Star Wars Mini-figure Display Labels

Bromwich

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on here so I apologies if I don't quite get the format right (I have just posted the same thing on BrickPicker).

I started collection SW figures in June this year and am getting pretty obsessed. I am currently on around 396 mini-figures which felt pretty fast, but now will now take the rest of my life to complete.

Having started collecting to display them (and use the spares for my nephews) I have created a set of labels to suit a 2 x 4 flat tile so I can see the figure no, name, year etc. (I saw something similar on a display on YouTube!)

I haven't yet put the display up (having not created them!), but was wondering if anyone else would be interested in a set if I made more or has seen something similar?

iamlego

Yes I would like a set

spaceinvader1979

I would like a set too!

Coolguy5000

I would love a set! Any chance you  have ones for others like superheroes etc?

Legogram

I would like a set too if you would ship to the US.

samtheq

Are you selling sets, or making them available for download somewhere?
I hate to be "that guy," but I'd love some that could be edited, and/or maybe turned into a version that would fit on a 1x4 tile, etc. 
I display minifigures in shadowboxes, and a 2x4 tile would cover up too much of the minifig!

samQ

77ncaachamps

Do you distinguish the different versions of the same character by their production year?

Bosstone100

@samtheq - what about using this piece:

http://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=44728&name=Bracket 1 x 2 - 2 x 2&category=[Bracket]#T=S&O={}

I use them in a shadow box type display cabinet (available from Michael's). I stand the fig on the plate and use put that piece in front of it. It hangs down over the shelf to use that dead space. Then you can use a 2x4 tile without taking up too much usable space.

samtheq

@Bosstone100 - I am with you, and that is an excellent idea...I am also using similar shadowboxes, but in my case they are already filled and I'm trying to "retrofit" around what's there.  Depending on the depth of each row, your suggestion would work:  Each shelf has a row of plates glued down, at slightly varying depths--for example, a row with a Destroyer Droid (or that surgical droid below) would be set farther back.  Also, there's the problem of how tightly the minifigs are in there, to maximize the storage potential (I'm currently on my 6th SW shadowbox!), and I hate to widen the space between figures. If I'm getting an average of 12 minifigs per shelf, maybe I don't have room for nameplates, horizontally? But it sure would be nice, when we find out what Bromwich 's plans are!

Bosstone100

@samtheq - I believe there is space for 37 studs across and 8 studs deep. The bottom row may be slightly different because the door sits flush but I was thinking if cutting out the bottom-most shelf to fit big figs in there.

So I think I can fit 9 figs across. I actually have the tiles printed. They look pretty good.

I may try to build something custom in bricks but need to design it in LDD first before even attempting it. I'm not happy with the whole thing.

Wait. Just came up with an idea. Have to research it.  :: exit stage left ::

samtheq

I'm curious to see what you came up with, Bosstone100! Don't want this thread to die!

JohnR80

@Bromwich

How are you getting on?   I'm intrigued on how you did this?  I, too am trying to do something similar.  I like the setup on starwars.com's 15th Anniversary Minifigure Case.  I going to try and use water-slide decal paper and make it look like the 2x4 tiles where manufacturered that way.  

Bromwich

Hi guys, for some reason I never got any reply posts so have only just picked this up again.

However, I have been busy this weekend and filled my first frame using the 2 x 4 and my labels.

and here it is...




I think it looks a bit over powering with the lights, and it is a first attempt, but the labels definitely make it.

I am going to build another case anyway, given that this is only really 7 character and make some improvements. I also realised that my labels only go up to sw720 so will need to update my lists to include all of the newest figures.

I can definitely produce more of them, but probably Star Wars for the moment. (Once I have printed the lastest set and remembered how I did it I'll get back to you all.

Bromwich

It would also make sense for me actually answer the questions here:

@77ncaachamps
I have marked them by Release date

@samtheq
I have tried setting these up using excel and Illustrator, but given that they are printed on a vinyl cutter I was going to just make them and maybe sell some finished labels. 

@Legogram
I can easily ship anywhere given that they are only A3 sheets only.

SeanTheCollector

@Bromwich I would love a set of labels for Minecraft minifigs and MOBs! I don't suppose you also collect Minecraft LEGO? :)

Bromwich

Well I stupidly started with collecting Star Wars minifigs and dont think my wallet could stretch to anything else. I do think I could make some different labels though. Am just trying to find the best way to lay them out and print them... 

What would you want on the label?

SeanTheCollector

^ That's a interesting point since Brickset hasn't listed all the MOBs and some of the labels aren't particularly great, e.g. "Villager - White Top" instead of "Villager - Librarian". I will have a think, compile a list and post to Minecraft thread to see if there is a consensus there.

Bromwich

To get a lot of the specials sub-names for these I watched a video of all of the figures displayed by Lego themselves. The rest I have got from places like Minifigs.nl

Gooker1

That's some top notch work on those labels!  I'd be interested, but I'd rather see the set number where the figs came from alongside or beneath the name

snowhitie

Thats really nicely done and a great collection!

Bromwich

Cheers all.

@Gooker1 it's possible but it took a lot to fit all of the text on these already for some figure (look st the Dutch Vander label at the top!). To add the set number might need th text to be made really small. Especially those in more than one set. 

Jackad7

I would definitely be interested in a set. Just curious how did you make the bottom part? A 4x4 with what under it? Thanks!

JooTog

I am going the low-quality ;-)

White on black tape, Brother P-Touch series (PT-P700 for me).



Need to re-do my display to add the nametag. I am thinking about just name / set and get rid of the year.

Bromwich

Hi @Jackad7 - I used a Bracket 1 x 2 - 1 x 4, but the only problem was I couldn't decide whether to fit it to the top of the 4 x 4 or the bottom.

If it's on the top then the feet sit behind the bracket so you don't see them (which isn't ideal if they're printed like the new Bossk). But if its the other way round it means the bottom isn't flat.

To be honest it looks like @JooTog has it right. Looks cleaner and also isn't as deep so the frame could also be shallower.

Might re-think the bricks for the next display.

@JooTog - I think the year works really well if they're next to each other but prefer the figure code over set number as I started collecting the figures first before buying sets.

That said this could all be dead in the water from my side as I'm not sure they'll ever get on the wall. I think I may have to come up with a pull-out drawer display.

samtheq

I think including the set number is nice, but not very do-able in the long run.  Some figures overlap and are available in more than one set.  Some figures come with books; some figures come in polybags with no number, some come with DVDs.....there's just not room for everything.

Really, it sounds like everyone's ideal labels would be different, just like everyone's display cases are different! Today, Bricklink lists 902 SW minifigs--would that make the finished set of labels expensive?

Bromwich

I don't think so. Obviously I was just testing the water with this discussion, but given that they were for my own use anyway most of the work has already been done (by listing and renaming 800+). Any new additions are relatively easy. 

I just need to work out the best way of managing it.

The most obvious will be to produce a full list of labels up to say Summer Sets 2017 any additional ones are an update sheet and not the full set.

Let me get the most up-to-date figures on there and I will do another test run this week. Could produce more next week if anyone was interested in them.

The price would be based on how long it takes me to run them, material and when I can get onto the vinyl cutter etc.

In my head its about £15-20 a full set. Does that seem reasonable?

spaceinvader1979

For me it's reasonable, and the price for additional ones?

Yoghi

hi, also interested in a set... or also, if you sell it, I would be interested in the file itself :)

thx a lot

Astrobricks

Yoghi said:

hi, also interested in a set... or also, if you sell it, I would be interested in the file itself :)

thx a lot

OP doesn’t seem very active on here lately. Maybe paging would help. @Bromwich?

IsaacWalden

@Bromwich what kind of vinyl cutter do you have? Would you recommend it?

I've been looking for a vinyl cutter for a while now. Still I haven't made my mind up.

The net is filled with over hyped product reviews. This is why I didn't make a choice
just yet. Like it's all about how good it is and there's no negatives I can't believe that.

By dumb luck I came across a blog that seems to be legit. I mean the words used there
are harsh and brands get bashed a lot. For example from this best of the best review page which vinyl cutter would you recommend?

Any pointers or help will be appreciated.

MaffyD

@IsaacWalden - you might want to remove your email address from your 'location' - any bot could grab that and spam you...

Also, this thread is nearly 3 years old, and 2 years since it was active. I wouldn't get your hopes up for a reply.

Areba2

IsaacWalden said:

@Bromwich what kind of vinyl cutter do you have? Would you recommend it?

I've been looking for a vinyl cutter for a while now. Still I haven't made my mind up.

The net is filled with over hyped product reviews. This is why I didn't make a choice
just yet. Like it's all about how good it is and there's no negatives I can't believe that.

By dumb luck I came across a blog that seems to be legit. I mean the words used there
are harsh and brands get bashed a lot. For example from this best of the vinyl cutter review page which vinyl cutter would you recommend?

Any pointers or help will be appreciated.

This is one of the few new purchases I've made since starting my company, and I chose Graphtec after a bad experience with a used Summa. I'd still get a summa, but the one I got wasn't what I expected. Roland also makes good cutters. The main reason I choose the Graphtec is that I have access to a local dealer as well as the manufacturer in the event that something goes wrong, but it's been over a year with no issues.