Just wanna know what side you're on when it comes to keeping jewel boxes and other packaging for locos and rolling stock...
Locos and rolling stock always stay in original packaging when not on the layout. I also kept the packaging for my unitrack turnouts, although I can't really say why I do that.
I intended to purchase the rolling stock or loco not the box it came in. I do hols onto the loco jewel boxes but I jut do not understand the reasoning for keeping the rolling stocks. If you have a layout I would think you are only buying stuff that fits your era.
I keep all my locos/rolling stock (and some model RR parts) in one of those plastic supply drawers found at Staples. I keep a sheet of rubber grip shelving liner at the bottom of the drawers to keep the cars/locos from rolling around. I intend to keep the jewel boxes for locos, but I really don't need them for the rolling stock. I've seen folks sell empty jewelboxes on eBay, so I might consider that (or sell 'em here, if people want 'em!).
I have notice a couple of manufacturers whom use cardboard boxes and soft inset trays to package their products in. I've been seeing a lot more things getting damaged packaged this way opposed to plastic jewel cases. Granted, nothing is safe if you have a bunch of gorillas working for a shipping company ("insert name here") and things get damaged do to ruff shipping. But I don't think cardboard is the way to go to protecting delicate items. It's just to soft and allows the product to move to freely inside it.
Don't forget about those who run trains at shows or clubs. Any time I transport equipment I feel safe knowing it's in the original package.
I keep all the original packaging & cases for off layout storage (I rotate r-stock occasionally), plus to help maintain the value of the collection.
Putting 50+ MTL hoppers back in their jewel cases takes a bit of time though.:tb-biggrin: I didn't vote because it wouldn't let me pick two, I'm 50% answer 3 and 50% answer 4. I keep the original boxes for some things, like the above mentioned hoppers where it doesn't matter which box I pick up when I'm putting the train away. I've been keeping a few cars in the jewel boxes lately because I've been falling behind in fitting out plastic storage trays. My biggest peeve is boxes where the model doesn't fit back in once it's assembled like the Atlas articulated autoracks and Walthers 0-8-0, or Atlas and other diesels once you put the cab sunshades on.
I rotate my on-layout stuff every couple of months, and I also have a monthly NTRAK layout to take trains to, so I have 2 storage boxes from trainboxesplus.com that I use for storage, and around 100 - 125 cars on layout. My NTRAK trains generally run around 30 to 50 cars. Putting ANY of the above back in the cases is VEERY time consuming, so all my cases go into boxes for storage. My main reason for keeping them is in case I decide to sell the cars off for some reason (I know a lot of people who move up in scale when their eyesight gets bad or their hands get shaky) since I think the original packaging adds a little to the value.....I know I'm much happier buying stuff on ebay when it comes in a case.
It depends on the quality of the product. All my higher end stuff goes back in the jewel boxes when they are not earning revenue. If I buy a few pieces of cheaper rolling stock for detailing I trash the cardboard/flimsy plastic. Chances are by the time you try and make a silk purse out of a sows ear the flimsy plastic would not protect any added details. Mark
You didn't offer the choice for what I do... I keep the jewel cases or boxes for the locomotives, but put the cars in a storage case.
I keep any packaging that comes with anything that goes on the track,cars,locos,cabeese,plows,ETC.I have them all in boxes in my attic.I can't see throwing them out,I have 400+ locos,probably more than 2500 pieces of rolling stock plus a dozen or so passenger trains.If the box only adds up to a buck each per item,[in reality it's probably way more than that on the locos and Kadee/MTL cars..]That's a sizeable chunk of change come the day they will inevitably hafta go..I'm certainly happy I thought that way all these years,since I have several dozen Kadee cars from the 70's that are worth a lot more now because I still have their boxes.I have eight of the first ten cars they made,including the first.All my locos and cabooses are in cases,cars are all in rubbermaid type containers with stackable trays inside I made out of cardboard.
A very individual preference... no real right or wrong... As Westfalen mentioned... no one answer really fit my situation either. Still I did vote for choice #3 since it was probably the closest to my needs. First... I don't like the cardboard boxes at all for rolling stock. Even the cardboard boxes used for locomotives bother me somewhat because they are succeptible to deterioration from humidity or deform more easily. The plastic cases are more durable and can be used to display items not in use... which is a very prevalent issue for me. I have far more locos and rolling stock than my present layout will accomodate. I like to vary the equipment so as not to see the same stuff over and over. While not on the layout it would have to be stored either on display cases or plastic bins awaiting my decision to use them. IF... I decide take my equipment to a club to run... I have several Deluxe Innovation 'Unit Pack' and 'Passenger Pack' cardboard (go figure! ) boxes with foam inserts. I remove items from the jewel cases and put them in the DI cases because it is easier to set-up and take-down consists at a remote site. I also have several Kato 10-213 'Train Set Cases' for locomotives... but in these cases I keep engines in their jewel cases... they're just to facilitate transport. I am considering making some permanant consists to keep in the DI boxes and get rid of the original cardboard boxes. So far... many of the cardboard boxed items are already permanant residents in a few of the DI Unit Pack boxes. Ideally... DI and other makers of transport/storage boxes would use plastic cases with foam inserts... but... I think using the Plano Fishing Lure Cases with some foam inserts may be a future consideration for transportation purposes. So to summarize: 1) I'd get rid of cardboard boxes and inserts... put into display case, layout or transport cases (ie: DI Unit Pack). 2) Keep the rolling stock and lokies in plastic jewel cases for display or storage when not on layout... use DI Unit Packs or Passenger Packs to transport rolling stock... Kato 10-213 to transport lokies. So... why keep any jewel cases? Basically... If I ever need to sell-off items... or at my demise... my family choses to sell-off items... the items will be more desireable and easier to mail in their original packaging. Only the cardboard packaged stuff would have to be sold without original packaging... except of course... those Athearn and LifeLike steam engines using the heavy cardboard boxes.
I’ve bought those jewel boxes for items I’ve bought of eBay and they aren’t the same as the originals. For one thing they don't have the molded plastic insert to hold the item. I like everything in its original packaging and I’m not so sure I will buy anything without the case anymore unless the price is too good to pass up. And like the others have said I know all of my stuff will be sold at some point and I want the best value. I do have a plastic box that I keep the stuff I'm going to use regularly and store the jewel box with everything that came with it.
I keep all the plastic cases, and I actually don't like the cardboard boxes. When a car is $20 and up, I think it should have a jewel case. I don't leave my stuff out all the time and I never know what I might want to sell some day. Not having a case would drop the value down.
yea that sounds good not to buy out of your era but i wonder how many of us really do it. I don't because sometimes i like to run steam and other times modern diesels. I also buy cars just because i may like them, i try to stick to what you would see but sometimes i just can't and wind up buying cars you would never see behind a UP or santa Fe freight besides i am the CEO and CFO so of course i can justify anything. There are just way too many nice cars coming out today to stick to my era which thinking about it, i don't have one. Dave
For me it is just as easy to keep the cars and locos on the boxes that they come in. Easy to store and transport as well.
