My Rainbow Room/Color Cave: Update 03

Hey Color Kids.
I started working more on the "Color Cave" this weekend.
First thing I did was paint the shelves. That is going to take a while to finish that project. I live in Florida and it's summer. During the summer in Florida it rains nearly every day at 3 - 4pm. The humidity is so bad that it takes a long time for the paint to dry between coats.

Paint and rollers ready!

This is boarding...

I did buy some items in hopes that they would make the painting time better. They are little painters pyramids. You paint both sides of the boards and they hold them off the ground so they can dry underneath too. I didn't have enough for all my boards, so a lot of the boards only got painted on one side today. I'm hoping the rest of this weekend will be milder outside and I can paint the rest. I need to keep up the painting because the sap from the boards was starting to flow again...didn't know it would do that, so I'm hoping to get them all painted soon to stop that and continue putting my room together. All my collection is still boxed up until I do.

Until then though I am still prepping my collection for display once I can get the display finished. All of my dolls are loose, not boxed, etcetera. So I risk exposure to dust. Any collector knows you really want to keep dust away as much as possible so I hatched a plan. Display boxes!

Okay, so before you say "Hey, you can just buy clear cases to put your dolls in. Why 'make' one?" 
I know they make clear acrylic doll display cases. These cases cost a lot of money. Especially if you want to use them for multiple dolls.

For example:
you can buy a 9.5" x 5" x 13" to 9.5" x 5" x 19" case from $10 - $14 each. There are several different styles and thicknesses for many different prices. You would need to get those for each doll, which is over 13 if you get one for every color kid and dress-up doll. If that were the case it would be $130 - $182.

You can even get "multi doll" displays that cost hundreds. You can get large curio cabinets with mirrors and glass that can cost hundreds or even thousands.

Some collectors have dolls in boxes already, so I thought it would be neat to make doll boxes in the style of the old/classic/original boxes for my collection. That way if put next to an original box it would be the same size and still protect the doll from dust.
All this and I think I can make all my boxes by hand and the cost be under $10 a box.

Anyway, the box is a "Trapezoid" shape when together.

All the small dolls that were in boxes were in these same boxes. That's Rainbow Brite, the Color Kids, Murky Dismal and the Dress Up Dolls.

I do have a couple of doll boxes but they are in bad condition. I figured I could use the bad boxes to make templates to make my own boxes. I did search for companies to "Die Cut" them for me, but they wanted over $1000, and I seriously can't afford that. LOL

 I did a lot of trial and error over the last few years with this theory. I have been to many hobby stores searching for materials as close to the original doll box as possible. None of the hobby stores really had the right paper. I tried the Office Supply stores too, and they didn't have much either. I ordered board samples from companies, but the boards were too thick. Very much a "Goldilocks & the three bears" situation. "This is too big" or "Too Small" finally I found some that were nearly "Just right".

I will give the details to the "Box" construction in the next blog entry, once I have everything I need.

In the mean time I am still recording the Brite Cast episodes! We are currently up to Episode 4! Yay! And, we have a special "Mini cast" coming soon, so keep an eye out for it!

I hope to have more news for you soon, so until then!

Have a Rainbow Day!

My Rainbow Room/Color Cave: Update 02

Hey Rainbow Brite Fans

Here is what I have begun so far.

The "Color Cave" Doors

The inside of the doors.

The closet space is about 6 ft by 2 and 1/2 feet. It already had  a wire shelf and rod installed. I decided not to remove it as I can use the upper space for storage. The bottom space needed work. I decided I needed shelves about 6 inches deep and 2 feet wide. These type of board aren't available ready made, so I decided to make them. I bought 6 inch board and had the store cut them for me into 2 ft boards.

I decided on adjustable shelving so I bought 8 upright double track for brackets.

Here is a picture of the closet without the rail mounted.
It took me some trying to get good screws to mount them with. The first ones I bought were far too long. I decided to go with one about and inch and a half deep. I don't plan on these shelves holding anything but collectibles, not including books.
Each rail is about 2 feet separated so that the brackets can overlap some if I want to overlap them.

 Once mounted I made sure each was level with a leveler and tested the brackets.

The following is a photo of the brackets with the unpainted wooden shelves.

Here are the corners of each, which also have brackets and smaller shelves.

I haven't been able to paint the shelves yet because of the weather. It rains nearly everyday here, which would make the paint unable to dry. It will take several coats to make them like I want, so they are currently waiting.
I also found out I need more brackets then pictured because I have more closet to fill and shelves cut.

The current cost of the shelf is $168

$6 per track rack X 8 =$48
$3 per bracket X 24 = $72
$6 per board. (I get 3 shelves per board, 4 small boards) X 8 = $48

Not bad considering I get to customize the shelf system and move it around I would like.

I still have to buy more brackets and paint. I will cover the painting in the next update!

Until then, what do you think so far?

My Rainbow Room/Color Cave: Update 01

Hey Rainbow Brite Fans!
Life events have got me behind with updates yet again. However I think I may be to the point where I can tell you about one of them. I am designing my own "Rainbow Room/Color Cave"!

I have recently moved into a new home and in one of the rooms I am designing a display area JUST for my Rainbow Brite items!

Will I have all my items all over the room? 

No. One of the most sought after features of Rainbow Brite collectibles is the preservation of the colors themselves. I fear having all my collectibles out would drain them of their color! However the room has a closet that is flat against the wall and a few feet deep. This should be a great place for me to display my collection and still keep it safe from light!

Also, I'm a person of many interests. I have lots of things I collect. Rainbow Brite is the most, but other things I collect are video game systems. I own many vintage gaming systems, all original and in working order and a few select games for each.

Luckily I live with a man who shares my appreciation of my old systems, so I intend on sharing my space with him and our love for video games. Hopefully I can design a nice place where I can be nerdy, geeky, and live in harmony with all my nerdy-ness.

How do I plan on displaying my figures and still keeping them safe from light?

The closet has two folding doors. Inside the door I am hanging two black curtain panels designed to block light. When the closet is closed the curtains will be pulled to keep out to keep the light out. There is a large window right across from the closet too, and while it doesn't get direct light, it will keep the exposure to a minimum.

How do I plan to display my collection?

Oh, well that took a lot of thinking. I want to display everything, which is mostly dolls and books. Of the dolls I have so many different kinds, and those are different colors. The original dolls where primary rainbow colors, while the newer items are more pastel rainbow colors. I haven't decided how exactly I want to place them, but I do know I wanted options so I tried to think of a way to be able to customize my space so small, and use it to the most of my advantage.

I am custom cutting my own shelves at  a shallow depth with brackets I can adjust as I like. If done correctly I will line the inside of the closet with over 20 adjustable shelves, each 6 inches deep so I can utilize the most space and not crowd the shelves. I bought most of my equipment today, and hope to give you some small updates as I continue in case any one else wants to try their own.

The hardest part will be the painting. I bought real hard wood boards for the shelves. I am painting the shelves white, so they match the brackets and the walls in the room. (Yes, I'm keeping the walls white.) I'm allergic to wood, so I am painting each shelf a semi-gloss white so that should harden keeping most of the wood scent low. I was told the paint would be a faster solution then having to stain each board and then varnish it. The paint will do both. I'm also hoping the surface should clean easier too.

Anyway, I hope the decorating will go well, and hope to take pictures and keep you guys updated on the way.

In between this I am still recording Brite Cast episodes! You can expect some new "Mini" casts soon, as well more reviews!

Until then, Have a Rainbow Day!