I built a model travel case last night. It is made of layers of dense, firm foam that I cut to rectangles with a knife to fit a cardboard box. I used a butane-powered hot knife to cut out holes or pockets to fit models. When the pieces were done, I glued them together using spray adhesive, except for the center two. All I have to do is lift up the top half to expose the models.
The foam was used to package industrial components. Unfortunately, I only have a few left. I need to figure out what gets shipped in them so that I can save more from the trash can.
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Model_Travel_Box.jpg)
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-3327 (http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-3327)
The models here:
1/72 Spitfire
1/72 I-16
1/80 Lisa Hy-Bird
By the way, my inspiration was Lou's transport boxes, reprinted below. The original discussion is at:
Transport boxes . . .
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/SMF/index.php?topic=164.0 (http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/SMF/index.php?topic=164.0)
Part two:
The top form is removed to reveal the BAe Hawk nicely cushioned in foam.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/Vautour/Misc/DSCF2235.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/Vautour/Misc/DSCF2236.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/Vautour/Misc/DSCF2237.jpg)
The layers of 1/4 inch foam are glued using plain white glue, wood blocks to apply pressure and patience.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/Vautour/Misc/DSCF2239.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v435/Vautour/Misc/DSCF2240.jpg)
More to come.
Lou
I'm adding a discussion from the gallery:
lastvautour
Excellent. How dense is the foam in comparison to a sponge?
Oceaneer99
Thank you for the comments. The foam is pretty firm. Each sheet is about 3/8 inch thick, and if you squeeze it with your fingers, it only goes down to about 1/4 inch.
lastvautour
Thanks Garet. My packing materiel is very close to an ordinary sponge.
In the past (1980s), I had trouble with the soft foam, as it sometimes can break down and make a mess of things. I had a fragile sea shell packed in some of that, and the foam turned gooey after several years in storage. Of course, I don't intend to leave my models in the case for long, just for occasional transport and temporary storage during basement workroom changes. The last time I moved things around, I just stacked the models in a big box, which was probably not a good idea.
Garet
I walked the production floor yesterday and saw pieces of those pink foam pads everywhere, used for all sorts of things like keeping tag-out tags on pegs. However, I didn't see, say, a garbage can full of them. I think this is the same sort of dense foam that they sell in rolls as inexpensive sleeping bag pads for camping. I'll take a look in the outdoor section of my local store and see.
While it is firmer than the foam they use in couch cushions, it is not as firm as closed-cell foam used for making kayak accessories (I have a small sheet of that as a seat pad for my son's kayak).
Garet
I checked, and it turns out my local outdoor equipment shop sells a 3/8-inch thick pad of the same foam (except blue), 2 x 6 feet in size, rolled up for about US$10. It is intended to be used under sleeping bags to provide a bit of insulation and cushioning.
Garet,
I saw this on one of the Japanese sites, thought you might like to see it...
(http://saiunkai.s261.xrea.com/cgi-main/img-box/img20091113090838.jpg)
http://saiunkai.s261.xrea.com/cgi-main/img-box/img20091113090838.jpg (http://saiunkai.s261.xrea.com/cgi-main/img-box/img20091113090838.jpg)