Display Cabinets and Dust Protection for Model Railways — Z Gauge to Gauge 1

Acrylic display case manufactory in Germany for over 20 years

Vehicles on the shelf, the layout in the room: Sora makes display cabinets for locomotives and rolling stock in the common gauges – and made to measure acrylic display cases that keep whole layouts and dioramas free of dust. Everything is screwed together and demountable, so that even large cases arrive safely and move house with you.

Configure a display case for a layout → See cabinets by gauge More about the made to measure display case

Measure the layout · enter the inside dimensions · choose the base · order — in about 3 minutes

Clear acrylic glass (PMMA) Extra lengths as a split case Made in Germany
Model railway diorama in H0 gauge protected from dust under a made to measure acrylic display case

Why dust does more damage to a model railway than anywhere else

A model railway is the one collecting field in which dust does not merely settle on the looks but goes straight to the function: railheads, wheel pickups and pantographs need clean contact.

On a layout left in the open, a film of dust and household fibres builds up within a few weeks. On the rails it causes contact problems and stuttering running, in gearboxes and axle bearings it acts like grinding paste, and static grass, ballast or tree flocking can hardly be vacuumed clean again without damaging the scenery. A closed display case is therefore no luxury on a model railway; it extends the working life of the layout.

The same applies in miniature to the vehicles: locomotives and coaches with applied handrails, brake hoses and etched parts can barely be dusted without something snapping off. In a compartment cabinet every vehicle stands on its own, free of dust and still visible – and a collection can be put on the wall sorted by era or class.

For layouts and dioramas we make the display case to your dimensions. For very long set-ups – the classic narrow baseboard along a wall – there is the two-part split display case up to a total length of about 220 cm.

Note on brands: Märklin, Fleischmann, Roco, Piko, Trix, Brawa, Kato and all other brands mentioned belong to their respective rights holders. Sora Shop is a manufacturer of made to measure acrylic display cases, independent of any model maker, and has no business relationship with any of these manufacturers.

Where a display cabinet or case pays off most

Six typical situations from everyday model railway life.

Model railway layout protected from dust under a removable acrylic display case

The permanent layout in the hobby room

A case over the whole layout keeps rails and scenery clean. Built without a base, it is simply placed over the baseboard and lifted off for running sessions.

Model railway display cabinet with several locomotives and coaches mounted on a wall

Locomotive and coach collection on the wall

Compartment cabinets show whole train formations side by side – sorted by class or era, every vehicle individually protected from dust behind the hooked-in front panel.

Long narrow model railway diorama under a flat acrylic display case

The narrow wall diorama

Platform scene, engine shed, loading road: narrow, long dioramas get a flat display case – and for extra lengths, the two-part split case.

Single model railway locomotive under a small acrylic display case with a reflective base

Single pieces and special models

The limited special run or the elaborately weathered locomotive deserves a case of its own – with a reflective base that also reveals the running gear and the frame.

Several modular model railway display cabinets joined into a large collector wall

An extendable collector wall

The modular cabinets and the 75 and 99 cm segments can be joined horizontally and vertically – the collector wall grows with the collection.

Large gauge 1 locomotive under a long made to measure acrylic display case

Large gauges: 0, 1 and LGB

In gauge 0, gauge 1 and garden railways a single locomotive is already 40 to 100 cm long. For these we make display cases in special sizes – as a two-part split case, or as an oversize case. Oversize: shipping to delivery addresses in Germany only.

Gauges, typical vehicle lengths & the matching cabinet

Reference values by gauge – the typical length of a locomotive and a coach and the cabinet whose compartment size suits them. For layouts and dioramas the rule is: always measure the finished set-up, including catenary and trees.

Gauge Scale Typical vehicle length Matching solution Direct link
Z gauge 1/220 loco approx. 5–7 cm, coach approx. 7–11 cm Z Model Railway Display Cabinet – 12 compartments of 70,5 × 3,3 × 3,3 cm Item 16200t
N gauge 1/160 loco approx. 8–12 cm, coach approx. 15–17 cm N Model Railway Display Cabinet – 9 compartments of 70,5 × 4,0 × 4,6 cm Item 13600t
TT gauge 1/120 loco approx. 12–16 cm, coach approx. 20–23 cm TT Model Railway Display Cabinet – 7 compartments of 70,5 × 5,0 × 6,0 cm Item 15200t
H0 gauge 1/87 loco approx. 18–30 cm, coach approx. 26–31 cm H0 Model Railway Display Cabinet – 6 compartments of 66,5 × 6,0 × 7,0 cm Item 16100t
H0 gauge (long / extendable) 1/87 long express coaches, steam locos with tender Modular H0 Model Railway Display Cabinet – 6 compartments of 74,0 × 8,5 × 7,9 cm, joinable Item 12600tg
A single shelf board all gauges one row of vehicles Single Compartment Case 75 cm or 99 cm – stackable, e.g. H0 75,0 × 6,0 × 8,2 cm Item 18100t
Gauge 0 1/45 loco approx. 40–60 cm Made to measure acrylic display case, inside dimensions e.g. 65 × 20 × 25 cm Made to Measure
Gauge 1 / LGB (G) 1/32 / 1/22,5 loco approx. 60–100 cm Oversize display case (shipping within Germany only) or split display case Oversize
Diorama / small layout — e.g. a 100 × 50 × 40 cm set-up Made to measure acrylic display case (one dimension may exceed 50 cm) Made to Measure
Long wall layout — e.g. 220 × 45 × 35 cm Split display case, two-part, up to about 220 cm Split Case

Vehicle lengths are reference values measured over the buffers; special models and articulated trains differ. Tip: tap the link in the last column to open the item or the matching configurator directly.
The material thickness is always the same: 4 mm clear acrylic glass, a back panel in black or reflective acrylic 3 mm.

Configure a display case for my layout →

Ready-made model railway cabinets by gauge

Proven standard sizes from our own production – with a removable front panel, a back panel in transparent, black or reflective acrylic, for setting up or for wall mounting. The segments and modular cabinets can be joined into a continuous collector wall.

See all model railway cabinets →

How to configure the display case for your layout in 3 minutes

The online configurator guides you step by step – no data sheet, no queries needed.

Measure the set-up

Width, depth and height of the finished set-up – the height at its highest point, so including catenary, signals and trees.

Measure the finished set-up, not the bare board!

Enter the inside dimensions

Enter the measurements plus a little clearance as inside dimensions – that is the room your layout gets.

Inside dimensions, not outside dimensions!

Base & back panel

For layouts usually without a base (the case is placed over the top). For vehicles a black or reflective base is worthwhile.

Layouts: choose “without base”.

Order

Price in real time. Delivery in about 8 working days – assembly in a few minutes.

Placing it over the layout without a base – how to measure correctly

For layouts the display case is as a rule made without a base and placed over the baseboard. What is measured is the baseboard plus the height of the highest point. The figures are always inside dimensions; the outside dimensions come out slightly larger because of the material thickness and the plug-and-screw system:

outside width = inside width + 14 mm outside depth = inside depth + 8 mm outside height (without base) = inside height + 7 mm

Tip: allow 1 to 2 cm of clearance on every side. When lifting the case off it otherwise tilts easily against signal masts or catenary – and that is exactly when the fine parts break.

Heat, moisture and running sessions

The display case is dust protection for standing time, not a case to run under: it is lifted off for running. Transformers, digital command stations and lighting give off heat that builds up under a closed case – so keep these components outside, or lift the case off while running.

Very long layouts: split case instead of a single case

In the standard configurator at most one of the three dimensions may exceed 50 cm – which suits most dioramas. For the classic long wall board there is the two-part split display case (up to about 220 cm), which we ship to all our delivery countries. For layouts that are wide and deep there is the oversize display case: Shipping to delivery addresses in Germany only, with an automatic shipping surcharge.

Vehicles instead of the layout: display cabinet made to measure

If it is not the layout but the vehicle collection that needs protecting, a compartment cabinet is the better choice. If none of the standard sizes fits – because the niche in a shelf has a particular size, say, or because you need especially tall compartments for steam locomotives with tenders – configure a made to measure display cabinet.

Open the configurator now →

Material and quality

We work exclusively with high-grade PMMA acrylic glass of industrial quality – crystal clear, lightfast and in the lasting Sora quality.

4 mmclear acrylic glass
3 mmback panel in black & reflective
> 92 %light transmission
approx. 8working days delivery time

Lightfastness and UV behaviour

The acrylic glass we use does not yellow and does not become brittle even after years in direct sunlight. Important: the acrylic glass itself is UV-stable, but it offers no UV protection for the collectable on display. Red and yellow vehicle liveries in particular, as well as grass mats and flocking, fade in direct sunlight – which is why layout and cabinet do not belong next to a south-facing window.

The Sora plug-and-screw system: nothing glued, fully demountable

We neither glue nor mould in one piece; we supply the display cabinet as a construction kit with small screws and nuts. With the large layout cases in particular this is decisive: they travel flat in the parcel and are only assembled on site – and taken apart again for the next move.

By the way: our plug-and-screw system is no passing fashion – we developed it ourselves more than 20 years ago and had it officially registered as a utility model. View the original document as a PDF ↗

Safe shipping Even large display cases arrive undamaged, because they travel flat.
Easy to move house with Unscrew, pack up, reassemble.
Spare parts If something breaks, simply reorder the single part.
Made in Germany Over 20 years of manufactory experience.
Close-up of the Sora plug-and-screw system with small screws in the corner of the acrylic glass

What you should know after delivery

Don’t be alarmed: the protective film

When your parcel arrives, the acrylic parts will probably look blue, green, white or even scratched. That is the protective film covering every part on both sides to prevent scratches during production and shipping (reflective elements are filmed on the front only).

Simply lift the film at one corner with your fingernail – acrylic cannot be scratched by a fingernail. Underneath, crystal-clear, flawless acrylic glass comes to light.

Protective film being peeled off an acrylic panel, crystal-clear acrylic visible underneath

More than the display case: further solutions for model railway enthusiasts

For the vehicle collection, the tiered presentation and your own layout building.

Made to measure display cabinet

Compartments, columns and dimensions freely chosen – for steam locomotives with tenders, mixed gauges or a particular shelf niche.

Configure a display cabinet ↗

Split display case for extra lengths

A two-part case for long wall layouts up to about 220 cm – it travels in two parcels and is screwed together on site.

Configure a split display case ↗

Made to measure acrylic staircase

Tiers vehicles upwards towards the back so that the rear row stays visible too – as a stage under a display case.

Configure an acrylic staircase ↗

Acrylic cut to size for layout building

Rectangular panels in your size – as a base plate, a cover, a reflective surface for water features or as a transparent guard panel along the layout edge.

Configure a cut to size panel ↗

Frequently asked questions about model railway cabinets

Which cabinet suits which gauge?

For H0 gauge the H0 cabinet (compartment 66,5 × 6,0 × 7,0 cm), for TT the TT cabinet (70,5 × 5,0 × 6,0 cm), for N gauge the N cabinet (70,5 × 4,0 × 4,6 cm) and for Z gauge the Z cabinet (70,5 × 3,3 × 3,3 cm). The full allocation with typical vehicle lengths is in the table above.

Can I leave the case on the layout while a train is running?

No – the case is meant as dust protection for standing time. Transformer, digital command station and lighting generate heat that builds up under a closed case. Lift the case off for running; with a case without a base that takes only a few seconds.

How long may a display case be at most?

In the standard configurator one of the three dimensions may exceed 50 cm, which makes cases up to 100 cm wide perfectly possible. For longer wall layouts there is the two-part split display case up to a total length of about 220 cm. Cases in oversize: Shipping to delivery addresses in Germany only.

Do I need a base?

For layouts and dioramas usually not: the case is made without a base and simply placed over the baseboard. For individual vehicles a base is worthwhile – a reflective base additionally reveals the frame and the running gear. With a base the usable inside height is reduced by 4 mm.

Can cabinets be extended later?

Yes. The modular H0 cabinet can be joined horizontally and vertically with further modules, and the segments with 75 cm and 99 cm inside width are available for all four gauges – so the collector wall grows board by board. Individual parts can be reordered at any time, because everything is screwed and not glued.

Does a display case help against contact problems on the rails?

Indirectly, yes: most of the dirt on railheads is household dust that settles during standing time. A closed case keeps it away, so cleaning is needed far less often. Wear generated during running itself is naturally something it cannot prevent.

Can I hang the cabinet on the wall?

Yes, all ready-made model railway cabinets and segments are suitable either for setting up or for wall mounting. Among the made to measure items, the made to measure display box is the version with wall mounting.

Real customer photos from hobby rooms and living rooms

No renderings: this is how Sora customers really protect their layouts and vehicles. A selection from the photos that customers send us after delivery.

Customer photo: illuminated H0e/009 model railway diorama with mountains and bridges under a Sora acrylic display case
Customer photo: mechanical wooden model V-Express steam train with tender under a Sora made to measure display case
Customer photo: H0 model railway diorama with a goods yard scene under an oversize Sora acrylic display case
Customer photo: model railway collection with locomotives and wagons in a Sora cabinet installation in a living room
Customer photo: ICE high-speed train in H0 scale under a Sora acrylic display case
Customer photo: Swiss SBB Cargo locomotives in H0 scale in a Sora made to measure display cabinet
See all customer photos →

All photos were provided to us by Sora customers and are published with their consent.

Your layout is waiting for its display case

3 minutes in the configurator, price in real time, Made in Germany.
Delivery in about 8 working days – assembly in a few minutes.

Configure now →