|
|
 Posted - February 15 2007 : 4:55:44 PM
|
Hi Guys:
I was wondering if anyone thought there was merit in plastic box inserts to hold locomotives we all have without boxes.
I remember a demonstration I saw of a Vac-former when I was back in high-school (that was whne Moses was a Snior btw!) a clear plastic sheet like a thick version of an overhead projector was heated then lowered over an item then a vacum pump sucked out the air quickly and powerfully and Viola! You lift off the by then warm vac-form and you're done. Now it wouldn't solve the box problem but they could be adapted.
I'm thinking, it wouldn't be that hard to create a plastic insert for the basic Tyco/Mantua Diesals; F7; 430; GP20; SD24; 630
Anyway just putting it out there...
-Gareth
|
Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
obtrey
Little Six
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - February 15 2007 : 5:04:33 PM
|
Now that gave me an idea. There is a neighbor who works for a molded plastic company and he offered to make a rubber, not plastic, keyboard cover for my computer. I think I'll take an engine I have here and see what he says about shrink wrap and how hard it might be to remove. May not work with all the small intricate parts, but it can't hurt to ask his opinion.
Bob
In Malfunction Junction:
When all else fails get a bigger hammer.
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 182 ~
Member Since: January 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: April 05 2013
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 15 2007 : 5:37:55 PM
|
Thats great Bob!
Gotta be a better way to secure "loose" locomotives and eventually cars.
-G
Edited by - romcat on February 15 2007 5:44:55 PM
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
obtrey
Little Six
Status:
offline
| |
Posted - February 15 2007 : 11:40:12 PM
|
OK I asked him. He is retired but suggested that it might not be a good idea as they would have to place the item on its side apply the mold or make 1 for every car or loco and the cost would be prohibitive, at least the method they used where he worked and he was afraid that the vacuum process would damage the cars or loco's. Sorry but it was worth a try. He told me there are probably other methods and manufacturers out there that may have something that would work but not where he was. His exact response to me was, "If these were mine I wouldn't attempt it", and that's usually good enough for me.
Bob
In Malfunction Junction:
When all else fails get a bigger hammer.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 182 ~
Member Since: January 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: April 05 2013
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 15 2007 : 11:59:17 PM
|
You know, ever since Athearn redid most of its old blue-box offerings in the Ready-to-Roll series, I've been wishing they would sell just the boxes, with the nice new clamshell displayable packaging, for you to store your old engines in. Especially if you've detailed them up... the new packaging will even protect cab sunshades.
So I like your idea... HOWEVER...
Something to keep in mind: If you were aiming for some sort of replacement insert that could fit into a Tyco box, that won't work. Tyco's boxes are too narrow, to the point where the car sides almost touch the cardboard. They were the only manufacturer with boxes that small, and thus the only manufacturer that had to resort to cardboard and Styrofoam inserts that surrounded the top, bottom, and ends of the car.
If you were going for a vacuform type solution, it would be too wide and then require its own box. Maybe you already figured that out, but it wasn't clear.
I do think it would be great is someone could offer a CHEAP modular storage-box type system. Making it model-specific would be cost-prohibitive. But if it could fit several models... you might be onto something....
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2175 ~
Member Since: July 15 2006 ~
Last Visit: January 31 2010
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 16 2007 : 12:17:33 AM
|
Hey Guys:
What I would probably do is use "beater" units and create using vac-forming a "female" mold whicj I would fill to create a solid "die" It would create a "tray" or "cradle" to lay the locomotive in. As to the box thing, well two lines of thought.
a) insert for existing Tyco boxes
b) tray for putting multiples in a box. Link like a box of chocolates with a plastic tray for the individual "Pot-o-Gold" tyep chocolate. Another divider layer goes in, nexy row of engines etc.
Early in the development process. As to duplication, it really won't be that hard to do, on a cottage industry scale which is what I'm talking about.
-G.
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 16 2007 : 01:36:04 AM
|
As some of you might have guessed, I have a nice sized collection of rebuilt/detailed locos of various makers. I believe I have solved the problem you are trying to deal with. The first thing I did was to order several Athearn empty blue boxes from Horizon Hobbies. Next I went to Walmart and picked up dish wrapping paper. Lastly was a trip to Joann's Fabric store to pick up 1 inch thick sheets of foam rubber. I wrapped the loco in the dish wrap. Placed the loco in the box and added foam around the loco for additional padding. The last step was to write the loco info on the blank end of the box. Now my locos are safely boxed and stacked on the shelf.
Mike
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 715 ~
Member Since: May 03 2006 ~
Last Visit: October 10 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 16 2007 : 01:46:54 AM
|
Hi Hypoponera:
My concern there is the potential for something to snag on the wrapping. As you unroll a locomotive from the wrapping a catch might cause something to fall. You only have to be inattentive for a minute...
It does sound like a good idea though. Works well with a lift off lid box, but poorly with an end flap one. I've gotta get some boxes for sure. I look into the supplier you mentioned. Actually I have a dedicated model Train Shop in Toronto. maybe then can help box wise...\
-Gareth
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 16 2007 : 10:03:23 AM
|
| Instead of using wrapping paper, you could use zip lock bags. That way if any parts do come off, they will be caught in the bag and not lost. You would also be able to see inside so as to spot potential problems during removal. Or you could just make a display case and store locos and cars there! I had my father-in-law make 2 for me.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 715 ~
Member Since: May 03 2006 ~
Last Visit: October 10 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
