what do you folks who detail locos store them in? i am going to be adding details to an N scale GP18, and would prefer to be able to put it in a case without damaging the details, so it doesnt gather dust and so i can transportit. it fits pretty tightly in hte case it came in and i figure that would crush some grab irons and such. i though about just cutting into the lining where the detail parts would rest against. am i being crazy? (probably) anyone have any suggestions?
I have done just that, cut out some of the inserts in the plastic boxes, so that added details won't get smashed. I have even gone and got new boxes and adapted the boxes to the car or engine that I wanted to protect from damage. Look around and see if you can find a chunk of the EXTRUDED PLASTIC FOAM(I'm not sure of the real name of the stuff[Another TRAINBOARD member may know the proper name for the stuff] use it to make custom inserts for your storage boxes. I'm NOT talking about the STYROFOAM type of material here. The stuff I mean MUST be cut with a knife or hot cut tool. There are some storage boxes made for model trains. I've got several and they do the job. Go to: Model Railroading Storage Boxes for details. Axian has one type and there is another type of box available. I have not used the A-Line type, but another clubmember has and he swears by them. Go to:Hobby-Tote Storage System for details.
I use the trainboxesplus cases. I have three of them. I've moved across country twice and the only damage was an exploded accumate coupler. The foam is really soft and protects well.
how do you get an engine in a cratle without crushing the detail or change hooks without a cratle if you are wondering why me cotton belt bicenntennial unit in ho scale i was running it on a train and the airhose got snaged on the crossing and the spring flew.......................god knows where and the part that holds the other hook in colapsed in so i can not get a hook in there thanks
Well, the foam on the TBP cases is very soft and squishy,a nd yes, can snag details. I use the plastic sheet that comes in most locomotive packages; (the clear, soft, thick stuf that is wrapped around the engine) lay the sheet on the table, place the engine in the center, pick up the sides, and fold the engine into the sheet like a taco, pick it up gently, and deposit into the carrying case of your choice. Intermountain tunnel motors in N have delicate details,a nd this methods works well. I used cheapo ziplock baggies, with the tops and sides cut, so the sheet would lay flat. That make a lick of sense?
i looked in the box the plastic things the train is resting in in the bos comes in half i can just use the top part
those boxes look like a good idea. im going to look into getting one. i might try making something similar myself for the time being, i have a case that a wireless unit came in that would be big enough for a couple of locos and a few cars. i have some foam, but im not sure its the type porkypine52 is refering to.
Go to this link and look at the picture on the last page of the pdf. I thought this was a neat way to store any fragile engine or car. It makes "take out" and "put away" a breeze! http://www.nmra.org.au/conventions/PDFS/Cardboard.pdf After looking at the picture, go back and read the rest of the article. You can make some nice background structures for cheap.
I use the Axiantech boxes which the stock is laid on its side in. The foam is quite firm, so I cut it away to clear any protruding detail and let the stock rest on flat/solid areas of the body. The pic shows part of my loco box. (This is HO BTW. I think they do N boxes too.) It is lined with thin paper and the wheel locations are marked so the details line up with the the cut aways (not visible of course). I also place the stock so the bars on the lid (top in picture) don't close onto details and/or I again carve a bit out of the foam. The steamers seen here are P2k Heritage - well detailed and a bit of a trick to get in and out without damage. BUT, in their own packaging the tender has to be separated and that is a far more difficult/damaging exercise than putting them in this box, which is partly why I went this way. The hood units get a piece of foam each side cut to fit snug between the handrails and the hood and placed to line up with the lid bars. Seems to work. I have a photo of each box printed out and kept in the box, so I can make sure everything goes back in the right place (and that I haven't left anything behind )
cardboard structures look like they would be interesting to make, as well as the loco holder being a good idea. thanks for the link! *bookmarks* i found a small box lined with foam that i am thinking of using. it looks very similar to the foam in the pictures so im assuming it will work well enough
The box in the last page of that PDF (http://www.nmra.org.au/conventions/PDFS/Cardboard.pdf) is like one that used to be made in HO (Western Backshop, I think) I have a batch of them for some HO engines and they were pretty easy to put together. It would be easy to make one for N-scale. Ed B.
