riogrande5761Ummm, you don't have to go cadillac. Just get 2 or 3 boxes plain and $10 each is pretty economical.
I agree. I was only pointing out that he wanted a carrying case and that was what was driving up the cost.
If anyone wishes to go the do it yourself route, similar boxes can be found elsewhere. For example, Papermart (http://www.papermart.com/tuck-top-corrugated-mailing-boxes/id=1172#1172) has many different boxes. They have 23X13X2-1/2 deep for $1.31 each, and 23X13X3-1/2 deep for $1.34 each, not including tax and shipping. Of course they are sold in bundles of 25, but at that price the OP could use 4 of them, throw the rest away, and still break even.
And I agree with the OP that storing the cars on their wheels is a much better idea than on their sides.
maxman riogrande5761 Take a zero off your figure and you'll be at what I paid for each of my Spring Mill boxes - $10 each. Ummm, no. He is talking about the carrying bag plus the four boxes. Just around $100 for that, plus shipping and tax.
riogrande5761 Take a zero off your figure and you'll be at what I paid for each of my Spring Mill boxes - $10 each.
Ummm, no. He is talking about the carrying bag plus the four boxes. Just around $100 for that, plus shipping and tax.
Ummm, you don't have to go cadillac. Just get 2 or 3 boxes plain and $10 each is pretty economical. Each box holds quite abit - personally I think the SMD boxes are inexpensive and do the job well.
If one can get to a show where SMD is at, $10 is all you pay. Of course any big boxes from any vendor is going to add on for shipping - no way around that. Boxes are big and bulky. SMD is reasonbly priced - I've got a couple of their boxes and they work well.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
If I may and purely as food for thought beg this question.
What price protection?
With todays highly detail cars and locomotives shouldn't we go the extra step for protecting them while being toted between home and the club.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Many years ago, a friend gave me an old saleman's display case. It's large and flat with a door that swings open on each side. I cut shelves from thin molding, glued them in and then lined the sides with thin foam. I've carried rolling stock all over the country for the last thirty years with this case. I don't I've ever had anything damaged except when I did something stupid (like knocking it over when it was open).
I think you could probably find something fairly similar on eBay at a good price. Here are some I found with a quick look:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-MASTIC-CORP-Aluminum-Siding-SALESMAN-SAMPLE-display-case-sign-/152278359429?hash=item23747f5d85:g:XbYAAOSwnNBXWbRe
This last one is very similar to what I have.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-ALSCO-Salesman-Display-Case-Suitcase-25-X-18-X-4-Shows-Presentation-/381817258014?hash=item58e615001e:g:MRIAAOSwdzVXn4CC
One good thing is that they're very sturdy compared to anything corrugated.
Jim
Some produce boxes are lightly waxed to prevent damaged organics from soaking the cardboard, and this may be susceptible to rubbing off onto unprotected models. in addition, paper-based storage material is an attraction to various insect infestations, such as silverfish, which can degrade paper storage containers over time, even if stored in a climate-controlled interior location, not to mention in the garage. My plastic container suggestion avoids these issues and also that of temperature-induced plastic dryout, which can occur if stored in a variable humidity environment, such as a garage (know this from unfortunate expetience).
Cedarwoodron
I find the produce boxes (my offering in the link which I posted earlier) excellent for both storage and transporting. The boxes are designed for a fair amount of weight, and adding the partitioned trays to them further increases the rigidity. You can build the dimensions of each compartment to suit the rolling stock or locomotives, store it on its wheels, and with each piece cradled in foam sheeting material, nothing will move in-transit - the main cause of damage when transporting or shipping models is movement within the container. The foam sheets will not only protect added-on details, but also make it easy to remove the individual models from their compartments.Most such boxes also have cut-outs for carrying handles and the slip-on lids not only strengthen the box but also won't pop open while being carried. Don't forget, such boxes packed with fruit or vegetables weigh much more than if packed with trains, and those boxes are stacked during transit. The cost is almost free, and each can be customised to hold exactly that which you wish to carry - no compromises necessary.
Wayne
A lot of soul searching and even more time spent looking for alternatives with no good choices to be found....
I ended up with the A-Line bag and 4 tall boxes. Walthers had them on sale.
I have no layout at home and the boy and I can only run stuff at the club. I have found they do keep the stuff safe and secure, as well as allow a pretty good clip for removing them and getting them on the tracks, same goes for taking them off and packing up to go home.
Killer for all of them is shipping. While A-Line is expensive, the others are barely behind it once you factor in shipping. A-Line you can get from any hobby store.
For pure storage you can use almost anything, for transport and use, while I won't argue it is overpriced, the A-Line boxes/case do it well and allow for quick set up and tear down times. If you need storage only go cheap, if you need to transport and use I've found it to be worth it.
Also verything is stored on its wheels, which I think is a plus.
After doing another hunt for alternatives recently and still finding nothing, I bit the bullet and purchased 5 of the low boxes from A-Line as well(on sale again).
It all depends on what you need.
I was wasting a lot of time with factory boxes, now all my passenger cars are stored in A-Line boxes, same goes for the freight cars as well as most of my refurbed P2K engines. I can grab it and go and set up nice and quick.
Maybe take a look at some of the aluminum cases designed for long firearms?
As an example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOMCOM-Gun-Case-Pistol-Handgun-Rifle-Storage-Padded-Revolver-Lockable-Box-Carry-/371633120227?hash=item56870f63e3:g:iQIAAOSwp5JWZRgf
Search "aluminum carry case" and browse away. Some are designed for drones. Photographers and roadies have been using these for years. They will last a long time and are probably worth the investment compared to a cardboard box and a duffle bag.
Some seem to be deeper than others, I imagine you can get quite a bit of equipment in there being 53" long. They seem to be sturdy. You would have to configure your own foam cradle. Maybe strips of vinyl lath as sold in home improvement stores would make good dividers.
Be creative...
Good luck, Ed
riogrande5761Take a zero off your figure and you'll be at what I paid for each of my Spring Mill boxes - $10 each.
Nerfball6 Does any one have any alternative solutions for transporting freight cars and locos to swap meets and shows without paying those insane prices for the commercially available systems? I've looked at A-Line and Spring Mills but cant justify paying over $100.00 for some cardboard boxes, foam, and a carrying bag. I'm sure many of you have come up with low-cost, safe, creative alternatives.
Does any one have any alternative solutions for transporting freight cars and locos to swap meets and shows without paying those insane prices for the commercially available systems? I've looked at A-Line and Spring Mills but cant justify paying over $100.00 for some cardboard boxes, foam, and a carrying bag.
I'm sure many of you have come up with low-cost, safe, creative alternatives.
Take a zero off your figure and you'll be at what I paid for each of my Spring Mill boxes - $10 each. Seems like a reasonable price to me.
How many locos and pieces of rolling stock are you looking to transport? I assume you don't have the original boxes that they came in?
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 done a great deal of repainting and rebuilding of all types of rolling stock and, as a result, I have accumulated many cars that need to be stored. I obtained portable file-box sized plastic containers (in the plastic storage aisle at Walmart), which are stackable, have handles and are sturdy, as well as sealing well. I wrap each car in 3 full sheets of Bounty paper and tape the ends. I can store about 30 cars per box and have filled 3 boxes so far. You can also get bubble wrap in the stationery supplies aisles for lining the interior of these boxes.
Easy to store, easy to access, and not at all costly- buy 3 or more!
Unfortunately nothing in that thread seemed to fit the bill. A lot of good suggestions for boxes for home storage, but not for transporting them.
Those flat U-line boxes looked good, but you have to order a package of 25. I liked the idea of cutting down printer paper boxes, but not sure what I would use as a carrying case.
Thanks Wayne, I did a search but must not have hit on the right keywords. I'll see if anything there sounds like it will work.
There are some suggestions HERE.