Cheap stock boxes

[hayfield]

I have brought a few s/h kitbuilt locos recently without boxes and have shied away from buying some stock boxes at £3 a go. Recently there was a thread where the chap was making buildings from mount board which he got cheaply from a picture framers. When my farther in law said he was off to buy some picture frames I went with him. I found the off cut box and a 10p each or 12 for £1, I brought a dozen bits.I have now made 4 boxes and have enough for another 2. Here this mornings efforts.

 

 

This one is for a tank loco, the measurements are 7" x 2.5" x 2.5" so I marked off the lines, a cut half way through the board down each line then cut away the 4 corners.

 

 

Cut a V grove half way through the board to make the bend in the card easier

 

 

Then the edges of the sides and ends which touch need a diagonal cut so they close up easily. Then fold the sides and ends up and stick together using selotape, make sure you have a 1" piece which you can fold over the inside.

 

 

The lid is built the same way , the top of the lid must be 3/16" bigger so its fits over the bottom the sizes therefore will be 7 3/16 X 2 11/16" and by either 1" or 1 1/2" deep.

 

If you can find nice colours, I have also made larger ones 12" x 2" x 2" for tender locos. All you mow need is a bit of foam or bubble wrap for protection.

 

You can buy the board in art shops 33" x 22" at £3 a time lots of colours and this will make either 4 large boxes or 6 small ones. I guess you could even make larger boxes for sets of wagons etc, though foam board for the bottom part may be better.

 

Hope this helps

[The Dorset Wanderer]

If you know a local restaurant that is having new cutlery, see if you can get the boxes they come in. I got 5 wooden boxes, remove the inner packing and you have a stock box that will hold 5 'OO' coaches or many 3mm ones.

Steve