Pistol Display Stand Plans?

[Beerhunter]

No apologies needed - just plans for a pistol stand. :-)

I should have pointed out that we need to do 360s, hence the need for a stand.

[scbair]

I'd consider a flat wood base, with a vertical piece to support the muzzle (a thin wood slat with semicircular cutout at the top). I think this could easily be made adjustable for height, within useful parameters. A handgun with a flat butt should be stable enough for photographing. A handgun with a rounded or pointed butt might require some stabilizing brace (maybe some slats at either side, slid in or out to support the pistol side-to-side?).

For 360 degree photography, I'd simply set this stand on a "lazy susan" base, that turns freely. I'm a lazy kinda guy . . .

Sorry I have no detailed plans; I usually build such projects "on the wing."

[browningautorifle]

Some use a plexi glass front that has a notch to hold the barrel up. That won't hide details. The base is some neutral colour and then the lazy suzan for the 360. The height of the notch depends on the firearm size.

[Beerhunter]

Thanks for all the tips. I've had to design one from scratch, which is now part built. I'll post pix when it is finished.

BTW, we already use the Lazy Susan technique. (That's how you do 360s.). We've did think of using plastic but the reflections are nightmare to deal with.

[peanuts]

If it is for 360 deg photographic purposes I would be inclined to use a revolving stand. That way you'll only need to construct a single background with fixed /adjustable lighting.
I'd construct it out of clear Acrylic and I'm sure it would not be too difficult to remove a magazine stand in post editing.

You can get Acrylic adhesive that welds bits of acrylic together with transparent, distortion -free joints like they use for museum display cases.The suppliers can supply cut to size and pre-mitred for DIY assembly and jointing

I think the magazine fitting stand sounds the best option but you'd lose the magazine in the picture of course.

I'd be interested in your solution actually as I have always intended to photograph my auto collection ann also to construct some nice lit display cases .In the UK there are some pretty extreme knee jerk reactions to anything relating to firearms so I intended to have a one-way case screen which when backlit showed the guns and accessories behind (to select visitors) but when unlit looked like a tinted screen.


ooops just seen the second page of posts (polishes glasses ) looks like we all had the same idea .

[Essex]

You may just want to put a single post in the middle of the lazy susan and put the pistol on it muzzle down. That way all sides can be displayed and the markings and proofs can be read on all sides even the bottom of the grip. The photos can always be turned to make reading the marks easier.

[Beerhunter]

As I said earlier, I know that you guys are trying to helpful but I'm not looking for tips on photographing 360s because that is what we do.

Again, as I said earlier, revolving stands (Lazy Susan) IS how we do 360s.

As I also said earlier we have tried acrylic but the reflections are too great. BTW, have you ever tried retouching all the frames of a 360?

Our prototype stand is being produced at this time and should be in use real soon. Thanks again for your input.