Sora Showcases

 

Review by bleep

I am not a Slotcar collector, though I'm getting a few special cars that I'd like to save on the shelf rather than race. Does this mean I'm becoming a collector by default. I've added some shelves in my shed on which I have been storing cars, though my DIY attempts at shelves aren't always the best. So I got to looking round to see what else is available on the open market. I'd seen a site in the USA sometime ago but that seems to have gone quiet. Then I stumbled across Sorashowcases.com. I thought they looked interesting as I decided to go that bit deeper and see what I could find out about them, here are my results.

Who are Sora Showcases, a small family run business based in Central Germany established in 1994 making acrylic display cases, initially selling purely to the German market through sora.de their online shop. In 2008 they launched sorashowcases.com directed towards the English speaking world, this site is in English and all communications I have had with the company have been in English (it amazes me how the rest of the world can speak in more than one language but we just speak louder!) These Showcases are not available through your normal Slotcar retailers, only direct from the website. We in the UK are a strange bunch, we've heard of Slotcar manufacturers who have tried this method of direct sales and eventually switched to supplying the regular retailers, however this is a different product with a lower turnover, in this instance I can see it will work, if the supply is friendly and efficient

These cases could be for anything in reality, railway modelling, collectable figures and dolls, golf balls, Rocks and Minerals, Fossils, Die cast cars, DVD's CD's just about anything that needs a display case, they also make collection boxes. However the Slotcar versions have slots cut out of the shelves to take the slot guide.

Here are some of the cases in the existing range.

Trains


Golf Balls

That said if you needed a particular style or shape of display Sora are happy to talk to you and are willing to make specialist bespoke displays as well.

Though of course the ones we are most interested in are the ones for Slotcars, they cater for all sizes from
1:43 the Slotcar Tower for 18 slot cars

1:32 the Slotcar Tower for up to 10 Cars


1:32 The Slotcar Display Cabinet holds up to 30 Cars this is what I needed so I will give more information on this one in a bit more in depth with this one later.

1:24 Model Car Display Cabinet holds up to 12 Cars

1:24 The Slotcar Display Cabinet holds up to 30 Cars

Some others that the Slotcar enthusiast may be interested in the 1:18 Modular Display Cabinet

Bespoke Shelving

All the regular styles are kept in stock at all times, following your order the shipment is prompt. Having ordered mine on the Thursday evening, I had an email on the Friday saying it was on it's way and giving me the DHL tracking number so I could track its movements. By Tuesday morning it had arrived, that's better timing than some things I order within the UK.

1:32 The Slotcar Display Cabinet
It comes as a flat pack. What's in the box, each display case has it's own sheet of instructions also downloadable as a PDF which lists all the parts, and gives clear concise instructions on how to fit together, including cleaning instructions.

   

As you can see it is all protectively wrapped.

Once all the parts are removed from the box, prior to removing the protective film, this is a good time to look at mounting positions. Mark the wall where you intend to fit and screw some reasonably long screws. Because of the way the cabinet fits together they must protrude at least 20mm from the wall.

Now remove all the protective film from both sides of all the sections. It's a tedious job but as you do it, you'll reveal the acrylic below, the nice clean shine which is quite exciting as you're beginning to envisage the case coming together. Remember back in Victorian times Vitrine was considered the height of fashion in cabinet and furniture designs.

Just to show how the sections slot together I left the protective film on this section, each shelf simply slides in, then an additional support slots in across the centre of the underside of shelf. It is all very simple and more to the point logical.

Once all the shelves and supports are in place the back drops on and the wedges can be pushed through, as with any DIY I ended up with one extra piece a wedge, on rechecking I hadn't missed any of the holes, I checked the instructions and yes they had provided a spare.

It's at this point the case becomes a solid unit, ensuring to pick it up using the side sections, it can now be hung in place or as it is a completely self supporting unit, it can stand on it's own. All that is left for you to do is stock it with 30 of your prized slot cars.

Can you see a bit of a theme developing here?

                   

So the front how does that fit on, it couldn't be simpler it has six slots cut in it as the sides have six hooks (See below), it just sits in place. It is simple but perfectly effective. It will probably keep the majority of dust out though it is not totally sealed. So just a thought, this could be for the racing fraternity too, as the front is so accessible there is no reason why it couldn't be for your race cars, especially if it is close at hand to your track.

As for the price well that all depends on where you live, I tend to think of prices in relation to slotcars. So this will cost you the same as three or four reasonably priced slotcars, for what you actually get I think it's a pretty good deal.

I'd be interested to see what the collectors out there think of these cases. Do collectors keep some of their cars on display or do they just squirrel everything away in the boxes in the loft? Having spoken to a few the tendency is to stack them in the crystal cases on shelves, very few have bespoke cases/cabinets.

OK it has been said before, here's me gushing about a product, and not mentioning the shall we say not so good points. That's is just me I'm "Mr Enthusiastic" about anything Slotcar related. I've tried to find some negatives on these, the only thing I can really say is, it takes more time to remove all the protective film on all the parts than it does to assemble them, but the film is there with good reason and the end result is well worth the effort. I don't suppose I'll be buying one of these every week, but I can see this one being added to, on special occasions Christmas or Birthdays that sort of thing. So I'll be able to remove my bodged shelves in time, replace them with something, which to my eye looks more stylish dare I say professional. Whilst on that point using these in the shed they seem to reflect light, where as wooden shelves seem to absorb light. Consequently these actually brighten the place up in more than one sense. It's not easy to photograph something that is clear and shiny but I hope you can get to see how great these look. Having seen this one I think I could actually get away with having one in the "House!" it really looks good and turns your collection into a piece of classic art.

So not quite slotcar porn, but certainly a top shelf for you to store your cars on! From a small though very helpful company, willing to try anything they can to keep their customers happy, the service was first rate. The showcase I think is visually great whilst not detracting from the main attraction Slotcars. I would like to add some more as my collection grows. Am I becoming a collector?