HobbyZone OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module Review

Last Updated on April 23, 2021 by FauxHammer

For my Third HobbyZone Review, I’m taking an in-depth look at the OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module. Whilst initially this seemed like one of those throw-away extras that serve little purpose beyond feeding my ego. It has actually ended up as quite a mainstay for my new workshop set-up. One which encourages me to focus on the activity at hand before I buy more models.

Full Disclosure: I am not affiliated with HobbyZone and I have not been paid for this review. I purchased this with my own money and I am sharing my personal opinions about the item.

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HobbyZone OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module – Packaging & Unboxing

As with the previous reviews of the OM05s – 26 mm Paints Module and the OM07a – Brushes & Tools Module. the OM10 Big WIP Showcase Module comes in a standard brown box with HobbyZone branded seal and an ID Label.

This Box is actually double the length of the previous boxes. Which is the largest box size of the 3 I have seen in the HobbyZone Modular Workstation packages.

This particular box comes with a rather unique feature… The bottom left corner is smashed in…

I’ve noted this as it’s important to see how the packaging can protect the contents from damage. I received 31 Modular Workshop System Modules along with 2 extra HobbyZone products in this order. Between the 2 large boxes they arrived in, the whole set weighed over 46 kilos! When shifting these boxes around, it wouldn’t take much for the weight alone to have some impact on the cardboard packaging. When opening this module (and one of my reasons for choosing it as the next module to build) was to see if the internal components were damaged at all.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

Like the previous modules the components are wrapped cleanly in bubble-wrap with an almost machined precision.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

We can see that the side of the box which was impacted was adequately protected. Interestingly, the right-hand side was not protected with bubble-wrap at all. The components have clearly shifted to the right. Whether this was just movement during transport due to the lack of bubble-wrap across this edge or due to the impact, is not clear.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

The components themselves, however, have sustained no damage at all, including the backboard which is the thinnest and most fragile part in this box (not counting the instructions, which also sustained no damage).

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM07a – OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module – Instructions

In my previous reviews, I’ve kicked off a bit about the instructions being the let-down of the product. I can’t really make this judgement here as the build is so simple.

The front as usual advises of the components you need to build the set.

  • Wood Glue
  • Hammer
  • Paper Tape
  • Damp Cloth

Personally, I’d forego the paper tape and invest in some large G-Clamps to hold this together as it dries. Especially if you are doing a few of these modules. Because you are wiping away excess glue with the damp cloth, it stops the tape from sticking to the unit. Unless you wrap it all the way around and stick it to itself. It also leaves a rough texture on the wood in the few places where it has stuck.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

As I said, I can’t complain about the instructions here. Where the different modules require more steps, I like my instructions to look like Lego or IKEA sets. One step/component at a time showing exactly what goes where.

This is one picture with a load of arrows. But you can’t really get this too wrong. It’s a box. it has 4 sides and a back. it’s clear what goes where. The only thing you have to look out for is the 2 extra holes on the side panels, which are needed for the window. These need to go on the front at the top. The instructions make this clear with a big letter A.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module – Assembly

As I said above, assembly of this module is straightforward, you don’t really need the instructions. But they are worth a look, just to make sure you understand the correct orientation of your A-holes.

HobbyZone OM10 Assembly – Step 1

Step 1 (according to the instructions) is to lay the baseboard down. In the shot below I have 2 identical boards, either can be used as the baseboard. I also have a side panel. You can see the A-hole (yep, I’m gonna keep making that joke) at the top right of this panel. I now know which side and orientation it is, ready for Step 2

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 Assembly – Step 2

Just attach the sides, 1 at a time, a line of glue down all the connecting edges. Push them together and wipe away the excess with your damp cloth. I used a Micro-fibre towel, which is just a bit too thick for getting deep into the inside corners. But the glue dries clear, if you do leave any excess glue you’ll see a slightly darker wood stain at most.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 Assembly – Step 3

Once the sides are on, it’s just a case of doing the same with the top. Make sure you are working quite quickly here. The back-plate is used to line everything up. You don’t want this unit drying at an odd angle before you reach the next step.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 Assembly – Step 4

Before the Glue is dry on the previous steps get some glue down the edges of the back plate and rub it in with your finger.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

Use the back plate to align the box square. Now, with the weight of the box pushing on the back plate, push everything together. Wipe off any excess glue and leave it like this to let it dry.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

Taking things to a somewhat unnecessary degree, I used g-clamps to hold all the pieces to the back plate. This is to ensure that the module stays in it’s best position until the glue is dry. The fit of the wood is pretty tight anyway, but just this extra step make sure this is on the money.

I could have done with larger g-lamps. To hold the sides to the top and bottom panels. These are the parts which could do with being forced together. The back-plate takes care of itself by the weight of the box resting on it. This is the largest module HobbyZone currently offer in the Modular Workshop System range. All of the other modules are only 15cm tall which would have been perfect for my 15cm clamps. as this one stretches over 2 tiers my clamps were unable to hold these edges together.

You can use tape for this step. but remember, you need to fully wrap the unit so the tape can stick to itself. Wiping away the excess glue with a damp cloth will stop the paper tape from Sticking, Where the tape does stick to the unit, it will pull the finish away when removed leaving it rough.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 Assembly – Magnets

This is where my learning from the previous modules had kicked in. Once the shell is complete, it is then the best time to put your magnets in. If you do it before, you could misalign them by moving the parts about and have to knock them back out. Do it any later and you risk hammering or unsettling the glue on other, more fragile components.

See my notes on the OM06s – 26mm Small Paints Module review for details about magnet alignment. Assuming this is not your first module, just make sure that you use those modules as a template for which way round the magnets go (maybe mark them once you know). Then just line up a tower of magnets with the hole and gently tap one in so it’s just about gripped by the hole. Don’t keep hammering, one tap should do, just to get it partially in the hole. The magnets are fragile, repeated hammering could crack one, and you don’t get any spares. Once it’s in slightly move on to the next hole and so on. Then hammer them all flush.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

The last couple are a bugger as you don’t have a tower of magnets to hit, you have 2 which aren’t even as tall as the fingers you’d hold them with. I tend to just generally line them up and give it one swift hit with the hammer. That works fine 3 quarters of the time.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 Assembly – Brackets & Shelf

This bit isn’t really on the instructions. Instead, you just have the image of one of these brackets, an arrow pointing to the 2 side panels and an annotation; “without glue”.

It’s still rather clear what to do.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

On the reverse, you can see that the brackets are only partially machined out, with only some points remaining connected to the board. It’s shipped like this so that these smaller and more fragile components are safe during transport.

You can snap just them out, but to avoid any tearing or damage I used a hobby knife and then filed down the remainder of the tabs to get a smooth finish

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

All done, the brackets are smooth and are now ready to be inserted in the Display Module.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

You can insert the brackets at one of 3 different heights depending on the size of models you display in it.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

The shelf easily sits atop the brackets, as these parts are not glued in, you can adjust them as you need to. The recess in the shelf also allows you to store taller models toward the front.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 Assembly – Step 5

The final piece is the perspex window. This has a separate instruction to simply flex it as you fit it into the A-holes (told you I’d keep using it) on the upper sides of the unit.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

Couldn’t resist a shot of peeling the cellophane off. The window has this protection film on the front and rear to ensure it has no scratches during shipping.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module – Usage

At 30cm tall; this module stands at twice the height of all of the other modules in the range. On its own it is quite simply a box with a window in, the machined in HobbyZone HZ logo adds to the professional look of this set-up and matches all of the other modules in the range. It also serves as a point to press on in order to open the window. The module certainly fits its place as the centrepiece of your workstation set-up. At some point, I’d like to wire in some LED lights at the top and under the shelf to really help my mini’s stand out.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

To get the negative out of the way: on its own, or if you only have the real-estate for a large workstation set-up; then this probably isn’t for you. It’s certainly no replacement for a display cabinet and you’d be better off taking up space with more tool or bitz storage.

However if you do have a full workstation and have room for it, this is a great addition. As you can see there’s plenty of storage for in-progress mini’s. On the image below mine are spread out quite wide with various sizes of bases and, some are on corks or painting handles. You can easily fit a couple of 10 man space marine squads on the top shelf and a couple of vehicles below

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

HobbyZone OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module – Final Thoughts

Simple to build and easy to use. Although it’s one of the more expensive parts of the Modular Workshop System range, it does add value to your hobby workstation set-up (covered in the next section). It’s not something you want in place of tool storage if you need that. Your in-progress models can just as easily fit in a box somewhere.

The acrylic glass is a fingerprint magnet. I’ve found that If I push the HobbyZone logo, this is the best place to start opening the window then lift by the edges. Doing this means I only need to clean it occasionally. It is also nice to see the acrylic fit so close to the edges of the module as this limits the amount of dust that can get in – a problem I have with my old display cabinet.

Pros
Cons
Attractive
Part of a Modular System
Very easy to build
Multiple shelf height options
Sturdy & Precisely built
You need space for it
Expensive for what it is

Does the HobbyZone OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module improve my hobby?

Yes, it can but, and I can’t express this enough, not at the cost of additional tool or bitz storage. The point of a workstation is to have the things you need close at hand. So, if this is on your desk and your clippers, files, spare heads or bags of sand are tucked away – you may want to re-think your configuration.

But if you do have space, and you are building a full workstation, it’s a great addition that will improve your hobby by keeping you focused.

Hobbyzone OM010 - Big Showcase WIP Module

To get an idea the value, just consider the age-old-adage out of sight, out of mind”. This is why I’ve had my guitar on full display for 8 years even though I can only play a badly plucked version of Ode to Joy. When it comes to painting models, I’m just the same. I’m forever moving on to the next project because it seems more interesting and my in-progress work is tucked up in a box somewhere. These display modules serve to remind me that I have all of this stuff in progress, my brain now screams at me “don’t start anything new!” And especially, “do not ‘buy’ anything new”.

But we all know that by now, right?

What did you think of this review? please let me know in the comments.

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Summary
Review Date
Reviewed Item
OM10 – Big Showcase WIP Module
Author Rating
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Product Name
HobbyZone OM10

FauxHammer

Self-appointed Editor in chief of FauxHammer.com - But I need to thank the team for existing and therefore enabling me to give myself role - without them, I'm just a nerd with a computer and a plastic addiction.

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