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What do you do with your model boxes?

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  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Wisconsin
Posted by pvgvandy on Thursday, December 14, 2006 4:00 PM

Well, if I ever really did finish a model, I would be better able to answer this question.  It seems that I have over a dozen models "in the works" so I still need the boxes to hold the parts that haven't been assembled yet.  Anyone else have the problem of not finishing what you start?

PVG

  • Member since
    April 2004
Posted by rjordan on Thursday, December 14, 2006 2:36 PM
I have been modeling for almost 40 years. I still have most of the boxes from my models. But, I don't keep the entire box. I put the spare parts in filing cabinets in small plactic containers for the different types of parts. Then I throw the bottom of the box away. I fold the top of the box at the break points and put it in a plastic food storage bag. That way, I have the top and sides of the boxtop. Then I file the top in the filing cabinet in the category in which it belongs (car, truck, tank, etc). I have mounted a few of the top, but I don't cut them. I separate the box at the glue points and mount the whole thing. That way you get the views of the front and sides with all of the info on the model.
  • Member since
    December 2006
Posted by Recon 9 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:40 PM
 I have a system to use the box top as a reference sheet for camouflage, markings etc. First I soak the box top in warm water, maybe overnight. The paper will peel off the cardboard. Let it dry. Next I carefully cut out the subject and paste it to a standard size paper (size depends on best fit for most models you build) I use spray adhesive. The "document' then goes to a ring binder. No clutter, no fuss.
  • Member since
    May 2004
Posted by macla1100 on Thursday, December 14, 2006 11:44 AM

If you build a lt, then keep the box if it's big enough to store a completed model in that you've had on "display" for a while, I do with car models and I have 126 .... sorry 128 of which 12 are "works in progress" the others are "in waiting". So I some times store finished models in old boxes when I complete a new one. But the old boxes are clutter and unless you have room turf them out. If you have to, cut the box art out and save it in a folder, if you like it.

Bob

  • Member since
    May 2006
Posted by MortarMagnet on Sunday, December 10, 2006 3:16 PM
I used to keep them, because I keep everything.  After a few "kit-teases" I started to get rid of them.  I had gotten my hopes up that I would get to build another________ so many times only to find a box filled with empty cut up sprue.  Now, I keep the unusually sturdy boxes for storage and put the others in the cardboard dumpster.
Brian
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: PA
Posted by mjohnson on Sunday, December 10, 2006 1:47 PM
I keep the left over parts and decals. I also keep the instruction sheets but the boxes get cut up and put in the trash. Just do not have the room to keep the boxes.
MJH
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Melbourne, Australia
Posted by MJH on Sunday, December 10, 2006 6:37 AM

Fairly recently the empty box of a Monogram "Rascal" missile kit brought about $40 on eBay.

Makes ya think, doesn't it..........?<>

Michael 

!

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: returning to the FSM forum after a hiatus
Posted by jinithith2 on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 8:25 PM
I keep my boxes and display the box art behind the model. the other parts of the boxes w/o pics, I chuck. I keep all my decals in a ziplocked bag inside a mailing envelope with a carboard backing so it won't bend. The spare parts all go in my tackle box. it helps me keep my tiny room tidy
  • 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.
  • 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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: 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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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.

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