We’re moving and I need to know if it’s ok to put some rubbermaid type totes full of unbuilt building kits, engines, rolling stock, etc in a non-climate controlled storage unit for a week or two. We’re in Northern Minnesota and the temperatures have been between 40 at night and 70 during the day with rain (but the storage is dry). Do I need to keep my rolling stock in the house as long as possible or would it be ok in storage?
Thanks,
Ray
You should be fine putting your gear in storage for only a few weeks. Just make sure there won´t be any physical damage due too bad handling.
This should be fine, it’s not that extreme of a temperature change. I use large plastic totes to store my stuff in as well, with some careful arranging of the boxesit should all fit tightly enough to kepe things from slidign around but not so tight it bulges out the sides which leads to damage by an errant bump against the side. For those items without boxes, I picked up a roll of bubble wrap and wrap the items carefully and put those on top in the totes. For additional protection before the bubble wrap, the blue shop towels are good they don;t leave fuzzies like a regular paper towel or tissue will.
–Randy
If the pieces can’t go back in the origional packaging, carefully wrap/ roll them in foam or bubble wrap and stack wheels down in the container. After filling one layer place another piece of bubblewrap/ foam and carboard for the next layer to pack. You may find that you can do 3-4 layers this way depending on the depthof the storage container. The heavier equipment is best set on the bottom for obvious reasons. Just use care in wrapping not to snag any delicate parts.
If you are storing for only a few weeks - say 4 or less - wrap them carefully and put in a plastic storage box and seal it as best you can. As you can guess, the longer you keep them in a non climate controlled facility, the more propensity for rust / corrosion you will have.
Been there, done that - for a lot longer time, probably a lot greater distance (Nashville, TN - Las Vegas, NV) and certainly a wider swing in temperatures. My entire roster, all of my unbuilt kits (some since built and currently operating) and all of my electricals, spares and raw materials traveled in Rubbermaid totes, or in those plastic file folder storage boxes from Office Depot. I packed finished models between layers and partitions of high-density foam (fan-fold underlayment.) I took a lot of care in packing to avoid any looseness or movement.
Everything survived with no damage and no problems.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
If the temp starts getting near the 80’s get them out. Some storage units aren’t climate controlled and the internal temp can get much higher.