Author Topic: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/26  (Read 4308 times)

Offline Mr. Black

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Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/26
« on: July 22, 2014, 01:53:03 PM »
Back in 2008 I had this idea to seriously take on reorganizing my 'man cave'. It's my own little room, where I have my collection on display and where I practice the fine art of customizing. It's a small room of 2m. x 3m. (6ft. x 9ft.), but it's mine. Mine!


Fast forward six years and I've finally started the makeover! Here's a series of photos showing the progress.


These two 32" Billy cabinets feature part of my collection and some random stuff as well. It all looks a bit sloppy. I was never happy with the way the cabinets met in the corner, but due to the size restrictions of the room, there wasn't another way of placing them.







Panning to the left you can see my customzing space:







And here I've disassembled one of the grey Billy cabinets and assembled the first two of four 16" Billy cabinets:







Another Billy and a Benno CD case waiting to be assembled:







This shelf above my workbench has to go, otherwise I can't fit all the Billy cabinets:







I don't have a big collection, but man, even a small collection consists of a lot of stuff. I'm just glad all of my action figures are packed away in bins in the attic:







This is a quick setup of the first three Billys, enabling me to maximize the use of the corner. Of course, there's quite a bit of empty space behind the middle cabinet, but that can be used perfectly for hiding the wiring of the lighting inside the cabinets:





Here's a test fitting of the LED strips:








 I'm not sure what looks best: one on top and one on the bottom shelf, or two on top and two on the bottom. If only one, should I place it in the back, middle or front?


My girlfriend mentioned finding a mural or wallpaper of a starfield and applying that to the back and/or inner sides of the cabinets.


Thoughts on which direction I should go from here?


*** update 07/25 ***




I installed all of the LED strips and guided the cable through the back panel of each Billy:










The back panel of the Benno CD case hasn't been fixed with nails, as one would normally do. Instead it just sits loose, held in place by this metal plate.







This knob allows me to slide up the back panel of the Benno CD case, so I can reach the switches of the LED lighting units, that lie behind the Benno case....







... as demonstra-.... what the... ?!! Jawas?! I can't abide those disgusting creatures! Oh well, at least it's not a flock of mynocks!





*** update 08/05 ***


Ikea has tiny covers for the countless small holes in the sides of their cabinets. Had a little help from my girls plugging those in. 400+ of those things!






Installed four Morebo glass doors and placed a lot of my collection in the cabinets. You can still see a couple of wooden shelves, but I have already bought glass ones to replace those too.





















But first I will take care of the other side of my room. On this side I will set up three 42" high / 32" wide Billy cabinets with a Benno cd case between each pair of Billys. The Benno cases will be cut to size, since these don't come in 42".






I've decided this side will feature my action figure collection of vintage Kenner SW figures and their best modern counterparts.

Although I've put in quite a bit of money so far, I'm pretty proud of my timing. Ikea has replaced their old Billy and Benno cabinets with newer models, so the older models were all on sale. Safe for the 42" Billys, it's all old skool Billy and Benno what you see here. Another advantage is that additional products (such as the glass shelves and Morebo doors) were also on sale, up to 50% off!





*** update 08/26 ***


Never realized placing 180+ figures neatly in a row could be so time consuming. It was much easier to just throw them in a big bin :D But I have to admit, it's very satisfying seeing all these on display.






[size=78%][/size]




On top you can see a small Ikea Ribba frame, that holds 24 mini figs. I don't have that many mini figs yet, but it's on my list.







These are four mini posters from a very old set, published by Zanart in 1994. I'm looking into replacing these frames by one giant mural, preferrably a battle of Hoth one, or a scene from Tatooine. A space battle would be really cool, but I like to keep my room light.





« Last Edit: August 27, 2014, 12:14:52 AM by Mr. Black »

Offline Tamer

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2014, 05:18:56 AM »
Wow, I really like the new look. Off to share.

As for the lights I would say if one perhaps in the front or middle. Not sure if I would put in a starfield on the back or sides either. If there was a way to do it so it would be easy to remove if you didn't like it you might try it out. Looking good though Remco.

Offline jkno

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2014, 03:33:49 AM »
Very promising so far! :)
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Offline Mr. Black

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2014, 04:00:51 AM »
Thanks guys. I've decided to go with one LED strip underneath the top shelf and middle shelf, place just off center. And apparently the Ikea Dioder light sets I have, are the multicoloured ones. I totally forgot, because I bought them years ago. Pretty cool!

Offline Tamer

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2014, 05:28:12 AM »
I think those IKEA cabinets are really nice for displaying. I have been tempted to get a few myself.

Offline Mr. Black

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2014, 05:46:08 AM »
Well, maybe you should hurry. I've read the renowned Billy cabinets are slowly being phased out. There's a new type. Far youngerrrrrr and more powerfulllllll.... I got mine for $20 each and that Benno CD case for $16. In any case, the famous Expedit cabinets (also a great and very popular model) will definitely be replaced by a slimmer version.

Offline Mr. Black

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/05
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2014, 08:21:17 AM »
Update in the first post!

Offline Tamer

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/05
« Reply #7 on: August 05, 2014, 02:55:07 PM »
Coming along nicely. Way to go Remco. Off to share.

Offline Clonehead

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/05
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2014, 03:33:20 PM »
Looking good. I have used old sw posters to line the back of cabinets and papered a wall with shelving installed in front afterwards before.
Those cabinets are cool

Offline ActionFigEmpire

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/05
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2014, 03:44:56 PM »
Shoot! What an awesome space! So... can I come visit? Great job!

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/05
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2014, 03:20:22 AM »
looks awesome! i am dead jealous when the family changed the bedrooms around i lost all my display space and most of my stuff is in storage   :-\
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Offline Mr. Black

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/05
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2014, 05:34:41 AM »
Coming along nicely. Way to go Remco. Off to share.

Thanks Tamer, pretty happy with the progress so far!


looks awesome! i am dead jealous when the family changed the bedrooms around i lost all my display space and most of my stuff is in storage   :-\

You should've said your family "wants the impossible".... ;)


Shoot! What an awesome space! So... can I come visit? Great job!

Sure, come on over whenever you like :)

Looking good. I have used old sw posters to line the back of cabinets and papered a wall with shelving installed in front afterwards before.
Those cabinets are cool

I'm considering doing something with backgrounds, maybe for the cabinets with the action figures in them. I'll have to look into that.

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/26
« Reply #12 on: August 27, 2014, 12:43:02 AM »
Another update in the first post!

Offline Tamer

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/26
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2014, 02:43:44 AM »
Nice, you are so giving me an itch to add some more display cabinets to my own set up. I am starting to overflow a bit. I love how you have the vintage figure along with their modern counterpart. Back on the front page.

Offline FlakBait

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Re: Mr. Black's Man Cave: makeover 2014 - update 08/26
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2014, 03:31:24 AM »
Looks awesome, buddy