Maintenance racks

I have two foam cradles. One I believe is a Bowser for O Scale, and the other, newer foam cradle, is much longer for O Scale passenger cars and articulated steam locomotives (purchased from my local hobby shop).

For upside down, I just made my own "cradle" from some 1"x4" and lined it with carpet foam padding, and then I just use as many layers of kitchen towels intercepted on their way to the trash can as needed to lower whatever it is securely into cradle.

For doing on the side work, a folded bath towel on top of my glass work surface; might put a bit of industrial paper towel in between.

I have one of these, they are very nice. They also have some very nice oil bottles and an oil absorbent pad at the bottom of the page.

Engine Cradle

As I mentioned above, this is the company that made the long one I have.

I made my foam cradles from a medical device that my Mother received in the hospital. She had a hip replacement and they gave her a large trapezoid shaped foam thing to keep your knees apart while you are healing. I cut it in half and have two 22" cradles!  I will look for a picture later.

I went to a local retail mattress store in the KCMO area and bought some scrap foam pieces 4" thick. Then used a sharp knife and razor to cut out the 3" wide 2" deep notch to cradle the loco or cars. I think I paid $10 for 3-4 pieces and made one for a club I belonged to and a couple for friends. Been a few years ago so the foam might have gone up the mattress company was happy to sell this scrap cutoffs to me.

Butch

Foam hip wedge.

Great suggestions.  I like the DIY, I think I have a section of new carpet padding out in the garage.  Have to see if the plastic webbing stuff comes off easily.

 I'll also have to ask my wife if she has any of those hip wedge things laying around. (RN at an assisted living community).

Building off of this topic......transportation.  How do you all transport your stock?  We had wooden cases with slide out shelves for the HO stuff that were very secure when closed and easily portable.  I don't think that would work too well with O due to the size of the case needed.  What are your tricks?  Or do most just pack everything back in the original boxes and stack em up?

thanks guys

I use a wood channel with a terrycloth sling stapled in.  This works for even the most delicate models.  Once in a while I use an extra piece or two of soft foam.

I did the pilot of my long-gone PSC AC-6 in the sling - that thing was the definition of a delicate model.  Took two of us to hold the sling and drill the holes.