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yogi-bear

What to do with vintage, but damaged boxes

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Ok, so my dilemma, I am currently in the process of packing up all my RC and other stuff so my family can move out and rebuild our house. Part of this will be culling stuff I don't need. However I am a natural hoarder but I am thinking these 3 vintage boxes probably could go as they are damaged and they do take up a lot of space. But before I do, I just wanted a 2nd, 3rd ... opinion.

So these are the boxes in question, and I've had them since I was a teenager, so there is some sentimental value there. Unfortunately during my many moves I've never stored them properly though, so there are varying signs of water damage and ageing. If they were in better condition I think I would just keep the lids and mount them in frames, something I'm tempted to do with the newer kits I have. But given the condition of these, even the FOX box which probably isn't too bad, I don't think they'd look terribly nice.

Thoughts? Are they really that bad? Should I keep them or should they go?

Thanks in advance

 

vintage-damaged-boxes-1.jpg

vintage-damaged-boxes-2.jpg

 

vintage-damaged-boxes-3.jpg

 

vintage-damaged-boxes-4.jpg

 

vintage-damaged-boxes-5.jpg

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I know where you are coming form on this topic... i have a JPS lotus box which is so squashed and damaged, but im loathed to throw it away even though i know its too far gone to be rescued..

In the past when i have had a box that has been out of shape or a bit creased, i have ironed them from the inside to flatten the creases and make them more rigid again. As for as the water dmage and scuffing though, there isnt much you can do really.

Because they have sentimental value, why not cut the front of the lids off and put them in frames? That way you can remember them from your youth while not having to store boxes which are getting damaged.

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That's great stuff, don't throw it away. I know I would not if they were mine.

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1 hour ago, yogi-bear said:

If they were in better condition I think I would just keep the lids and mount them in frames

Do it anyway? The wear is part of their story :)

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I use empty kit boxes to store spare parts in . I've got a Rough Rider box that is totally trashed but I wouldn't get rid of it as I store all of my decals sheets in it . I figure if I'm going to store spares in some sort of box , then it might as well be a Tamiya box . Body set boxes are great for this too . I've got a few Clodbuster , Monster Beetle Buggy Champ ones . The boxes you have there have 'patina' and would make good pictures , or you could sell them if it came to getting rid .

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thanks everyone, it's kinda reassuring to hear that other people do not think they junk. I'm trying to be fair in culling out stuff I don't need, but at the same time don't want to regret getting rid of anything. So I think I am now leaning towards @KEV THE REV's idea of using them at storage boxes. I've got plenty to store :D and I don't have to cut them up either.

I had thought of selling them, but thought the condition might be too bad for anyone to be interested. Maybe I should list them as "Near new, with slight signs of wear" and some slightly blurry photos. :o  Seriously though, I think if I did let them go, I'd probably regret it. So they stay until my kids get to clean out my estate when I have left this mortal earth and it can be their problem. :lol:

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18 minutes ago, yogi-bear said:

it's kinda reassuring to hear that other people do not think they junk

I actually went on a mission to find old kit boxes , just to have them as part of the collection for each car that I had , spare boxes went to storage duties . I bought a job lot of new and used kit boxes from a guy that used to buy kits and part them out as spare parts , needless to say I had a lot of boxes - space became an issue then , so I sold some ;)

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There are a number of threads purely devoted to box art + what it meant to us back in the day - just browse the site ... or ask @Saito2 😂

For me, these are beautiful time hops to days when packaging merited passion + detail ... especially re your Fox turning dirt and the LB sitting squat / purposeful.

Using them as storage feels like a poor end to something with so many talented hours in it’s making but definitely better that than the trash !

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On a related note I was wanting to start a topic about boxes for boxes the other day! 

I keep my Bearhawk box in a large plastic box that is almost perfect size wise it's unreal. I've never been able to find one like it but maybe I'm not looking very hard! 

I have my Stadium Blitzer box cut and framed with its price stickers, dents and all. It was like that in the shop for months when I was looking at it and saving for it so thats got some meaning for me.  I will be doing the same for my other boxes once I have somewhere to put them + can afford the frames! 

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Gee , if ya don't want the fox box , let me know :D . Mine has a very big hole in it . 

just keep them , they are herd to come by and the have character and that tells a story .. 

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Oh that's a difficult question🤔 I think in the TV motoring world when you watch these programmes and they rebuild an old car and don't respray it they call it "keeping its patina" because it tells a story and I think you can say that about your boxes? It's your story no matter how battered and bruised they are and with that in mind I would probably keep them😉

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18 hours ago, moffman said:

Oh that's a difficult question🤔 I think in the TV motoring world when you watch these programmes and they rebuild an old car and don't respray it they call it "keeping its patina" because it tells a story and I think you can say that about your boxes? It's your story no matter how battered and bruised they are and with that in mind I would probably keep them😉

agreed

On 7/29/2019 at 12:57 PM, matman said:

Gee , if ya don't want the fox box , let me know :D . Mine has a very big hole in it . 

just keep them , they are herd to come by and the have character and that tells a story .. 

well if I don't end up using the Fox box, I'll PM you. I'll have a spare NovaFox box at some stage if you are interested in that?

On 7/29/2019 at 4:11 AM, Hobgoblin said:

On a related note I was wanting to start a topic about boxes for boxes the other day! 

I keep my Bearhawk box in a large plastic box that is almost perfect size wise it's unreal. I've never been able to find one like it but maybe I'm not looking very hard! 

yeah, that's the thing, some of the boxes are very hard to get in any condition, hence my dilemma.

On 7/29/2019 at 4:11 AM, Hobgoblin said:

I have my Stadium Blitzer box cut and framed with its price stickers, dents and all. It was like that in the shop for months when I was looking at it and saving for it so thats got some meaning for me.  I will be doing the same for my other boxes once I have somewhere to put them + can afford the frames! 

any chance of a pic?

 

On 7/29/2019 at 3:14 AM, SuperChamp82 said:

There are a number of threads purely devoted to box art + what it meant to us back in the day - just browse the site ... or ask @Saito2 😂

For me, these are beautiful time hops to days when packaging merited passion + detail ... especially re your Fox turning dirt and the LB sitting squat / purposeful.

Using them as storage feels like a poor end to something with so many talented hours in it’s making but definitely better that than the trash !

yeah, I did read a few of those threads. Wall space will be a premium though. I think if I look after the boxes I don't feel that using them as storage is poor ending. I've also got a lot of scrap plastic sheets (acrylic, ABS etc), so I am thinking I can reinforce them and maybe laminate or protect them somehow so they don't deteriorate any further.

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1 hour ago, Hobgoblin said:

qxAUiYK.jpg

Not the best picture here but you get the idea :)

that came up well!  nice frame, simple and not too distracting 

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5 hours ago, yogi-bear said:

 

well if I don't end up using the Fox box, I'll PM you. I'll have a spare NovaFox box at some stage if you are interested in that?

 

 

 

Thanks , but i have nova fox box's thanks . All good , But IF you don't want it , At some Point  , I would be keen .

Hope things are going well  . 

 

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2 minutes ago, matman said:

Thanks , but i have nova fox box's thanks . All good , But IF you don't want it , At some Point  , I would be keen .

Hope things are going well  . 

no worries, if I do get rid of it, you'll be the first to know B) Otherwise have done very little RC wise this year, too much work :(  but that meant more money, such I get to tear down and rebuild my house at the end of the year. Hoping to get a better work area in the process.

I did manage to buy a proper Ford Escort Mark 1 3D model for printing. So I will give that a go soonish. I've also got a resin 3D printer now, so hoping to see how that prints. It won't be strong enough to use as a one off, but it should print a better finish and then I can mild/recast a proper body from that.

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23 hours ago, yogi-bear said:

no worries, if I do get rid of it, you'll be the first to know B) Otherwise have done very little RC wise this year, too much work :(  but that meant more money, such I get to tear down and rebuild my house at the end of the year. Hoping to get a better work area in the process.

I did manage to buy a proper Ford Escort Mark 1 3D model for printing. So I will give that a go soonish. I've also got a resin 3D printer now, so hoping to see how that prints. It won't be strong enough to use as a one off, but it should print a better finish and then I can mild/recast a proper body from that.

Would like to see how that turns out .  You need less house & more shed :lol: .... 

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21 minutes ago, matman said:

Would like to see how that turns out .  You need less house & more shed :lol: .... 

Don’t we all? :D

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10 hours ago, matman said:

Would like to see how that turns out .  You need less house & more shed :lol: .... 

well, I was initially hoping for a 6m x 9m space that was part of the house, which is now looking like a 6m x 6m glorified garden shed, but I will take what I can get (and afford)!

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These are very good for storing art work in, 

https://www.artscene.com.au/Shopping/accessories/plastic-bags/krystal-seal-archival

I’m on the fly at the mo so I’m not sure if the 559x762 will be big enough though without being able to measure a box?

They seal up nicely, and the contents can be removed easily if you wish later on.

 

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5 hours ago, Re-Bugged said:

These are very good for storing art work in, 

https://www.artscene.com.au/Shopping/accessories/plastic-bags/krystal-seal-archival

I’m on the fly at the mo so I’m not sure if the 559x762 will be big enough though without being able to measure a box?

They seal up nicely, and the contents can be removed easily if you wish later on.

 

Hmm, these look very interesting, who’s buying them first to see if they’ll work? :ph34r:

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I've used a lightly damp, fine nap microfiber to clean trading cards with great success.  Cards that I've purchased at a lower grade because of "wear" (turned out to be grime) that I swear I've increased a grade with careful cleaning.  The first time I tried it, I was amazed at how much grime the microfiber captured off a little trading card.

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6 hours ago, Juggernut said:

I've used a lightly damp, fine nap microfiber to clean trading cards with great success.  Cards that I've purchased at a lower grade because of "wear" (turned out to be grime) that I swear I've increased a grade with careful cleaning.  The first time I tried it, I was amazed at how much grime the microfiber captured off a little trading card.

cheers @Juggernut that is a great idea. I'll give it a go, I've got nothing to lose. and I suspect the Fox box might come up pretty well.

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22 minutes ago, yogi-bear said:

cheers @Juggernut that is a great idea. I'll give it a go, I've got nothing to lose. and I suspect the Fox box might come up pretty well.

I've restored a few boxes like that and also used a hair drier and 'sticky stuff remover' to get old packaging tape off boxes - easy does it ;)

 

kit box tape on.JPG

kit box tape removed.JPG

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