I had an idea that i wanna run by others that I got while I was at work today. I know its best to store the cars and engine in the original boxes when ever possible. I use to collect baseball cards when I was a kid and at one time had a fair amount of the boxes from the full set of cards left over after I put in plstic sheets.
My idea was that if we get an engine or cars without any boxes we could take one of the boxes, and lay a piece of foam (like egg crate foam), fit to the box on the bottom and side, place the engine/car insidce and another thin sheet on top. Has a built in lid closer and are stackable. They usually are somewhere around 2 inches tall by 3 inches deep and upwards of about a foot long or so (somewhere around there but some vary). And we can place a tag on the and would be easy to change. Just wanted to share the idea and see what others thought.
A couple possible problems – egg carton foam may be of a type that disentigrates over time so it doesn’t clog up the landfills, or it may stick to the model if something such as a paper towel is not between the model and the foam.
Secondly, what are the humidity conditions where you live. Here in the Arizona desert, humidity should not be a concern for long-term storage in a container that cannot ‘breathe,’ but items are likely to rust or corrode in a humid environment.
Rolling stock purchased on eBay from a humid environment invariably has rusted axles.
I save my original loco boxes but when temporarily putting them up I use storage boxes that come with foam slots (in which the locos fit vertically), but first use cut strips of white kitchen garbage bag to lift the loco and drop it into the foam slot. This minimizes handling and potential to hurt the details. Here’s an example, not cheap but effective:
My reason for replying is not to divert from your approach but just to suggest you could use the garbage back strips to isolate the loco from the foam. I presume you would place the locos in on their side, so you would want the vertical space filled reasonably well with something soft if the foam is well off the sides at the top. And you would want something to also prevent it sliding around inside when you are moving the box around.
I have no idea what egg crate foam is, but as has been previously stated be very careful that it doesn’t disintegrate.
I like the idea of the rolling stock and locomotives standing on their wheels, this is what I’ve ended up doing for my locomotives, it may be overkill for what you wish to do, as I transport them to shows and hated the idea of disconnecting the fiddly little plugs from the tender,…
…it’s basically an adaptation of doctorwaynesidea, which can be found here… http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/213991/2348869.aspx#2348869
Cheers, the Bear.
Last summer I bought a number of plastic cases from The Container Store, approximately 2x14x18. I then cut several 2 inch cardboard strips for dividers. Then, I gathered up the surplus HO rolling stock, sorted by type, and placed them in the containers. They are safe from harm, you can see (pretty much) what is in the boxes, and the cost is reasonable. You can get 15-20 in a box.
While I might use these for diesel storage, I would still want special storage for the steamers - obviously because they tend to be more fragile.
I also advise to stay away from egg crate foam. As well as deteriorating over time, it’s often printed and the ink could transfer onto the shell of whatever it’s supporting. Might look OK on a reefer or two, but probably not what you want to happen.
For a cheap material for cushioning, check out the rubbery mat stuff they sell for lining kitchen drawers and tool boxes. It comes in white for kitchen use and black for tool box use in a roll that’s usually under $5. It’s a bumpy open grid that cuts to size with scissors. Works well and has minimal chances for snagging in my experience.
I use paper towels the same way–as a cradle to drop rolling stock into the box. And remove it. It hasn’t torn yet, though I will say that I NEVER hold a cradled loco over the floor without my other hand underneath.
