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Model parts organizer

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  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY
Model parts organizer
Posted by pordoi on Sunday, January 19, 2014 4:40 PM

Killed two birds with 1 stone with this.  I don't have a ventilated paint booth nor the place to install one, so my "paint booth" for years was just a large cardboard box.  It's really not a good choice for serious modeling.  I wanted to get a cleaner painting area and a while back, I tried a large TupperWare container (18" x 24", with one side cut off) and it has worked fairly well as a low cost, crude paint booth.  However, an unexpected benefit was the lid to the container turned out to be an excellent parts organizer.  The lid is reinforced with several vertical and horizontal ribs that provide great compartments to organize and store parts during a build.

Here's an example from my current PzIII build.. Inside and outside road wheels are paired in one compartment and separated from spare road wheels.  Return rollers in another.  Tools that will be painted before gluing to the fenders can be assembled and stored in another compartment.  Jerry cans like wise.

I used to go nuts with parts that needed to be added specifically to the left or right hand side of the model.  They'd be cut from the sprue, sanded, and inevitably I would mix up which part went on which side.  Now left handed parts go in one bin and right handed in another.  You can even mark the bin with a Sharpie and after finishing the step, the compartment can simply be "erased" with rubbing alcohol.

Also, the sides of the lid are padded with foam and provide great storage spaces for commonly used tools such as tweezers and exacto knives...

My modeling table is an inexpensive 30" x 60" utility table, but this Tupperware lid is now a permanent fixture on it. 

Don

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Sunday, January 19, 2014 4:46 PM

That's one of the best resourceful modeling ideas I've seen in a long time.

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY
Posted by pordoi on Sunday, January 19, 2014 7:19 PM

Jim,

give it a try.  inexpensive and if you're like me, you'll find it really useful.  Jut remember to look for a Tupperware container large enough to have the reinforcement ribs.

Don

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by JimNTENN on Sunday, January 19, 2014 7:25 PM

I may just do that, Don. I'll definitely be looking at those containers...and others...in a different way now.

Current project(s): Hobby Boss: 1/72 F9F-2 Panther

                                  Midwest Products: Skiff(wood model)

                                  

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Far Northern CA
Posted by mrmike on Sunday, January 19, 2014 9:42 PM

Great tip; I'm thinking it would store nicely into a shallow shelf for WIP sessions...too shallow for a cat to get into for instance. Thanx!

Mike

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, January 20, 2014 9:25 AM

I got a fruit collection for Xmas. It was in a compartmentalized clear plastic tray.  Boy, that is on my modeling bench now as a neat parts tray for my model projects!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY
Posted by pordoi on Monday, January 20, 2014 4:23 PM

Mike:  Yes you could probably easily store it in a shallow drawer or shelf.  It's rigid so there is little chance of it flopping around when moved.

Don S.:  Your fruit container sounds very much like the Tupperware lid.  Really useful, isn't it?

Don

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by RobGroot4 on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 8:07 PM

I've been using the cheapo ziploc knock-off compartmented containers from the dollar store for mine.  I like that they have lids as I have a 3-year old roaming around!

Groot

"Firing flares while dumping fuel may ruin your day" SH-60B NATOPS

  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Thursday, March 13, 2014 11:45 PM

I've been using a medication container that I bought on eBay for like $2-3.

Looks like this www.amazon.com/.../ref=pd_sim_hpc_6

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Louisville, KY
Posted by pordoi on Saturday, March 15, 2014 7:29 AM

Yes, they are great containers.  I have a few that IO use to store small parts like lengths of chain, lead wire and other small parts.  Really useful little boxes.

Don

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Adelaide, Australia
Posted by zapme on Saturday, March 15, 2014 5:25 PM

Don,

what a great Idea, i'm going out today and look for one.

cheers for the tip

Leo

 

My Blog - leoslatestbuilds.blogspot.com

On the workbench: 1/72 Airfix De Havilland DH88 Comet , 1/35 Trumpeter M1A1, 1/35 Tamiya Tyrannosaurus Rex, 1/8 (?) vinyl C3PO brand unknown

 

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