Excellent and very sensible

Excellent and very sensible storage method, combined with inventory!  Certainly much better than my method of storing my freight cars in shoebox sized carboard boxes. 

Is the app commercially available or did you make and custom tailor it for your use?

App commerically available

Antonio,

The app is called Bento by FileMaker, Inc. and is available at the iTunes App store.  It comes with a number of database templates (but not a model railroad inventory).  I just edited the home inventory app to the fields I wanted and it is very easy to learn even without reading the documentation.  I like the fact that you can capture an image as you make a new record (using my iPad).  One of the major disadvantages is that FileMaker doesn't have a PC version of their software to which you can sync; however, you can output & email a XL spreadsheet which is what I do.  Unfortunately those spreadsheet do not contain any images so I email them (from the app) separately to my PC.

There are some other great inventory programs available including Easy Model Railroad Inventory - here's a link:

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/4752

Careful with the liner

Thanks, Dooch

Bento and MR Inventory

Rich,

Great idea using the storage carts and software for organization. Yesterday, I installed Bento and a free template for model railroad inventory. There are actually two I found for model railroads. One for Bento 3 and one for Bento 4. I have been altering the template to suit my needs and it appears that it will work quite well. I will certainly be adding another field for location in my storage carts. I, also, have Filemaker Pro, which I have used to create many databases. However, Bento is so much easier to use and yet quite powerful. Thanks for the tip. This is going to make life a lot easier.

Glenn

One suggestion

...

Or if you use car cards, write the location on the back of the card.

Is it a bad idea to store the cars on their side?

I built 4 car storage carts using plastic trays my dad got from work when they were throwing them out. I planned on lining them with 1/2" High Density Foam (the stuff found at Joann ETC) on the bottom and storing the cars on their side.  This way, they don't roll, and the foam should prevent any damage to any details. 

Ken L.

Glen, I'm glad that you found this helpful.

I'm a "ease of use" type of guy (some may call it lazy) and I like how easy this system is to use.  Where did you find the templates for model railroads?

Marking the cars

Pelsea,

I didn't think of marking the cars on the bottom - it would make it much easier to return them to their position in the cart.  Thanks for the idea!

Storing the cars on their sides

Ken L.

I've found that with the rubberized shelf liner the cars don't roll - unless you really shake the drawer.  I've also got some of the new "fine detail" covered hoppers that have VERY fragile steps so I'm hesitant to store them on their sides.  I also wonder if stored on their sides and not removed for some time if they could stick and remove / mark some of the paint or markings.

On the side

Laying cars and locomotives on their side takes a heavy toll on ladders, side grabs, door bars and other stray parts on more detailed models. 

OK, that has been a concern of mine..

....but I don't like the idea of the cars possibly rolling around. I thought the foam would provide enough "protection" to the details, but the car sticking to the foam is an issue I had not thought of.  This kitchen rubber matt idea might be the solution I'm looking for.  Fortunately I can grind up the foam I bought for storing the frieght cars into ground foam so I haven't wasted anything.  Now I need to go out and find a good deal on the rubber matts.

Thanks all for your answers.

Ken L

Rich, is this similar to what you used?

Just want to make sure I get the right stuff to line the drawers.  So is the following similar to what you used?

http://www.target.com/p/grip-beaded-shelf-liner-black-18x5/-/A-11172308?reco=Rec|pdp|11172308|ClickCP|item_page.vertical_1&lnk=Rec|pdp|ClickCP|item_page.vertical_1
/>
Thanks!

Ken L

Shelf liner

Either foam by DOW is used by museums to store items. It is that thin white closed cell foam that you get fragile things rapped in. I will get a supplier later and post here

Blayne

Excel pictures and cassette storage

Excel allows pictures to be inserted. Most pictures would be rather large in file size but a thumbnail sketch could be included. These can be generated in Paint by loading a picture, reducing to, say, 20% dimension before saving off. This would reduce file size to about 4% of the original.

In Excel I'd organise it in a row per unit with a column for each parameter. The most important being at the left protected by a freeze line so that the name can be seen when scanning the less often required parameters such as price. the thumbnail is likely to be the limiting factor for row height so text could be commonly turned vertical or wrapped to reduce the space required. I would also tend to reduce the description of containers - "Big rolling cart 2" seems long winded even if you have an unbelievable mixture of different containers "122" would be shorter with the "1" standing for big, and the first "2" standing for rolling. I have writers cramp. That code would still allow for up to 999 containers which would be about 20 containers per item of stock in my case.

For storage I think there's nothing quite like placing the wheels on track and applying some locating pressure on top. t gauge has magnetic wheels strong enough to allow a train to run upside down but I wouldn't be that confident if there were any jolts. I was very impressed to see a sort of folded cassette. This was n gauge and a whole train could be stored and carried in one. The centre provided some type of track and the sides folded up to contain the train and protect the sides. I supposed that it could be placed at the end of a feeder track and the train manually pushed on. maybe using one of those rerailers as the connection. OK so you are O gauge and have 50 car trains but storing them 3 at a time would still reduce assembly time by 3.

Archie

Saving some $

I am using the same type of storage units, after buying a few at local Walmart and realizing I was going to need more of them I went on amazom, I bought 2 cases of them ( I use smaller units) with 4 in each case, they were sent free shipping to my door and saved enought to pay for 3  of them.   I keep mine in thier jewel case, have taken picture of the cars and have them in the bottom of the box under the cradle facing out, when I take them out I turn the jewel case upside down so it is easy to find the box, I have all the cars in individual drawers according to type.

Ken, this is what I'm using, but in blue

Ken,

Here's what I'm using.  The little "bumps" on it tend to keep the cars from rolling.

Am I the only one

That just keeps them stacked in their original boxes?

Organizer inserts

Staples sells a product called foam sheets (stk #30435).  They are 12x12, come 100 sheets per box and are used for stacking breakable things like dishes.  They can be cut to size and do not appear to transfer any oils or adhesives to the cars.

I found they got damaged in their original boxes

I used to build cars and keep them in their original boxes, except that usually meant the couplers and detail parts got damaged, even after stuffing the boxes with tissue paper or paper towels.  Many times the box wasn't big enough after the couplers were installed.

That, and taking them in and out of their individual boxes is a pain, versus having drawers filled with several cars.

Ken L.

No, you are not

Share your Bento Template on the Bento Template Exchange?

Hey Rick,

Great tip! Would you consider sharing your Model Railroad Inventory Template on the Bento Template Exchange? It's pretty simple to upload on their site: http://solutions.filemaker.com/database-templates/index_home.jsp

This would let the rest of us take advantage of your excellent work!

Thanks,

Ben

Not the only one....

@ Skiloff - I keep some of my stuff in the original boxes.  Mostly it is the cars and engines that are not used a lot.  But for the cars and engines I use often I prefer to keep in a drawer.  I find that it is actually less wear and tear on the equipment and boxes.  I do keep all of my original boxes