What would be the best way to “long term” store my engines ?. At the present time, they’re in an insulated metal building with a low humidity level. The only thing is the temperature rises in the day to about 100 degrees. In the winter it will be what ever the temperature is outside. They’re being kept in the drawers of my work desk sitting up right on flat paper towels.
Any suggestions as to a better way than what I’m already doing ?.
trainluver1
You might want to consider taping up any cracks on that desk to keep out dust, and be sure to keep the temperature from going much above that 100 degree mark. And make sure no mice can get in, at all ! If you ever have to wrap any up, I start with plain (no lotion) tissues, because uif one does stick somewhere you can wet it with water and very soon just wipe it off without damage.
I stored all my stuff (model RR locos, rolling stock, etc., and all my other belongings) in a self-serve non-environmentally-controlled facility for several years while I was traipsing around the country working. None of the modeling stuff (except for bottles of paint) suffered for it.
The locos and cars seem pretty bullet-proof as long as they aren’t submerged or heated to the melting point or some such. It sounds to me like your equipment will be fine as it is.
100 degree heat probably wouldn’t damage them. I’d wrap them in paper towels instead of just placing them on them.
Just remember to oil the locos when they come out of storage, and before you run them. The existing oil may well turn to tar after a few years.
Do you have your original containers, the ones in which they were shipped at the factory? I would use those before anything else. Also, it would be best to store them where humidity and temperatures do not fluctuate a great deal. I guess you’ll have to live with whatever you can find that best meets that criterion. If you really wanted to control humidity, you could place the boxed locos in waxed paper, or waxed bags, even a sealed ‘baggy’.
Basements are good places to store them if they can be sealed from humidity as described above. Basements don’t fluctuate in temperature as much as upper levels.
In TX, do you have anything like a root cellar?
If not