Value of Original Boxes

[riogrande5761]

IRONROOSTER

 

riogrande5761

So how many pennies does it take to properly weight a 50' IMRC box car? I don't have a scale unfortunately!

 

 

Unfortunately, pennies don't all weigh the same.  Both U.S. and Canadian pennies have had different weights over the years (see Wikipedia for more info).

Paul

Ok, let me re-phrase that.  How many US pennies does it take to weight a 50' box car please?  Thanks and have a great day!

[hon30critter]

Hi Rio Grande:

How many pennies it takes depends on the box car. The cars don't all weigh the same to begin with.

Kitchen scales are dirt cheap and accurate enough for modelling purposes. You don't need to be within 1/100ths of an ounce. It's just not that critical. Half an ounce either way is fine IMHO.

These are Canadian listings but they prove my point that half decent scales are cheap:

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xkitchen+scale.TRS0&_nkw=kitchen+scale&_sacat=0

Dave

[doctorwayne]

Sir Madog

Very few items we have actually will turn into collector's items...

I agree...I'd guess that most of my stuff will end-up in the garbage, and at that point, I won't be around to care.

For me, rolling stock boxes have value only because I use them in which to store rolling stock when it cycles from staging yards back into storage, until it's needed next time...

...however, the appearance of the box or the picture on it doesn't necessarily reveal anything about what's inside it.  I put the cars in the boxes best suited to their length, or, for open-top cars (flats, gondolas, and hoppers) it's often possible, and necessary, to put more than one in each box.  Occasionally, I could get empty boxes from a nearby hobbyshop, as they often sold used rolling stock without the boxes, but it was a case of showing up at the right time...otherwise, they'd be gone.
I'm currently scratchbuilding some freight cars, and a friend has given me some Athearn boxes, which will work, since the cars are only 40'-ers.

As for structure boxes, I have four or five Walthers boxes from large structures, and all of them are filled with structure parts, either left-over from my own kitbashes or purchased from the "used" area of my LHS...probably someone else's left-overs.

Wayne

[cedarwoodron]

For a short while, I kept original boxes- particularly Athearn BB's- to store built cars in, but storage became problematic as I increased my invemtory and I went on to more efficient ways- plastic containers with secure lids from Walmart. Unbuilt cars or structures in their original boxes are generally efficiently condensed, but once the item is built, the box becomes just a nostalgic item.

If you just hold onto unbuilt kits in original boxes- cars or structures- for the sake of getting some increased subsequent sale value from them, all you are doing is warehousing- not model railroading. The idea of staring at shelves full of unbuilt kits does not appeal to me, unless one plans to actively build them over time.

I do, however, keep a few top covers from several old kits- particularly Athearn BBs and Roundhouse kits- because I enjoy seeing the old artwork, but that is the limit of my fascination with old boxes. And, as I found out with paper MR magazines held for many years, eventually silverfish and other creatures discover them and make more use of them than I do.

Cedarwoodron

[PRR8259]

Many of today's freight cars are approaching $40 and $50 rtr, with specially fitted boxes.

As I have a smaller fleet than most due to my personal tastes for high quality brass, I keep all those boxes...also makes it much easier when I want to change my mind and sell something on the evil auction site.

John

[dknelson]

cedarwoodron

I do, however, keep a few top covers from several old kits- particularly Athearn BBs and Roundhouse kits- because I enjoy seeing the old artwork, but that is the limit of my fascination with old boxes.  

I would love to own the original artwork that was used on the Lindberg kit boxes - a magnificent and dramatic painting of a C&NW SW-type switcher.

Dave Nelson

[blabride]

Original boxes for resale only seem to be an issue with brass and the better quality detailed plastic locomotives. I won't bid on a brass item if it does not have a box. A good recent example, I just watched a beautifully weathered mint Hallmark Ajin built 0 8 0 go for 250.00. No box. These usually go mint unpainted in original box for 300.00 plus.

Highly detailed modern Genesis or Atlas is a huge problem to ship without the box. They are fragile enough in the box. I won't even bid on Atlas in original box if the end handrails are already applied as they will be broken off by the time they arrive at your door. Now buying at train shows is a different story.

SB

[blabride]

Completed buildings seem to sell well with our without boxes. I would be worried about missing parts with a kit on Ebay without its box, but I guess they could still be missing with the box. 

SB

[Medina1128]

For buildings that have already been assembled, I'm about to go down and toss them to make room on my shelves. Gallon Zip-Loc bags will be used to store leftover parts. Parts from buildings always come in handy, especially for scratchbuilding or kitbashing. I'll cut the end flap off the box and tape it to the bag for later identifying. Other than that, I doubt that boxes have any real intrinsic value. Some of the larger Blue Boxes from Athearn will be kept; they're handy for storing tools and such in.

[maxman]

Medina1128

I'll cut the end flap off the box and tape it to the bag for later identifying

Put the flap in the box showing through the side.  Saves on tape, less messy, and won't come loose.