storage

[sledgehammer]

I have over a hundred cars and more on the way and need some ideas on how to store them. I getting tired of putting the into the box when not in use. + the boxes are getting pretty beat up. I had an idea of some draws under my layout but not shure on how to designe them to hold cars and keep them from getting damaged. Any sugestion. Pictures would be helpfull

[cacole]

I built storage cabinets that are slightly wider than a piece of HO scale flex track, and wide enough for two tracks side by side. The 90 degree edging sold at home improvement stores to support acoustic ceiling tile serves as shelf supports, and 1/8" plywood serves as the shelves, onto which two pieces of flex track is glued. Couplers at the back of each shelf holds the rolling stock in place as the shelves are slid into the cabinet or are removed. The back of the cabinets are mounted with hinges to the wall, and there is a wheel under the front edge so the cabinet can be swiveled out from the wall to remove or insert shelves. In a width of approximately 8 inches, a depth of 40" and a height of 6 feet, I can store approximately 12 double-track shelves, or 72 linear feet of track. Provide your e-mail address and I can send a photo to you that might help.

[sledgehammer]

my email address is [e-mail]

[mcouvillion]

Sledgehammer,

I store my rolling stock in Axion Technology's storage cases. They hold nominally 16 - 20 HO cars (more in N) and there is a carrying case for moving five boxes at a time (like to an operating session). They are not cheap but are definitely worth it in my opinion. Look for their ad in Model Railroader, usually toward the back of the magazine. I can build whole trains and keep all of the cars together. I can insure that everything in the box "works" before taking it to a train show or operating session. My boxes are inventoried, so I know what is supposed to be where on each row of each box, so I know if I am missing something. I found early on that the foam material needs to be lined to prevent it from removing paint or decals, so I line all of my boxes with felt strips I make from felt bought at Walmart. I glue them in with Elmer's flexible blue gel glue. I store all of the original car boxes in the garage attic. I only have 27 of the Axion car cases, all full, and I need at least 10 more. Make the commitment to seriously take care of your hobby rolling stock and you won't be disappointed.

Mark C.

[Jetrock]

Sounds like it's time to build a nice big classification yard!

All of my actually-running rolling stock are on the layout, either in the yard or at industries. Aside from a couple of cars up for repairs or items I intend to sell/get rid of, the only cars not on the layout are still-unbuilt kits or recent purchases I have not upgraded to my standards yet.I have a little "chest of drawers" I picked up at a garage sale a few years ago, made of metal, that has drawers just the right size to hold HO scale equipment, but it's kind of an oddball piece.

[Anonymous]

I use those rubbermaid type linen storage containers lined with styrene. each box is 29" long 141/2" wide and about 7" tall they fit real nice under my layout total cost about 11$ each.