Rods_of_Revolution Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Hi all, I've started to have a tidy through all the model railway items I've bought across the years and I have a lot of odds and ends. I have several 'bits boxes' which contain old sprues from kits which had extra parts on, odd detailing parts, old and damaged wagons and locos, bits of set track etc. I want something which is a bit more ordered as well as to engauge in a bit of cull to reduce the amount of stuff. What do people's 'bits boxes' consist of and do any of you have any tips for bringing order to the chaos? Cheers, Jack 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RexAshton Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Hi all, I've started to have a tidy through all the model railway items I've bought across the years and I have a lot of odds and ends. I have several 'bits boxes' which contain old sprues from kits which had extra parts on, odd detailing parts, old and damaged wagons and locos, bits of set track etc. I want something which is a bit more ordered as well as to engauge in a bit of cull to reduce the amount of stuff. What do people's 'bits boxes' consist of and do any of you have any tips for bringing order to the chaos? Cheers, Jack If you've not used something in the last ten years it's possibly unlikely you'll use it the next ten and by then there will almost certainly be something better available. Or you'll have forgotten you had in the first place. Leastways, that's generally what happens to me. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rods_of_Revolution Posted January 23, 2019 Author Share Posted January 23, 2019 If you've not used something in the last ten years it's possibly unlikely you'll use it the next ten and by then there will almost certainly be something better available. Or you'll have forgotten you had in the first place. Leastways, that's generally what happens to me. Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and bin a lot of it. As you say, if it's been gathering dust for 10 years, it'll probably gather dust for another 10 years. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisH-UK Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I have far too many bits boxes and ziploc bags and small plastic tubs. One thing I've done in order to stop the chaos going even further is to use the card boxes (like the ones that cake companies use to try and make you think their cake bars are bigger than they really are) and store all the parts for a wagon or a track machine project in its' own box. In the past I've bought a box for holding 30 cotton reels and used it for bits and bobs, it was contoured for the reels which has the advantage that there are less corners for small parts to get stuck in and you can use the curved side to slide the small part up to grab it easier. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Von Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I use a Von Haus 30 drawer storage box, great for bits and bobs, small tools etc. For bigger odds and s*ds, brushes, paints, model kits and larger sections of plasticard etc I have a flat-pack chest of drawers which I have reinforced the bottoms of with pine bed slats. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted January 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23, 2019 Flying Tiger have multi compartment bits boxes at £4 a throw if you feel the need to get really organised. I would echo the comments about bits and bobs being age related too, I've thrown plenty of buffers, couplings and sundry other detailing parts away because there are far better efforts currently available, if not complete wagons and locos. Mike. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted January 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23, 2019 Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and bin a lot of it. You know that as soon as you do that, you find you needed some of those bits for a new project. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedGemAlchemist Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) My bits box is literally an Amazon cardboard box. Being the RTRbasher I am it contains, amongst other things, several totally dismantled Hornby and Triang starter locomotives, some Trix wagons, a complete Triang Princess body, couple motors, some valve gear, a near complete DMU minus wheels, and all sorts of other crap. I have no way of organising it, so sadly can't help you on that front. Edited January 23, 2019 by RedGemAlchemist 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianmacc Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 If you do decide to part with it offer it on the free to a good home thread rather than consign it to the bin as one person’ trash is another person’s treasure judging by some of the items wanted listings! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted January 23, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 23, 2019 I use the the boxes that Oxford Diecast put their models in, ideal for small components or figures. For things like plasticard or ordinary card I store them in magazine boxes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cypherman Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Hi all, Do not just bin it. Offer it to some one here as they may find something useful in it. My scraps bin contains engine bodies, spare motors, spare tenders, Bits of broken wagons and coaches. All sorts wheels and chassis. And an assortment of bits and pieces from god knows where that just may come in useful at some point. The again you can virtually guarantee that if you throw it away you will suddenly find that you need something out of the box. Hi all, Do not just bin it. Offer it to some one here as they may find something useful in it. My scraps bin contains engine bodies, spare motors, spare tenders, Bits of broken wagons and coaches. All sorts wheels and chassis. And an assortment of bits and pieces from god knows where that just may come in useful at some point. The again you can virtually guarantee that if you throw it away you will suddenly find that you need something out of the box. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 My scraps bin contains engine bodies, spare motors, spare tenders, Bits of broken wagons and coaches. All sorts wheels and chassis. And an assortment of bits and pieces from god knows where that just may come in useful at some point. That sound just like mine. My wife calls it the shed!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartynJPearson Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 I have a large plastic container that acts as a bit box. In my experience whenever I do need a bit from it, I have to rummage right down to the bottom to find it, so perhaps storing them upside down would help. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham456 Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Well it's up to you, but people find Ferraro Rocher chocolate boxs useful for small items, can't confirm this though as no one in my family likes them. So I have a supply problem! Due to this I use tin biscuit tubs with labels on ( it's a good time of year as they should be empty by now) for large stuff and small compartment clear plastic tray thing as sold in pound shops for the small bits , I just recommend makeing sure it has a decent clipping shut lid so that if (when) you knock it over the lid stays shut ! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted January 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2019 Poundland (other high quality emporiums are available) sell packs of food containers (Chinese takeaway sizes) - I found these are handy for storing similar stuff in, with the advantage of being transparent. I use quite a few for opened packs of ground cover - static grass, leaves, soils, etc, which are useful when adding the stuff to the layout. Other ones are used to store figures, fishplates & bufferstops, LEDs, Wills windows & doors - etc, etc. Also from Poundland you can purchase larger boxes (washing-up bowl sized, but taller), in which to then store the transparent boxes, or spray tins of paint, or paint match pots, or coffee stirrers, or plasticard sheets, tools, soldering irons, etc. I sound really OCD, but SWMBO would say I'm extremely messy and the garage "needs to be cleared out of all that rubbish you never use"..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axlebox Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-x-BUSINESS-CARD-BOXES-CLEAR-PLASTIC-CRAFT-PARTS-BEADS-BOX-HOLDER-CONTAINER/292565019795?hash=item441e3bec93:g:d~MAAOSwQItUDbLM:rk:6:pf:0 ...a couple of shelves of these boxes?? 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 ...a couple of shelves of these boxes?? You off work then? I don't see any sign of a Toady E being worked on on that work bench! Anyhow job in hand. Sandwich filling boxes (from the Co-op and washed out of course). ANTITHESIS P 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginelane Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Spent 3 hours this afternoon awaiting one of the 6000 gas service operatives going through the ˋ to sortˋ trays. Old windows, old doors, one buffer type etc am I really going to use them in the future or is a to sort tray effectively a bin by another name? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axlebox Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 You off work then? I don't see any sign of a Toady E being worked on on that work bench! ...top shelf. just to the right of the scarlet airfix brakevan... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) ...top shelf. just to the right of the scarlet airfix brakevan... Another project to be consigned to the scrapbin of experience. Tis alright though, I have a use for all the leftovers. Talking of leftovers... a quick twist to the left, "oooo me back!" reveals poundland freezer boxes, 10 for errrr. 100p. followed by a slow twist to the right, revealing a multitude of recycled boxes, bottles & tins of many, many descriptions & origins. All probably destined for the world of the rail society 2nd hand tat stall. P Edited January 24, 2019 by Porcy Mane 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted January 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2019 My bits box is an old biscuit box. Zip lock bags are used to organise the contents, there's a bag for sprue cut-offs, one for buffers, one for wheels, etc etc. It's chock full so a new box is being pressed into service. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rods_of_Revolution Posted January 24, 2019 Author Share Posted January 24, 2019 Do not just bin it. Offer it to some one here as they may find something useful in it. The issue with this is that I'd have to go through everything and document what it is, list it online and then package up and post 101 different things. It's something which I unfortunately don't have the time to do. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gismorail Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 If your like me I have a massive tidy up in my workshop when I can't find anything .....problem is that having spent several hours on this task I STILL can't find anything Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cypherman Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 The issue with this is that I'd have to go through everything and document what it is, list it online and then package up and post 101 different things. It's something which I unfortunately don't have the time to do. Hi Rods, Just offer the whole shebang as one lot. No need to list everything. Just add it as a lucky dip. Put the post up here for any one who wants it. Just ask for the cost of shipping or they can pick it up if local. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted January 25, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 25, 2019 Another project to be consigned to the scrapbin of experience. Tis alright though, I have a use for all the leftovers. Talking of leftovers... a quick twist to the left, "oooo me back!" reveals poundland freezer boxes, 10 for errrr. 100p. AnthithesisII.jpg followed by a slow twist to the right, revealing a multitude of recycled boxes, bottles & tins of many, many descriptions & origins. All probably destined for the world of the rail society 2nd hand tat stall. AnthesisIII.jpg P I'd report that burglary, the bloody mess they leave behind. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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