How do you hang a starship model?

[TheSeeker]

Hi guys. I was hoping some of the more experienced modelers here would be able to give me a little advice.

I'd like to hang a model of the enterprise inside a display case I have and I'd like it to be at a dynamic angle. I have four corners to anchor it from so I should be OK in that department but I just cannot figure out where to place the fishing line so that it's stable.

Any advice would be appreciated and any pictures of your own setup would be a bonus.

Thanks!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

In the past, I've seen a micro drill used to put very small holes in the model so the fishing line could be run through them.

Then the line was knotted to keep it from pulling back through the holes.

Be sure the nacelles/warp engines are well glued if you intend to help support the model from those areas. Model wise, they can be pretty unstable.

 

[Redfern]

Hanging? Nah, I prefer lethal injection, less external damage that way...

Wait, what?

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Ziz]

Are you building the model or is it already finished? That will make a difference of where and how you attach your hanging lines. Also, which Enterprise is it, and which exact kit? Different designs have different structural integrity points that you want to take advantage of or avoid.

 

[TheSeeker]

I'm actually trying to hang the Art Asylum Wrath of Khan Enterprise because the stand that comes with it is so crappy.

 

[Ziz]

Well, I'm not familiar with how that particular one is balanced (as far as batteries and electronics weighting the different parts of the ship) but the easiest solution would be to tie a string around the neck so that the knot is at the top rear near the impulse engine. That will give you two strings coming from the same center point that you can attach to opposite sides of the shelf it's hanging under.

Once you've got that in place, it becomes a pivot point to allow you to position the ship however you want. You can then use a single string around the base of the pylons tied in the same fashion as the one on the neck or two single strings attached one to each nacelle, depending on the angle you want the ship held at.

 

[TheSeeker]

Thanks, I'll give that a try!

 

[Captain Robert April]

I recommend a slight variation on that. Run a single thread, tied to the loop around the neck, under the saucer and up at the bow. This cradles the ship via the saucer and avoids the issue of damaging the pylons and/or nacelles.

This method works ideally with your standard model. As stated above, your situation may be different thanks to the added weight of the batteries, so a second loop back by the pylons might be the better option.

 

[caisson2delta]

If you're only planning on it being viewed from just the front, as opposed to all sides, you might consider another option. You could always try inserting a narrow brass rod somewhere into the secondary hull, that isn't overly visibly. This would provide adequate support if you also incorporated it into the base of your display. Yet another option would be to utilized clear plastic rod, inserted in the points that you need it, and these would be hardly noticeable.

 

[BolianAuthor]

^

That's hardly a way to treat the lady...

 

[Patrin-Zero]

I've found that placing rare earth magnets inside the body of a model I plan to hang saves drilling holes and blemishing a finished surface.

Mono-filament line does work best to hang such, just tie-off small steel beads at the lines end to 'connect' to the magnets.

 

[erifah]

How do I hang a starship model? Whatever way necessary to make sure that it (like me) is well-hung.

 

[Solarbaby]

I'm surprised no one has said "from her nipples" in reply to the thread title

 

[USS Triumphant]

...by the neck, until it is dead, dead, dead.