How to Display Brick Models: A Practical Guide
You spent the evenings building it — now it deserves better than a cluttered shelf. Here is how we display our own models, from micro-brick landmarks to 135 cm ships.
1. Pick the right spot
Out of direct sunlight, always. UV light is the enemy of ABS plastic — over months it fades colours and yellows whites. A north-facing shelf, an alcove or a cabinet away from the window will keep colours crisp for years. Avoid radiator tops and bathrooms: heat softens clutch and humidity dulls the finish.
2. Give each model breathing room
One well-spaced model reads as a display piece; five crammed together read as clutter. Leave clear space either side, and where you can, put a model at eye level — helmet builds especially benefit, because their display stands were designed to be viewed straight on.
3. Plan for the big ones
Large-scale builds like the Titanic need a measured space before you start — in this case over 1.3 metres. A sideboard, low bookcase top or dedicated wall shelf works well. Build large models on a flat board so you can move the finished piece safely.
4. Light them like they cost ten times more
A cheap warm-white LED strip along the front edge of a shelf transforms a display — it adds depth to micro-brick facades on architecture models and picks out the detail you spent hours building. Book nooks come with their own LEDs; give them a spot between real books on a shelf at eye level, which is exactly what they were designed for.
5. Keep them clean without breaking them
Dust little and often: a soft dry make-up brush or a cool hairdryer on its lowest setting. For a deeper clean, a microfibre cloth barely dampened with water — never solvents. If a piece pops off mid-dust, that is what spare fingers are for; and if one ever goes missing entirely, we will send a replacement free.
6. Rotate your display
Collectors with more models than shelf space rotate monthly. Store boxed models disassembled in their bags, or assembled in clear storage boxes with a sheet of kitchen roll over the top to keep dust off.
Looking for your next centrepiece? Our Display Models collection is built exactly for this.