In LEGO: How to build a revolving magazine rack for 2x3 tiles?

Question

I've been trying for months to come up with a design or parts for a 4-sided spinning magazine rack, like the old wire-style you would see in book stores. I need it to be fairly stable so I can put in/pull out 2x3 tiles [printed with magazine covers.] The problem I'm having is the racks are so minimalist that i can't find the sweet spot between form & function. Bonus points if the rack rotates, but not necessary.

I humbly bow down to those who can design such a rack and shower them with good karma (e.g., not finding bricks in the dark with your feet.)

A thousand thanks for your ideas or designs!

UPDATE: Apologies for delays, I've got a lot going on, my LEGO are in storage and it's taken me days to find piece info on Brickset. (I'm not very familiar with piece names.) Here are some additional pieces I've tried, along with some clarifications...

The post of the magazine rack - this part seems simple enough: a flat tile with a technic pin and a series of other pins and bushings, with the option to stack in the actual rack building pieces. Hopefully no images are required for this part.

The individual [magazine] racks - this is where I struggle. My thought is some bar-type items, though I have tried other things like 1x2 plates with clips. I think the racks/magazine holding parts probably need to be connected to the post at the top and bottom of each rack for stability, but a simpler design may work. Some of the pieces I've tried for building the rack and it's connection point(s) to the post include:

= 2566: ASSEMBLY ELEMENT Ø3.2

= 4733: Brick 1x1 w/ 4 knobs

= 40244: TUBE 1 M Ø4.85 W. (rotated 90 degrees: pin hole for post, clips for racks)

= 98397: HANDLEBAR W/3.2

= 243226: CLAMP 1X2

= 2540: PLATE 1X2 W. STICK

= 48336: PLATE 1X2 W. STICK 3.18

= 4623: PLATE W. HOOK 1X2

= 3839: MINI HANDLE

= 53989: BAD ROBOT ARM

= 30377: SPACE SKELETON ARM

= 30374: LIGHT SWORD -

Again, a truly sincere thanks for anyone who can come up with a design. This magazine rack will be part of a tributary diorama for a dear, dear friend. Thank you for your considerations.

Here are two more parts I've tried or considered using...

= 98284: LegoPlate, Round 2 x 2 with Pin Hole and 4 Arms Up

= 48723: LegoTechnic, Axle Connector Hub with 4 Bars and Pin Hole

...and also this, thinking it would be better for two attachment points, but with no success...

= 35366: [Part 35366] Bar 2 1/4 x 5 1/4 Double Squares (BrickHeadz Glasses Square)

Answer 1

I'm gonna suggest a different, non-conventional approach. This revolves around offsetting some 6016 3x4 grille, so each 2x3 tile fits through several grilles at once:

For an even more minimalistic look, rely on 4733 1x1 brick with studs on 4 sides and 2555 1x1 tile with clip, then add your own 1x1 brick/plate column:

Given the difficulties of making this kind of build look both minimalist and functional, I'm gonna suggest something that some people might see as a heresy: mod your bricks by cutting them. Cut the bottom-most grille so that only one slot (instead of three) remains, and cut the next-to-bottom-most grille so that only two slots remain.

In other words: in the following image, cut by the red line.

Beware of some safety precautions and advice when cutting plastic. Do wear safety goggles.

To prevent the 2x3 tiles from slipping through too far, consider blocking the slot nearest to the column with a disembodied 983 minifig hand (available in black):

Answer 2

I suggest using 4175 1x2 plate with ladder together with 3839 1x2 plate with handles SNOTted together with the help of 4070 1x1 brick with headlight, one 2x2 plate and 2 1x2 plates, like so:

Yes, the whole thing is upside-down. This is normal.

This contraption will hold the 2x3 tile snugly, thanks to the offset provided by the lip of the headlight brick. The handle plate will prevent the tile from sliding to the sides while allowing the tile to wiggle a bit. This can be seen in this top view:

Build a few of those, and place them on top of each other in a ladder-like manner, like so:

Add an upside-down 2x6 plate with a 3937 1x2 hinge brick base plus 3938 1x2 hinge brick top, so the entire structure hangs, like so:

...add a column to the center of the 2x6 plate, and the rest is pretty much symmetrical. It might be possible to attach extra hinged plates at the base of the structure for extra stability.

Unfortunately, this design is somewhat bulky. I cannot think (right now) of any other slanted-SNOT design that is more compact. On the plus side, this slanted design offers perfect functionality when getting tiles in/out of the racks.

If you want more than one 2x3 tile per rack, or a looser fit, try getting rid of the headlight bricks, rotating the handle plates 90°.

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EDIT: I've been fiddling a bit with your suggestions of 98397 Utensil handlebars and space skeleton arm... just to remember about the existence of other arm pieces like 93061 Arm Skeleton, Bent with Clips at 90 degrees. Together with some 85861 1x1 plate round with open stud, 63965 Bar 6L and 4032 2x2 plate round, it's possible to do something like:

However, I'm not entirely sure if the bent skeleton arms will have enough grip. If they do not, some of the handlebar pieces might drop, and individual racks might rotate out of place.

Note that I'm using four bars there - using one bar doesn't provide enough room, and the individual racks would collide with each other. Hence the 1x1 round hollow plates.

Answer 3

Perhaps try 4 copies of Plate, Modified 1 x 2 with Bar Handle on Side with Free Ends, for the "base" of each level, with Flag 2 x 2 Square as the "rack"?, and 2x2 bricks (square or round) up the centre? Then stick the whole thing on a 2x2 turntable base.

Depending on clutch strength, you might need another part on the diagonals, to stop the flags from opening out too wide.