Off the back of the debate in the FT Omega thread, I wanted to get your opinion on an idea I’ve had.

My original plan was to get my entire collection into two detolfs – one for Autobots and one for Decepticons. The vast majority can still be displayed this way, and although it may get a bit crowded on some shelves, if posed right you can still make a good group shot. For example, I know that I can get all 18 Ark-bots posed together nicely.

However, as the figures being released have got bigger and bigger, the plan has had to be revisited. In my Decepticon Detolf right now I have MMC’s Predaking on the bottom shelf, and I’d quite like to get TFC’s Piranacon in there with him, and although it is possible, in order to do so, the display will not look good. In addition I have Warbotron’s Bruticus and GT’s Devastator on top of the detolf, and these look good posed together, as they don’t have glass containing them. However, I’ll still have TFM’s Menasor to add at some point, and I just don’t have room for him with the current setup.

The Autobot detolf is even more of a problem. I only have 1 Autobot combiner so far – Shuraking… but he’s a biggun’. Stood on top of the detolf he takes up almost the whole thing by himself. I’d have liked to display him with the Gigapower Dinobots, but there’s no way that’s going to happen, as they’re all big figures too… and that’s the other problem that’s coming up. Some of the outstanding individual Autobots characters that have started trickling out now are some of the biggest figures we will own. Gigapowers Dinobots will take up at least two shelves just by themselves. Fanstoys Jetfire looks like it will be too tall to go inside the cabinet, Fanstoys or Gigapower's Omega Supreme are behemoths, and at some point Sky Lynx will be tackled… plus someone might reveal a Defensor and/or Superion that grabs my interest. And I’m not even interested in the citybots and all the other combiners that a lot of collectors are, so other people definitely have space issues that are worse than mine.

I think I’ve come up with a good solution to my upcoming space issues, although I’ve yet to convince my very understanding fiancée of this as she thinks it’s a disaster waiting to happen. I don’t want to get another cabinet, as the figures that are still to come will be too big for the internal space anyway… plus I like having a single detolf per faction… I’ve got one each of the faction symbol lights from 3DlightFX attached to the underside of the top of each detolf, so the collections are currently illuminated by their own symbols. It works and looks good. A third detolf full of mismatched figures would kind of spoil the effect. I need a shelf, but given the size and potential combined weight of the larger figures, it would have to be really sturdy, and the wall really strong… and I’m not overly confident of it succeeding. What I have thought of though is the following… my detolfs are displayed at either end of a three seater sofa. My plan is to get a very strong, matching piece of wood made, that will sit perfectly on top of both, stretching above the sofa, with each end secured to the top of each detolf, giving the whole thing a kind of goalposts appearance (soccer, not American football). This will give me the shelf space I’ll need, without the worry of failing brackets as the weight will be distributed between the two detolfs and therefore the floor, and will also keep the collection together and cohesive.

My fiancée is worried for two reasons… one unfounded (I believe) and one founded:
Firstly, she’s worried that this “contraption” will end up pushing over the detolfs at some point and everything will get destroyed, as well as whatever else it takes out with it. I’m not an engineer, nor very handy, but my argument is that as long as the “shelf” is strong enough not to bow under the weight on it and is secured securely to the two detolfs, the weight will be distributed evenly and not only will the detolfs not be pushed over, but the new structure will actually be more sturdy and stable than the two detolfs were on their own.
Secondly, she’s concerned the figures could fall off and break or fall off and injure someone. Okay, that’s a valid point, but is it any more of a risk than you take with any other ornament you have on display? Anyone sat on the sofa shouldn’t hit their head on the shelf as it will be at about the 6 foot high level so out of reach unless they’re stood on the sofa itself. And yes, some of the figures can be a little wobbly (Shuraking, I’m looking at you), but as long as no-one bumps into the structure too hard, they shouldn’t move.

What do you guys think of my solution?

How do you display your collections?

 

This all makes sense to me and I've considered doing the same thing. I don't think there's any chance of the shelf pushing over the detolfs. Even if you shelf sagged like crazy I can't see it knocking a detolf over.

The concern about figures falling off is understandable but like you said, that could be said of any item placed on any shelf. I suppose a push pin behind the figure and a little fishing line could provide some measure of protection from gravity.

I think your plan should work out just fine. I would consider placing a vertical board beneath the shelf to protect against sagging. Kind of like an upside down "L". Maybe even add a couple 45 degree supports.

 

As long as you have brackets for the detolfs and the cross piece to hold it and prevent sagging I see know issue with it.
Done properly it would be fine I'm sure.

Depending on whats on the shelves you could also mod the cases to have extra shelves, which is what I've done due to chronic overcrowding.
The below (not my work btw) shows how easy this is.

Ikea Detolf mod - adding additional shelves

 

I think you are worrying about nothing when it come to wall mounted shelves. Just use the proper mounting hardware and you will have zero issues. In my opinion it would look better anyway if you had a column of shelves right up the middle of your two detolfs. I know the height of the detolfs for me makes the figures on top less enjoyable, cant imagine having a shelf that high with the bulk of my collection on it.

 

got a double detolf and another double display cabinet both now full , the double detolf is going in the new year and i'm building my own wall mounted display cabinet with sliding perspex doors ( glass is just too expensive ) its going in an alcove and going to be 65 inches in length , 18 inches deep and 2 shelves at 24 inches high , in the middle of each shelf will be another shelf for the season 3 mp's ... got the mdf waiting for me to do it  

"edit" my other double display cabinet is going to house my oversized mp10's , sg mp10 and black repaints.. and my giant unicron head ontop

 

All you need is a 2x12 and angle brackets.

Most lumber yards will cut the 2x12 for you if you don't have the tools. Then you can wrap/paint/whatever to gussy up the 2x12, attach your brackets at 16" on center (it's 16" from one stud to the next. this way you're always hitting wood), and then plop the 2x12 on top of the brackets. Tada.

 

I'm MP only now and decided to take the Detolf plunge. I'm only doing the first two seasons of on-screen characters and new ones introduced in the 86 movie, I'm hoping four will do the job. I'll probably have to get some acrylic risers to help on space. Will Fans Toys Omega even fit? Obviously a self will have to be raised, I already did that for ToyWorld Devy. Anyway, here's a pic I took right after I got the Detolfs.

 

Agree with GeneralLeeSpkng that you can put a shelf into the wall and it'll look a lot nicer. I know you said you're not very handy but done properly it'll work great. Good mounts into drywall or find a stud and it'll be fine.
And it'll look much nicer and work a lot better than putting a shelf resting on top of two deltofs. That way could cause all kinds of problems. Sagging seems inevitable for one, and the weight it'll put on the detolfs could cause unneeded headaches.

 

I should have mentioned that I'm UK based, and the majority of internal walls (against which my display is) over here are a lot less solid than drywall. A heavy mirror is taking a risk.

 

Your walls have studs though, don't they?

 

Do what I did: combine DETOLFS

These are 2x3 shelves with modular heights. I still have plenty of room and my collection is quite sizable.

 

i ran into the same quandary and ended up just buying two extra detolfs so I have 4 total. What you're talking about would probably be fine, but depending on how you mount, I'd be concerned with the figures falling onto someone if they are above a sofa with wall or detolf "mounted" shelves. These figures are "pretty" stable, but I wouldn't want something large, pointy, and heavy sitting above me while I'm watching TV. Stomp falling from 6 feet in the air and hitting someone in the head is likely a trip to the ER for stitches.

All this is mentioned with aesthetics aside of course. Wall (stud) mounted shelves are probably more aesthetically pleasing.

 

here is what I have set up right now. Moving into a new house in a few months. I'll be ditching the detolfs for some custom made glass fronted display cases. I bought the detolfs originally when I wasn't sure how long I was going to collect, but after a few years, I think I'll be collecting for the long haul.

Bleh, sorry for the rotation issues, the boards won't show the proper orientation, even with the exif tags removed.

 

if you are very handy... you could construct a "frame" that supported the weight of the upper "bridge"shelf and stands around the shelfs...



personally id be leary of loading to much weight over a span, as i think the glass does most the work of supporting the weight of the shelf itself


unnecessary gratuitous detolf image!!!!

 

What I've been looking for is a cabinet to put under my detolf. Since detolfs are so short, a nice cabinet to put them on will make them more viewable and provide shelf space below. Haven't found anything suitable yet...

Edit: I see an example of what I'm talking about above...without the box in the shelf, that could be a good solution providing one extra shelf for display under the detolf...or storage for boxes/parts with the box. Hmmm...

 

My collection is relegated to plastic bins in a wall of cabinets in our guest room. I have over 1500 transformers and only five of them on display. Kind of sad, but I don't want to make half of our house look like a toy store. My 5 year old son told me last week, "daddy, you should get rid of some of these robots." HA! can't bring myself to do that.

 

i had a marvel legends display i took down because of the... my basement looks like the best toy store in town effect.. way more then "look at my cool collection of tf's"

less is definitely more sometimes

 

that's exactly what's in the boxes in my pic above. Junkers, accessories, etc. I made them, though. I didn't like the bottom shelf being on the ground.

 

I'd be very worried about your shelf bowing in the middle, especially stretched across the length of a three-seater sofa? That's like 1.5 to 2m isn't it? You'll need some pretty solid timber and will probably need some kind of bracing running along the underneath of the shelf.

Also you'd probably want to attach it to the detolf's in some way (maybe brackets to fit over the top of the detolf) so it doesn't slide off or knock something over. And make sure it's not too close to the back of the sofa, if someone jumps on the sofa too enthusiastically it's not unknown for furniture to slide backwards a little. And possible you may want a little fence or railing along the edge of the shelf to stop things falling off.

Honestly, as long as you have solid walls (either brick/concrete or you can attach to the underlying stud frames) I'd be more trusting of properly hung shelves. That's what I'm going to be doing with my collection over christmas - a series of stacked shelves on the wall above my desk. The wife has knocked back detolfs or any other form of display.

 

Cool, you made those bottom shelves? I'd like something similar but I'm thinking more for another display shelf.