Shadow Box Setup/Frame Arrangement - Got pictures?

[DakRadz]

Not bad, even with the forgotten ranks.

My total to simply replace Navy JROTC ribbons is $25.35. No ribbon bar. I have a *lot* of devices...

All in all, I'll make some company much richer when I put my shadow box back together 
But it will look outstanding!

Now, can someone else post pics of their shadow boxes? I put mine together, just for USAFaux2004. You can do it too!

[Capair03]

Is there any manufacturer that is best for a shadowbox for CAP? I've been retired for a number of years and have thought about a shadowbox, butnever researched who makes them?

[DBlair]

Is there any manufacturer that is best for a shadowbox for CAP? I've been retired for a number of years and have thought about a shadowbox, butnever researched who makes them?

Craft stores have the basic shadow boxes if you wanted to put it together yourself- which is what it seems most people do. That being said, there are a variety of companies who custom make shadow boxes, but I don't really have much experience with them. I think a lot of it comes down to if the person is creative/artsy and how much money or effort they want to put into it.

[PhoenixRisen]

Is there any manufacturer that is best for a shadowbox for CAP? I've been retired for a number of years and have thought about a shadowbox, butnever researched who makes them?

As mentioned earlier in the company "Medals of America" (www.usmedals.com) has quite a bit of stuff in this area.  They don't stock CAP stuff, but they sell DIY kits for the shadow boxes.  They have a few examples throughout their website.

[Dragon 3-2]

I'm currently working on mine as well since i crossed over this passed January.

i don't have any pictures right now as im still trying to figure out how to get  everything mounted on there. ( solid wood backing + metal pins = major headache) but my plan is to take my white drill team cord, and red CAC cord and have them line the outer perimeter. on the left side going from bottom to top ill have the enlisted ranks pinned thru my GAWG, old squadron patch, and COS patch at the top center ill have the C/ officer service cap device my name plate, pre solo wings, ribbons, flight suit badge my AF ROTC hat device, three activity pins, my AJROTC service tape. going from bottom to top on the right ill have the C/officer ranks with major having my NCC ranks and my AJROTC black diamond next to each other on top of my Drill team patch, current squadron patch and NJWG patch. etched into the glass will be     Cadet Steven "Bear" Smith
                                                                                                      In Service October 3rd 2003
                                                                                                       Retired: January 15th 2010

ill get some photos up soon

[jimmydeanno]

Perhaps a different term than, "retired."  Also, "In Service" seems a bit odd too.

How about just:

Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Steven "Bear" Smith
03OCT03-15JAN10

[DakRadz]

Perhaps a different term than, "retired."

I've had a few talking-to's about this when referring to my NJROTC rank- the RM retired/prior service/AD tend to see this as something other than retirement.

I wish I could have done Sea Cadets- nothing like putting Honorable Discharge on your *cadet* shadow box ^_^

Nothing wrong with putting just the date and name on the plaque, though. You can even really retire from CAP years from now and put that in the box too!

[HGjunkie]

Meh. Missing some items. The right section will be cleared out for C/officer grades when I get there. someday...

[vento]

HGjunkie, the box looks really good.  :clap:
Just one suggestion if I may, use the regular US flag instead of the reverse charging flag intended for wear on the right arm.

[HGjunkie]

HGjunkie, the box looks really good.  :clap:
Just one suggestion if I may, use the regular US flag instead of the reverse charging flag intended for wear on the right arm.

Thank you!

Makes sense, but I had some flags with velcro on them from my dad's time in the army, so i used one of those. I'll get a regular flag next time i order something from vanwrap guard.

[DakRadz]

HGjunkie, the box looks really good.  :clap:

I agree, the box looks outstanding.

Just one suggestion if I may, use the regular US flag instead of the reverse charging flag intended for wear on the right arm.

IMHO, this is personal preference- if I were to put the American Flag patch in my shadow box, it would be the reverse patch used on the BDUs- for the simple reason that I wore that patch for years. I plan to represent the insignia and patches I wore/earned, not the "norm" or what looks better.
YMMV

[HGjunkie]

Thank you Vento and DakRadz. I do think the box could use some work though, this is a "rough draft". When I get time throughout the school year (doubt i'll get much, IB is a crapload of work) , i'll refine it and polish it.

[PhoenixRisen]

Thank you Vento and DakRadz. I do think the box could use some work though, this is a "rough draft". When I get time throughout the school year (doubt i'll get much, IB is a crapload of work) , i'll refine it and polish it.

Er... looks good, but aren't shadow boxes for once you're finished with the service being represented?

[a2capt]

Heh.. you're finished with each rank.. each phase .. onto the next ;-)

.. why can't you start it as you move through it?

[DBlair]

One thing I'm have difficulty in deciding is how to organize things to represent involvement as both a Cadet and Senior Member.

[Майор Хаткевич]

One thing I'm have difficulty in deciding is how to organize things to represent involvement as both a Cadet and Senior Member.

I'm going to keep mine separate, at least for the next few dozen years.

My reasoning is that I want to keep my CAP cadet stuff separate, and thus why I waited until the end of my cadet days.

Doing something now as a SM, would be somewhat lame, since I haven't had that much (or any) time as a SM. Maybe 10, 20, 30 years down the road, I can fill it in with specialty badges, grades, ribbons, etc etc.

20-30 years from now, I figure there also won't be that much that I'd be adding to it.

[DBlair]

One thing I'm have difficulty in deciding is how to organize things to represent involvement as both a Cadet and Senior Member.

I'm going to keep mine separate, at least for the next few dozen years.

My reasoning is that I want to keep my CAP cadet stuff separate, and thus why I waited until the end of my cadet days.

Doing something now as a SM, would be somewhat lame, since I haven't had that much (or any) time as a SM. Maybe 10, 20, 30 years down the road, I can fill it in with specialty badges, grades, ribbons, etc etc.

20-30 years from now, I figure there also won't be that much that I'd be adding to it.

Some questions I'm considering in putting together my shadow box...

- Should I have separate shadow boxes (Cadet/Senior) or just different sections of the same overall CAP shadowbox? Displaying ribbons can be complicated, considering as a SM they were essentially cut in half. Some say to put them together in one stack, whereas others say to keep them separate, but if separate how to decide which ribbons to put on which side as many apply to both. Not to mention how to display several shoulder cords.

- Should I have each and every grade insignia up through, or just the highest? Should I display these in plain metal insignia or on epaulets or shoulder boards?


Someday I'll get around to figuring out all this. lol

[jeders]

Just my .02 cents (deflation adjusted), I think that you should keep your cadet and senior boxes separate, it simplifies a lot of the other stuff. I prefer a rectangular shadow box personally. I'm still working on my cadet shadowbox, but my basic plan is metal rank from cutouts to C/2d Lt on the sides balanced in height. All my cadet ribbons top center under my cadet name tag. Below that go my qual badges. Below that model rocketry badge and patch side by side with squadron and wing patches at the top corners. Might throw in some extra little doodads here and there, but that's the basic plan.

Like USAFAux, I'll make a senior box in another 10 or 20 years after I have something to actually put in it.

[ßτε]

- Should I have each and every grade insignia up through, or just the highest? Should I display these in plain metal insignia or on epaulets or shoulder boards?


Someday I'll get around to figuring out all this. lol

My plan is to put my C/Lt Col on a shoulder board and the rest display as plain metal insignia.
(One thing I am missing is C/Amn insignia [old style with the shield attached to the insignia])

[DBlair]

- Should I have each and every grade insignia up through, or just the highest? Should I display these in plain metal insignia or on epaulets or shoulder boards?


Someday I'll get around to figuring out all this. lol

My plan is to put my C/Lt Col on a shoulder board and the rest display as plain metal insignia.
(One thing I am missing is C/Amn insignia [old style with the shield attached to the insignia])

That is a good point. I don't believe I have many of my old-style chevrons left, considering that my unit as a Cadet traded them up each time we were promoted.