These are neat four-foot-long aluminum shelves that are designed for use affixed to a wall or resting on a stable platform. You can buy these units individually or in four-packs, so the shelf system has the ability to expand with your collection. They can also be “sealed” to minimize the amount of dust that gathers on your trains.
They come with indentations for O gauge wheels pre-cast into the metal tray. They are also pre-cut so that you can slide the shelves together, one on top of the other.
Are they easy to put together? Yes, even without instructions, assembly is a breeze. Just match up the grooves on the bottom of one unit with the grooves on the top of another unit and slide the two together. Just pop on the end caps and you’re ready to load trains.
Each unit also comes with a plastic window that slides into a slot in the front of the shelf. Although we weren’t convinced that you would really be able to see the displayed trains all that well once you installed the plastic, we were wrong. As the photo on page 174 shows, after we removed the blue protective film and inserted it into the bottom shelf, the trains can be clearly seen through it.
Each section also has a plastic cap that seals the ends of the shelves and offers a bit of re-enforcement for the unit’s stability. Though the fit is snug, it doesn’t hermetically seal your trains – but it is probably the next best thing.
If you want a sharp looking display system that allows for potential expansion as well a fairly dust-free environment, you will want to consider this system by Showcase-Express.
