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What do you do with your model boxes?

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  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
What do you do with your model boxes?
Posted by Yann Solo on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:18 AM

I was cleaning the room the other day and I was about to trow away those empty model boxes but I've hesitate.  I don't know why cause I'm usually not a keeper but I feel like I may need them.  Maybe it's silly, what do you guys do with them?

So far, it has been usefull to fool my girlfriend about new or old kits.  "Is that a new kit honey?  No, no it has been sitting there for quite a while with all the other models."  I don't have a big stash so any addition would be noticeable but by keeping those empty boxes, the stash seemed bigger!Big Smile [:D]  But now I don't have to justify anything cause we had a discussion.

Do you see any other purpose for me to keep those boxes?

No matter where you go ....... there you are.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Reno, NV
Posted by espins1 on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:33 AM
Now that I'm on a roll and cranking out a model or two every month, the boxes are beginning to pile up.  I'm hanging on to them mostly to keep the extra unused parts and decals for future use, as well as for the box art.  I suppose when the pile gets too big I may just bag up the leftover parts and organize the leftover decals in envelopes.  The box art might be cool to cut off and hang in the garage like "posters".  Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers  Geeked My Reviews 

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
Posted by Yann Solo on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:37 AM

My spare parts are all sorted in a hardware organizer, you know that thing that has several small plastic drawers to keep the screws and nuts!  And my decals are already in enveloppes in a drawer.  Everything is well organized but those boxes are empty and useless, but I can'T put them in the trash!!!!!

No matter where you go ....... there you are.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Reno, NV
Posted by espins1 on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:39 AM
 Yann Solo wrote:

My spare parts are all sorted in a hardware organizer, you know that thing that has several small plastic drawers to keep the screws and nuts!  And my decals are already in enveloppes in a drawer.  Everything is well organized but those boxes are empty and useless, but I can'T put them in the trash!!!!!

I know what you mean.  In a way the empty boxes represent your accomplishments.  Smile [:)]

Scott Espin - IPMS Reno High Rollers  Geeked My Reviews 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:42 AM
I re-use them: either to protect painted orders going in the post for customers or to send sub-masters of miniatures to my mould maker.........either way....to stop the post office from destroying them! stuart ;) :D
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
Posted by Yann Solo on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:44 AM

Haha.  So I'm really crazy?  My girlfriend's sister is a psychologist ..... maybe I should call her.

I could be diagnosed as a "Emptyness keeper"  Whooohoooo.Tongue [:P]

No matter where you go ....... there you are.
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Drummondville, Quebec, Canada
Posted by Yann Solo on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:45 AM

 lazybather wrote:
I re-use them: either to protect painted orders going in the post for customers or to send sub-masters of miniatures to my mould maker.........either way....to stop the post office from destroying them! stuart ;) :D

Laugh [(-D]

No matter where you go ....... there you are.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Pensacola, FL
Posted by Foster7155 on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 12:56 PM
I cut the box art off each box and then put it up on the wall. It actually makes a nice display and reminds me of all the work I've done in the past.

Robert Foster

Pensacola Modeleers

  • Member since
    October 2004
Posted by Lionking on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 1:02 PM

For every model I finish my boys' likes to cut the box art and keep it ...  and the instructions I keep in a folder. Left over decals goes into sealed plastic bag.

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Smithers, BC, Canada
Posted by ruddratt on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 1:44 PM
I recycle them along with the rest of the paper, after I've salvaged all of the remaining spare items for their appropriate bins.

Mike

 "We have our own ammunition. It's filled with paint. When we fire it, it makes pretty pictures....scares the hell outta people."

 

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: NJ 07073
Posted by archangel571 on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 2:06 PM
 espins1 wrote:

I know what you mean.  In a way the empty boxes represent your accomplishments.  Smile [:)]

 I keep those box art tops as well.  at the same time, my way of keeping track of my accomplishements was to actually keep those instruction manuals in boxes n folders, much better consolidated than empty big boxes that all have irregular sizes (one thing u gotta give it to Tamiya n Dragon, most boxes are uniform in sizes in the same subject over the years.  i.e. those 107 bikes have 2 box sizes, the bigger ones came after kit# 55 the '86 nsr500; n those 50 something F1 cars also have only two box sizes (exact reverse of the bike boxes) as well, with the smaller ones came after the RE30 turbo, spanning over 30 years.  same sizes applies to their 1/24 cars.)

-=Ryan=- Too many kits... so little free time. MadDocWorks
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Boyertown, PA, USA
Posted by Dubau on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 2:21 PM

I know when I am done a model, the box get trashed.

I look on the tree's and see if there is anything left over that I might ant to save.

But other them that I trash the box's

Bud

" You've experienced a set back, and without set backs and learning how to fix them you'll never make the leap from kit builder to modeler "
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 4:05 PM
i just save any wanted parts,save the extra decals and instructions and then burn the box as well as any boxes that all the things i order were shipped in
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Vernon, BC, Canada
Posted by razordws on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 5:56 PM
I keep a few of the favorites for storage boxes (spare parts & hobby supplies) but the rest get trashed.  I started to keep the box art but had nowhere to put them so out they went too.  After awhile they just take up to much space. Sad [:(]

Dave

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: AusTx, Live Music Capitol of the World
Posted by SteveM on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 7:56 PM
I save them for a while, then clean the room out every six months. PRESTO! More room for more models. A brand new kit box will get more of my attention than an older one. SteveM

Steve M.

On the workbench: ginormous Kharkov dio

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 23, 2006 12:05 PM

@ Yann Solo

I'm basically an optomist :D

I hope using the boxes will stop the post office from destroying the hard work, but the pessimist in me makes sure they are insured too ;)

 stuart :D :)

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Posted by bilbirk on Thursday, November 23, 2006 6:30 PM
I pitch em in the trash
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Ozarks of Arkansas
Posted by diggeraone on Thursday, November 23, 2006 8:52 PM
RSVP in the mighty trash can.Digger
Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Cleveland, OH
Posted by RadMax8 on Thursday, November 23, 2006 10:12 PM
Don't worry, I have a tough time pitching them too... but maybe sometime soon i'll cut the box art off and hang it up!Big Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posted by zokissima on Friday, November 24, 2006 8:22 AM

lol Yann I hear you, I used to suffer from the same syndrome myself. But I had to fight the urge, and fought it I did.

Just think, you're doing a good thing for our country every time you recycle, so throw them away. You can do it, I believe in you Tongue [:P]

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Greencastle, IN
Posted by eizzle on Friday, November 24, 2006 9:46 AM
My plan has been to cut out the box art from a few of them and frame them. There are some really neat pictures on some of those boxes, like the Hasegawa superhornet or the Hase Showtime 100 kit.

Colin

 Homer Simpson for president!!!

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Staten Island, New York
Posted by Vartan041 on Saturday, November 25, 2006 9:25 AM
Ditto ditto Lionking
I don't suffer from insanity...I enjoy every minute of it!
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Ohio
Posted by mikepowers on Saturday, November 25, 2006 10:56 PM

I know what you mean brother.

When I got back into the hobby about a year ago, I didn't want to throw them out either.

Eventually I will stick them to the walls and it will do for me what all of my unbuilt kits do for me sitting on my shelves, motivate me.

If you model in the basement like me, its actually a nice decoration.

Good luck.

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Baton Rouge, Snake Central
Posted by PatlaborUnit1 on Thursday, November 30, 2006 11:48 AM

I cut out the nicer box top artwork and they are on my building bench. Especially Hasegawa photos of the real machine boxtops, Gumdan inserts (they have a cover in full color of the built up model that acts as a cover over the kit parts) and Dragon paintings.

 David

Build to please yourself, and don't worry about what others think! TI 4019 Jolly Roger Squadron, 501st Legion
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Patterson, CA
Posted by SoD Stitch on Thursday, November 30, 2006 1:33 PM
Well, I live in CA, so I recycle them (we recycle everything out here); our waste collection service recycles stuff, too, so I just put 'em in the "To Be Recycled" bin when I'm done with 'em, unless my kids get to them first!

1/48th Monogram A-37 Dragonfly: 95% (so close!); 1/35th Academy UH-60L: 90%; 1/35th Dragon "Ersatz" M10: 75%; 1/35th DML E-100 Super Heavy Tank: 100%; 1/48 YF-12A, 95%; 1/48 U-2R: 90%; 1/48 B-58 Hustler: 50%; 1/32 F-117, 50%; 1/48 Rafale M: 50%; 1/48 F-105D: 75%; 1/48 SOS A-1H Skyraider: 50%; 1/48th Hobby Boss Su-27: 50%; 1/16th Revell Lamborghini Countach: 75%; 1/12th Otaki Lamborghini Countach: 25%; Tamiya 1/35th M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle: 25%

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Fresno, CA
Posted by BlackOps on Thursday, November 30, 2006 3:07 PM

Lately I've been trimming out the front panels and tossing the rest. As soon as I can get the junk room cleaned out it will become the designated hobbyroom, and I will put the box art up on the wall.

 Seemed like a shame to let such nice artwork go to waste.

 

Jeff G.
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Right Side of a Left State
Posted by Shellback on Thursday, November 30, 2006 9:53 PM
I'm with the rest of you that save the box art work , some of it is to good to trash.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Monday, December 4, 2006 7:21 AM
They go into the recycle or trash can as soon as I am done with them.  I see no need to keep empty boxes.  I don't have the room to keep boxes full of nothing.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Monday, December 4, 2006 2:11 PM
i used to cut the boxes up and save the top, one end, and both side panels and only keep the history section of the instructions i did this for almost 30 yrs  but a flood killed them and i gave  up
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Edgware, London
Posted by osher on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 2:15 AM
With medium sized, fairly rigid, boxes, that have seperate lids and bases, I make them into mini spray booths.  With other boxes, I will tear them up, and use them for mixing palettes, and for places to empty the adhesives onto, before applying them with cocktail sticks.
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