Using HO scale, crates,sacks etc

Remembering the 1/4" = 1' in O scale, i use whatever detail parts that fall into that parameter in real life - crates, boxes, etc.

jackson

There are large and small crates, sacks, drums, and other "loads" in the real world so large HO versions will look like small versions in O scale. Although there are many "standard" size pallets, there are all manner of specialized pallets. Many real life size junk parts like toothpaste caps, gears from a mechanical clock, plumbing pipe fittings, etc. can be used to "model" items in O scale. For example the mechanical clock gear can be "crated up" or secured to a O scale pallet. It will look like a BIG gear used in factory machinery. Your imagination is the only limiting factor.

Try it. You will like it.

Paul Goodness

I have a good deal of HO crates and shipping boxes at my train station and elsewhere here and there on the layout.  I've even used N scale barrels and crate.  Stuff like that comes in all sizes and it looks good.  I even looked at some G gauge barrels for casks at a vineyard, etc.  

Along the lines of what Jackson, Paul and Lee said above, all of the crates in the photo below are from Chooch Enterprises and were labeled as "multi-scale" on the package...

Todd:

Another idea to keep in mind is a lot of HO scale elevated tanks work great as O scale rooftop tanks - see below: (Rix Products)

Other Rix products such as their roof top vents work well also:

I have also used IMEX single and triple fuel tanks on maintenance platforms for grease tanks.

Faller HO Feed silos and Industrial silos work great on grain elevators as small surge bins.