Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I am sure one of the mods will move it for me if needed. What sort of storage boxes do members recommend for their loco's carriages etc. Would something like this be ok http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Gauge-Plastic-Storage-Box-Foam-Tray-BLUE-113-/260965657290?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item3cc2c3eaca (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Gauge-Plastic-Storage-Box-Foam-Tray-BLUE-113-/260965657290?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item3cc2c3eaca) ? Your advice much appreciated.
Marty
I use the inserts, and they are good.
Tony
I have 4 of them for all the second hand unboxed stock I have. I haven't filled them all yet. They are excellent and stack up a treat.
Not cheap I know but I now have three of these -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Gauge-Case-for-42-coaches-locos-or-over-100-wagons-/330741586320?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4d01bc1990#ht_1715wt_1163 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Gauge-Case-for-42-coaches-locos-or-over-100-wagons-/330741586320?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4d01bc1990#ht_1715wt_1163)
I have filled one and most of a second with most of my UK stock, and the third one has the start of my continental stock in it!
However, I do also have two of the blue boxes too... :-[
Thanks for replies folks. That one looks interesting Paul, I hadn't noticed it before.
Marty
Hi Marty,
I personally use camera cases to transport my locos. They are robust and the foam inserts you can move to suit different sized boxes of locos or loose rolling stock.
They come with lockable closers and they normally retail around £25 each.
hope this helps :thumbsup:
Quote from: Paul B on June 21, 2012, 09:31:03 PM
Not cheap I know but I now have three of these -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Gauge-Case-for-42-coaches-locos-or-over-100-wagons-/330741586320?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4d01bc1990#ht_1715wt_1163 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/N-Gauge-Case-for-42-coaches-locos-or-over-100-wagons-/330741586320?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item4d01bc1990#ht_1715wt_1163)
I've used K&R previously for their wargaming miniatures cases. Very nicely put together (especially for things that are odder shapes than trains), and very solid, but not at all cheap.
I'm about to hit the same need - I'm starting to get annoyed at taking stock in and out of the real boxes every time I want to run, but I don't want to leave it on the layout collecting dust. My collection is small enough that I'm thinking about just lining the desk drawer the boxes are in now with bubble-wrap and laying everything gently in there...
H i Marty
I now have 12 of those blue boxes from JB's Model World and they are excellent.
They are available with different inserts for coaches, wagons, etc and you can easily tailor them to fit your own stock if necessary. Handily they also fit perfectly into the cheap folding crates you can get from the likes of Wilkinsons, making moving them easy :thumbsup:
Paul
Thanks for the post, Marty, and thanks to those who replied.
I have ordered 4 of 'em as I hate my unboxed stock floating around the place :thumbsup:
I bought myself one of those steel look tool cases from B&Q and have made myself a number of train specific trays from Foam Board to fit. So I keep the Loco and the full rake of Wagons in the same tray. For example Freightliner 66 & 16 PCAs in one tray and Freighliner 66 & 12 JPAs in another. I then used some thin foam that wraps under the stock and up the sides so that items can be easily lifted out of the tray using the foam to hold rather than the stock...
Case doesnt get moved far but the stock is secure..
Time consuming to make but as the "Man Cave" isn't ready yet - at least I feel I am making some progress...
I use these types of Stock Boxes:
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd369/Calnefoxile/DSCF4760.jpg)
They have 6 drawers, each with 18 slots which means it has a total of 108 slots, each slot will take 1 coach or large loco or 3 PCA size wagons.
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd369/Calnefoxile/DSCF4762.jpg)
They are more or less built to order and they have to be collected, postage is rather expensive, if anyone is interested I'll ask the chap who builds them if it's ok to publish his name and number.
Regards
Neal
i use those blue boxes for storage (but i don't transport stock anywhere as it's a home layout). it is much easier than keep using the original farish / dapol boxes.
tim
I use the inserts inside really useful boxes that are sold by staples the stationers for rolling stock, and parkwood arts cases for locomotives as the foam in them is much firmer and will not degrade - they are a bit expensive, but so would replacing the loco's be!
Quote from: Calnefoxile on June 22, 2012, 05:30:39 PM
I use these types of Stock Boxes:
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd369/Calnefoxile/DSCF4760.jpg)
They have 6 drawers, each with 18 slots which means it has a total of 108 slots, each slot will take 1 coach or large loco or 3 PCA size wagons.
(http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd369/Calnefoxile/DSCF4762.jpg)
They are more or less built to order and they have to be collected, postage is rather expensive, if anyone is interested I'll ask the chap who builds them if it's ok to publish his name and number.
Regards
Neal
I have 2 of these...They are fantastic. I cannot remember the guys name who makes these, but I purchased them a few years ago. Think he has something to do with the Alsager model club?
I also have 4 Black cases from Parkwood....Expensive at around £50.00 the pair (special deal at a show once) But, can you put a price on your locos and rolling stock is what I always say. Also the usual shoe boxes and plastic storage tubs with lids and JB's foam trays for coaching rakes.
Cheers, Anthony
Thanks for all the good ideas folks, I really appreciate them. I will have to get something sorted soon as I dont like the wear and tear on the original boxes - have you seen the prices for them on ebay :o
Marty
Hi
I was lucky to get a set of the K R Multicases for my birthday recently and they are good in that you can easily adjust the size of the aperture to suit the truck, carriage or loco you're storing
Ray
My rolling stock is kept in cheap card drawers which i picked up cheap from WHSmiths and my locos are kept in their boxes. But when i'm taking the layout to a show i transport the locos in the Blue boxes from the first post and my rolling stock i use the Park 'n' go from http://www.parkwood-arts.co.uk/html/n_gauge_.html (http://www.parkwood-arts.co.uk/html/n_gauge_.html)
Ollie
Hi Marty
Just catching up on some posts.
You might be interested in these pictures of my stock boxes:
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/MGalleryItem.php?id=1277)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/MGalleryItem.php?id=1278)
So you want to know where I got them?
Well, the boxes are those cheap collapsable boxes from B and Q. I think I paid ten quid for three.
The foam inserts of course are the key to this. There are 2 stacks of seven in each box. As you can see on the photo there are two different types of foam tray, one cut in a landscapoe orientation and one cut in a portrait way. The one with long slots will accomodate a pair of container spine wagons,with containers, although I tend to store three pairs of spines in one slot (this means i dont have to faff on with the annoying spine coupler in the middle of the pair)
We had them specially cut for us by a bloke in Seaham, and I think he is at games of War of Seaham. Sorry no link or phone number, but it might be googleable and I can certainly get it, just not tonight.
We paid somewhere between thirty and forty quid to fill a box, ie for 14 foam trays.
Hope this is of interest to you, and if you want to come and see them, then that wont be a problem I'm sure, just pm me.
Cheers
Kirky
That's the EXACT same crates I have ! ;D
The blue boxes from JB's fit perfectly in these, two side-by-side and four deep :thumbsup:
Paul
Quote from: kirky on June 24, 2012, 09:15:05 PM
Hi Marty
Just catching up on some posts.
You might be interested in these pictures of my stock boxes:
So you want to know where I got them?
Well, the boxes are those cheap collapsable boxes from B and Q. I think I paid ten quid for three.
Cheers
Kirky
Those are a very nice and tidy solution for storage :thumbsup:
cheers John.
Blue storage boxes arrived today and I have to say they are a bit disappointing as there is only room for 10 coaches within the foam inner. Temporarily I have had to lay a second layer of coaches on top of the them while another solution is sought :thumbsdown:
Marty - if you haven't ordered them I would suggest you don't.
10? I presume your has the slots lengthways in the box rather than widthways then as mine only hold eight each :)
How many did you expect to fit in??
Paul
Quote from: Sprintex on June 30, 2012, 10:45:12 PM
10? I presume your has the slots lengthways in the box rather than widthways then as mine only hold eight each :)
How many did you expect to fit in??
Paul
Yeah - the slots are lengthways so I can just get 2 coaches in each of the 5 lengths.
Dunno how many I expected to get in ??? Maybe I just had more unboxed stock than I thought :o ::)
Anyone found a use for the inserts that you remove?
I have 25 foam trays from JB, and I've never found out what to do with the inserts. It just seems a shame to throw them away, and currently a waste of space also!!! :-\ :D
Quote from: newportnobby on June 30, 2012, 10:49:58 PM
Maybe I just had more unboxed stock than I thought :o ::)
That sounds more like it :smiley-laughing:
I bought six boxes initially as he was doing a "three for 20 quid" offer at the 2009 AGM, got home to find I needed at least two more to fit all the stock I had even then ;D Up to twelve now and they are ALL full ::)
Paul
Quote from: Tank on June 30, 2012, 10:53:31 PM
I have 25 foam trays from JB, and I've never found out what to do with the inserts. It just seems a shame to throw them away, and currently a waste of space also!!! :-\ :D
My first set of inserts had double sided tape attached and one or two ended up built into the scenery! Covered with cloth soaked in emulsion, they made a nice cutting.
Malc
Appreciate your comments NN but picked my 4 boxes up from the sorting office yesterday morning. I have just been putting some Mk 1 coaches into them and must say that I am pleased with them. Coaches are a nice snug fit without being too tight fitting, stock is easy to put in/take out yet still secure.
Agree it would have been nice to fit more in them but still happy with them :)
Good idea about using the inserts for a cutting Malc, will try that when i finally get my trackwork finished ;D
Marty
Hi all, I use a small plastic unit sold by office works here in Australia to store and transport my stock. There are a few different sizes and at about $14 each they are fantastic. One has five drawers which take five farish loco boxes per drawer or about thirty Peco wagons in the box, the other has three standard drawers and one double depth drawer that will take and three car dmu box. They are stackable and came with little labels to stick on the front of the drawer. I don't have a large collection but can just fit per drawer the Peco wagons per company, a drawer each for gw,ne,sr,lms,br,civil,modern br I will take a photos and post
Bart
Im not the quickest when it comes to computers, i leave it to the three year old to show me!. well here are photos of my storage boxes the shelves slide easily in and out and have a stopper so they just dont fall out.
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/64/thumb_1411.JPG) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=1411)
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/64/thumb_1409.JPG) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=1409)
Bart
Very neat Bart :)
The problem with using the original boxes though is the time it takes to get stock out and put it away again, especially if the layout is portable or you regularly have to change stock ;)
Fine if your layout/stock never move though :)
Paul
Hi paul,
Yes you are right, can't get very time consuming, I get over it very quickly when it is pack up time at the club and you have a bit out running. The storage drawer unit does keep them sae and secure though
Bart
Damn! I've deleted it!
The prices referred to in the other posts were far in excess of £5.50 delivered! :-[
That's because the discussion started around the foam trays WITH the blue hard plastic storage boxes, whereas the link you posted (and deleted) was for the foam trays only ;) Still the same seller though - JB's Model World - who far from being a big commercial concern is actually a one-man home-business and a really decent bloke as well :thumbsup:
Paul
Quote from: Tank on June 30, 2012, 10:53:31 PM
I have 25 foam trays from JB, and I've never found out what to do with the inserts. It just seems a shame to throw them away, and currently a waste of space also!!! :-\ :D
Hi
I use them to make dividers for the longer slots attaching them with white glue.
Cheers
Paul
Me too ;)
I've converted some of my boxes to hold more - for instance the eight slots in one box were over-long for the old Farish Pullmans, so I shortened each one with cubes of spare insert then opened up two more slots lengthways down the box - can fit the whole rake of ten coaches in now (just!) :)
Paul
my stocks always on the move, every 2 weeks at the n gauge club infact aswell as in the house.
so at the moment i have all my locos in their original boxes (probably keep them that way too to keep them safe!) and they are all in a £30 stanley tool box which i can wheel around pretty easily, at the moment it has 60 locos in, both DC and DCC with some room spare, even fits the midland pullman in.
my coaches are in a warley stock box, 3 in each compartment, one goes on it side, another lies on top of it and one sits normally next to it. the stock box has two layers and is completley full.
my west coast railway stock are in a seperate box with some extra coaches, and all my wagons are in another warley stock box. only half full this one which my spare coaches will have to go in for now.
im thinking about getting some of those blue stock boxes though for my pullmans and west coast stock, unless i can get that guy from seaham to make me some special ones....
Some years ago I fitted out a large-ish tool box with trays - stripwood on 1/8th ply with dividers allowing "columns" for major sizes of loco wagon, coach. The base is covered with self adhesive felt. stock is laid on its side. However the box is now extremely heavy. In practice for my own layout or when with the club layout I do not need anything like a full complement. So I now use John's (as in JB) cases for the selection for shows. I have his 2 level and the no longer available 3 level.
now my "tool" box is full I have more of John's cases for permanent storage of some items, basically green DMUs and diesel locos, plus the contemporary Scottish stock, but I keep a couple of spare for show use.
Modern steam stock especially is too fragile to be laid on its side so I adapted a couple of John's foam trays as one layer of the large tool box for these. There are now 7 of my own construction plus a foam layer.
The point at an exhibition is that it takes so long to extract stock from its modern box and replace it that something quicker is needed. John's foam trays give a very happy compromise. I have not suffered damage in transit using them.
Glad I searched for storage ideas.
Some interesting stuff.
What to go for :hmmm:
For now will be going onto eBay for some of the blue boxes.
Thanks. :thumbsup:
Here you go Alfred:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/chev625/m.html?item=261257645495&redirect=mobile&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/chev625/m.html?item=261257645495&redirect=mobile&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562)
:thumbsup:
Paul
Thanks from me too, Paul. They look good for the price!
Will a BP fit in 'em? :D
Course it will, especially if you really squash it in with your foot ;D
Paul
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost: :laughabovepost:
Paul, thanks for the link, that's great, ordered. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Tank on June 30, 2012, 10:53:31 PM
I have 25 foam trays from JB, and I've never found out what to do with the inserts. It just seems a shame to throw them away, and currently a waste of space also!!! :-\ :D
I have the same inserts but I have "used" the sections removed under my plaster cloth around the layout, they make decent bumps!
Peter.
Hi guys
I am going to buy some of these foam storage things from the chap on ebay (the ones in blue box), thanks for the tip
My two questions;
Do they work ok without the blue box? thinking of getting a stack of just the foam trays and putting them inside a bigger box
Secondly; Which ones do people use as I see there are a few options? (basically what can i get the most in) would be to fit diesels (class 47, 66 etc), wagons, mk 3 and mk 4 coaches. no steam era stuff
cheers
I've often wondered what people who use these storage boxes do with the boxes the models came in.
I keep the loco boxes and book set cases, but the others is a bit hit and miss, try and keep boxes for some passengers stock but not freight.
What do you folks do?
Ray
Hi Marty,
I use the foam inlays and they are excellent. When I bought mine there were two types: the one with continuous slots and one with lots of individual holes. The latter fit 12 ton box vans etc. To be frank the multi hole ones are less useful and I would not buy them again.
If you click on my layout link below for HOLLERTON JUNCTION you will see the storage towers I use (you will need to click forward a few pages).
Hope this helps.
Paddy
I keep my locos in the foam storage boxes between running them..all the coaches and wagons are left out on the track ....as to the original boxes I keep them all stored in a few large cardboard boxes as if I want to sell anything in the future the original boxes help the resale value I think ... The wagons and coaches are fixed rakes..
Most of my stock lives in black carry cases with foam trays, except that I seem to buy stock faster than I buy storage :( The original boxes go in big storage boxes in my loft so that I can sell things with the original box if necessary. I also keep some stuff in a couple of small display cases in my living room, it is nice to be able to enjoy some of my collection even when I can't run it.
Quote from: scotrail on June 19, 2014, 06:01:45 PM
Hi guys
I am going to buy some of these foam storage things from the chap on ebay (the ones in blue box), thanks for the tip
My two questions;
Do they work ok without the blue box? thinking of getting a stack of just the foam trays and putting them inside a bigger box
Secondly; Which ones do people use as I see there are a few options? (basically what can i get the most in) would be to fit diesels (class 47, 66 etc), wagons, mk 3 and mk 4 coaches. no steam era stuff
cheers
Can i suggesta better option?
£30 for a large carboard carry box with 5 foam trays which each tray can hold 14 locos/coaches. I have2 ans they arebetter value for money i believe
Paul
Quote from: portland-docks on June 19, 2014, 10:27:48 PM
Quote from: scotrail on June 19, 2014, 06:01:45 PM
Hi guys
I am going to buy some of these foam storage things from the chap on ebay (the ones in blue box), thanks for the tip
My two questions;
Do they work ok without the blue box? thinking of getting a stack of just the foam trays and putting them inside a bigger box
Secondly; Which ones do people use as I see there are a few options? (basically what can i get the most in) would be to fit diesels (class 47, 66 etc), wagons, mk 3 and mk 4 coaches. no steam era stuff
cheers
Can i suggesta better option?
£30 for a large carboard carry box with 5 foam trays which each tray can hold 14 locos/coaches. I have2 ans they arebetter value for money i believe
Paul
Sounds promising, where would I find it? If you have a link that would be great!
Quote from: scotrail on June 20, 2014, 10:19:19 PM
Quote from: portland-docks on June 19, 2014, 10:27:48 PM
Quote from: scotrail on June 19, 2014, 06:01:45 PM
Hi guys
I am going to buy some of these foam storage things from the chap on ebay (the ones in blue box), thanks for the tip
My two questions;
Do they work ok without the blue box? thinking of getting a stack of just the foam trays and putting them inside a bigger box
Secondly; Which ones do people use as I see there are a few options? (basically what can i get the most in) would be to fit diesels (class 47, 66 etc), wagons, mk 3 and mk 4 coaches. no steam era stuff
cheers
Can i suggesta better option?
£30 for a large carboard carry box with 5 foam trays which each tray can hold 14 locos/coaches. I have2 ans they arebetter value for money i believe
Paul
Sounds promising, where would I find it? If you have a link that would be great!
this is what i have two of john, i think they do the trick as they store alot of locos/ coaches.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-N-Gauge-Railway-Train-Foam-Tray-Insert-Cardboard-Carry-Case-Storage-Box-/121247213046?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item1c3ae5a5f6 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-N-Gauge-Railway-Train-Foam-Tray-Insert-Cardboard-Carry-Case-Storage-Box-/121247213046?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item1c3ae5a5f6)
and for £30 you cant complain!