/rant on
A pox upon such manufacturers. Model Power 50 ft express reefers won’t fit back in the box, the couplers hit. Athearn 200 ton wreck crane the boom is three inches longer than the box. I mean really, cardboard boxes don’t cost much. I keep my rolling stock in the boxes, and it’s a PITA when the model won’t fit back in the box.
/rant off
Dave,
Based on your example, Should Walthers include super large boxes to hold completed Cornerstone structures? The boxes are designed to hold the parts to complete a kit. I order blank boxes from Accurail for my cars that came with no boxes, They have standard size boxes for 40’- 60’ freight cars, and even longer ones for their auto racks. I used to buy blank Athearn ‘BB’ boxes for about a $1.25 each over 20 years ago for a LHS as well, but they are now long gone(both the ‘BB’ boxes and the LHS).
Jim
Structures I keep on the layout. So I don’t care about structure boxes. I’ll have to try ordering some boxes from Accurail. I’ve been using low end tupperware from the Dollar Store to hold my boxless trainshow finds.
I know the feeling. I have used the boxes my blank checks come in for smaller models which often frees up their original boxes for larger models that outgrow their boxes once couplers are installed, etc. Not much I can think of to suggest for the crane of course. There used to be a smoke shop not far from where I worked and they would give away as many cigar boxes as I could carry home. They are a wonderful size for models; I still use them for storage. Once the layout is truly up and running however I imagine all the boxes will quickly become an irritant (and I have an attic that has the original boxes from computers, printers, electric fans, stereo gear, and kitchen stuff – much of which I no longer have, but the boxes linger on).
Dave Nelson
Heres a dumb idea - store the cars on the layout!
Have too many - then you may be buying more than you need!
I only have 1200 cars on my current layout and that is just about the proper number to do Operations - which is why I built the layout (not to display lots of Rolling Stock)!
When new cars become available that fit my era - I decide which older (LESS DETAILED) car will be removed and sold!
This way the cost of updating my layout to more detailed RTR cars is a lot less painfull in the old wallet as the NEW Business Model only produces a few new cars a year!
So I have little or NO NEED for the old car boxes - and even if I did the new RTR cars come assembled and they (the boxes) fit the car with the couplers on!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
One principal disadvantage I have found- as an avid Athearn BB flea market buyer and builder- is that these boxes tend to collect silverfish, when stored for any length of time- even in larger plastic storage containers- such as the Sterlite shoe boxes one can buy at Walmart, etc. (Same thing goes for old issues of MR in plastic bags, neatly stored in plastic milk crates). I have found that, other than keeping one or two original box cover tops for nostalgia purposes and box ends for transferring data to an inventory software program (after which, having been input, the ends are tossed) it is best to get rid of the original boxes.
Paper is a poor container over time. Silverfishies I don’t need to feed![+o(]
Cedarwoodron
Tampa,Florida. The Silverfishies capital, of the US. [:D]
Around here, Chgo area, Chinese take-out dinners, come in white plastic containers, with clear plastic snap-on see thru lid. Perfect for storing models and parts, they are even Microwavable. I must have collected 60 0ver the years. No dirt, no moisture. You can probably ask them who the supplier is. You enjoy the food and the container is a bonus.
Take Care!
Frank
perhaps HO scale should consider doing Jewel cases like N scale, sure they’re a bugger to pull the car or loco out of and put them back in but the trade off seems to be in favor of knowing that I can organize my train holder and that my stuff will be protected from the occasional clutz or goof up while they’re in their cases. This is an older photo as my train holder is far more organized currently and has more appropriate rollng stock.
As a matter of fact the old Train Miniature HO kits came in “jewel boxes” and moreover there was a free piece of white styrene in a sort of stucco finish that held the car body in place – but those TM or TM of I plastic boxes were a classic case of the very irritant the OP was talking about – once the couplers were on, often the house car no longer fit in the box (the flat car could be squeezed in perpendicular).
Dave Nelson
As well as the blank check boxes mentioned above, I have some gift boxes that Swiss Colony gift packs came in. They will hold a number of cars, depending on the size box your gift came in. Could put a 10 - 15 car train in some of them, when changing out the cars in your staging area.
Frank- you lucky number one customer! Does the smell of MSG permeate those plastic take-out boxes after the Moo Goo guy Pan is long gone? We still get our take out in traditional paper cartons with the little handles on top!
Cedarwoodron
I have a few carboard boxes thet were sold flat to hold collector cards. They come in various sizes, including large enough to store a mountain loco and tender.
Dave
Those boxes seem expensive. If I wanted any, I’d get some from an outfit called Papermart. You can get a bundle of 100 2X2X7 tucktop boxes for $23.10 plus shipping. They also have other long sizes: http://www.papermart.com/tuck-top-corrugated-mailing-boxes/id=49486#49486
Cut a piece of 1/2 inch foam rubber (from Joanns Fabric; get it when it is on sale or use a 40/50% off coupon) to fit the bottom and add some bubble wrap on the sides. The car can then be stored standing up on its wheels. Another advantage is that all the boxes will be the same. making shelving them more orderly.
The rolling stock that doesn’t yet fit on my layout is stored as cuts (or complete trains) in cassettes made from lengths of steel stud material. Only unassembled kits are still stored in boxes.
As for the original lament, the kits for cars that will (when I build them) end up the size of the old Athearn shorty passenger cars are thirty millimeters wide, fifteen millimeters deep and barely long enough to take the roof and floor stock. No trucks, couplers or details, these are strictly carbodies.
If you really want a box that will fit your (fillintheblank) perfectly, grab an old cereal or saltine box, your ruler, pencil and scissors - and make one. Not only will it be a perfect fit, you will be able to add reinforcing anywhere you think it would be appropriate. As for me, I’ll continue to add empty kit boxes to the trash stream as soon as all the parts (and the instruction sheet) are removed.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - without flammable storage boxes)
For my extra long 85’ Cars I found a neat box, Piano Rolls. A local company has supplies of those, I bought a case of them for my Hi-Cubes, Auto Racks and Trailer Train Flats.
Rick J
I know it’s a rael pain, had dozens of BB 50’ boxcars that would do the same thing, usually messed up the coupler spring. I just keep them on the layout or store in Proto Power storage boxes. These are pricey, but work well. Many club members fabricate or find other ingenious ways of storage. Printer paper boxes work along w/ cutting dividers, adding foam and placing cardboard between layers. I store hopper this way, I will not repack 50-60 hoppers w/ loads in origional boxes, the padded, divided boxes work quite well and that entire coal drag will be in one container.
A handful of club members will fabricate storage trays from foamcore and secure w/ hot glue and white 3M duct tape. The trays are sized to drop into carrying containers in layers. A folded on itself piece of duct tape on each side acts ase handle to remove each tray.
Cedarwoodron,
No my Son Pete, He be number one. No MSG, at that place, gauranteed. Rice and non-leaking food go in the card containers w/wire bail, all else plastic. I can only say, it is a great place, if you like Chinese food.
Take Care! [bow]
Frank
dti406 wrote the following post:
I found a neat box, Piano Rolls.
Is that like egg rolls or some kind of sushi? [swg]
(sorry, I could nor resist -I know what your are talking about)
Here’s another option, if you don’t mind storing your models in groups:
I’ve got a dozen (and need more) stored under the layout on shelves. The original boxes are stored in large rubbermaid containers in the top of the garage, labeled, until the piece is sold or I’m pushing up Daisys.