Best way to store larger model kits?

I used to have one of the 1/350 Enterprise kits...but it's now built. Like all of my "larger" kits, it was stored vertically on the top shelf of the closet I use for my stash. I don't think there would be a major problem with weight from stacking only 6 kits horizontally. My only suggestion would be regardless of "how" you stack them, try to avoid putting them anywhere with a temperature ever exceeding 88 degrees or dropping below freezing. In both cases you could end up with degredation of the decals or larger stryrene parts. Some people will probably say there's no problem with these temperature extremes, but my question would be, "Why take a chance?" if it's avoidable. 

i have to agree with foster  the crawlspace does not sound like a good place to store them.

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you could store them at my house  the only thing to worry about would be the BUILD MONSTER

he seems to put kits together in the wee hrs of the morning

 

 

 

 

The other factor with is the effects of moisture. High humidity will make the boxes soft and with time they will begin to degrade as they soften. Mold will also come into play. Stacking them on a shelf is okay as long as they are not tiered like a wedding cake. Keep the kits as close to the same size as possible. If you have a box that is larger than the others, place it on the bottom then lay a piece of cardboard over it to spread the weight of the resting load above it out towards the edges of that box. Leave space between the wall (if thats where your shelves are located) so air can circulate between the wall and the kits. Pushing them up against a wall especially in a basement will allow the box to wick moisture from the wall and interupt air flow. This will create a means for mold to begin to grow.

As previously mentioned...temperature extremes. Heat will distort and warp. Extreme cold will play havoc with the decals. Extreme cold generally only affects assembled models. The expansion and contraction tears at joints and seams.

HawkeyeHobbies wrote:

If you have a box that is larger than the others, place it on the bottom then lay a piece of cardboard over it to spread the weight of the resting load above it out towards the edges of that box.

A piece of cardboard between the boxes is a great idea, I never though of that. Good tip.

This is a topic I have been dealing with due to a recent move; and the fact that I have been building fairly large and complex 1/48 dioramas for a number a years, and wow do they take a lot of space! I have about 8 or so, and most of them stored in boxes, but my new place just doesn't have the storage space that my old one did.  Although I have a better work area!  :-)  I ended up putting several at my office but they can't stay there long...

So that has me thinking, what am I going to do with these monsters?  Both now and long term.  By long-term, I mean after I'm dead and gone!  There was a letter in a FineScale issue not long ago about what to do with unbuilt models;   but what about the built ones?  I mean, just leaving them packed up in boxes is not a satisfying solution.  I managed to get one of my dioramas donated to a museum, but they don't have any more space either!  Otherwise I was going to unload a whole ton of models on them.  They didn't want them!  So I have thought about schools: but I found that they didn't want to encourage any "violent" themes... Hmm, revisionist history?  I am thinking about an airforce base, but one of my friends said he did that and the models got stuck in some back room and even broken. 

Anyone have any ideas?  What to do with these little jewels?

Steve

Ya just have to find other options.

Add some storage shelves/racks inside closet ceilings or any place else that you can place them.

The other option if there is no room where you are living...rent a storage locker. Or get rid of the junk you really don't need to make room for the important stuff!