Building a Display, Part 2: Wire

Last time we looked at some basic types of toy displays.  Today, we're going to focus a little more on a specific detail: wire.

Why use wire?  Well, for one thing it helps figures stand up.  In addition, it opens the door for a variety of display options that would be otherwise unavailable.  I happen to be a believer that Superman should be flying: wire makes this possible.

Now, there are many different kinds of wire.  I use simple floral wire, because it's cheap and easy to find.  If you want to hunt down something more attractive, go ahead: I'm too lazy.

Also, I shouldn't need to say this, but I'm going to anyway.  Wire is metal, so you using it could leave a mark.  Personally, I've lost a lot more paint from figures falling off shelves because they didn't have wire than I have from wire itself.  But, if leaving your playthings in pristine condition is a priority, this isn't going to help.

Lets take a look at a couple examples.  We'll start by taking a look at The Alien, created by NECA.  It's a good looking toy, but mine has some articulation issues.  When I first pulled it out of the package, two of its joints snapped immediately. Rather than take it back to the store (like I probably should have), I asked my wife to glue him back together.  She got him looking right, but that doesn't fix the problems with his joints, so I have limited options on how far I can adjust him.

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As a result, he doesn't stand up too well on his own.  The solution, of course, is wire.

The trick to using wire is always minimizing its visibility while providing a secure anchor.  Here, I've hid the wire by running it around the left shoulder joint.  Because the joint is partially concealed, the wire isn't even visible.  From there I've wrapped around The Alien's tentacle, run it under his arm, and finally through his fingers to the bar that supports him.

Concealment is a little trickier when you want a toy to "fly."  In these cases, do the best you can, and accept that the wire will be somewhat visible.  It's often a small price to pay for the effect.

Lets turn our attention back to Green Lantern and his nemesis, Sinestro.  Rather than display them on the already crowded ground, I decided to hoist them in the air.

As you can see, the wire is pretty obvious up close.  It's still a good effect, however.  Whenever you're making action figures "fly" the most important thing to focus on is pose.  This is a little harder in the air than on the ground, however, since you first need to ensure they're being held up by their center of balance.

Because wire is somewhat rigid, you actually have a little leeway here.  Unlike string, which gives you no room for error, wire will stay where it's put... as long as you don't ask too much.

To make this fight scene work, I first needed to attach the wire.  To do that, I needed a joint, since neither Green Lantern or Sinestro had any kind of pegs or holes I could string it through.

I used the leg, since it folds out.  I ran the wire around the hips then twisted it off.  To create a fight scene, I had Green Lantern's wire tied off at his back and Sinestro's at his front: this allows me to have them facing each other in the air.

After that, it's just a matter of choosing a spot to hang them and posing the figures.  It's more work than leaving them on the ground, but it's a lot cooler.

Superman was a little easier.  I ran the wire around the center peg which attaches his cape to his body.  Then it was just a matter of wrapping it around the pegs above.  I used the same basic technique on Supergirl.

That's all fine and good, you might be saying, but how about larger toys.  Well, it doesn't get much larger than this Millennium Falcon model (or it doesn't in my collection: I have a small apartment!).  I used a couple lengths of wire for this, crossing for an 'x' pattern.  One of the advantages wire has over string (beside being sturdier) is that it's malleable.  I formed the 'x" into the shape I wanted and set the Falcon down.

Then began the adjustments.  Oh, you didn't think it was that easy, did you?  I raised, lowered, and shifted each wire until I had the angle and the height I wanted.  When I was done, the Millennium Falcon was soaring over the other toys on my SF shelf.

And the best part: thanks to the Falcon's size, you barely notice the wire.  It's all but invisible from a few feet back.  Pretty cool, huh?

Are we done?  Bah!  We've just gotten started.  Join us next time when we take a look at display cases and related items.

Until then, I keep a blog on all things geek.  Check it out if you've got some time to spare.