Boxing People for Safekeeping

The small population of my Nystrup Gravel layout have been kept in storage on the layout and on shelves. That is not a sound long term solution. The figures represent no small investment in modelling time and money so they should be treated with no less respect than locos, rolling stock and cars.

Photographing in the Nystrup Gravel yard. My figures have to have some time off from the layout. But where to put them? I have now solved the problem.

Wanting to fix the problem fast, I didn't bother looking for a fancy wooden box, but found a cardboard box with generous size for my current and well into the future needs for storing 1/19 scale figures. I may upgrade to a wooden box if I stumble over a good sized box. For now the figures are much safer in the cardboard box than before. When I modelled in 1/35 scale I went to great lengths making tailor made wooden boxes for locos and wagons. I haven't quite reached the same level in 1/19 scale.

Cardboard box measuring 26 x 24 cm and 7 cm in height.

Bubble wrap lining inside the box with my figures added. Nystrup Gravel's population is all male.

Soft foam scrap pieces keeps the figures tightly in place when the lid is closed.

'People' written on the lid in stencilled cyrillic letters - just because I can.

The brown paper wrapper for my plastic cyrillic stencils bought in Leningrad, USSR, 1987. 

With about 30 minutes of design and work I now have a simple safe storage box for my figures. No more worries about scratched paint, broken off limbs or other damages. Safely tucked away in the box until picked out when their services are needed.

Boxing Two Models (1/35)

Building models from scratch or kits is an exiting way of getting unique models. But it also gives me the challenge of how to preserve them from dust, excessive sun light or the accidental fall to the floor. I have earlier shown how I use some small boxes to store models. Recently I took a larger wooden box in use for two locos and thought I'd better share a few snapshots with you. My loco 3 (the Sala) and 6 (the Jung) now share a wooden box lined with tailor made foam insert to protect them during transport and storage. 

Working with foam to obtain a firm fit around the model.

Both models fitted in their foam beds. The foam bits glued to the box lid (left) applies pressure to the models when the lid is closed,  keeping them firmly in place. The loose foam bit (top) keeps the Sala driver from travelling freely around inside the box.

Box contents clearly marked with numbers in the font 'German Typewriter'. When you have to hand paint, there is no reason to pick a font that isn't compatible with the era of Nystrup Gravel.

Storing models in foam lined boxes is a mixed blessing if I am to believe several online articles. The foam can deteriorate and loose its tension, thereby reducing the protection it provides. That is one thing, but some foam types can actually degrade in a way that makes them stick to a model and even damage paint as a result of chemical reactions. I don't want that to happen, and although my foam lined boxes are still quite new, I check my boxes once a year to make sure everything is still well.

Those modellers modelling in more usual railway modelling scales have products available to them for storing their models. Some are generic and will fit serveral types of models, some are even made for specific models.