Was going to buy some train storage cases but found out the foam that many of them use attacks the paint! Is there a foam that will not attack paint or is it in the nature of foam. Also how do you store cars etc. when you no longer have the boxes (I got a bunch recently but they had no boxes and are of the higher quality with lots of fragile parts.
The "foam attacks the paint" issue is a known problem and most tales of woe involve brass locomotives left in their makers carton for long periods of time. I don't know how one can tell corrosive foam from non-corrosive. I have been using foam to pad the insides of boxes to keep the models from rattling around and damaging them selves. No problem with paint, yet. I don't have brass, all my rolling stock is plain injection molded plastic with factory paint in most cases.
I normally keep models in the manufacturer's box. For the case of models with no box, the Dollar Store sells tupperware, the smallest of which can hold two HO freight cars. I glue a thin foam partition down the center of the tupperware container to make two car sized pockets. There is a shoe box sized tupperware that holds passenger cars with some interior partitions.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
The car case by Axian is one that local club members have thrown out as doing this and there are others, I am talking rolling stock.
Since I model in N gauge I picked up a Plano Tackle bag to store and transport some of my cars and loco's to the club and shows. I was able to purchase some foam sheets to line the compartments. I don't really know the the type of foam it is but it is charcoal in color, 1/4" thick, sponge like with open cells. I've been using it for about two years. The plastic cars have been stored in it and only come out of the case at shows and the club. So far there has been no degradation of the foam and it has not attacked the paint. My loco's are stored in their original jewel cases in pouches on the tackle bag. The plastic compartments hold 32 cars.and the pouches hold 16 locos. I bought the foam from a packaging and shipping co.
I'm doing HO.
IIRC, most of the foam issues were with polyethylene type foam. I have A-Line/PPW train cases and the foam in them has not attacked any of my models over the past 3 years. The boxes and the carrying case are not cheap, but Walthers many times has them on sale.
Many of the other train cases have the modeler lay the cars down flat on their sides(against the foam). A friend has some of these types. The biggest problem is details get ripped off of cars due to shifting in the box. The A-Line/PPW boxes have the train cars sit on their wheels, and there is a smooth card stock divider separating the trains. There is a foam 'bed' that the train wheels sit on, and I have the extra small foam blocks to separate the cars/engines. I do not 'store' my trains in the boxes - it is only for transporting models to the club.
For 'storage' of freight cars that do not have boxes, I buy Accurail boxes that I buy direct from Accurail. They sell 3 packs of their regular boxes and extra long boxes for their TTX auto racks. Just go out to the Accurail web site and click on 'parts' - the boxes are about a $1 each. I print clear labels on my laser printer and attach them to the box. I used to buy Athearn 'BB' boxes, but they are no longer available(and the price skyrocketed just before the end of 'BB' sales...).
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Take a look at the boxes from Spring Mills Depot. Large,well made,Ive been transprting and storing trains for years. With a polypropeline liner,the trains barely touch the foam.
http://www.springmillsdepot.com/boxes.htm
Karl
NCE über alles!
I am in HO & use storage boxes designed to hold 5000 "baseball" cards
You can get 2 layers of rolling stock in them. I use folded paper towel as a cushioning agent under the bottom layer as well as between layers. each box will hold (20) 50 ft box cars
here is what I am talking about
http://www.bcwsupplies.com/products/Trading-Card-Boxes/Super-Monster-Storage-Box-5000-Ct.htm
I purchase mine locally from a sports memorablia shop..pay about $4-5 for them assembled
I use ultra small bubble pack to loosely wrap locos and rolling stock and fit them in any box available.
This is primarily for storing but I have used this method to transport as well.
73
Bruce in the Peg
This case solution is specialized to carry Blackstone and other brand 30' HOn3 freight cars. I use the plastic boxes that Swifter mop refills come in. Then I use a combination of closed cell and that linked-bubble drawer mat stuff for padding.
The tall sized ones allow a double layer if the top layer is turned on its side. The shorter boxes can hold a single layer of cars. I leave the car cards in the box with the 10-car stock train. The price is certainly right, nice see-thru top for easy ID, and they stack.
The tall sized ones allow a double layer if the top layer is turned on its side.
The shorter boxes can hold a single layer of cars. I leave the car cards in the box with the 10-car stock train. The price is certainly right, nice see-thru top for easy ID, and they stack.
The shorter boxes can hold a single layer of cars.
I leave the car cards in the box with the 10-car stock train. The price is certainly right, nice see-thru top for easy ID, and they stack.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
rrebell The car case by Axian is one that local club members have thrown out as doing this and there are others, I am talking rolling stock.
I don't know how old your Axian cases were, rrebell, but their newer cases include a small slip of paper inside each one of them addressing the possible paint sticking issue. Their suggestion is to line the inside of the cases with either dry cleaning bags or tissue paper.
I use both the Axian and A-Line cases for transporting and storing my locomotives and rolling stock. I line the inside of each case with tissue paper and place another sheet over the top of the contents. This has worked out fine for me. It's a very easy and inexpensive fix in comparison to just tossing out the entire case. The tissue paper I pick up in packs at Michael's.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage rrebell The car case by Axian is one that local club members have thrown out as doing this and there are others, I am talking rolling stock. I don't know how old your Axian cases were, rrebell, but their newer cases include a small slip of paper inside each one of them addressing the possible paint sticking issue. Their suggestion is to line the inside of the cases with either dry cleaning bags or tissue paper. I use both the Axian and A-Line cases for transporting and storing my locomotives and rolling stock. I line the inside of each case with tissue paper and place another sheet over the top of the contents. This has worked out fine for me. It's a very easy and inexpensive fix in comparison to just tossing out the entire case. The tissue paper I pick up in packs at Michael's. Tom
The mention of wrapping in paper reminded of something I've seen with several brass locos I've purchased. They were wrapped in what looked like plain old Saran Wrap, then nestled in the foam. I presume that the Saran Wrap itself won't become an issue.
Supposedly not according to what I've read. By the way, just got back from the store with a foam backed fabric, am going to try that, not thick enough but will try and laminate it to 1/2" stuff with spray glue.
Be careful that the spray glue is compatible with the foam. Should be but...worth experimenting first anyhow.
One thing I forgot to mention. An additional plus about the tissue paper is that it will absorb any oil/grease that may inadvertently leak out.
Just got an e-mail from some foam people, they recamend closed cell polythylene, any coments???????
I wonder if this is the stuff that NCE throttles and other components come packed in. It's dense and charcoal black, but I think it's open cell?
I had the Spring Mills boxes and switched to the A-Line ones. Why? because the Spring Mills boxes sotre things on their sides and it was deforming the handrails on my locos. The A-Line boxes store your equipment on its wheels. Also they are shorter and easier to manage. Should I get to the point where I need semi-permanent storage, there's a reprint of an old magazine article on the A-Line web site about building a cabinet to hold the storage boxes.
My club equipment used to fint in a single Sping Mills box, plus I had to carry a few other pieces in my tote with my throttle, power supplies, and toolkit. I bought a full set of 4 A-Line boxes and the carry bag for them, my stuff fits in 3 of them with nothing left out - including a pair of T-1's with tenders. A bonus is not having to disconnect the tender as you do to put them back in the original boxes - the less use that multi-pin connector gets, the better.
At the cluib there are a lot of the Spring Mills boxes for club-owned equipment, they are great for things like Athearn BB and Accurail cars with mostly molded on detail - we have over 200 hoppers alone - plus they don;t get hand carried around, they fit in the lower shelf of the module racks (we don;t hand carry modules, either - they all ride on custom made racks with industrial casters (heavy rubber wheels) so we cna just roll a set off the trailer right to where they will be placed. They're even organized by location, so when setting up we pre-stage the racks then go.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
My LHS had the Grand Central Gems loco storage case. The XL case, 295-B2, has four 19" storage slots that are "filled" with a cutout piece, so you can create appropriate length holes for each loco by removing part of the cutout. The locos go in vertically, resting on a foam layer below and there's a foam layer that goes atop before closing. The LHS guy said some plastic film for wrapping each loco was missing but he gave me a white kitchen garbage bag to cut into lenghts. Aside from keeping the engine from direct contact with the foam (I don't know if that would be an issue) it's easy to remove an engine by lifting the oversize wrapping and easy to smoothly and gently drop one in its slot. At $25, I would not buy them for freight cars, but I'm ok with the price to protect 4-8 locos. I'll likely buy another, though I did not look at other options.
http://www.grandcentralgems.com/salt-lake-city-engine-boxes.cfm
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Didn't know about them, they sure have expanded their line of products.
rrinker I had the Spring Mills boxes and switched to the A-Line ones. Why? because the Spring Mills boxes sotre things on their sides and it was deforming the handrails on my locos. The A-Line boxes store your equipment on its wheels.
I had the Spring Mills boxes and switched to the A-Line ones. Why? because the Spring Mills boxes sotre things on their sides and it was deforming the handrails on my locos. The A-Line boxes store your equipment on its wheels.
That's why I moved all my diesel locomotives over to the A-Line cases. All my steamers and rolling stock I store in the Axian cases.
For the older boxcars with the brake handle up on top: I make sure that brake handle lays on the top side of the case when the lid closes and it doesn't come into contact with the foam strip on the lid.
I made my own from packing cases from my dad's work.
They use the sealed plastic foam the others mentioned, just cut to size /w bubble wrap protecting the lid side. I'm in the middle of my production run.
Cheers,
-N
My dad made foam core trays that fit into folding top totes available at many places (approx 16"x16"x24"--about 12 Gal?). It took a while to build, but is sturdy, holds a good amount of cars, stores well because of the uniform size of the totes, is pretty inexpensive and because you're building it, will fit anything you have.
I have used Corn Dog boxes (from warehouse-type stores (costco, sam's club, etc) to hold my HiCubes and Autoracks. I can fit 5 HiCubes, side by side, in 2 layers for a total of 10 cars per box. The Autoracks are tricky (open side Accurail) to pick up so I use a paper towel cradle for each car; this keeps the cars from rubbing sides and is easy to lift out. It works for the HiCubes too.
Recently I got the A-Line totes and really like them but the price is way too high! Something like $70 for just the cardboard trays? These have been around for a while, are of a relatively simple design and work well; could A-Line / PPW PLEASE reduce the price? I wouldn't hesitate to spend $50 on the trays and tote...more than $100 and I have to save for it...then, while saving for it, will figure foamcore and folding top totes are cheaper, and might not buy the A-Line tote. Enough of my rant...lol The A-Line trays hold a good amount of rolling stock/locos in a secure fashion, not to mention it looks very professional and takes up little space. I use a permanent marker to label mine because they all look the same (Hey A-Line, how about different colors of totes? or some iron-on railroad logos for the totes). Somehow, I think a model railroad club makes these--a N.Y. club with a beautiful layout, if I'm not mistaken.
If the original manufacturer boxes fit the cars (some are too short to accommodate the car with couplers), then I would keep using the original boxes; but not the clear plastic clam-shell things becoming more popular. I understand they might save hundreds (thousands?) of dollars in shipping damages, but some are inconvenient to use. Maybe the clam-shell could be intended to be discarded and use just the cardboard box (that the top lifts off, not open at the ends), like Athearn BB boxes (is that redundant? lol).
I'd really like something similar to A-Line but with cassettes so cars can be rolled right onto the layout; I have a prototype that works ok, but needs to be longer, to hold 3 - 89' cars.
http://delray1967.shutterfly.com/pictures/5
SEMI Free-Mo@groups.io
delray1967 Recently I got the A-Line totes and really like them but the price is way too high! Something like $70 for just the cardboard trays?
Recently I got the A-Line totes and really like them but the price is way too high! Something like $70 for just the cardboard trays?
When you say "$70 for the cardboard trayps", I would assume you mean for several of them? They are roughly $20/ea online.
the foam that was holding my con cor BN exec seems like it has either rubbed off or has eaten away the "burlington northern" gold text on the Right side of the loco. I'm a bit worried about my E7 pair because their jewel cases have that same black foam in them. I'm going to read some more of the previous responses before I make my move.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
Tstage:
Yeah, I just checked their site, $78 for a set of four High containers, which is about $20 each...I didn't know you could buy one at a time. I wanted a whole set anyway...I've found things are just a bit neater when it all fits together and can be put in its own case (I thought about just getting the trays and loading whatever 4 trays I need, but decided against it). $130 has been spent on the Complete System...tough to swallow now, but I know it will pay off in the long run.
But still, $20 for one tray...it's just cardboard...I know running the cardboard through a machine that cuts it costs money, but $20?!? Still seems high. I'm going to try to copy their design and see if I can remake one myself (I will not be mass producing them, or selling them, just 1 (or 2) for personal use. I'm just saying $20 for the tray...and more for the chipboard divider and foam strips? Just seems a little on the expensive side...but then again, I did buy 2 of their Complete Systems...lol Probably would've bought more if they were cheaper.
I called Axian and they state they have never put a notice inside their Car Case warning of any issues. They said they have never had any complaints about sticking and are not aware of any problems.
I bought a couple of Axian type boxes from a company called A & B out of Phoenix at a toy show awhile back. I also have a 9 drawer top box tool chest that I set foam in and it holds twice as much as the train box does...not to mention the extra storage for dogbones, tools and the like and it's lockable as well.
I haven't experienced the paint problems that some are reporting with the boxes and I've had them for over 10 yrs.
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
I have about 85 Axian boxes for local storage, some for many years. Although there have been a few instances where a car or two stuck slightly to the foam, no harm to any paint, factory or mine, in my air-conditioned rooms. I added velcro fasteners to the fronts to get them to stay closed in case one is dropped.
However, the Axian-type boxes don't hold up well for transporting trains off-site, and are ruined by water. I also use the Axian "W" foam (available for half price) in drip-proof metal cases designed for tools, portfolios and such, available online, just Google.
The importance to me of storing mutiple rolling stock in cases is saving time and wear and tear on the items taking them in and out of factory boxes. At my clubs, I can put a whole train of two units and 16 cars on track or away in a couple of minutes. I had a friend who would bring freight cars in their own boxes and spend 20 minutes each way.
Hal