Safe Storage

Those or rubbermaid tubs. I'm at a loss as to what else you can use that will not have the problem of stuff bouncing around. Possibly a large storage cabinet like you see used for office supplies or equipment. Its big, has two doors, shelves, is metal and the size will keep it from being moved around. Unlike the smaller storage bins that as they are moved, so is the model. Risking damage. You can pick them up used for a couple of hundred bucks although I've come across some that needed a new coat of paint for less than $20. You can lock them up to keep curious fingers away.

Mike

To keep them from bouncing around a bit, use foam insulation, like the heavy egg-crate or packing stuff. It may take a bitt of time, but cut out an area in the foam big enough to hold the model securely. It may not be safe enough to play football with, but should keep the damage to a minimum, if careful.

Get expanded polystyrene boxes from the fishmonger (if you are nice, they'll even clean them for you!). Lots of sizes to chose from, all have lids (tight fit!). Use cocktail sticks to keep the models from moving around in their boxes.

7 years ago, I needed to store about 250 1/72 and 1/48 models. They have been safe since then, with no lost parts or damage. When people hear about my basement storage method they laugh at first, but when they see it they usually are surprised at how well it works. I wrap them individually in Saran wrap, tie a piece of cord around the tail, tie them in groups hanging from clothes hangers, and hang the hangers from nails in the floor joists above.



Details:
Take a piece (or two or three) of Saran wrap, set the model on it on its wheels, and then fold it up over the nose. Sort of like the plane taxied into the wrap. Then take some string, heavy enough to trust with the weight, and tie it around the rear fuselage. This will trap the Saran wrap, forming a bag to catch parts that may come loose, and repel dust. The string actually supports the weight of the model, so the wrap doesn't break small parts at the front of the plane. You now have a model in a bag, that can hang nose down. Tie several of them to a sturdy wire coathanger, and the coathanger can then be hung on a nail from above. I tie a small safety cord from nail to hanger IN CASE someone did bump them, but that hasn't happened yet. You can get 30 or 40 (or more) 1/72 scale on a hanger, and all that Saran wrap cushions them, if you are a little careful initially hanging them.

I know it seems a strange method, but it works well if you have a couple of out of the way corners in your basement. I couple of mine hang directly over a chest freezer! Its also relatively inexpensive.

cardboard boxes, shoe boxes if you model in 1/72 scale, are ideal. To keep the model safe inside, usually the best method is to make cardboard supports & place it upside down in there, that way weapons/pylons don't get damaged. Or, as above, line the box with foam and use blocks of it to support the model. I saw a method years ago using cocktail sticks stuck into foam to stop movement.
try a local shoe shop, they probably just throw the boxes away!

gbarnes,

Now thats thinking out of the box...what a cool idea, although I will admit, there is a horror movie in there somewhere...

If you decide to keep them in the rubbermaid or tupperware boxes, throw in a pkg, of silica gel desacant to keep any moisture from building up. The nice thing about the plastic boxes is if the basement floods you know the models will remain dry. They are built to stack and won't crush if someone puts something heavy on them or bumps them moving soemthing around the basement. I think ziplock now makes a very inexpensive version of this, sort of a cheap replacement for tupperware, I think the cost works out to less than $1 each.

use the styrofoam trick (insulation panels from home depot) with the cocktail stick and I think you would have a pretty tough storage system. The clear containers will allow you to see what stored inside and do a status check without having to move or open anything or just label the outside.
Mike

I like the Model Morgue! What was that movie where someone was hiding from the bad guy among the hanging body bags? Oops! Modeling...ok, what about using softer density 1" foam cubes, like they use in gun cases, electronic cases, etc. Layer the bottom of the box and pick out the blocks where landing gear, weapons, etc. hang. The blocks can also be cut in half vertically and/or horizontally to give a greater degree of snug. I hesitate to use styrofoam because it is a dense foam and may crush rather than cushion small parts in case of a bump.

I use alotta heavy cardboard boxes (flip-tops and the like) each with a couple old T-shirts. Many of my models are on bases, and the shirts along with the weight of the bases keeps things from moving around too much. Even without bases my built-ups don't move around.


Fade to Black...

To renarts and mostlyjets,
I'd almost swear the two of you are professional comics- LOL to "thinking outside the box", AND to "the model morgue"! I will defintely pass those two along to my IPMS chapter next month.

Cheers!
Gerald

Thankyou, thank you, we'll be here all week. Your a wonderful crowd! And don't forget to tip those waiters and waitresses.

Mike

Hey i dont know if this will work but try some ballons like the long thin ones that you use to make animals. Well i dont know but you could try it GOOD LUCK

Hey renarts, you forgot to tell them about the 2-drink minimum!

Thought I would add a picture of part of the "Model Morgue". Notice that the big gun on the front of the HS-129 is not broken or under pressure:


Also, any time I need to find an old model or show it to someone, I can see through the plastic.

Model on!
Gerald