Template design & Constuction

In order to make neat and tidy boxes good template is required, the important thing is to get the correct right angles and equal measurements. Use thin plain cardboard for templates, cereal packs are too thick.

In the design for "OO" rail stock 37mm is about the best width, height and length depends on your requirements, I use a marked out mat like below to get the correct construction lines in, or you can use a drawing board or even a PC.

In this example a coach template is under construction

Dimensions for a typical "OO" wagon box 37mm x 55mm x 5 inches, the top flap forms the base of the box.

Packing to protect the couplings I use tissue, but any thing will do

Coaches are not a problem if the length is at right angles to the folds on cereal packing, again use the existing folds as best you can.

Locos been heavier best suit thicker cardboard, pizza packing is idea.

For the master box anything will do, sometimes no a bad idea to pack the base with sheets of cardboard, in the last couple of years notice most boxes have a wax or plastic covering. these are idea for attic storage, also I add a dummy box with holes in, the box full of that silica gel, which keeps the damp down.

Label the master box with permanent pen, stickers tend to fall off

Constuction of boxes

You don't need many tools just simple ones, for scoring the fold lines I use a blunt Stanley knife blade. You also need a good solid steel ruler, good scissors, maybe tape and a staple gun, stickers are for the box after, Biro for marking the cut lines and I use a pencil for the fold lines

Like anything you might make more off better to make a template first (see the post on template design and construction), get that right and everything is a lot easier and quicker, I reckon using a good template you can make one box within 4 minutes Cut open the cereal box along the join line, place the template on the opened box, note not a bad idea to use the existing fold lines on the cereal box for the box in question, here the lid flap and the base fold uses the existing fold lines.

Use a pen to mark round the template

Now use a pencil to mark round the fold lines, you can if your clever score the fold lines now with a knife but you end up destroying the template

remove the template should look like this ready for the score lines and been cut out

score the fold lines before cutting out its easier.

Then cut out, using the pen lines, start folding the box up using the Stanley without the blade use some force to get a neat fold

Construct the box like so,

You have a choice now, you can use sellotape to seal the edge, but its doesn't last, so I use staples. In damp environments they can rust, however if you store rolling stock with wheels against them they should not cause damage.

Stickers finish off the job so the rolling stock can be labelled for easy access

Model Rail Box Storage System

Way back in time around the early 70's I decided to embark on building Airfix kits for my model railway layout, but the problem arose on how to store the made up kits because they came with no boxes. I started to make my own using old cereal boxes and soon developed a system to store them neat and tidy, but more important be able to get at the particular model I needed quickly without going though lots of models wrapped up within say newspaper.

The system is also used to store a collection of Models, Locos trucks and coaches picked up cheap at toy fairs and since they they have no box one is made. They can be also used to store model cars, buses, and other models

Big advantage is very little space is wasted with extra packing, they are contained in a larger box like so Using open boxes the system lends itself to a easy to get at stock system, this particular box contains 45 "O" wagons about 5 inches long. When I use stock for the layout I return the box to the master with the label upside down, this never lose the box and if I turn the whole box upside down it tells me which trucks are on the layout

When the layout is stored away or I decide to use other stock the whole box can be sealed up quickly for storage or transport. I've moved house 3 times since this box was made and has stood up to quiet a bit of bashing around, I reckon its about 25 years old.

The large number relates to a carbon copy book, now superseded by a computerised stock system. At any one time I can locate any model railway item using the PC and the box system, saves a lot of time an effort looking for certain things.

The other advantage is they prevent damage while in transport the whole box is quite solid because each box provides support for the others. Still not a bad idea to store more tougher models such as die cast around the edges. When I made a new box often fill them with empties so if I purchase something I have a space to put it straight away.

The arrows relate to which way to store upright, the odd small tank loco might be added and if stored the correct way up any oil leaks down instead of on their sides

When i visit friends with other layouts I find it easy to carry just one box about, locos & coaches are carried in a longer storage box.