Built an IKEA DETOLF + BILLY display case for my 250+ die-cast collection

[sashik3]

Sharing a project I finally finished after years of collecting -- a display case for my die-cast collection, built by combining IKEA DETOLF glass cabinets with IKEA BILLY Extension bookcases as a base, plus OXBERG glass doors on the BILLY section for enclosed storage underneath.

The collection is mostly 1:18 scale (Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, American muscle, a few F1 cars) picked up from garage sales, estate sales, eBay, and marketplace finds over the years. Some of my favorite pieces were actually beat-up ones I stripped down and repainted with real automotive paint and clear coat.

For the build, I bolted the DETOLF directly to the BILLY through the back panel so the two units act as one solid piece instead of a tall cabinet just sitting on top of a shorter one -- no wobble, no risk of it sliding off. I also added LED strips top and bottom of each DETOLF so everything is lit up properly at night.

One thing I'd stress to anyone doing something similar: anchor the whole assembly to a wall stud. A fully loaded DETOLF holds a lot of weight up high, and it's not something you want to leave freestanding.

Curious if anyone else here has done something similar for a collection -- die-cast, tools, whatever -- using IKEA cabinets as a base. Happy to share more photos of the build (wiring, mounting hardware, etc.) if anyone wants the details.

 

[CMB41]

photos appreciated. Looks amazing!,,

 

[sashik3]

more pics

 

[MileHighRover]

Damn, those look friggin' amazing! Wow!!

 

[pancho400cid]

Looks great. Very cool collection also!

 

[LXCam]

Now that’s a sweet collection and a very serious display. Nice job OP

 

[gatewaysysop]

Really nice job and really nice collection, that looks fantastic!

Proximity of glass panels to the pool table would be too much anxiety for me (because people are, well... people), but maybe it's just the way it looks in the pics.

 

[finn]

I used the IKEA Billy (I think) shelves for model display.

Three units in the basement and two units plus an inside corner cabinet and a similar white closed cabinet in a nook in the garage. I just used the Billy glass doors, plus several of their glass shelves to increase capacity.

Beats cardboard boxes or storage totes, and reduces dust accumulation on the models.

For the Az house, I bought two IKEA cabinets with glass doors and again added several IKEA glass shelves for increased capacity. They’re 4 or 4 1/2’ high. I think they call them Banker’s cabinets. I don’t recall the model.

 

[iflyatiger]

Wow nice !!

 

[southalabama]

Looks good.

Adam Savage would be proud. He used Billy cases for his extensive collection of movie props. In one video he installs led lighting. His YouTube channel is Tested.

 

[zimman]

Nice work.
Zim

 

[BombShelter]

Beautiful collection and display! For the last few months I've been printing mulit-board panels and mounting them with my Walkman Collection and other odds and ends from the 80's.

Over the years I've seen some really neat home displays, it's amazing what people have like one guy had sets of school clocks, all set by the master clock, one guy had real 70's engines set up in his house, along with shelves of parts like carbs, and much more.

 

[RalphInCA]

Nice. I love MacGyvering with IKEA. My whole hobby room is essentially IKEA.

 

[BombShelter]

If you have a 3d printer, you could make some cool backgrounds or dioramas, I bet there's dozens of free designs out there. I've also discovered the Makerworld Sign maker, it's really easy to make signs. I grab a logo or picture and in some cases, use online free AI to clean up the design. For my Walkmans and boomboxes, I've made a few logo signs that make everything pop a little more.