Secure the furniture first, then the cars. In an earthquake the threat is horizontal shaking: tall cabinets tip, doors swing open and empty their shelves, glass breaks, and small free-rolling cars walk off shelf edges. A car is easy to replace compared with a cabinet that falls on someone - so the order is anchor, latch, move the heavy things down, and only then worry about individual pieces.
What shaking does to a display
| What happens | Why | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tall cabinets and bookcases tip | Narrow, top-heavy once loaded | Anchor to the wall structure |
| Cabinet doors fly open and shelves empty | Light catches release under repeated jolts | Positive latches |
| Glass shelves and panels break | Impact and flexing | Acrylic, or glass kept away from beds and walkways |
| Loose cars roll and walk off edges | Free-rolling wheels and repeated shaking | Putty, lips, closed cases |
| Wall pieces bounce off hooks | Open picture hooks let items lift and drop | Screwed or closed fixings |
| Heavy items high up fall furthest | Height adds to both damage and danger | Heavy low, light high |
1. Anchor anything tall
This matters far more than anything else on this page, because it is about people rather than models. Fix every tall display cabinet and bookcase to the wall structure with an anti-tip kit, load the heaviest things on the lowest shelves, and keep nothing on top of the unit. The detail, and why a loaded cabinet is exactly the wrong shape, is in protecting collectibles from kids and pets.
2. Latch the doors
A cabinet that stays upright but opens its doors still empties its shelves onto the floor. Light magnetic or friction catches are the kind that give way under repeated shaking. Positive latches that must be released by hand - the same type sold for childproofing - keep the doors shut.
3. Heavy low, light high, nothing heavy over a bed
Put the heaviest display pieces on the lowest shelves. And do not hang or stand anything heavy, and especially anything glass, above a bed, a sofa or a doorway - the places people will be when shaking starts.
4. Glass or acrylic
Acrylic cracks but tends to stay in one piece; ordinary glass breaks into sharp shards around whatever it was protecting. In a region with real earthquake risk, that difference is not cosmetic. The wider comparison is in acrylic vs glass display cases. If a glass cabinet is staying, keep it well away from where people sit and sleep.
5. Stop the cars walking
- Museum putty or clear museum gel under one tyre per axle. These products are sold for earthquake use and hold small objects against shaking far better than they look like they should. Test on tyres first for residue.
- A front lip on open shelves turns a drop into a stop.
- Park side-on, parallel to the shelf edge, so rolling happens along the shelf rather than off it.
- Not double-sided tape - it leaves adhesive on rubber and can pull a tyre off when you lift the car.
Full method and what not to use are in keeping diecast cars from rolling off a shelf.
6. Enclose the ones that matter
A car inside a closed case can shift, but it cannot fall off a shelf. For a wall-mounted case, the fixing is what matters: screwed into a stud or a proper anchor for the wall type, rather than hung from an open picture hook it can bounce off. Fixings by wall are in how to hang a display case on the wall. Our Infinity Garage is an enclosed acrylic wall case for a single car; its fixings and dimensions are on the specs page.
7. Carded cars
Carded cars are light and flat, so they survive a fall far better than a loose car with mirrors and a wing. Keep them in protectors, standing in a closed box or folder rather than propped loose on an open shelf edge.
After a quake
- Check fixings and anchors before touching the display. A cabinet that moved may be held by a loosened anchor.
- Look for cracked panels before reaching inside a case.
- Do not restock high shelves straight away. Aftershocks are common; leave things low for a while.
- Photograph any damage before you tidy it, because the photos are what an insurance claim needs.
Check your insurance before you need it
In many places earthquake damage is treated differently from other household damage and may need separate cover. Check your own policy rather than assuming - and have the inventory and photos ready either way. What to prepare is in how to insure a diecast collection.
FAQ
How do I stop collectibles falling in an earthquake?
Anchor tall furniture to the wall, fit positive latches to cabinet doors, keep heavy items on low shelves, and hold small pieces down with museum putty or gel. Pieces inside closed cases can shift but cannot fall off shelves.
Does museum putty work in an earthquake?
Yes - museum putty and clear museum gel are sold specifically to hold small objects against shaking, and they work well for light pieces like diecast cars. Use a small amount under one tyre per axle and test for residue first.
Is acrylic safer than glass in an earthquake?
Generally, yes. Acrylic tends to crack while staying in one piece, whereas ordinary glass breaks into sharp shards. Wherever glass stays, keep it away from beds, sofas and walkways.
Should I anchor my display cabinet?
Yes, any tall cabinet or bookcase. A loaded display cabinet is narrow and top-heavy, which is exactly the shape that tips. Anchoring it matters more for the people in the room than for the collection.
Does insurance cover collectibles damaged in an earthquake?
It depends on the policy and where you live - in many places earthquake damage needs separate cover. Check your own policy in advance, and keep an inventory and photos ready so a claim is possible.