Once I finish repainting and detailing both of the old Walthers Work Train sets, I will have almost two dozen items of rolling stock that have no boxes of their own. I would prefer to store them in individual boxes where I can appropriately label the contents on the end. Something on the order of 1.5 x 3 x 9 would do nicely as I will have nothing longer than 50 footers to go in them.
I’d prefer something in the style of a kit box with the separate tops and bottoms. For this purpose I’m not a big fan for the one-piece boxes with the fold-in, tabbed ends that come with most RTR items. Neither of my LHSs have excesses of kit boxes as they repurpose them for turn-in cars they offer out of their resale/recycle closets. After about an hour, I couldn’t seem to find anything on line from the likes of Papersource or U-Line, etc. I suppose that I could build my own but I already have too many projects backed up!
Surely this has been covered before here - but I can’t pull up an appropriate string in the Community search function. Too many weeds and other distractions there.
They sell model railroad storage boxes. Pretty heavy duty cardboard construction with foam padding which can be removed, moved around etc., and will hold about 20 cars. The boxes sell for $28 new, however, if you call them they might be able to scrounge up some “seconds” which have some blemishes from the manufacturing process and will knock off $5 or so.
Axian is located here in Phoenix and its main business is machines parts and tools, but, I guess there are a bunch of model railroaders who work there and who designed the storage boxes which Axian sells. I have two of them. They are NOT display boxes, but there is plenty of room on the box to catalogue its contents.
You may have done already done it, but I think the key phrase you want to use in a search is “set-up” boxes. Those are generally the two piece type like Athearn blue boxes. But it seems like most are custom made, so you may not find the szie you want available in small quantities.
I have been buying plastic “Tupperware” boxes at the local Walmarts. Not too expensive. Most of 'em are big enough to take a pair of cars. A piece of foam or cardboard can be duct taped down the middle of the box to separate the cars.
If you have the money, and you want the very best, get storage boxes and custom cut foam insserts from Battlefoam for all of your equipment.
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I would never do it. Trains should be on the tracks. However, if you are transporting trains regularly, they offer the best protection. Romeo and his crew are top notch at service.
They generally want you to order a LOT of boxes since making a special size requires some type of die for cutting and folding (I think). Not only that, but unless the company is close to you, you’re basically paying to ship mostly air if the boxes are already assembled.
Now if you could get some at a reasonable price, you could start selling them to others to help offset the production costs. But then you’ll need more boxes to ship your boxes in…and lots of storage space. Probably not what you really wanted to do, right? [:)]
Thanks, guys. Closest so far for cheap and just what I have in mind is Steven with the Accurail boxes. But at 3 bucks a pop (plus shipping), I’m not inclined just yet.
The idea of the cereal boxes is intriguing also. I could create a form out of a cut-to-size piece of wood (actually one each for both top and bottom) and templates for the corner cut-outs. Rather than glue pre-cut tabs on the corners I could track down some of the tape that I often see on the corners of such boxes.
As for added details taking hits from being stored on their sides, I will likely wrap them in a single layer of thin bubble wrap. Boxes are mostly for temporary storage and other contingencies as I, like a few above, feel that the place for most of these cars will be upright on the layout!
It’s really quite easy. Disassemble a box you want to make and cut it out (top and bottom), use it as a template. A bit of Elmer’s or brown wrapping tape and you’re in business.
The .022” Chipboard is a bit thinner than a regular Athearn Blue Box (.03”) but it works out very good for me.
I keep a good stock of Chipboard, works great for portioning structures for lighting. Also great for making mockups.
Find a cigar store. As a rule they give away cigar boxes which can handle 2, 3 or sometimes even 4 pieces of rolling stock. I have slender pieces of foam plastic between them for cushion, but paper towels would work too. I do not mind the tobacco aroma.
The other thing I have done is free up the kit boxes that are oversized for the original rolling stock - e.g., 36’ hoppers - by using the boxes my checks come in for those shorter cars, and then use the kit boxes for other, longer cars.
Hey, if you are looking for inexpensive, try a shop that sells baseball cards. The boxes designd for 400 cards are about the right size for HO equipment and can usually be had for about $1.00 each.
I see used Athearn blue boxes for sale on eBay once in a while. I kind of regret throwing away a bunch of my boxes but I still have some. I store my cars and locomotives in plastic drawers made by Sterilite so they can stand upright. They are also convenient for moving. When I find better drawers that are metal I am going to switch to them.
Mel - I ain’t getting any younger, either. But I’d never heard of chipboard before today. Will have to mosey over to Michael’s or perhaps Portland’s new Hobby Lobby to check it out. Sounds pretty versatile.
And thanks, Kevin, for the baseball card tip. A dollar would be in the ballpark (no pun originally intended) and save some work.
Well, that’s a buck a box in any language. I’ll check on what Accurail soaks their customers for postage. May still be a good deal - it costs to drive hither and thither, after all. Thanks, JD.
I looked high and low for thin cardstock before I found out its called chipboard. I think one of the Forum members put me on to it. It’s cheap and easy to work with, like I mentioned I keep it handy because as you said it’s very versatile. I make room dividers for my structures that are on my random lighting controllers to control light leaks, works slick for that too.
