Introducing Unique Display cases
Posted by Huw,
Acrylic display cases are a popular way of displaying models in a dust-free way and there are several manufacturers supplying them in the UK. I was recently introduced to one that's about 10 miles from where I live in Hampshire, Unique Display.
I visited last week and was very impressed with the production facilities and the finished products, which are made to order and dispatched within 2-3 days, unlike some competitors who can take weeks to fulfil orders.
Proprietor Jay has lent me a case for 75430 Wicket the Ewok to examine and photograph for this article, and is offering a 10% discount to Brickset readers.
The cases are manufactured from 3mm acrylic and come flat packed, so require simple assembly when they arrive. The individual panels are held together with screws and small cubes in the corners which are transparent plastic at the top and black metal at the bottom, to blend in with the black base panel.
Tongues on the upper part of the case slot into grooves in the base, allowing quick and easy access to the model inside.
They are available unprinted, with four clear sides and a black base, or with a printed back panel, and sometimes a printed base as well. The image is printed directly onto the acrylic with a large format UV printer, and they look excellent: saturated and detailed.
This particular one has a couple of supports for the plaque and a pair of studs in the corner on which to affix the minifigure. The Ewok itself is not attached.
In addition to freestanding cases like this, the company also offers wall-mounted ones, backboards, and stands for many popular models, and solutions for Ikea products.
This case for the Ewok costs £37.99 unprinted and £45.99 with printed back and bottom panels, which is significantly cheaper than competitor products.
View the whole range at the Unique Display website and, if you use the code BRICKSET10 at checkout, you'll receive a 10% discount, and we'll get a small commission.
Thanks to Jay for loaning the case for this article. All opinions expressed are my own.
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22 comments on this article
Interesting, especially if you live in the UK.
Would you say similar quality as Wicked Brick or iDisplayit?
@FlatSixLego said:
"Would you say similar quality as Wicked Brick or iDisplayit?"
No! It's unique. There can only ever be one of these boxes, ever. Which makes the price fairly reasonable, I guess.
Nice
I'm usually semi-interested in these display cases until looking up the prices. When it's a good chunk of the price of the Lego set itself, or even more expensive for some sets, I just can't justify the cost that could be spent on more sets!
@FlatSixLego said:
"Would you say similar quality as Wicked Brick or iDisplayit?"
Similar, or better, I'd say, but what sets them apart is the short delivery time.
I found them online back in February as a good priced item to house my partners Milky Way set which she had let me complete (and therefore buy the housing for...) - very quick delivery, very good quality item and easy to put together. Just don't do what I did and when mounting the case on the wall of our stairs (with the ladder fitted into the actual recess of the tread and riser), screw everything in position too close to the ladder so I had to take it all apart again to get the ladder out...
I like the idea of these and price is a major factor, as is the benefits, do they protect the set from dust? That's what would appeal to me, otherwise they're just attractive, expensive add ons.
I'd like one of those for 10266 because there are a pain to dust but the picture they use is not realistic. It would need something like: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscience.nasa.gov%2Fresource%2Fapollo-11-mission-image-view-of-moon-limb-with-earth-on-the-horizon%2F&psig=AOvVaw2PiWZBM2C9BYiwthm85A--&ust=1762444861495000&source=images&opi=89978449
And even that picture would have to be doctored - the grey part would have to be only a small segment and most of the upper part would have to be black to give the impression you have the same point of view of the astronaut.
God knows how much that would cost by the time it reaches Canada - I'd like to keep my two kidneys.
@daniellesa said:
"I like the idea of these and price is a major factor, as is the benefits, do they protect the set from dust? That's what would appeal to me, otherwise they're just attractive, expensive add ons."
It does say on the site that they provide "Dust and Damage Protection: Say goodbye to constant dusting. Our display case is designed to keep your LEGO set pristine and free from accidental knocks."
At those prices, I'd rather get another Lego set and just keep rotating which ones I have built and on my shelves.
Neat idea, even some good back prints. But not worth it to me.
This works for more than just LEGO sets, thank you.
@Lordmoral said:
"This works for more than just LEGO sets, thank you."
https://brickset.com/parts/6259927
@emQ said:
"At those prices, I'd rather get another Lego set and just keep rotating which ones I have built and on my shelves.
Neat idea, even some good back prints. But not worth it to me."
Back printing AND NO STICKERS?????? It appears there are some helmet holes unfortunately. ;)
@HOBBES said:
"I'd like one of those for 10266 because there are a pain to dust but the picture they use is not realistic. It would need something like: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscience.nasa.gov%2Fresource%2Fapollo-11-mission-image-view-of-moon-limb-with-earth-on-the-horizon%2F&psig=AOvVaw2PiWZBM2C9BYiwthm85A--&ust=1762444861495000&source=images&opi=89978449
And even that picture would have to be doctored - the grey part would have to be only a small segment and most of the upper part would have to be black to give the impression you have the same point of view of the astronaut.
God knows how much that would cost by the time it reaches Canada - I'd like to keep my two kidneys.
"
I own 10266 and agree. It takes far too long for me to dust it.
I've looked at a large swath of them and they have really nice background pictures. I especially like the ones for James Bond's Aston Martin DB5 and The great Deku Tree.
I really like the concept - if you have the money for it. I also understand why this is so expensive - try buying a sheet of plexi-glass at the hardware store and you will understand - it's very expensive then you have to have it cut properly so the edges are not all messed up - it goes up fast.
Reminds me of the old saying "you can't polish a turd, but you *can* put it in a nice display case". Sorry but that Wicket figure is still awful, and got a rightful mention in the "Creepiest set" discussion. Those way too big, empty, thousand-yard stare eyes, how the hood looks like it's been made from wooden planks, and especially how it looks like he has two mouths, with the pieces making up his chin looking far more like his actual mouth than the second one above it.
And why oh why isn't it at least attached by studs inside the case to at lest *try* to prevent it from running freely to haunt your dreams at night?
Ignoring what horrors you choose to place inside, such cases are still a bit on the expensive side for me (even if these are cheaper than the alternatives), especially if you need many the cost adds up. I guess the double/triple modular ones aren't that bad of a deal, but why are the single-modular ones listed as separate items when thy're all the same size and even has the same background print?
If they can have studs to mount the minifig, they *really* should have at least a couple studs for the main piece as well. As it is right now, the main model will slide around, and possibly tip over (though probably stay in the box), at the slightest vibration or angle to the base (e.g. when moving it or if your display shelf isn't close enough to perfectly level). For something like the Wicket model, since it's on the top-heavy side, the potential for sliding and especially tipping are magnified.
@vizzitor said:
"I'm usually semi-interested in these display cases until looking up the prices. When it's a good chunk of the price of the Lego set itself, or even more expensive for some sets, I just can't justify the cost that could be spent on more sets!"
Same. I'd really like acrylic display cases but they are always so expensive. Wish there was an easy DIY solution for this.
no earthquake safety? or no earthquakes there...
@axeleng said:
"Reminds me of the old saying "you can't polish a turd, but you *can* put it in a nice display case". Sorry but that Wicket figure is still awful, and got a rightful mention in the "Creepiest set" discussion. Those way too big, empty, thousand-yard stare eyes, how the hood looks like it's been made from wooden planks, and especially how it looks like he has two mouths, with the pieces making up his chin looking far more like his actual mouth than the second one above it.
And why oh why isn't it at least attached by studs inside the case to at lest *try* to prevent it from running freely to haunt your dreams at night?
Ignoring what horrors you choose to place inside, such cases are still a bit on the expensive side for me (even if these are cheaper than the alternatives), especially if you need many the cost adds up. I guess the double/triple modular ones aren't that bad of a deal, but why are the single-modular ones listed as separate items when thy're all the same size and even has the same background print?"
You could get the printed case and turn it around so you can't see in.
I'm not a fan of cut acrylic cases, the edges always look a bit nasty, especially if there are brackets holding the sides together. There are loads available now where edges are chamfered or rounded and without the 'for lego' price hike.
Look good quality and like @huw they are 5 miles from me !