Plans for making HO storage cabinets

[RobertInOntario]

Does anyone know if MR or any other similar Model Railroad magazines or websites have published any plans for constructing storage cabinets for HO locos and rolling stock? My wife & I were thinking that they should be quite easy to make and you could do it fairly cheaply, etc. by using pine would and plexiglass for the sliding windows.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

Rob

[AF350]

Is it storage or displaying as its main function? If you have a ton of rolling stock and just need storage maybe you could find an old blueprint storage cabinet, it would work for HO and N size trains.

If storage and display is the goal you should be able to design one fairly easy.

If I were to do one using pine and plywood I would suggest useing good finish grade plywood for the back and some pine for the frame work but I would use an extruded aluminum shelves for the shelves such as Railrax or Snyders.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railrax.net/">http://www.railrax.net/</a><!-- m -->

<!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gsds.com/">www.gsds.com/</a><!-- w -->

The railrax shelving is affordable and comes in many gauges and in combination gauges as well such as the HO/S combo shelf. Using this type setup will leave you with only the grooves to cut for the sliding doors.

[RRManiac]

In 1990, Railroad Model Craftsman ran a small article on making stackable boxes for HO scale cars. I'll see if I can get it scanned in. They look really easy to make.

[RobertInOntario]

In 1990, Railroad Model Craftsman ran a small article on making stackable boxes for HO scale cars. I'll see if I can get it scanned in. They look really easy to make.

Thanks. This sounds interesting and might be a possibility. Rob

[RobertInOntario]

Is it storage or displaying as its main function? If you have a ton of rolling stock and just need storage maybe you could find an old blueprint storage cabinet, it would work for HO and N size trains.

If storage and display is the goal you should be able to design one fairly easy.

If I were to do one using pine and plywood I would suggest useing good finish grade plywood for the back and some pine for the frame work but I would use an extruded aluminum shelves for the shelves such as Railrax or Snyders.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railrax.net/">http://www.railrax.net/</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gsds.com/">http://www.gsds.com/</a><!-- m -->

The railrax shelving is affordable and comes in many gauges and in combination gauges as well such as the HO/S combo shelf. Using this type setup will leave you with only the grooves to cut for the sliding doors.

Thanks. This sounds interesting as well. I'll check out these websites, especially the railrax option. Originally, I was looking for good storage options but now I like the idea of displaying them as well.

Rob

[RobertInOntario]

[quote="AF350"]Is it storage or displaying as its main function? If you have a ton of rolling stock and just need storage maybe you could find an old blueprint storage cabinet, it would work for HO and N size trains.

If storage and display is the goal you should be able to design one fairly easy.

If I were to do one using pine and plywood I would suggest useing good finish grade plywood for the back and some pine for the frame work but I would use an extruded aluminum shelves for the shelves such as Railrax or Snyders.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.railrax.net/">http://www.railrax.net/</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gsds.com/">http://www.gsds.com/</a><!-- m -->

The railrax shelving is affordable and comes in many gauges and in combination gauges as well such as the HO/S combo shelf. Using this type setup will leave you with only the grooves to cut for the sliding doors.[/quot

I've just gone to the Railrax website & these products look excellent, probably just what I need! I'm going to seriously consider thus option. Thanks, Rob

[Russ Bellinis]

There was an issue of RMC that came out in the last two or three years with an article on how to build storage cabinets to transport ho scale rolling stock. As a member of a modular club trying to find a method of storing and transporting trains without doing damage, it looked like a great system. I have the magazine in storage and can't find it right now, but someone here might know the article I'm talking about. This particular storage cabinet had the advantage of being mounted on casters allowing it to be moved about easily. It used plywood construction, with cleats to hold some plastic trays that were available at Big 5 sporting good stores in the fishing dept if I remember correctly.

[MasonJar]

Rob,

I store/transport my rolling stock in foam inserts stacked inside plastic bins or a tool box. I'll try to get you a picture.

The containers are small flip-top ones available at Home Depot for (new low price) $3.99. The foam inserts were something I found at a local moving company, but you may be able to make or find something similar. I can get 2 dozen cars (50' or less) in each bin - 4 per each of the 6 inserts.

I also have a two level "display" rack I found at a garage sale for $1. It was not made for trains, but fits ok. It appears to be made of lathe.

If you make your own, I would suggest that unlike the shelf systems shown in the links, you cut slots for the wheels, rather than installing rail-type extrusions. It's a lot easier to get the wheel flanges to drop into a slot than it is to rail each car properly onto raised ridges, especially when one side is against the wall.

Andrew

[shaygetz]

Keep your eyes peeled...I picked these up at a local flea market for $60, the original owner used them to display NASCAR vehicles. I couldn't resist when I saw that they were gauged for HO equipment...they're made by Showcase Express.



I keep my excess in trays I built myself from scrap lumber...there are 6 trays that nest in each other and sit in a cradle with wheels that I strap it to to roll around as I need.

[RobertInOntario]

Thanks for these helpful ideas and pics.

Shaygetz -- It looks like you have a small layout/setup similar to mine. What size is that -- 4x8 or 4x6?

Thx, Rob

[shaygetz]

Shaygetz -- It looks like you have a small layout/setup similar to mine. What size is that -- 4x8 or 4x6?

Thx, Rob

It's about 56" x 42"...would you believe I got an email from out of the blue, from a guy who lived about an hour and a half away from my house, asking me if I wanted the layout---trains, buildings, the whole smack---free for the taking? You'd be amazed at the carry capacity of a Mercury Grand Marquis...and how fast they can go on the interstate...

I've since added subtle details to make it mine while keeping the spirit of the man who built it, right now I'm adding streetlights and soon will be adding interior lights.

[MasonJar]

Rob,

I store/transport my rolling stock in foam inserts stacked inside plastic bins or a tool box. I'll try to get you a picture.

The containers are small flip-top ones available at Home Depot for (new low price) $3.99. The foam inserts were something I found at a local moving company, but you may be able to make or find something similar. I can get 2 dozen cars (50' or less) in each bin - 4 per each of the 6 inserts.

Here are the pictures:

This one shows three levels (12 cars) on one side of the tool box, with my operator's apron, throttle, and other miscellaneous bits on the left.

[album]2665[/album]


Here's one of the storage containers I use at home. It fits 24 cars. The wax paper is to help the cars not get caught on the foam.

[album]2666[/album]

Four 50' or less cars fit across the foam. Three cars up to about 70' fit if the slots are made parallel to the long edge.

The foam is the precut stuff that you pull the squares out of to make your space. Since I needed to go right through, I glued on a rectangle of cardboard to the bottom. A couple of cars are slightly too tall (caboose smoke jacks!) so I also have some eggshell foam slabs in the same size that I use for a "lid".

Hope that helps.

Andrew

[Roger Hensley]

Here is a cabinet that is easy to make with 6 to 8 1x4s, a couple pieces of plexiglass and a backing board.

[RobertInOntario]

Shaygetz -- It looks like you have a small layout/setup similar to mine. What size is that -- 4x8 or 4x6?

Thx, Rob

It's about 56" x 42"...would you believe I got an email from out of the blue, from a guy who lived about an hour and a half away from my house, asking me if I wanted the layout---trains, buildings, the whole smack---free for the taking? You'd be amazed at the carry capacity of a Mercury Grand Marquis...and how fast they can go on the interstate...

I've since added subtle details to make it mine while keeping the spirit of the man who built it, right now I'm adding streetlights and soon will be adding interior lights.

that's cool! My current layout is only about 5.5' long by 3' wide. It's
my main focus right now due to space limitations. I also have a 4x6 layout on storage and a small shelf switching layout. Do you have other layouts as well?

[shaygetz]

that's cool! My current layout is only about 5.5' long by 3' wide. It's
my main focus right now due to space limitations. I also have a 4x6 layout on storage and a small shelf switching layout. Do you have other layouts as well?

I do...I didn't think about it, but it fits with the storage topic of your thread. I built a cabinet for my N scale layout that doubles as a platform for my small HO layout, storage for more cars and my library...there's even a small "attic" inside for storing unbuilt kits and my toolboxes. The HO layout consists of 4 independent loops of track, each with its own power pack and includes a loop of Marklin three rail 30v AC. It's brought down to sit under the tree at Christmas every year.













I had since added the fourth loop after this picture was taken. That loop comes from my first Christmas layout. When I built the new one, I didn't have the heart to throw out the old one, so I cut the loop out of the plywood cookie cutter style, elevated it and put it on the new layout. The concrete arch bridge is quite solid, I cut it from some MDO board and use it as a carrying handle.