Storage boxes for HOn30 rolling stock?

Bob S Oct 27, 2014

  1. Bob S

    Bob S TrainBoard Member

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    Has anyone come across storage boxes for HOn30 rolling stock analagous to the neat little plastic boxes that MT, Atlas, Bachmann et al are using for N scale stuff? Those are too small, and anything I've seen for HO broad gauge is too big.

    Respectfully,
    Bob S.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Interesting question. Nothing comes into mind right now. I had also wondered about adapting one of those foam insert storage tray boxes for N scale.
     
  3. Bob S

    Bob S TrainBoard Member

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    Ken, I thought about that, too, but what I am looking for is storage for individual cars and locomotives. The Bachmann box for the N scale Spectrum 2-8-0 would be about the right size, but Bachmann is probably not interested in selling boxes. I used to get the MT N Scale boxes by the crate from Walthers .....

    Respectfully,
    Bob S.
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I don't know if Kadee still sells any of their HO freight cars. Except perhaps log cars? But I wonder how those HO cars were packaged? If similar to N scale in design, they would probably be too large for at least some HOn30. But perhaps if some could be located, a possibility?
     
  5. Bob S

    Bob S TrainBoard Member

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  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hmmm. Three fifty is a bit more than I was guessing, but usually HOn30 folks have a smaller rolling stock roster. And considering the effort invested into creating steamers, etc...

    Are you going to order a few? If so, any thoughts on creating some sort of insert or padding?

    Dunno what is wrong with their site, but no matter which of my three computers I try, I always get their error message about "We're sorry; you must have cookies enabled on your browser to shop at Walthers.com" Cookies are enabled. Oh well.
     
  7. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    Might also try to contact Bachmann to find out who they get their boxes from. I doubt they make their own? But I may be wrong! :closedmouth:
     
  8. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

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    What about the boxes MTL used for their HOn3 cars?
     
  9. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    MTL has never done any HOn3. MTL only does N & Z. That was Kadee, a separate operation from MTL, which I'd mentioned in post #4 above.
     
  10. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

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    I beg to differ but I own a couple dozen MTL HOn3 cars and MTL produced four HOn3 body styles, a composite frame flat car, a composite frame gondola, a composite frame reefer and a log car. http://www.micro-trains.com/databases/hon3data.pdf

    From what I've been led to believe, HOn3 fell into the gap between Kadee producing HO and larger and MTL producing smaller than HO when they split the company so MTL decided to go for it a few years ago. I haven't seen a new MTL HOn3 release in over a year, though.
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    OK. Hmmm. I forgot who took what when they split the company. Kadee kept the trucks, and log disconnects, etc.

    Page linked says HOn3, but the list is N scale weathered cars.
     
  12. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

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    Scroll down or try this. http://www.micro-trains.com/databases/hon3data.xls

    Here's a picture of one of the reefers. Sorry that it's kind of big.
    [​IMG]

    From what I've been able to glean, MTL bought the tooling which is why there were only four body styles. You can still buy MTL HOn3 trucks.
     
  13. Bob S

    Bob S TrainBoard Member

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    Update on the boxes ... I found that the MT N scale "medium" boxes will fit anything up to 45 ft long, 8 feet wide and 13 feet high ... all extreme dimensions. That covers just about any HOn30 freight cars I could conger up. The "large" N scale boxes would handle passenger equipment length, but not the width, so those are a no-go. All of the MT boxes are available open stock, and ¤¤¤¤¤'s had a bunch in stock for 10% off their regular price, which is already below MT asking price. Needless to say, I got a bunch.

    I've found the Roundhouse boxes that their N scale 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 Old Timer locos came in are perfect for scale-length HOn30 passenger equipment, and I have enough of those boxes hanging around to meet my needs for the time being.

    Respectfully,
    Bob S.
     
  14. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'll need to get out an N M/T box and try fitting one of my Funaro & Camerlengo cars in it.
     
  15. Bob S

    Bob S TrainBoard Member

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    Ken,
    It has to be a "Medium" size box. In all my time in N scale, I cannot recall ever receiving a car in this size box, so I have no idea what came in them.
    Respectfully,
    Bob S.
     
  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Bob-

    Any chance you could grab a photo or two, showing equipment nested in a box?
     
  17. Kevin Anderson

    Kevin Anderson TrainBoard Member

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    I have a bunch of old roundhouse kit boxes I'm not using, would those be of any use for you?


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