Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page
Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows the best way to pack up your model trains so the cars and paint won’t get damaged.
How to pack up your model trains
By Angela Cotey | November 20, 2009
| Last updated on December 7, 2020
How would you repair the damage done by the bubble wrap? What? It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Over my years of model railroading (40+ and countng) I've moved many times and Cody's idea is one I've used for decades … both to pack prior to moving and for storage of rolling stock *and* structures I'm not using at the moment. A high-quality, high rag-content soft paper towel such as "Viva" is just the ticket. Be sure to always store model railroad equipment in as dry an environment as possible.
How would you pack a large craftsman structure?
With a liittle more then just four years in this hobby,I,m not long from being wet behind the ears .I have bought, storage box to store may rolling stock .Just to be on the I put a layer soft paper between the car andthe supplied foam just be on the safe side.
I have put every stored piece of rolling stock in their boxes using 2 pieces of mildew resistant upholstery foam, gotten from your local craft store, to hold each car in place. The top foam piece is cut in the shape of an upside-down U with the outside dimensions fitting perfectly in the box and the inner dimesions holding the car. The bottom piece is placed between the cars trucks tight against the car and the bottom of the box. I found paper did not hold the car in place and I would still find couplers damaged or held open etc. The foam is soft yet rigid enough to keep the car from shifting in the box in case the box is stored on its end or side.
Robert, have you checked those Locos lately? I packed mine in foam 15 years ago (then stored them in a hot attic) (duhh) with disastrous results. Had to refinish them at every contact point, and yes I had some warping of hand rails, pilots etc. requiring replacement. Good luck!
Good idea using paper towel.
Because my collection is large and I do not use all my rolling stock at one time.
I have packed all my Locomotives and rolling in foam the same as brass rolling stock.
Keep up the good work.
Regards
Robert
Extremely useful to me. Do you recommend this for N scale
too?
Well my dad did it that way 30years ago , So I guess I've been doing it right !!??!!
I USE TO PACK ROLLING STOCK AND LOCOMOTIVES IN A SIMILIAR FASHION AS YOU DESCRIBED UNTIL I FOUND SOMETHING BETTER. FOAM THAT IS USED FOR UPHOLSTERY SPECIFICALLY ONE INCH THICK PIECES OR EVEN ROLLS CAN BE CUT TO SIZE FOR A BOX.THEN YOU GREATE A CUT OUT OF THE CAR IN THIS PIECE.THIS HOLDS THE CAR IN PLACE AND DOES NOT BREAK DOWN ONTO THE CAR AND ENSURES NO DETAILS OR COUPLER DAMAGE HAPPENS.I FIND THIS FOAM AT CRAFT STORES SUCH AS HOBBY LOBBY.
To MICHAEL N ARMSTRONG from IOWA. Do you like ketchup or mustard on your cars?
I like this idea. It works for engines and rolling stock but what about buildings?
Yes a very good tip Cody. Nothing seems to beat tissue/soft paper towels and less expensive than the bubble wrap/peanuts
thanks for the tip Cody, I think I will go re-package my models!!!
You could also use newspaper. Seems to work fine for me. =]
Have had very good luck with both tissue paper and paper towels used per Cody's method. Adding a wrap of food grade plastic wrap (Saran, Reynolds, etc.) greatly reduces the damage to fine details caused by snagging of the tissue or towels. The plastic wrap has never left mark such as the bubble wrap did.
Great advice, hope some of the eBay merchants catch-on. Thanks !
Helpful information and Thank you very much. Keep up the good work.
What if you don't have boxes? Bubble wrap will break items like tall brake staffs and steps at the ends of cars.
I enjoy the modeling tips but I really looked forward to "Cody's Office". What happened?
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks.
Very helpful, i used to use bubble wrap
There is a cardboard storage case advertised each month in Model Railroader which contains dark gray foam padding. If you use these be sure to put a layer of plastic wrap between the item and the foam, otherwise I have found the foam padding will stick to the stored item if left too long.
Always store delicate objects (not just trains) in a cool, dry place. Heat affects plastics (especially bubble wrap, but also styrenes!) and de-gassing will create the markoff shown, as well as make plastics brittle.
I use foamed polypropylene, not vinyl (bubble wrap and Saran wrap are vinyl). PolyPropylene is commonly used for foundation weatherstripping (building supply). But Tissue paper / paper towels are a marvelous as an interior liner.
Great idea…thank you…….