So you have a kick butt action figure collection, but how can you display it effectively? How can you put your action figures in �action� with guns and swords drawn? That�s a tough question without a clear answer. Well as a long time collector, I�ve tried a few different things over the years, some work, some don�t. Recently, I decided to renovate my whole room with some new bookcases and some new metal display systems from Mini Mag Stands & Displays.
A tier or �stadium seating� system works best because it allows you to be able to see the figures in the back rows as each row is just above the one in front of it. There are a few different items out there you can use, from very cheap to full custom. I originally used a simple plastic expanding shelf made for kitchen pantries. It worked just fine, but still lacked �something�. While it could be painted to any color it still was plagued by the domino principle.
Mini Mag Stands
Just about all collectors have had a figure fall and knock down another, then another, then the whole shelf. The domino principle spares no figure in its path. Mini Mag Stands came up with a novel way to deal with this problem, Magnetic Action Figure Stands.
Aliens Lt. Ripley and Alien Queen on Mini Mag Stands
These small 13/16� round magnet stands fit into the Pin Holes in the action figure�s feet. The pins come in 3 different sizes and 5 different colors. The stands fit most of the 3 �� to 6� action figures available today and a lot of Kenner and Hasbro figures including all Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Aliens, Predator, Total Justice/JLA, The Dark Knight Collection, and Batman The Animated Series among others.
Ambush Predator on Mini Mag Stands
They also work with some DC Direct, Marvel Legends and Spawn figures as well. The Mini Mag Stands allow the figure to stand without too much fear of it falling over and wiping out the whole shelf. The stands also allow more dynamic or �action� poses than can be made with a simple static display.
Display System I and II
As nice as the Mini Mag Stands are, they are just part of a complete system. Display System I and II are the logical choice to use the Mini Mag Stands with. These metal displays allow you to use our Mini Mag Stands to magnetically secure your action figures in just about any pose you can imagine. Hang Spider-man upside down, no problem. Have Batman leaping onto The Joker, no sweat. As long as the figure can hold the pose, the Mag Stands won�t move.
Standard DS I
Display System I is roughly square at 12 �� Tall and Deep by 13� Wide. It features either three 4� wide shelves or four 3� wide shelves, depending upon which way you wish to set it up. The unit itself is all-metal with snap on gray plastic sides with braces and front and rear trim pieces (I did not use the trim pieces). The metal is Power Coated, NOT painted, so it will resist scratches and not rust (unless you have to cut it). It can be ordered in 5 different colors to match the Mini Mag Stands. Right out of the box this a great set up, but the company will make them in custom width sizes if you want.
Custom width DS I
Display System II is basically different sized �plates� of powder-coated metal on which to use the Mini Mag Stands. Display System II come in 3 different sizes (4�x 6�, 4�x 12� and 6�x 6�) and 5 different colors and will snap onto the ends of Display System I to create a bridge as well as lie flat on a shelf.
A New Beginning
I ordered The Ultimate Display System as a start just to try out the system and was quite impressed. This system includes 2 Display System I and a Display System II 4"x12", which can be used as a connecting bridge, and 5 sets of Mini Mag Stands, enough for 25 figures. I encourage anybody who is considering this system to try this out first.
Total Justice figures on DS I
I decided early on that I would order custom sized bookcases to put my collection in. Before, I had added bookcases or shelving as I needed and this led to a hodgepodge collection of different sizes and styles and I wanted something more uniform and consistent for the room. It had to fit the Display System I stands as well as have glass doors to combat dust on the displays.
TMNT figures on DS I
I was dumb enough to think that if they can do an extreme makeover on a whole house in one week on TV, then I can redo just one room in two weeks while the wife and kid are gone, right? Wrong, but that�s a whole other story that�s still not finished four months later.
TDKC and Batman Returns figures on DS I
I ordered 39 Display System I in 3 different custom widths (25 were 21�, 7 each of 25� and 27�) and Mini Mag Stands had them cut to fit perfect. The ONLY problem I had was some of the bookcases were not as deep as the others, so the Display System I would not fit behind the glass doors of 3 of the bookcases (I don�t know who�s problem that was). I had to trim the Display System I to fit in those bookcases, but nobody can tell where I trimmed them. I also ordered 1,200 Mini Mag Stands enough for 600 figures.
MacFarlane Sports Picks figures
Does It Really Work?
The Mini Mag Stands work really well and the Display System I and II help put it all together nicely. In addition to colors, there are two different magnet strengths. I use heavy duty and don�t even recommend the other weaker one. In the time I�ve had them up on display, I�ve only had a very few failures. These consisted of the plastic stand separating from the magnet and all were easily fixed with Super Glue. In most of these cases the figures was posed in an �off balance� action pose and I guess the glue used gave way to gravity after a period of time.
Display System I works well for other collectibles besides action figures as I have a Corgi Batmobiles and Star Trek Role Playing toys on display with this system. So it easily adapts to die cast and other genres besides action figures.
The people at Mini Mag Stands are first rate and helped through the whole ordering, configuring process. Joshua Machado, President of Mini Mag Stands & Displays went out of his way to make sure I was taken care of. Customer Service is a big issue for me, and I was happy with the results that I got from the company.
The Batman EXP figures on DS I (above). Note The Batman figures foot peg holes are too large for the Mini Mag Stands. I Super Glued Mr. Freeze and The Ventriliquist to thier stands to make them stand upright.
Pros
This is a beautiful and professional way to display your action figure collection. It is certainly one of the best systems I�ve ever seen or used. The Display System I is solid and the machine work and power coating are first rate. The system is easy to use and is expandable. The ability to have custom widths is outstanding and lends itself to a truly one of a kind installation.
JLA figures on DS I
Cons
Quality is not cheap, so these may be a bit more than some will want to spend. I firmly believe that you get what you pay for and while not the cheapest system, they are certainly worth the price. If you factor in what its made of they are really not that expensive.
My only gripe is that perhaps the The Display System I is just a touch too tall for some bookcases. I failed to take that into consideration when ordering and ordered far more DS I�s than I could fit. However, I was able to place the other DS I�s in other places I had not considered. The original plastic shelves I first used did not stand as tall or as deep so they fit better in the places I had them.
Two DS I displays, work in progress
Specs
Mini Mag Stands: 13/16� diameter, 3 different pin sizes, 5 different colors, 2 different magnet strengths.
Display System I: 12 �� Tall, 12 �� Deep, 13� Wide, 5 different colors, custom width available.
Display System II: 4�x 6�, 4�x 12� or 6�x 6�, 5 different colors.
Summary
I love them. I like the look and the quality is first rate. I spoke with Joshua Machado a few times about new display system ideas for his company to produce. He�s a collector just like the rest of us and came up with this system as a solution to his display issues. That�s what sets Mini Mag Stands & Displays apart from the rest, they use the product they sell and design. There may be other display systems out there, but you will find none better than Mini Mag Stands & Displays.
Spawn figures on DS I, Note older system (silver) can be seen at right.
Real-Dark-Knight: Sadly, No. If I knew of a Michael Caine action figure, I might be able to do a head swap. I do know Morgan Freeman has an action figure from the Robin Hood series, so maybe there is a Lucius Fox action figure just waiting to be made.
Razwhurz: The original TMNT figures are among my oldest ones. So you like Gargoyels too, here’s a better picture.
Good eye on the Predator too, here’s a better look at the rest of them
Spencer: The Corgi Batmobiles are the only Die Casts on display so far. There is a Curio Cabinet at the end, but it only has 3 of the glass shelves in it. I need to buy more glass shelves to finish it out. I do have a few of my 1:18 Mustangs on the shelves in there, but mostly I’m just storing stuff in there for now.
RE: Review: Mini Mag Stands & Displays -
Posted on 10-01-2008 00:51
wow!
Thats how you display a collection.
I have a collection like yours but your just looks better.
Working on buying glass displays at the moment but thanks for sharing... looks beautifu!
BATMAN: Yesterday, Today, & Beyond, all of it's sub-sites, or hosted sites are in no way associated, or affiliated with DC Comics, Time Warner or any of it's divisions.
Items cataloged in merchandise sections are not for sale. The downloading of video game ROMs is for backup and testing purposes only. If you do not own the actual game, the ROM is to be deleted from your hard drive within 24 hours.
Any money that may be made from Amazon Associates, advertisements, or affiliate programs will be contributed to the maintaining of this website, to provide the fans with the best that we can offer.
Home
)
