Storing your prized models

[wm3798]

Bubble wrap, paper towels, craft foam, what have you.
This set is some Rivarossi Penn Central coaches... Nothing too ornamental there.

I also have a bunch where the equipment is laying on its side and padded top and bottom. 

When you have it closed up and everything is padded in, you can line them up on a book shelf and label the spine.  Excellent for Pike Size Passenger Trains.
You should be able to order these things on line.  That's where I got them.  Ebay, I think.  Search VHS storage
Lee

[Skeebo]

Back in the late 80's the original PSA airlines was absorbed into USAIR and when they did they sold off their isle carts cheap. Many of us in the San Diego Model Railroad Museum grabbed one up. They are made to order for storing and organizing large quantities of N scale cars. A nice bonus is if you want to put a train on the layout on the other side of the room, you simply pop the brakes and push it on over.
      Jim Semikoski

[Skeebo]

          After years of my loco's taking a beating and collecting dust sitting on a shelf, I got organized and made up boxes to store and keep them organized. I cut down book boxes strengthened them with MDF strips so they could be stacked without sagging in the middle and I use paper inserts to lift them out. on the paper inserts I list the road number, model and any pertinent info like equipped with upgraded low profile wheelsets, , DCC, etc. Now when I want a particular loco for a consist, I know right where to find it and know it won't need repair before I can use it. Eventually I'll build a rack to keep the boxes organized.
              Jim Semikoski

[altohorn25]

I use these for most of my equipment - I line each box with tissue paper in case there would be any reaction with the paint and the foam (I'm only had 1 car do that over the past 30 years before I started using the tissue paper, but better safe than sorry).  Contrary to their recommendations, I DO use these for long-term storage (using the tissue paper method, I've never had any problems).

https://axiantech.com/model-rr/

For my name passenger trains, I use Kato 10-214 boxes.  They hold 8 passenger cars each.  Usually can fit a whole name train plus motive power in two boxes.  For example, here are photos of my SP/RI Golden State:

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[wazzou]

I store all of mine in this.
Custom built for jewel cases.

[peteski]

THIS!  I have foam that have disintegrated over the years.  No rhyme or reason other than the ones that break down seem to be used for "cheap" items.  Nothing for electronics, optical, etc.  It's a common problem with vintage speakers that have their surrounds break down over the years.  Plenty of places out there that sell replacements for DIY repairs.  I've done it for a few of mine.

https://www.simplyspeakers.com/speaker-foam-repair-new-edge-it-kits.html

I just ran into an example of "bad" foam.  It is the original packaging for this custom run car made by DVFC (probably around 30 years ago).  The car actually collapsed the foam it was lying on, and when I tried to take it out, the foam crumbled when I touched it with my fingers.  The crumbling foam is slightly sticky and feels moist.

While I was able to gently brush the foam off the car, I thing it slightly softened the paint which was in contact with the foam.