Review: Wicked Brick wall mounted minifig display cases
Posted by Huw,
Wicked Brick has recently added a new option to its growing range of storage solutions for minifigs: wall mounted display cases.
Like all the company's products, they are manufactured to an exceedingly high standard in genuine Perspex, and they come in a range of sizes to accommodate anything from four to 150 figures.
We've been sent a selection of sizes to review ahead of the company's 4th anniversary celebrations that commence next week, during which you can enjoy a discount of 15% off everything, or more if you subscribe to its newsletter or are already a customer.
The cases are offered in a variety of widths and heights, starting with 4x1 and going all the way up to 25x6. The photo shows the 2x6 version.
They are packaged flat-packed and consist of interlocking sheets of Perspex: three black pieces that form the back of the case, five clear ones for the sides and front, and one or more shelves on which the minifigs are mounted. I was very happy to see that they are now packaged in cardboard boxes like those you receive books in from Amazon, rather than being encased in bubble wrap and taped tightly, which is nuisance to unwrap and dispose of.
Here are the parts for the 1x4 version. Both sides of the Perspex sheets are covered in a plastic film to prevent scratching in transit, and removing it takes up the lion's share of construction time.
Two of the black backplates have cutouts to enable them to be hung on the wall on a pair of screw heads.
Everything slots together precisely. Small metal cubes and flat-headed screws are used in the corners to keep the panes together.
The shelves for the minifigs have genuine LEGO white 1x1 round plates pressed into them, which hold the figures securely.
When the minifigs are in place, the front cover is screwed on which prevents an ingress of dust but does hinder accessing them again. However, on a small case like this the fit of the lid is so precise that friction alone keeps it in place, so you could leave the screws off should you wish.
They are a very attractive and practical display solution, and a great way to show off your collection. They'll keep the figures protected from dust and perhaps little fingers too, if they are a problem in your house!
Currently, 4-wide and 25-wide cases for 50/100/150 figures are available on the Wicked Brick website, and I understand other widths are being added on Friday.
As an example of prices, the 4x1 case costs £12.99, a 4x6, £37.99 and a 25x4, £99.99. However, from the 24th June until the 8th July, you can take 15% off, or 20% if you subscribe to the company's newsletter. They are not cheap, but then quality never is.
I will construct some of the larger sizes I've been sent and post a follow-up article during the promotion next week.
Thanks to Wicked Brick for providing the cases for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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22 comments on this article
150 minifigures in 1 case?! Yes please
So glad to hear they keep the dust out...
Are they UV transparent?
Are they deep enough for minifigures with special leg pieces such as the snake tails and the squid legs?
@tilbert said:
"Are they UV transparent?"
Does perspex block UV light?
Most acrylic plastics will allow light of wavelength greater than 375 nm to pass through the material, but they will not allow UV-C wavelengths (100–290 nm) to pass through. Even very thin acrylic sheets of less than 5 millimeters (mm) do not let UV-C light penetrate.
From https://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q12178.html
@Huw said:
" @tilbert said:
"Are they UV transparent?"
Does perspex block UV light?
Most acrylic plastics will allow light of wavelength greater than 375 nm to pass through the material, but they will not allow UV-C wavelengths (100–290 nm) to pass through. Even very thin acrylic sheets of less than 5 millimeters (mm) do not let UV-C light penetrate.
From https://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q12178.html "
UV-C is already blocked by the earth's ozone layer, so this only exists in artificial forms. So if you put your display case in the same room as your welding torches, mercury lamps, or lasers, it'll bock the harmful rays from that.
However, it is UV-A (315-400nm) that accounts for 90% of the UV radiation reaching the earths surface and is responsible for color fading.
If this case only blocks light less than 375nm, then for Lego purposes the short answer is yes. It is UV transparent (i.e. it does NOT block the UV light that matters).
These look perfect and the price definitely reflects the quality
^ I will make a point of trying some non-standard figures in the next review.
At first I thought, "Wow, up to 150 minifigs. That means there's one big enough for ALL of my 80-ish minifigs!"
Then I remembered the "Think Tank" from The Lego Movie...
"Nope, not gonna do it!"
@tne328 said:
"At first I thought, "Wow, up to 150 minifigs. That means there's one big enough for ALL of my 80-ish minifigs!"
Then I remembered the "Think Tank" from The Lego Movie...
"Nope, not gonna do it!""
What's the "Think Tank" from The Lego Movie?
@Wellspring said:
" @tne328 said:
"At first I thought, "Wow, up to 150 minifigs. That means there's one big enough for ALL of my 80-ish minifigs!"
Then I remembered the "Think Tank" from The Lego Movie...
"Nope, not gonna do it!""
What's the "Think Tank" from The Lego Movie?"
*GASP*
In all seriousness, here’s a link to a set it was included in :)
https://brickset.com/sets/70809-1/Lord-Business-Evil-Lair
I'm very tempted on these. Holding out to see what they reveal on their IKEA piece - looks like an acrylic panel for Billy shelves? I have a large minifigure collection, so these would get pricey. I love WickedBrick's cases though. Absolutely top notch.
Had a look at the 150 figure version on the site. Are the shelves sagging in the middle? Will be interesting to see a review of a larger scale version to find this out
Edit: and is it deep enough to fit series 10 medusa?
My birthday’s coming up so this might be an idea…
Excellent review. 15% off is very enticing
I believe this would actually be a 6x2 arrangement, based on how the 4x1 and 25x6 put the width first. Looking through their offerings, I see a ton of single-set cases that cost anywhere from 50-100% of the MSRP of the sets they’re designed to accommodate. I also see a 1x1 “chrome Ep4” case that offers zero explanation for why it would cost $140.
It would also take a minimum of three cases to hold my entire Batman minifig collection (excluding bigfigs, and large brickbuilt characters), it won’t hold the spider legs on my TNBA Mr Freeze, and I’d basically have to empty and refill them at least once per month. Not for me. I’d rather spend the money on more LEGO parts and sets.
I'm just wondering with the 25wide figure shelf, whats the support like towards the middle of the shelf? I know minifigs aren't exactly heavy, but would it be prone to sagging over time?
@Poppy2612 : Had the same thought, didn't see you're post first though.
Other than the obvious dust issues, how do the Back Plate/Tiers wall mounts hold up? Can the 3M command strip adequately hold a 6-tier back plate with 16-figure tiers (96 minifigures)?
Do you remember those Digs For Figs display cabinets you reviewed @Huw? I’ve got three and nothing compares to their style, function and aesthetics but they are more ££
^ I seem to have reviewed quite a few over the years so I'm not sure exactly which ones you mean!
your side panel looks scratched?
also, why are the studs white and not transparent? Seems like a strange choice to make them white...
All I know is I got into the wrong industry. With those prices, I should have gotten into the display case industry.
Never mind 'can it fit the Medusa', surely the test is can it fit Lego Batman and his stupid bloomin' dolphin?!