removing the dust can also cause physical damage.
• The feathers or fur can be damaged by sunlight/UV light.
• Moisture can also cause damage to the animal/bird.
• Cigarette Smoke/Air Fresheners/ Hairspray/ Furniture Polish can all damage it.
• Insects/moths could lay eggs in the feathers/fur and the larvae will attack your taxidermy animal/bird, you can read all about that here in more detail.

Every single problem listed above can be avoided by using one of our acrylic display cases, they block over 90% of UV light, 100% of dust and moisture and 100% of aerosol spray. They also deter inquisitive house guests from touching without your permission. The covers are easily removed for easily gaining access to your taxidermy piece. We make them to any size so you can be rest assured you will get the perfect fit, and we ship them worldwide. Click Here to see the range of display bases available.

2016 Rio Olympic Torch Display Case

We were very excited to receive a Rio Olympic Torch from a customer wanting to display and protect it, We have just completed it and it is now available to purchase from our website here www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk. It has a gloss black acrylic back and an easily removed clear front cover that hooks into the back panel. It is basically the same design as our other Olympic torch display cases, just slightly different brackets to hold the torch and also being shorter, as the Rio Olympic Torch is a few inches shorter than the London one was. Ideal if you want to proudly display your Olympic Torch at your home or office.

Back to the Future DeLorean Display Case

This was made for a regular customer who wanted to add lights to the base, we supplied our custom sized acrylic display case with a modern base, and we made it with a special order acrylic that let through the light, the customer provided his own lighting and expertly fitted them to our base himself, I am sure you will agree it looks especially good.

Our custom sized display case with a modern white base can be found at the below link, but please note this base does not allow light through as in the images, you will need to contact us through the website to get a price on that one, http://www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/CDC-306.html.
The lights had to be LED so they didnt produce any heat.

Wall Display Case for Star Wars Figures

We just completed these three wall display cases for one of our customers to display his Star Wars figure collection. These were custom made to perfectly fit within the space he had available. They are easy to dust and keep clean and they look amazing, also protected from handling by visitors, they can look, but can't touch. See more at www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk.

Model Ship Display Case

Model Ship Display Cases

Our acrylic model ship display cases are ideal for displaying model ships, large or small. As nice as model ships look they are dust magnets, and also interesting enough to attract prying fingers, which can damage the delicate parts of your model. As well as the dust and the physical damage that can affect your model ship, there is also the possibility of the light damaging it.
We have the perfect solution, we can make an acrylic display case to your exact sizes, for a lot less than you think.
This will make dusting a lot easier and less stressful, the acrylic will need only a light dust, and Mr. Sheen furniture polish adding once a month. The acrylic will block over 90% of harmful UV light while still being easily visible, acrylic is actually clearer than glass. Also the protection form prying fingers goes without saying, the worst you will have to face is polishing a fingermark off the outside of the display case, not having to re-attach parts of the ship model. Please read through the below information first, and then click here to go to our model ship display case page and enter your sizes into the custom display case builder. After entering your sizes and selecting your unit of measurement, you press the calculate button to see the different options available, and the costs. To get the shipping cost you just add one to your cart and then once in the cart screen you can change the drop-down box to your area/country to see the shipping costs and options. It normally takes about 7 – 10 days to make your ship display case.

Potential Model Ship Display Problems

We have various types and styles of display cases available to choose from, but the most popular for wooden ship models are the traditional looking display cases with a wooden base, but you need to watch out for one problem with these if you have a high ship model, because the display case must go over the top of the model you need either to have as much clearance between the top of your model and the ceiling as the height of the display case you are buying, or you would need to put the display case base on a lower table and then add the model and the display case cover, and very very carefully lift them all onto the surface you are displaying it on. Luckily it shouldn’t need moving again as it will be safely protected. Obviously this will make access to your ship quite difficult, so if you need regular access to your model ship then this can make things quite difficult.
The other display case we offer is an aluminium framed display case, this offers the same level of protection against dust, damage and UV light, but has a lockable hinged door, which keeps the model secure, but allows you to access it as and when you like. Also because you put the display case in place first and then place your model ship inside it, there are no height restrictions.

What Size Ship Display Case

This is entirely down to your personal choice, but here are a few considerations.

• If the display case is displayed at a height where you have to look up at it then you won’t need much clearance above it.
• If the display case is displayed low, where the top of the mast is below eye level then it will be better to have extra clearance above it.
• We recommend leaving at least 25mm clearance fore and aft of the ship, but you may want to add extra to the fore or aft if it means the hull can be displayed in the centre of display case.
• The distance between the model ship and front and back of the display case (the port and starboard) isn't too important, but again we recommend at least 25mm. If you allow more, it will give you the possibility of moving the model ship backwards or forwards to allow for a plaque, or something similar to be added at a later date
• If you are adding anything else to the display then place it on a desk with your model before measuring up for the display case, and remember to allow some clearance.
• Our sizes listed on the website are always the inside sizes of the display case, so you do not need add clearance for the thickness of the acrylic and base, but if you have a limited amount of space around where you are placing your model then use the display case calculator to calculate the price of the display case you think you need and see which styles are available in that size, but then contact us to find out how much to allow so that the outside size will fit in your display area.
• The custom display case quote calculator is on our Model Display Case website, Model Ship Display Cases, just enter your sizes and base colours to get an instant quote, then purchase on-line if the price is acceptable.

Where can my Ship Display Case be Delivered to?

We deliver worldwide generally, and guarantee it reaches you undamaged.
 Please contact us for more information.

Star Wars Collectable Figures Display Case

This display case was made to the customers own sizes to display his star wars collectible figures in, as you can see they are easily protected and displayed at their best. There are many different Star Wars figures from many different manufacturers, all in various scales and of various quality, but whatever ones you are collecting, we will be able to provide a display case that fits them.
You can order one of these as below, from our website made to your sizes by following this link http://www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/custom-case-base.html, just select your base type then enter your sizes.

Alternatively if you would prefer to display them on your wall just have a look at our wall display cases.

May the Force be with You

Lego Maersk Container Ship Display Case

Lego seems to be getting more and more popular every year, and not just being used by children, this container ship was built by Johno Robertson (an adult and one of our customers) and displayed in one of our custom sized display cases.
The enjoyment doesn't just come from building with Lego bricks, but the finished model also looks very good, and can be displayed effectively in your front room.

Lego The Company

Lego the company was started in 1934, and started making the interlocking bricks we know of today in 1949, and has now become a global brand, which not only includes the model bricks, but also its own chain of Lego stores, childrens clothes, books, board games,Theme parks, video games, films and TV programs.

Skeleton Clock Display Cover

We are increasingly making more display cases for skeleton clocks, This could be due to an increase in the popularity of this hobby, it is certainly a very useful  and interesting object to have in your house.
This clock is unusual for a skeleton clock in that it has a revolving seconds hand and a long pendulum swing making the clock look alive the excellent acrylic case shows this off to advantage and protects the clock from the steam and smoke of the kitchen !!
An acrylic display case is a perfect companion for your skeleton clock as it will protect it from dust, as well as the steam and smoke of the kitchen. Once the clock gets damp it is prone to rusting, as well as making the dust harder to remove.
Buying the display case from Widdowsons means you not only get a top quality product, you get it made to the perfect size to show your clock to its best.
You can get a custom sized acrylic display case with a wooden base here. Just enter your sizes for an instant quote, you can also choose your own base colours to best match your clock and its surroundings.
The customer who made the clock in the image made his own base and we just supplied the cover.

Tower of London Poppy Display Case is Here

We have just received our poppy and have made the display case for it, see image below. We initially wanted to display it on its stem, but due to the length of it we decided to display just the ceramic flower. We washed the dirt off of the black centre of the poppy and laid that in place, and used a small acrylic stand to display the certificate at the back, we believe it creates a very nice and practical display for your poppy if you wanted to display it inside rather than in the garden. If ordering from our website then the base is available in eighteen different colour combinations, though we preferred the green as it showed off the red very well.

View it and buy on our website www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk

Tower of London Ceramic Poppy Display Case

The commemorative ceramic poppies from the display , Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red , in the Tower of London Moat have now all been sold, and we would like to announce that we will be designing a display case to display these works of art, further details and prices will follow early next year when the first of these poppies are shipped out to customers. Please check back on our website or this blog after that date.

More information on the display and the artist involved can be found here https://poppies.hrp.org.uk/, you will also find information on the new exhibitions and events being held at the Tower of London to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

New Premises and a Model Ship

Its been a while since our last post, the reason for this is that we have moved to new premises and we have been so busy over the last six months setting everything up again we haven't had time to post. As well as the move to new premises we are very pleased to have invested in several new machines to improve the quality of our product even more, you will see from reading the reviews on our website that our customers are among the happiest in the land. Thankyou to all who had the time to write a review.

Also a reminder that if you have a story behind your display case please share with us by email so we can post on this blog, or share on one of our social media sites.

We have here an image sent in by Jim, one of our happy customers, to protect his HMS Victory model, he received the display case for his 60th birthday and had an oak shelf professionally fitted to support the model and display case. This is not something we would normally recommend as it would be heart-breaking if it fell off the wall, but this has proved very successful for Jim, he must have very strong walls.

From Within a Book

Emma Taylor is a very unique artist, she works with old books and creates sculptures from within the pages, they have to be seen to be believed, the theme of the sculpture can be inspired from the book title, size or cover.
Emma uses wire, wadding and strips of the book pages to create the sculpture and the impression the sculpture is emerging from the book.
More information can be found at her blog, as well as some very fine examples of her work.

To protect these delicate works of art, Emma has used our custom display cases, which were made to the exact size she needed. More information on the display cases can be found here.

Display Case for the TitanFall Collectors Edition

The latest edition to our range of display cases is for the Titanfall Collectors Edition, we have decided to make this with the modern black base as the gloss black acrylic goes nicely with the metallic colouring of the model. You can see a video of the display case below, or you can buy it from our website at http://www.widdowsonsltd.co.uk/dc/Titanfall-Statuette-Display-Case.html.
This is a fairly lightweight model for its size, and has many small difficult to dust parts so we are sure you will benefit from one of our acrylic display cases to protect it. If you would like a pen sized hole drilled into the side to enable you to poke a pen into it and press the button on the base of this model then please choose that option from the menu on the ordering page of our website.

We will ship it worldwide, so distance is not an object. If you want this made to a different size or with a different colour or style of base then please let us know.

Custom Display Case

This video is to showcase our range of custom display cases, just visit our website http://www.widdowsonsltd.co.uk/custom-display-cases.html and enter your sizes for an instant quote, and secure online ordering of a display case custom made to your exact sizes.

 Rik Shaw was working as a toolmaker until 1986 when a back injury stopped him in his tracks and he also had to dispose of his own  little workshop. It is only in the last four years that he has managed to recreate a small "tool room" in an enlarged summer house and there he has been able to continue his model engineering hobby.

 The model in the photograph is based on a design by Stan Bray, a contributor to Model Engineer and was purchased from a chap on a day on which he had left his specs at home - big mistake, it was when he put his reading glasses on that he realized what a mess he had bought. Rik had to completely strip it and remake many of the components, the rest he managed to salvage by re-machining. Rik is proud to say that the refurbished model is now quite a handsome piece and is enhanced by its new acrylic display case purchased from Widdowsons Ltd. The acrylic display case was custom made to the exact size and bought from their website at www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/CDC-501.html.

The complete refurbishment took two months to complete, but was well worth it. The model is approximately 500mm high and has a 200mm diameter flywheel. With Rik's dodgy back he could just about lift it. The full sized versions of this type of vertical steam engine model were originally put to work in mills and factories where space was at a premium and horizontal engines would not fit. You can see it running under compressed air here:

Rik had previously completed another scratch built horizontal single cylinder steam engine around 1985. The original plans came from Model Engineer, he adapted them and built it to twice the plan size. Piston diameter is one inch and steam is distributed via a "D" valve. Much of this engine he finished machined using universal, surface and other types of grinding machine as he viewed its construction as an exercise in tool making rather than creating anything to scale.

 Rik made it from gauge plate and bar stock, the only bits he did not make were the nuts, bolts and washers. It is approximately 330mm long and weighs  nearly 8 kilos. It runs under compressed air as shown above.

For a guided tour of his workshop you can watch the following video, which needs to be updated as he has sold the small lathe/machining centre and replaced it with a much larger new lathe and milling machine.

Rik has been tool making of late but under the bench lies a six inch diameter brass naval shell case that he wants to use to fabricate a posh flywheel to fit on an engine which at the moment is only in the early design stage (He is thinking about it)!

Rik has also ordered two more display cases for another two models.

Skeleton Clock Display Case

Skeleton Clock Display Cover

Leslie, a very skilled 86 year old customer from Kent, loves making skeleton clocks, each one takes months of intricate work to complete, but his wife is not a big fan of dusting, so he has had some custom display covers made by us to protect them from the dust. Her visitors also find it much easier to resist the urge to poke and prod them now.
In total Leslie has made 3 of these skeleton clocks, and they all keep perfect time.

Keep up the good work Leslie

You can get a quote for a custom sized acrylic display cover for your skeleton clock from
http://www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/CDC-500.html, or
http://www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/CDC-501.html if you want a base as well.

More information about the company making these display cases can be found here.
www.widdowsonsltd.co.uk

An Acrylic Display Case vs a Glass Display Case

You may be wondering “Why choose an acrylic display case over a glass one?” and “What difference does it make?” well as much as it depends on what you want from your display case, there are several clear benefits, including:

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  It is optically clearer than glass
• It is lighter than glass
• It Is less likely to smash
• It can be UV bonded or Solvent welded

Acrylic is a resin-based thermoplastic known as “polymethylmethacrylate” or PMMA. One of the most impressive characteristics of this material is that it’s one of the most optically clear materials available, even more so than glass, and it weighs about half as much as glass. Acrylic is resistant to many elements, including sunlight, rain, snow, pollutants and many chemicals. Acrylic unlike glass, will not shatter into tiny pieces when broken.

If you would like your display case to have optically clear joints, an acrylic display case is the only option because you can use UV bonding. This involves using acrylic adhesives which set when exposed to UV light.

Although UV bonding looks the most impressive, it is not the strongest method of joining acrylic. Solvent welding is a process whereby pieces of acrylic are welded together and a virtually unbreakable join is formed.

Acrylic is a very lightweight, flexible and resilient material, which makes it ideal for use for display cases. It has the added advantage of protecting the contents of the case from most UV rays, dust, ageing and many other forms of wear and tear.  When compared to glass it is a more cost efficient and hard wearing material, which is why we recommend it so highly.

Why Do People become Collectors?

Everyone collects something, the hobby of collecting includes the seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining of whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating all different types of items from all over the world. Others focus on a subtopic within their area of interest, anything from Victorian Postage Stamps to first edition Star Wars toys and many more besides.

But why? What about the human condition compels people to seek out and collect these items.

Psychologist Mark Mckinley who wrote a paper on the Psychology of Collecting states: “It does seem that growing up as “kids,” we all collected something we made into a hobby. It could have begun with baseball cards, marbles, or stamps. Then it moved on: to antique books, Longaberger baskets, state quarters, or Atmos clocks. For others it was collecting the really unusual that worked best for them. Indeed, some collectors even collect collecting guides!”

For many people collecting things allows people to define themselves and their identity, to relive their childhood and in some cases this nostalgia connects them to a happier period in their life.

There are however several reasons why people collect, Dr Mckinley divides collectors into several groups who collect for reasons including:

• Pure enjoyment (Collecting can make them happier)
• Investment (Buying with a view to profit from resale in the future)
• Preservation of the past (Acquiring objects of historic significance)
• Social inclusion (Joining communities and forming friendships)
• Prestige or fame (Acquiring rare, fascinating or unique collections that have a wider interest)
• Self identity fulfilment (Defining part of their personalities by what they collect)

Many collectors will have several of these motivations driving their passion, whether it is the happiness from adding a new find to the collection, the excitement of the hunt, the social camaraderie when sharing their collection with other collectors. Not forgetting that it is often these dedicated people we have to thank, for some of the most spectacular and historic collections of human artefacts.

Researchers cannot agree on whether people who collect things are happier and more balanced, but if you ask any collector their enthusiasm and passion for what they collect nearly always shines through and they undoubtedly see it as a positive in their life.

Collectors take the up most pride in their collections, often displaying them prominently in their houses and if they are particularly spectacular or important, lending them to the worlds greatest galleries, museums and libraries. Understanding the fulfilment and pride people gain from displaying their collections is part of the reason we produce our range of display cases, allowing a collector to showcase their collections beautifully, whilst protecting and safeguarding them from ageing or damage.

Showcasing your skills

What’s the point of winning trophies if you don’t show them off to the max? Whether they are personal trophies at home or club trophies at your club house, they need to take centre stage. But who looks after them and keeps them dust free? Who ensures they look as good as they should considering they represent you and your team’s skill and excellence?

There’s no need to fret over this conundrum any longer. At acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk we have a case to fit your trophy wherever it takes pride of place. And if your trophy’s measurements are a little out of the ordinary, don’t worry our bespoke cases will do the job instead. The other great thing about our display cases is that they protect the contents from harmful UV light and dust.

Showcasing your sports memorabilia

If you’re a little light on trophies to mark your excellence, why not showcase other sporting memorabilia you’ve collected? How about the ball that featured in the winning game? We have cases to display footballs, rugby balls, cricket balls and even basketballs. But that’s not all; boxing gloves, helmets, football boots and signed kit also look great displayed in our acrylic cases.

Showcasing a piece of sporting history

Perhaps you have an Olympic Torch marking the London 2012 Games? Well that definitely needs showing off and protecting for prosperity. Guess what, we even have a display case for that. And yes it will protect your Torch from UV light and dust too.

Something to suit

Whether you need a wall hanging case or individual cases, we will be sure to have the right one. And if we don’t we’ll make it for you. It’s as simple as that. Our display cases come in a range of sizes, modern and traditional. We also offer ones with wooden bases and ones that lock. They are made from acrylic, which is lighter and less costly than glass and certainly less likely to get broken.

Does this sound like what you’re looking for? We thought so. Take a look at our range to find your perfect display case.