Toy Collectors, What's the Better Choice? Muscle Rack Build Or A Moducase Display 

I followed a how to series on youtube to build my muscle rack display. You sir, are mostly right. It cost me around $700, that was with a good deal on the acrylic and the rack was only $100 (on sale). BUT, the little things, like mentioned in this video. The tools I didn't have, buying the padding strips to put around the acrylic for dust proofing, the magnets strips, which btw started failing within the first year, all that added up. My collection is growing and I've recently started looking additional display options. Got to be honest, I'm not building another one. For an extra 200/300 $, I'll be buying Moducase. It took me a couple of my weekends to just build the thing, also working a full time job. That doesn't include all the time it took running around trying to find all the materials needed. With that all said, I LOVE the way my display turned out, it looks great, and IMO it IS comparable to Moducase (No I didn't use paper for the back drop lol). If I could I would post a picture here. HOWEVER, the time and effort it took to plan/build, I'll just spend the extra couple hundred dollars and save my time this time around. Not to mention, this was over a year ago. If I can't find the same deals, It could end up costing as much or more than the Moducase alternative, which is CRAZY!

Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you, Danoby!

I think it might be my video that you are referring to, Danoby. Not sure I agree with your description of calling it a “complaint video”, it was more of a lessons learnt recap of issues I ran into that I wanted other collectors to know about and be able to avoid. In regards to the muscle racks, it 100% depends on how much you choose to put into it. I would argue that parts of my build are better than Moducase (dimmable LED lights and metal backing panels). I’ve had a number of people see photos of my display and ask if my DIY case was Moducase D120s. I do see your point regarding some videos that don’t fully disclose costs and issues. I have tried to do this in both of my muscle rack videos, but being in Australia the prices for things may vary (for example, acrylic doesn’t seem to have been as big a cost for me as it has others in the US). The video on my build has a full cost break down and information on where I sourced materials on for full transparency.

The price of the Moducases doesn't bother me. What bothers me is their pathetic wait times, which are unacceptable and why I refuse to order from them.

Great video. Well balanced and highlights a lot of important points. Austin is a great guy and very honest.

I think the misunderstanding is people try and compare the DIY to moducase and there isnt a comparison but also it depends on the collector. I was able to make 3 muscle racks that financially work for me, and the visual quality is up there for me. I wasn't worried about building mine to try and make them look like Moducase, but once again it depends on the collector. Time and Money go hand in hand, the leg up the DIY will always have Moducase is time. Price can be disputed depending on how much you want to put into the DIY build but time is a tough one. For me, I can't wait a year for display cases when Im always adding more to my collection and also various scale items. Great video!

During Covid acrylic panels tripled in cost. They haven’t come down in price. I bought large sheets and cut them using a plexi glass cutting wheel attachment for my drill. Messy process if you try to cut all the way through, you only need to score the top then break the piece off. I used black foam core for the backing. It was all very involved and time consuming. Lights were relatively cheap, the magnetic strips were surprisingly pricey.

I waited a long time to get into sixth scale because I knew I needed both space and the best display option possible. I wasnt going to invest thousands in the figures without either of those necessities. When the time was right, I ordered my first moducase wall combo the week I ordered my first Hot Toys (during the Thanksgiving through Christmas when moduspace is 15% off). They arrived in a year just when my collection was large enough to warrent them. And then I ordered my second wall combo that holiday season to accommodate the next round of figures and vehicles. Basically, I'll continue to order during the holiday sale every year to stay ahead of my needs. That's how I've managed it, and the lead time is no different than that of the figures so I'm used to it by now.

Great info & service to the community! Thanks, Danoby & Austin.

Excellent video. As a DIY guy, I have build three houses now, myself, I get sick and tired of these youtube videos and how to "cheap" and "fast" do things yourself. Sure, some things you can do yourself. But you need the tools, you need the skills and you need the time. If you have the tools and the skills, and are willing to invest your time, no problem. Some people even think it's fun. But you also have to facture in that you mess up. You do a wrong measure, you break something, you cut the wrong angle. Of cause you can save money if you have the tools. And the benefit of doing it yourself is that the end product will be EXACTLY as you want it (again, if you have the skills). But don't be fooled by these DIY videos. You need the tools, you can learn the skills but most importantly, you have to WANT to do it. Really. Ask yourself - do I WANT to do this. It can be fun if you want to, but hell if you're just trying to save a few bucks.

I wanted to get moducases, but at the cost, I just can’t justify them, when I can get cabinets that are also installed with lights and have reduced airflow for the cost of one fully assembled case.

Very well done

Great video Danoby! I just got my Moduspace order in yesterday, placed the order almost a year and a half ago. I agree with Austin when he says the timeframe is the biggest deterrent. I was thinking about going the muscle rack route, but after doing the math, it just didn’t seem to make sense to me. Very happy with my Modcases ,not happy with their delivery times, and lack of customer service.

Last year I started my garage shelf journey. And that was probably the biggest waste of money I’ve done in this hobby. But then again that’s all on me, I’m not the best at building things so everything was just falling apart and I got frustrated. Went back to detolfs. So with that being said moducases will be here today lol

Hello Danoby. Great video and conversation with Austin. I completely agree with you, knowledge is power and you must devote time to search for the right source. I wish you have a nice day Danoby and greetings from Greece. ✌ P.S. '' The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. The unexamined life is not worth living. There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance. '' -- Socrates

Danoby: You brought up KgHobby a while back saying how they shafted you. Well i now have 2 paid invoices which still have yet to be shipped.

Oh whatever happened to that "automated streamline process" to make those Moducases much much quicker? 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

Great idea,moducase to expensive for what they are.great danoby

Hey Danoby thanks for making this video, very helpful

I used to want to buy more Moducase, but I did a similar comparison to this during Rona and I figured it cost almost 10 times more, which in return I get to buy 3-4 more HT figs, sometimes 5 if I get crazy good deals hack to back. But yeah acrylic panels are expensive

Great, well put together video on Moducase VRs Garage Racks. I think most collectors who want to move away from detolfs have thought about this at some point. Cheers Danoby. 👍

I choose Detolf 😂 . I love them. Not waiting a year, not becoming a builder .

I’ve been waiting for a year for my moducases and I’m tired of waiting …furniture shouldn’t take this long to make and deliver I don’t think I’ll ever order from them again

Great video! Moducase wait times kill it for me. I used a muscle racks with no acrylic and I wouldn't say it's as good as a moducase but it was inexpensive and arrived 3 days after I ordered them. If Moducase could deliver in 90 days or quicker they would gain a ton of customers including myself.

Has anyone heard or used EgoBox display cases? It's a Moducase alternative at 1/3 of the price and 2-3 months delivery time. Or so they say...

Also, Austin rules

Quick question. When you order MOducase do you pay the money all in front? Or is it like hot toys you preorder and pay a certain amount and then when they deliver you pay the whole thing ?

What about buying lexan panels from loews or home depot?

Olá tb ótimo vídeo eu consegui fazer meus próprios expositores aqui no Brasil mais não foi fácil recomendo comprar pronto os custos vai ser menor

Wouldnt swap my Moducases for anything.

Laughs in China cabinet. Ps: I’ve considered getting a garage shelf, but those panels are the nail in the coffin. Lol

It's not economical to make your own Muscle Rack Display Case that's comparable to Moducase...I'm already invested in Moducase, new ones will already connect to what I have. Plus the muscle rack is way heavier, and much more difficult to disassemble if you need to move elsewhere than Moducase.