Another plea for packaging instructions!

I know, take pictures etc... and then loose said picture.  An online sheet would be a great asset.

Huh? Don't you have one of those cell phones that takes photos? Why don't you take a few, print it out on your computer and stuff it in the loco box?

Really, you need instructions to get it back in the box.

take a picture like mentioned above and move on. 

Martye, about 2 years ago I started writing #s on the foam parts. Start on the conductors side and work your way around. Nick T 

Just my opinion but, why put locomotive models "back in their boxes" anyway?  I NEVER put a locomotive model back in its "shipping box", as too much damage can occur. Every single one of my locomotive models is carefully wrapped and inserted into an appropriate plastic tool box (by Plano), currently purchased at Menards.

t8afao posted:

Martye, about 2 years ago I started writing #s on the foam parts. Start on the conductors side and work your way around. Nick T 

Brilliant!!!

Wow even at Christmas a good suggestion gets mentioned and then it's pounced on.  I wouldn't have though to do that with what's under my tree due to the excitement of getting it but now I will. Thanks for the suggestion/ reminder.

I'm with you MartyE, good idea. T8afao has a good idea too, something that could be done now as well.

As for the pictures, I don't have a smart phone. If I did have one, I agree about not being able to find the pictures a few years later when wanting to box something up. Not a good solution, IMO.

I think it is a good idea too.  I have a smartphone, but don't always have it on me while working with trains.  I put trains back in boxes when I ma not using them for a while. I wish I could keep them all out. Trying to remember where all the packing goes is a pain, and I frequently get it wrong.

MARTY E,

  I'm with you on the list.  I sent a SD38 back to Lionel to get fixed, LED was out,.  Upon return Lionel didn't use the piece to protect the horns on the unit and low and behold the horn was broken off.  Not a big deal just a little glue to fix it but jeez the guys that work there don't even know how to repack it.

david1 posted:

Really, you need instructions to get it back in the box.

take a picture like mentioned above and move on. 

 

Yep.  Sure do. I guess I'm just a moron or something.  Sometimes I'm not the one who removed the engine.  When you have a box full of foam pieces, not everyone of them is obvious as to where it goes.  Printing pictures.  WOW!  Genius!  Why didn't i think of that...oh yeah I did and explained why it doesn't always work.

Hot Water posted:

Just my opinion but, why put locomotive models "back in their boxes" anyway?  I NEVER put a locomotive model back in its "shipping box", as too much damage can occur. Every single one of my locomotive models is carefully wrapped and inserted into an appropriate plastic tool box (by Plano), currently purchased at Menards.

So you're suggesting that if you had to ever return one for repairs like MartyE mentioned above, you'd ship it back in a plastic tool box?  

cta4391 posted:

Hot Water posted:

Just my opinion but, why put locomotive models "back in their boxes" anyway?  I NEVER put a locomotive model back in its "shipping box", as too much damage can occur. Every single one of my locomotive models is carefully wrapped and inserted into an appropriate plastic tool box (by Plano), currently purchased at Menards.

So you're suggesting that if you had to ever return one for repairs like MartyE mentioned above, you'd ship it back in a plastic tool box?  

Now you are just being silly! I do save ALL the locomotive "shipping boxes", in the rare event that I must either return one, or sell/trade it. 

Hot Water posted:

Every single one of my locomotive models is carefully wrapped and inserted into an appropriate plastic tool box (by Plano), currently purchased at Menards.

Oh come on Jack....really? You wrap each one? I know everyday is Saturday when you're retired but why waste so much time. 

The suggestion to take photos is a good one, but it was just a suggestion, no need to beat up on the idea.

I started taking photos of all my electronics and valuables years ago for insurance purposes. Now they are all digitized. I take photos of the front and back of electronics, so I always have the model/serial numbers. I also digitize the receipts and they are all stored in 3 places; my laptop, a thumb drive in a safe and remotely in the Cloud.

rtr12 posted:

As for the pictures, I don't have a smart phone. If I did have one, I agree about not being able to find the pictures a few years later when wanting to box something up. Not a good solution, IMO.

That's a ridiculous assessment, if you will pardon my being blunt.  Use a camera if you don't have a smart phone; load the pics in a folder on a computer, external hard drive, thumb drive, compact disc or in the cloud; rename the pics to reflect the manufacturer, model and purpose; then search the storage media using those terms for the desired pics.

What, me worry?

As I stated before, if you immediately print the pics and place it in the box before storage, how could you NOT find them?

And as I stated before... the information exists.  If they can make it available they should.  As I said I'm not always the one who opened the engine hat needs packing.

I could say that if someone is capable of building a model railroad, they should be able to repack an engine, but I won't.

Seriously, Marty is only suggesting that if the info is available, then why not make it available to customers? IMHO, there is nothing wrong with that, but neither is suggesting alternatives on the assumption that such packing instructions will not be made available. I've purchased items that have had detailed unpacking instructions that would be easy to follow for repacking, so it's not a novel idea. Personally, I like the idea of numbering because even a photo might be hard to follow if materials are similar in size, shape, etc.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

As I stated before, if you immediately print the pics and place it in the box before storage, how could you NOT find them?

Have you never lost track of things like that over the years? 

Some of you need to get up to speed with the times...lol

You see, there's this man-made thing called a cloud made by this company called google, which lasts forever and the neat thing about is you can store stuff there in perpetuity, including pictures.  And you can have all your stuff automatically stored in this cloud thingamajig where it can be easily found if you lose the original file.  And you can even access this cloud thing with your phone and any other electronic type device that works on the interweb. 

-Greg 

Alfred E Neuman posted:

rtr12 posted:

As for the pictures, I don't have a smart phone. If I did have one, I agree about not being able to find the pictures a few years later when wanting to box something up. Not a good solution, IMO.

That's a ridiculous assessment, if you will pardon my being blunt.  Use a camera if you don't have a smart phone; load the pics in a folder on a computer, external hard drive, thumb drive, compact disc or in the cloud; rename the pics to reflect the manufacturer, model and purpose; then search the storage media using those terms for the desired pics.

What, me worry?

It was so kind of you to offer your assistance in this matter. Thank you for the wonderful suggestions!

So what happens when the website where the packing instructions are located gets hacked, or the info is removed from the site as the product is no longer made, or the site is revamped and your current browser(s) can no longer navigate the site.

Perhaps one should take the pictures, number the packing materials and download any info found on the web?

Trust the cloud?  No, thanks. 

If you wait for Lionel, MTH, etc., to provide packing instructions on their websites, chances are you'll be waiting well past the day you need them. The rest of us will follow one or more of the suggestions offered and chances are we'll have the instructions one way or another long after we're no longer around to care.

The alternatives were offered in good faith, so I see no reason to disparage anyone for offering them. It's fine if you don't trust the cloud, but that's no reason not to put your data there as a backup, if you are so inclined. Google is free, so there is nothing to lose. If something happens to it, you would still have your original. No one is suggesting you put your only copy there. Even Google and others who offer Cloud storage push it as a BACKUP, not the sole place for keeping your data.

Well, now - this is certainly a thread for the Ages.

(I mean, when I just turn the box over and shake it until the loco or loco and tender fall out on the table, just how am I supposed to know exactly how that happened? And record it? Or do you guys do it that way...? I stop shaking when I hear the clunk(s).) 

Well it's been more than a year since I started this topic and after that year of helping out at the LHS, I am still convinced that if the packing diagrams are available on-line that could be a great asset to those returning a repair or repackaging an engine for sale.  Seems to me less damage could occur if items need to go back for repair or shipping to a customer.

I understand if you are the one who opens the packaging for personal use and you have access to take pictures and create a system but in the case of a store where a large amount of sets, engines, and accessories are opened by many different people it could be helpful.  Some products are very obvious, some not so much. 

I appreciate the input from above.  It's all good but I have to believe there is a process to package items and it seems logical to have it available. 

Packing Diagrams/Photos - This is exactly the kind of feature we need in a slick, comprehensive train inventory software package.

Include a packing photo when you add the loco to your database - it will always be there.

Once the system gets enough packing photos - it can make them available to other users to be included in their inventory lists. At that point - it can be automatic. Enter your loco - and it automatically links to the right photo.

This is how a lot of CD-Ripping Software works  (ripping means "copying")  - it copies the CD to your computer hard drive and the software finds the CD Cover for you. So - when you go to play the tracks - your media player will display the CD Cover.

The Project Roar book on 1960 - 1969 uncataloged sets has quite a few packing diagrams. I was under the impression (maybe it was just hope) that they were working on a similar book on cataloged sets.

Don't know what happened. The uncataloged sets book was rather expensive. And people don't like to pay for information. Maybe the Project Roar folks determined that the sales projections were too low.

Or maybe it is still in the works.

The OP had a good suggestion.  I doubt the mfrs will jump on it, but it's still a reasonable request.

For us (wife & I), however, the taking of a quick picture (lighting, posing, focus, etc. NOT IMPORTANT) or two and then printing a paper copy and putting it in the engine box is spot-on.  We do that with all of our Christmas tree ornaments....paper picture in the storage box by cell.  And, she does that with her bazillion shoes....a simple picture inside the end of each clear plastic shoe box.  Sometimes I've used the picture/copy technique for a repaired item subsequently sent to a customer to better inform them of any internal changes that they should be aware of for maintenance purposes, etc..  And we don't store such photos on the computer or a flash stick.....waste of 'space'.  (If one's life is so chaotic as to lose a piece of paper created for this purpose, you need more than computer storage space......IMHO!)

--------------------------

Now, here's something I asked the mfrs for that they can't seem to step up to for some reason!!!...

Those HUGE pieces of formed sheet plastic used in packaging.....for example, the base and cover used to package those residential house accessories....?   Why can't they put the appropriate recycling symbol on those in order to have them 'qualify' for curbside recycling pickup????   Our township service does not allow anything without the appropriate triangular/numerical symbol to be placed in the recycling tub.  NOT a petty issue when we're made to feel guilty for not doing our part to reduce landfill waste!!!  You put the symbol in the cheap die that makes these plastic pieces of packaging poop, and the mfr has done their job so we can do our job to help the environment.

Tell me, Mr. Manufacturer......Why can't this be done after repeated polite requests????

There, I feel better.  I don't know why.....it's like yelling down an empty well hole.

justakid posted:

Da cloud! Hmmmm.

Maybe Lionel and others might consider

Putting pics up on their clouds. The any body could access for whatever the reason.

I hear it's a free google, Facebook,  Twitter feature

Just a thought.

Lionel at least for a lot of their products when looking them up on their site has access to parts list, manuals, and such.  It could live there as well. 

I don't need pictures but one has to believe that when a new product is made, there is a sheet that shows where to put foam either under hand rails etc and extra foam that is put into the gaps of packaging.  Where add on parts might live.  I've put away a lot of sets and locomotives this past year and for many it was a no brainer, for some, you figured it out after some trial and error, and a few took some bit longer to figure out.  As a matter of fact of few of the same type of engines have come in with different packing schemes so go figure, maybe there isn't a sheet.  LOL!

Again, for the hobbyist, the picture taking works great especially since you are the only one opening the box.  When you have 4 or 5 guys opening product it can be difficult to document and then keep that information especially hundreds of engines and sets a year.  If the manufacturers already have it then sharing it could help everyone.

BTW I did ask both Lionel and MTH.  Neither seemed to think it would be able to provide the information.  Oh well.  Off my wish list soap box. 

Maybe you could use this forum. A new category. A place to post packing instructions and operating manuals.

Certainly fits the for platform of providing discussion and information to promote our hobby. Maybe one of the mods could maintain it (keep duplicate posts from being posted), (keep it specific to appropriate pics and instructions).

Or....maybe someone will volunteer to begin and update a thread?

FWIW, save this thread.  MTH did label this packing.  Of course, it's yet to be seen if they continue this HO style packaging.

Premier CP Holiday Engine Packing

I don't think the "mods" need anything else to do, especially something that you could responsibly do yourself.

John H posted:

I don't think the "mods" need anything else to do, especially something that you could responsibly do yourself.

Yep I wouldn't expect this forum to deal with it.  I don't expect that I should deal with it on the large amounts of product I pack and unpack IF there is already the diagrams or instructions are available.  Maybe there is no diagrams and list so this plea would be moot.  Just a thought while I pack up engines and want it to be as protected as possible.

Ok so just a new category. Let others put their pics and instructions there.

There is a ton of unpacking and operation videos on YouTube, of various sets by aspiring videographers.  Some are members of OGR. Also some retail product reviews by people like Eric's trains, Trainworld, Mr Muffins, ect. Maybe they could devote a few seconds of video on their next reviews showing the packing and un-boxing of whatever. (They read this forum too).

Maybe post their video links in the "New" "Unpacking and packing your model railroad treasures"

Or whatever the new category gets named.

Justathought

Laidoffsick posted:

Hot Water posted:

Every single one of my locomotive models is carefully wrapped and inserted into an appropriate plastic tool box (by Plano), currently purchased at Menards.

Oh come on Jack....really? You wrap each one? I know everyday is Saturday when you're retired but why waste so much time. 

 

Just curious - are those "3200 count" baseball/sports card boxes with looks like about 1/2" foam inserts ?

Seems like a good idea. May I ask where you got the foam ?

Thanks.

MARTY: GREAT POST, but PLEASE lose the "doomsday" signature even if it is meant to be satirical!  :-)

Definitely ALL good suggestions!  :-)

Richie C. posted:

Laidoffsick posted:

Hot Water posted:

Every single one of my locomotive models is carefully wrapped and inserted into an appropriate plastic tool box (by Plano), currently purchased at Menards.

Oh come on Jack....really? You wrap each one? I know everyday is Saturday when you're retired but why waste so much time. 

 

Just curious - are those "3200 count" baseball/sports card boxes with looks like about 1/2" foam inserts ?

Seems like a good idea. May I ask where you got the foam ?

Thanks.

 

Richie C, they're likely his own boxes which he used to sell but no longer does.