I found some great plastic storage boxes at the Dollar Tree Store.
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I have a good sized plastic bin full of leftover bits from freight car kits, and this seemed like a great way to get this mess under control.
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These boxes are just slightly smaller than a Kadee HO scale freight car box. They are divided into three compartments with permanent cast in clear divider partitions.
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I was able to get the whole mess sorted into six of these. What a difference. This was a $6.00 solution to a $100.00 problem.
I am sometimes working on more than one structure at a time so to avoid getting parts mixed up I use the Dollar Tree non-compartmentalized rectangular food storage containers (red lids) to keep parts and instructions in. Cheap, nicely sized, and stackable. I also cut out the image of the structure from it’s box or label and tape it to the lid to ID each container.
I used to visit the Doller Tree stores regularly but since moving there are none close anymore. I also noticed they didn’t all carry all of the same merchandise when I went to up to 4 different Dollar Tree’s. So you may or may not find these storage bins there. What I like are the stacked storage bins with drawers on wheels. I’ve found them for cheap at charity shops.
Speaking of storage containers … and saving money, my wife is fond of a brand of fresh greens called “Organic Girl.” I take it is not the cheapest stuff but it always seems to be very fresh, lasts a while in the fridge, and thus less gets tossed because it has gone bad. She likes their spinach as do I.
Anyway it is somewhat lavishly packaged stuff - lavish enough that their website is a bit defensive about recycling. Large clear and fairly sturdy plastic tub with a lid, and it’s stackable. Rounded edges so not as efficient as the dollar store containers, but “free” if you’re buying the fresh greens anyway.
