Hi everyone!
After building my first kit, I am trying to think if I should keep the model's boxes, the instruction paper ...? For my spare decals, I have put them in a big ziploc bag so when I will need one, there will be plenty to choose from.
But for the boxes and instruction sheets, what do you do with them?
Stef
I hold on to instruction sheets, if no other reason, you see post in here, looking for instructions on various kits.
I just purged a bunch of boxes, I have no space for those. I DO keep Athearn boxes, habit, I guess.
At least instructions can be put into a digital format, for simple storage and reference.
Mike.
My You Tube
Stef,
For rolling stock: I keep them and place any spare parts, sprues, instructions, and packing material inside the box. Should I ever want to sell off the model at a later time, the original box is almost always the best protection.
For structures: If the assembled piece is larger than the original bax (which would probably be the case most of the time), I toss the box but keep the instructions.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have 2 moving size boxes in the walk-in attic. One is for rolling stock boxes, kits or otherwise. I leave the instructions in the box, plus the original wheelsets where I have replaced those with metal wheelsets. If and when these leave my posession, the receiver would appreciate the original box, plus if/when I move, I have the option of putting the cars in those boxes if desired.
The attic also has a large loco box, that includes loco boxes that do not include foam. The few with foam get to reside on a bedroom closet shelf in the climate controlled environment. I have a manila folder for each powered item (loco, snowplow, etc.) where I keep most of the items' literature, along with related DCC info (decoder, CV settings, etc.).
I have some Grandt loco storage boxes with foam that will handle some jewels conveniently if moving, with less handling than putting them back in the original boxes. A Genesis Big Boy and other steamers might be good examples.
If packed for moving, some items will not conveniently fit in the original boxes. Examples: crane car kits, a switcher and calf that I permanently connected.
For structures, I save the instructions in a common folder.
I would never dispose of the boxes or literature. For vehicles, I do not save the packaging, which often requires tearing open to get to the item.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
peahrensI would never dispose of the boxes or literature.
Ditto.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
For the boxes in which structures come, I save only a few to store left-over structure parts...
...while the rest of them go out with the stuff for recycling, and that includes the instructions.
I sometimes keep boxes which originally contained r-t-r locos, but they're useless for the locos, which have been modified and will no longer fit into the foam in the box. I do use that foam, though, cutting it into suitable sizes for protecting fragile rolling stock, which often goes into boxes which are not the boxes in which those kits came, as some are useless for the assembled item, like these Tangent tank cars, in a Walthers box for rolling stock...
...I include part of the original Tangent boxes and the assembly instructions, too.
Cars like this reefer with open hatches...
may be in their original box or in one from a different manufacturer, and the glued-in-place block of foam, once the box lid is in place, will prevent the car from moving and sustaining damage.
Walthers boxes are also useful for pairs of similar cars, which helps somewhat to conserve under-layout shelf storage space...
...and in a similar manner, Athearn's boxes for passenger cars are quite useful for smaller and less-fragile cars, like these Athearn Blue Box hoppers...
...another Walthers box with room for 4 scratchbuilt Fowler boxcars...
If I need to move somewhat fragile MoW equipment, I make suitably-sized trays, which can be stacked into larger cardboard containers....
...and ditto for locos, whether steam or diesel...
...and passenger and head-end cars, too...
A car with a staff-type brake wheel benefits from a slightly oversize block of foam, which increase the width of the box. Once the box lid is put on, it will compress the foam and prevent the car from moving inside the box...
Because I bought much of my rolling stock secondhand, or off the "used" table, where botched kits were sold, I usually didn't get boxes with them, hence the need to improvise. The boxes here may contain one, two, or even four cars each...
...but I have bought a few new Accurail boxes from Bowser that I'll need for some upcoming scratchbuilding projects. The shelves shown above are deep enough for two rows, although that will some make things harder to retrieve.
I also keep an up-to-date inventory of the locos and rolling stock that's on-hand or, if lettered for my freelanced roads, that has been sold. When it comes time for me to kick the bucket, a friend will likely pick out a few favourites, then sell the rest for the prices which I have assigned to each (he considers them too low, but the idea is to get rid of it, not to make a bundle.
Wayne
My LMS steam locomotive boxes still have the locomotives in them. All other boxes and literature went to the recycle center.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
ModelTrain Hi everyone! After building my first kit, I am trying to think if I should keep the model's boxes, the instruction paper ...? For my spare decals, I have put them in a big ziploc bag so when I will need one, there will be plenty to choose from. But for the boxes and instruction sheets, what do you do with them?
I also keep all of my electronics boxes and instructions for the same reasons. Last year, I sold off 60 Tortoises, and those little boxes came in handy for shipping purposes.
I also keep all of my turnout packages.
Lastly, I still have all of my structure kit boxes, including instruction sheets and sprue with assorted unused parts.
All of this stuff is stored in larger cardboard boxes in the attic. All of the larger boxes are all marked with the contents, of course. I do keep my locomotive boxes on a shelf down by the layout.
Rich
Alton Junction
Aye, what others are saying.
@Wayne, friendly suggestion - your posts really don't need so many photo's to get the point across and your giving my finger carpal tunnel to scroll all the way past.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I cut pictures of buildings off of boxes that contained kits for buildings. I glued them to the backdrop along with other suitable pictures.
In this photo you can see some of my backdrop that has pictures from box tops. It is in the distance behind the street car and the retaining wall to the left of the street car.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
In his Kalmbach book on kitbashing -- or kit-mingling as he sometimes preferred to call it -- the late Art Curren showed how he sometimes used the photos on the kit box covers to try out ideas for combining parts of multiple kits. So there would be one potential use for retaining the structure kit box.
In common with Dr. Wayne (maybe the ONLY thing we have in common, talent-wise) is that I have bought a fair amount of second hand rolling stock with no boxes, and for storage purposes I am glad I have saved older kit boxes. And like him I also tend to try to combine like-models into one box, on the assumption that if I need the one I need them all.
Somewhat OT but it is somewhat annoying, if you use the original box for storage or transport until such time as you need the model on the layout, how often a box that is just right for the kit is too small once you install the couplers.
Dave Nelson
I never save any boxes. Structures go onto the layout, and rolling stock has a drawered storage unit to stay in. Everything is stored in matching 17 gallon totes.
riogrande5761@Wayne, friendly suggestion - your posts really don't need so many photo's to get the point across and your giving my finger carpal tunnel to scroll all the way past.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I love seeing pictures of Wayne's layout. The more the better.
Heartland Division CB&QI cut pictures of buildings off of boxes that contained kits for buildings. I glued them to the backdrop along with other suitable pictures.
When I visited your layout and saw how you did this, I instantly regretted throwing away all the artwork from my Cornerstone kits. What you did with the box art is amazing.
I keep cruising eBay hoping to find a stash of box art, but no luck yet.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Wayne, I love the pics, keep them coming.
Garry, thanks for the idea for using box photos for backgrounds.
riogrande5761Wayne, friendly suggestion - your posts really don't need so many photo's to get the point across and your giving my finger carpal tunnel to scroll all the way past.
I understand and respect your suggestion, Jim.
The main reason I included those photos is because I'm sure that many other modellers buy used rolling stock or locomotives, but seldom get a suitable box for storing or transporting those items. I wanted to show that it's not too difficult to create suitable boxes or to modify existing ones to be more appropriate.
I also can appreciate your comment on scrolling fatigue, but if you had access to my photobucket account, where they no longer have albums in a page-by-page format, but now as single scrollable page, you'd understand why my scrolling-hand fingers are now worn down past the joint closest to the fingertips and I fear that the joints closer to the knuckles will soon be gone, too. Hunting for suitable photos in 300 or 400 image album is rather time consuming, and there are 114 albums (thankfully not all filled to the same degree).
I am, as yet, undecided about whether or not to terminate my photobucket account, when renewal comes up in August, as it has become rather awkward to use.
I think that I have commented before, Wayne, on your use of photos. You cannot provide too many in my opinion.
Too many Dr Wayne pictures.....jeeez. There is a page down button on your computer.
I never saved most structure boxes unless I put other stuff in them. The last Walthers building was Heritage Furniture. There were way more parts that the instructions accounted for. While it might be nice to preserve it for the future, I got divorced, moved 3 times in the next 22 years and there is only so much stuff you can lug around. Some of what is important and you do move, you can't find.
I agree on saving loco and rolling stock boxes.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
You may need boxes, instructions and spare parts if you once want to sell the models. I usually keep them, but I have a lot of space, so it's okey for me
I would like to thank those who have offered their support in this little episode, but I'd also like to express my desire for Jim to offer us all, at his convenience, of course, more photos of his layout as it develops, and as he feels comfortable doing so. In my opinion, it looks like it will be well-worth seeing, and I promise to not complain if there are too many pictures...obviously, I guess, because I don't know what constitutes "too many".
I was an impassioned box-saver in my "active" years.
After the fire, not so much.
I had ALL the boxes from audio equipment (sometimes double and triple boxes nested as that stuff was packaged very securely) probably over a hundred various boxes from G scale LGB, Aristo-Craft, USA Trains, etc. HUGE boxes with lots of volitale foam! Plus every HO rolling stock box that I had ever purchased.
All stored in a large, hot, dry attic. Probably the equivalent cubic space of a large shipping container full.
You could feel the heat from 500 feet away — In January!
Fortunately, the fire was knocked down before the whole house was consumed and there wasn't much damage in the basement layout room where, at least, the locomotive and brass boxes were stored. Those are the only ones I keep now. They are in an outbuilding along with the rest of my G scale trains.
I numbered and cataloged the boxes and most have a photo of the locomotive that is supposed to go in that box. I also have a spreadsheet matching the loco or car to the box.
Hopefully my heirs can match the two up when the time comes.
Structures? I do save the cover photo and any instruction sheets are saved in a file cabinet. Many of my structures are quite large (four Huletts, two blast furnaces, two Union stations, four back shops, etc.) Saving these boxes whole would require a considerable area that I really don't have to devote to such a venture.
Regards, Ed
It just occurred to me... I take this not saving boxes a step further.
I don't even keep a lot of my unbuilt kits in boxes. If there is too much empty space in the box I just put the kits in baggies so they take up less space.
I save a few large flat boxes to keep spare parts in. Walthers kits, in particular, usually contain more parts than necessary, but they come in handy for scratch building.
I usually put instructions in a file cabinet, though in truth I don't ever use them once a structure is built. Most of the empty boxes go in the recycle bin.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
GRRRRRRRRRRR! I hope you understand dog?
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I say keep posting photos as they're always enjoyable to see. It breaks up the Sea of Text. Also, I never do get tired of looking at some fine craftsmanship displayed in other threads as well
TF
Rolling stock and loco boxes I save.
Most others get recyled/burned/trashed.
I did keep a box of "miscellaneous" parts, but I just use one for building extras.
Extra decals go in with my decal stash.
Any extra detail parts off locos, rolling stock, etc... (not usually many) are all sorted into my "super details bin" which is just a multi-pocket container, where even things like Tichy grab irons, miniature chain, extra air horns, bells, etc... all go into. (When I customize cars, locos, etc... any left over detail parts from the custom extras go in this bin.)
The only other boxes I have ever kept are the DCC System and throttle boxes. (In case I change to upgraded stuff and wish to sell the old.)
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
My printer also scans well and easily, so I scan in all instructions, along with any decal and other sheets. (That way I can always reproduce the decals, too, by printing the scan onto decal paper.) I also scan in completed warranty cards before I mail them. All those scanned items are saved in .pdf format so I can open them anywhere. I have been maintaining an inventory database for a couple of decades, of every item I've acquired for my railroad, so each item has an inventory number. I code all my scanned instructions with that number.
I also have a terabyte external hard drive, now relatively cheap, so I can take things back and forth between my laptop in the den where I have wifi, and the laptop I use to run JMRI and other things for the railroad, which is in the barn (with no wifi). Since there's ample room on that hard drive for all the scanned information, that's where it permanently resides. So, whether I'm in the house or the barn I always have everything at my fingertips.
It also serves as a very valuable resource for homeowner's insurance purposes.
Once I've finished constructing a building or working on a piece of rolling stock to ready it for use, paper instructions get recycled. If I need them later on I can always print off a copy, with only those pages I need, from the saved .pdf file. Granted, with hundreds of cars, 50+ locomotives and a gazillion other items I've acquired over the years this was an easy process to keep up with because I did so starting before my collection grew to its present size. But even an occasional backlog of stuff to scan and file electronically really isn't that much of a chore. And, of course, anything that gives me an excuse to spend any kind of time with my railroad is always welcome.
There's a website known as HOSeeker, where the site owner used to accept copies of kit instructions for a gazillion different things, and make them available as free downloads for anyone who might need a lost instruction set. I emailed him recently about sending him a lot of my material but I haven't yet received a reply. I hope he's still at it, because the site is a valuable resource. Most of what he offers is .jpgs of instruction pages. He also has a lot of old catalogs, many of which offer very useful information for older items. His website has saved me on more than a few occasions. It's amazing how much is there.
peahrens I would never dispose of the boxes or literature. Ditto.
peahrens I would never dispose of the boxes or literature.
Agree. No brainer.
/topic
The instructions of built structures and bridges go in a folder.
Some empty boxs of built structures and bridges are saved to store leftover parts from all kinds of built structures and whatever. I cut the end pictures out of the empty boxs that I will not save and tape it to the box top if there are that building's leftover parts in that box. Save some structure boxs and in ten years if you have nothing in them, then throw them out.
I have sometimes wondered if I should have saved of all the rolling stock and loco boxs as I started MRing back when I rode my bicycle to buy my first Tyco Santa Fe blue and yellow F7/9. That is the only box I did not save. So... I have a mess of empty and full rolling stock and loco. boxs in the train room. If there is something in the box it is rightside up, if the box is empty the box is upside down.
PS. doctorwayne keep the photos coming. As someone said ''A picture is worth a thousand words''.
I don't keep the boxes structures came in but def keep instructions, and the plastic sprues. They serve multiple purposes, including stirring stuff (the thick cut pieces), down spouts to cover seams in buildings, and for kitbashing.
Thanks for the great reminder about the need to clean out more boxes!
I keep all locomotive and rolling stock boxes. Structure boxes, except for craftsman kits, I'll throw out, unless it offers potential for storage and organization of other components or materials. I always hold onto instruction sheets, unless it's for kits I have multiples of, than I'd throw out all but ine set.
Alvie