Shadow Box for Trains

I wanted to display my dad’s prewar trains, so I decided to build some shadow boxes out of poplar wood. I first had to select the lighter shades as some were green. I say this because I started this project in Virginia and then moved to Florida. This is important because I made all the cuts on a friends table saw in the winter time, and then decided to put it all together once i moved to Florida which was a few months later. Consequently it was much warmer and the wood had taken on a mind of its own. Luckily I cut enough that I could use the good straight pieces before assembling. My first lesson learned, always cut extra. I decided to build these boxes without any nails, just wood pegs. I included a picture of the side so you can see the pegs. I probably could have tried to hide them better with plugs, but I wanted to get the trains on display. I decided to keep the inside natural and clear so the color of the trains would stand out. The boxes are 30”x24”. I made three of them. I also routed out the trim using to different router bits to add interest to the front and routed out a groove in the back to hold the glass. I rabbited the inside and had the glass cut to fit. The back is clear pine and I dado cut the back so it would fit in. Stain was Dark Cherry. Hope you enjoy.
Total cost was about 100 dollars total for wood, glass and hinges.

-- John in Florida