I sure do enjoy all my N scale locomotives, but I have always prefered the clear plastic boxes that KATO Locomotives come in. I wish all the manufacturers would standardize the size of their locomotive boxes to be more like KATO. It get frustrasting trying to keep all these different size boxes stacked and in order. Maybe I should produce and sell some after market boxes like the KATO boxes with foam inserts to fit, ATLAS, INTERMOUNTAIN, ATHEARN diesel locomotives of all size and types. It sure would be more orderly on my storage shelf. What do you think ? fatalxsunrider43
I have mostly Atlas locos which all are in the same size box. I have a few Katos in different boxes and do not like them as sometimes it's hard to seperate the tops from the bottoms. Why should the rest of the manufacturers adopt Kato's box? I've never picked up and Atlas box and had the bottom fall out.
I agree. I realize that there isn’t any way to get around to at least having a couple of sizes, because a steamer with tender is going be long and then there are box cars which would be a waist in a large box. If there were only maybe 3 size cases (small, medium, & large) at the most, I'd be happy. I keep all my cases just in case I decide to sell them one day. I was putting everything back in the cases every time I finished with them, but as my collection grows it’s getting to be pain. I bought a couple of shallow plastic storage boxes to save time and now I got all the plastic boxes in a big cardboard box, but there are so many different sizes that they don’t all fit right.
I'm more annoyed by the likes of Walthers large boxes for their steam locos, especially the 0-8-0 that won't fit back in the box once you screw the tender on. Kato, MTL and Walthers, and probably others, sell the jewel boxes separately. woo woo woo - N Scale Rolling Stock Storage & Display The Kato bookcase is another option, I have my Super Chief cars stored in these. Book Case Type A for N scale trains - Kato 10-210 - eBay Kato, N Scale, Model RR, Trains, Toys Hobbies. (end time 21-Apr-10 11:36:26 AEST) There is a wide variety available from several Japanese companies, some of which appear to specialise in this type of thing.
Its funny how many of us complain about the part of the hobby that least involves model railroading... the container the models come in . I for one have the same qualms about the manner of storing and transporting the trains when not on a layout... and I mostly don't have them on a layout (yet). So... the box versus travel box versus not having a box at all issue always stirs my interest. I'm not sure there is a happy medium. I guess if I only had a few engines and cars... they would be on a layout and the 'container' they came in wouldn't be an issue until I might decide to sell-off something... then having the container (jewel box, cardboard box etc) become a necessary item to get the best price. If I must have a choice for the container... I like the clear jewel boxes that Bachmann Spectrum uses... except that the cradle on the 2-6-6-2 is a little dangerous. I call it the accident waiting to happen system.
I hate the big boxes that the IM Cab Forward and the Athearn steamers came in. I would prefer smaller boxes.
Oh wow! I did not know that woo woo woo carried clear boxes. I bought an assortment of boxes off of eBay last year to put locos and box cars that bought without boxes, but I was a little disappointed because most of the stuf I had didn’t fit right. And without the cradle they slid around inside the boxes. I had a few couplers and trucks broken because of it. I just went to a fabric store with my wife looking for some thin foam that I could put inside, but all they had 1” and larger.
Find an upholstery shop...they most likely will have scraps of thinner foam...cheap...JMO :tb-wink: .
YW JohnnyB....the reason I suggest it is because a good friend of mine owns his own upholstery shop...and I am always picking up scrap pieces of foam...and material for THE Wife. .
It is only my PREFERENCE for the Kato style box. And from my experience, if dropped, the Kato box doesn't pop open and the locomotive doesn't exit the box and be damaged. The Atlas box seems to pop open easier, same with Athearn and Intermountain. I know what I wish for isn't necessarily what others would wish for. And until my layout is built, handling the boxes, examining locomotives is all I can really do. I have 2 pieces of Atlas flex track as a test track and that's it. Hopefully that will all change in a BIG WAY in the next few months. I'm seriously gearing up for it, Kato boxes and all. fatalxsunrider43
I use small bubble wrap around odd cars & engines, the only danger so far has been the temptation to POP them.
These boxes that cannot hold the engines without deassembly are a pain. I use a German system called "Trainsafe" (Train Safe) where the engines can run under their own power into the shelf. Especially for long, delicate steamers this is a reasonable way, though it is not cheap. (I had mentioned this system already in in another thread)
While I can understand and appreciate your anguish over this matter there is a simple solution.I have cars from Athearn,Atlas,Red Caboose,FVM,ExactRail and MT.I simply stack the boxes according to manufacturer on different shelves in my closet..If you don't have such in your closet a small 3-4 tier plastic storage shelf will work.
My preference for the KATO boxes isn't an enormous problem, it's just one way for me to keep an organized look to my items while stacked and stored, reality is that not all manufacturers have the same idea for the boxes items come in. Oh well, beating a dead horse with this topic, LOL ! fatalxsunrider43
Agreed! I could be buying more cars to filled those shelves.I suspect my storage shelves started life as shoe storage.
Two birds with one box! A case of beer's box can hold nearly 300 IM or MT cars in the small cases. Same case box can hold 140 Kato locomotive jewel cases. So drink beer and get storage. Vary the brand and get more color in your storage. :tb-biggrin:
