Does anyone know where to get the foam packing material that was used in the Athearn blue box locomotive kits. I am getting ready to move and need to start boxing up my numerous coal hoppers. I have tried the home improvement stores and craft stores, but had no luck. Thanks.
A fabric place like JoAnn Fabrics should have foam.
Be aware, however that some foam can deteriorate and stick to painted models.
It is suggested you wrap your models in Kleenex before placing them in the foam holders.
I wrap mine up in bubble wrap to put them back in the boxes. The heavy duty blue shop towels you can buy at HD and Lowes also work well and do not get lint and fuzz on the model like a regular paper towl or tissues will. Actual tissue paper - like you put in the sweater box when wrappign it for Christmas, not toilet tissue - also makes a nice protective layer - some models come with it from the factory. It’s not a cushion, just keeps the foam from rubbing on the model which can remove paint or in the case of brass models end up leaving a sticky mess on the model as it deteriorates.
For brass models, Reboxx sells replacement boxes with properly cut foam.
–Randy
Thanks for the quick replies and info. Have a good week.
I was able to purchase some of that foam from a packaging and shipping company in Norwalk CT. If I remember the name it was Command Packaging. They have a catalog and will ship the foam to you. It comes in several thicknesses and widths. I bought some 2" and also some 1/4" . The price was $45 and I did buy quite a bit of it. It cuts good with a razor blade if you compress it first. Maybe you could find a company in your area.
Office supply stores have bubble wrap and some have the foam. I have accumulated a quantity of packing peanuts. A few of those in each box take up the space well and they were free (unless you figure they were the shipping cost.)
Good luck on your move.
Have fun,
Here’s a thought, have you considered trying your local upholstry shop? A neighbor of mine does upholstry work and has his own shop, I was at his shop on day and noticed he had several different thicknesses of foam sheets and ask him about buying some of it. He immediately dropped a small catalog in front of me with all of the different sizes and densities of foam available. I was amazed at the variety, everything from hard foam to foam rubber like ReBoxx sells. He also had quite a bit of “scraps” that I took with me to use. The price for these…$0.00!! Like a broken drum, free is hard to beat!
Mark
Check your local furniture store Most of the furniture comes with the white foam packing. I know that it does make a mess but it does sweep up quickly
Mike Dickinson
For those that mentioned it. If you dont wrap the car in something like tissue or paper towel before wrapping in bubble wrap. That bubble wrap will also deteriorate and leave evidence behind on your painted models.