robmcg Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Hi All, Having just detailed my lovely 45503 unrebuilt Patriot I am curious as to any practical ways to modify the plastic insert in the packaging for storage, display, or even possible sale. I find the flip-up inserts excellent with unmodified models. It's further complicated by being more-or-less permanently close-coupled, the close setting allows type 2-3 radius OK but the cab doors prevent de-coupling, unless the doors are removed (or repositioned?) Sometimes I put detailed Hornby engines back in original boxes, cutting back some foam, but I'm not sure of the efficacy of cutting the Bachmann clear plastic cradle. Any thoughts? Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Theres a lot to be said for the foam lined boxes like Heljan do. Personally, Id make up one of my own to suit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmcg Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Hmmm. I wonder if there is a common style of box from stationers of suitable size? And suitable foam sheets of thicknesses around 1cm-2cm to cut to suit? I confess I have never seen the style of foam you suggest. Currently I store detailed locos in shoeboxes with lots of tissue paper. Thanks for the reply. Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigwelsh Posted January 4, 2010 Share Posted January 4, 2010 I confess I have never seen the style of foam you suggest. Rob Heljan and Vi Trains use a shoe box type box with a foam bottom and then the loco sits on its side on top of this with shaped foam surrounding it, in Heljans case another sheet of foam sits on top. Quite similar to the system Games Workshop sells for its miniatures. I agree this is probably the best type of box to store a detailed loco in aside from a home made design. These are actually quite similar to the old Bachmann polystyrene trays but softer and a better product really. The main problem with the new Bachmann boxes for me is that if you weather the stock you would scrape it back off putting it back in the box as its so tight on something like the cab roof. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmcg Posted January 4, 2010 Author Share Posted January 4, 2010 Heljan and Vi Trains use a shoe box type box with a foam bottom and then the loco sits on its side on top of this with shaped foam surrounding it, in Heljans case another sheet of foam sits on top. Quite similar to the system Games Workshop sells for its miniatures. I agree this is probably the best type of box to store a detailed loco in aside from a home made design. These are actually quite similar to the old Bachmann polystyrene trays but softer and a better product really. The main problem with the new Bachmann boxes for me is that if you weather the stock you would scrape it back off putting it back in the box as its so tight on something like the cab roof. Thanks for that. I was wondering if it might be practical to cut some of the newer-style Bachmann clear plastic inserts around front steps and other detail areas without destroying their integrity, in other words hoping someone else had tried it before me! <g> I think for permanently-coupled close-coupled models making my own foam enclosures in a box will be the only way to store or post them, apart from temporary storage in shoeboxes with crumpled tissue paper. I hadn't thought about the way the clear plastic Bachmann inserts might compromise weathering on roofs and such as running boards and cylinders, but it works OK for unmodified locos in my experience. For Hornby models which I run rarely I often return them to original box but without packing brackets, and with tissues turned back so I can see the engine. With older Bachmann I sometimes return them to their foam cutout but often without the thicker tissue, depending on tightness of fit, which seems to vary. All in all, it seems that there is no 'one size fits all' solution! Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chameleon Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 The new style boxes are ok for transit but personally, once I have taken it out of the box and either detailed and/or weathered it I doubt I would put it back in again. We have a great shop in Edinburgh called the Foam Center where I can get all shapes and sizes and densities of foam to cut out and make my own inserts for locos and stock. I suppose it depends on how much stock you have and how often to need to transport them. Actually, a decent sized shoebox with foam cutouts would be fine. It also means you can pack up and scoot from an exhibition much quicker! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmcg Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Good thinking. I have a large number of plain shoeboxes. I'm sure somebody supplies foam sheets of various styles and thickness here in Christchurch N Z where I must point out it is 25C-ish and the females are inclined to wear insufficient, um, material. Not like those crass Aussies though... I still wonder about the possiblity of cutting the factory clear plastic, but I daresay it wouldn't look very good. Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremyC Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Although not a cheap option, I'd recommend the 'Really Useful Boxes' sold in various outlets [Maplins, Staples etc]. They're available in numerous sizes from single loco size to whole train size. You still need to supply packing, but they're a good strong plastic box which gives good protection to the stock and they stack nicely as well The current Bachmann packing is the same as Liliput has been using for some years, not that that makes it any better . Jeremy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Moss Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 The new Bachmann packaging is a bit silly too as they could have done away with the silly plastic sleeve that needs sliding over the main plastic box bit to protect the model from dust etc if they had fitted a clear plastic window to the outer cardboard sleeve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Piszczek Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 The new Bachmann packaging is a bit silly too as they could have done away with the silly plastic sleeve that needs sliding over the main plastic box bit to protect the model from dust etc if they had fitted a clear plastic window to the outer cardboard sleeve. Maybe the cost of the sleeve was less than the process of gluing a slightly smaller piece of the same plastic onto the box... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butler Henderson Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 The new Bachmann packaging is a bit silly too as they could have done away with the silly plastic sleeve that needs sliding over the main plastic box bit to protect the model from dust etc if they had fitted a clear plastic window to the outer cardboard sleeve. Its quite useful in the way it is provided as it means a loco can be "boxed" up in the plastic surround and sleeve without needing to be put in the actual box. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steam fan Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Hi I like the way Bachmann pack their new locos. This may be what you are looking for from Bromsgrove models to pack locos in and drive them off. http://www.bromsgrovemodels.co.uk/pd613797093.htm?defaultVariants=search0_EQ_360_AND_{EOL}&categoryId=31 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the fuzzler Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I'm just wondering about the type of foam, and long term storage. I'm sure I've heard that various foams can damage paintwork and/or degrade and react too. Do we know if this foam is safe ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 This might help - http://www.caseclub....foam_stock1.htm and a UK supplier http://www.efoam.co.uk/pickpluck.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Colin Posted January 21, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 21, 2010 I just wish that Hornby/Bachmann etc would design their packaging so that those of us who add the detail parts, couplings etc DON'T have to carve it about before putting our locos away again (like many, I don't have room on the layout for all my locos at once). To me, the Bachy packaging is a nice neat design; I just wish they'd allow adequate clearance for steps/vacuum pipes etc! What I do like is the way you stand the model upright in the packaging and then effectively close a lid down to secure it, much better than forcing it into a tray on its side (and running the risk of spoiling the paint finish or of wiping detail off). The one I really have a problem with is Hornby's horrid 3-dimensional jigsaw - a real nasty fiddle to get a new loco out undamaged while the detail packs and instruction sheets fall to the floor! IMHO you just shouldn't have to think about spending out for a replacement box when you've just laid out ??100-odd on a new model. Rant over....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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