When did K-Line start shrink wrapping their rolling stock?
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Mark, do you mean the actual piece or the box. I remember Western Depot shrink wrapping every engine they had on display. Dave
The actual piece was shrink wrapped inside the box, with the styrofoam cradle and plastic cover not involved. K-7606 SF O Scale Reefer.
I have one reefer wrapped from 1992. Dave
Styrofoam has been known to stick paint and ruin paint jobs. Shrink would solve this problem then so would tissue paper.
Charlie
Hi Charlie,
Couldn't shrink wrap hold moisture, especially if stored in a humid room?
Tom
@PRR8976 posted:Hi Charlie,
Couldn't shrink wrap hold moisture, especially if stored in a humid room?
Tom
Yep! Sure could!
I often use acid-free tissue paper as a barrier between the styrofoam and the locomotive or other item. Never thought of shrink wrapping anything for long term storage, though. And anything that comes shrink wrapped is usually "set free" as soon as possible to prevent humidity damage.
Well, this shrink wrap had been on so long, it broke several delicate plastic detail parts that had been under its relentless pressure. 3/4 roof hatch levers were broken; 2 snapped off completely, 1 cracked. The roof walk was deformed (warped) from the same pressure, and the glue holding it had dried and let go. It has a serpentine appearance. Probably not the best packaging idea that MDK came up with. I was able to glue it back down but still looks wiggly.
@Mark V. Spadaro posted:Well, this shrink wrap had been on so long, it broke several delicate plastic detail parts that had been under its relentless pressure. 3/4 roof hatch levers were broken; 2 snapped off completely, 1 cracked. The roof walk was deformed (warped) from the same pressure, and the glue holding it had dried and let go. It has a serpentine appearance. Probably not the best packaging idea that MDK came up with. I was able to glue it back down but still looks wiggly.
The roof hatch levers would break almost by looking at them.
About the only good use for shrink and/or Saran wrap with trains I have found is to place a sheet under my locomotives when storing them on my white painted train shelves. The Saran wrap keeps the shelves from getting all marked up from the greased and oiled engines and dirty wheels.
I went with white paint on the shelves and shelve backings so the trains would show up better than with dark paint or stain. I also went with paint to hide the knots and wood filler I had to use with HD #2 lumber.
Charlie
