Creating Modular Displays
Modular Scenery Approaches for National Capital Trackers
Frank Hale, Partner Emeritus March 18, 2025
Edited for size by Ed Beaver
Modular Displays have the advantage of little set-up time, as all items are secured to the base.
The base is made to fit exactly the inside of the carrying box. Carrier boxes are preferably two
pieces (top & bottom). Printer paper cartons are good as they are readily available and not
expensive or free. The TOP becomes the display bottom and the BOTTOM becomes the carrier
top. The outside edges of the top (old bottom) becomes the top, with the outside edges resting on the outside edges of the display bottom, keeping it from moving around during transportation. Cut the new top down so that it gives about an inch of space above the displays highest piece.
MAKING THE BASE: Indoor-outdoor carpet makes a good display base. Hardware store Lowes carries it in bulk and is about $10.00 a linear foot which is usually 6 or 10 feet. If using Printer Paper carrying box
only 1 foot is needed as the new box bottom measures 11 ¼ by 17 ¼, so the 1 foot carpet is
trimmed to 11 ¼ by 17 ¼ with left over for the next project. Glue (Indoor/outdoor) the carpet
centered to a piece of very thin plywood or Masonite cut to 10 ¼ by16 ¼. This allows the carpet
to overlap the plywood ½” and be secured by the top when placed in the box. Flocking and
grass will work but do not keep scenery as secure and may fade. Carpeted displays will last 20
years.
MAKING THE DISPLAY: Place
the display pieces on the
carpet in approximately
where they will be secured
until you have the display
looking like you want it.
Display items do
not have to be expensive.
We are attempting to give
visitors a perception of
what is occurring and scale
is not mandatory. A Hot
Wheel car in front of a
building looks like a car in
front of a building. Secure
display pieces that have
holes in them with clear 25
lb. monofilament string
(fishing line). If they have wheels or protrusions loop the line over and tie it up on the
2 of 3 underside. If they can have a holes drilled in them secure them with flat head screws with a
countersink in the wood base. Glue anything else, buildings, figures, and other paraphernalia
with a clear strong bond adhesive. Lighting of various types can be used. The plugs seen on the
top right are for flashing lights for the vehicles, the larger plug is for a smoke unit (the reason
for the vehicles.) The Displays can be as simple or as complex as desired.
When the scene has no firm item (building etc.) the display pieces can be secured directly to
the carpet eliminating the plywood and tying the pieces down with fishing line securing & tying
them on the underside. Burning the tail end of the monofilament with a soldering iron
prevents the knot from coming loose. A nail held with plyers and heated on a stove or with a
flame will work.
3 of 3
Example - the House Mover in the carrying box ready for top and moving
The scene does not necessarily have to be 8 ½ x 11
Moonshine still Base unit Moonshine transport box and base
