A Tupolev

I'm a collector that likes to display my models. As soon as one comes in the mail, it's out of the box and on the shelf (after a day of fondling, no this is not kinky, you all do it).
I usually throw the box from my planes in a closet. Well today I decided to organize my two dozen boxes from the last several months. While I was very pleased to find Gemini Jets and Dragon Wings very specifically indicate the airplane, airline, registration number, and model number on boxes, AeroClassics does not. AeroClassic boxes are pretty generic (probable to put a few more bucks in Andrew's pocket). If or when I ever need to re-box my collection, matching planes to AeroClassic boxes is going to be a pain in the a**. A warning to all new collectors, put a sticky note on your AeroClassic box as to what plane goes in it as AC is to cheap to print a proper label.
This is why Gemini Jets and Dragon Wings are the state of the art in this industry.
How do 1:400 retailers keep track of AeroClassic inventory without specific labels on boxes?

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I am not a number - I am a free man.
More Tupolev planes please, Ty-114, Ty-134, Ty-144
My collection: http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-3750.html

CcrlR737pilot

It depends on the model of aircraft. I had 2 737-200's that have the same box style, The only ones that are different somewhat were the Canadian airliners which have several designs for their aircraft.

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I flushed a potato down the toilet and now we have to live in a hotel!

dc-8-556

I use "post-it" note stickers..., or just toss one inside the empty box with the cradle. They do the job and cheap. I like them because they do not permanetly leave any mark on the boxes if it comes time to ever resell one. Definately stay away from putting any permanent affixed label on a box, or worse, handwriting on a box.

CZMike

I have four volumes of reference books that I use to find information, such as serial number,line number, date of first flight, date delivered. Owners and operators and the airframes fate. For non western aircraft and DC'3 I have to glean the internet for information. I then print the information on slips of paper and place the paper in the corresponding box.

Some of the fun in this hobby for me is the finding of information and photographs of the real aircraft represented by the model.

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" WESTERN AIRLINES THE ONLY WAY TO FLY" Wally Bird.

CRASH & BURN AIRLINES

It is annoying ...I agree.

I was making a master photo catalog for my collection , and later realized I had mismatched a cradel ,.........tried to put a 747-400 is a cradel for a 747-200 , Thats when I had to hunt down the mismatched cradel, found a 747-200 with bent wing probes sitting in a cradel for 747-400 Warmed it up and made the fix. Will be more careful when putting them back in the boxes.

I learned not to remove to many at one time. But have photoed all the BB/AC. The balance is DW and GJ and it will be easier as you mention because they are marked exactly !!

JDF

gospodin

Screw that. I label the stupid boxes when I get them...if someone is so picky as to think that devalues the model, THEY HAVE NO LIFE. It's a freakin' box, FCOL. Almost every single box I have has some minor damage to it. These are not priceless heirlooms.

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Steve


"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

dc-8-556

Try selling that, if you want to limit your market. Look at this way, a buyer sees two models, identical, one MIB, the other with scribbling on the box, or another non-issued label. Guess which one they will want? As in anything collectable, original packaging can, and always will be a deal-breaker sometimes.

fazeman

A couple of guys that have their model identification shifter in gear.

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Steve

gospodin

Sorry, but I have never had an issue from anyone regarding markings on the box. Sure, if it's scrawled drunkenly across the box, that might be a problem, but I discretely mark them if they have nothing else to identify them. Most of the time, there's a dealer price or code on the box anyway.

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Steve


"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

fazeman

A guy that has his model identification shifter in gear.

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Steve

dc-8-556

Hahahaha.....yes, we all have our different gear ratio's. That's what makes this hobby interesting!

dc-8-556

I'm not trying to start anything here bud, If your system works for you, keep on goin'. Price tags believe it or not, mean alot to some collectors. I once sold an old Aurora plastic kit on e-bay years ago. Shrink wrapped, but with the hobby store price tag on it......the collector wanted to know if it was still intact from the scanned photo......go figure....The model was $3.69 at the original time it was retailed over 35 years ago.

STEVEJ

Just one more thing that makes the uphill walk of life a little steeper.

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Bush....like a rock, only dumber!

gospodin

No, no, not getting heated or anything...just that with so many things that others nitpick about collecting these wonderful little models, boxes are on the low end of importance, IMO. Just a storage and protection device, AFAIC. Some of them much more attractive than others, though. AC makes the ugliest boxes, very plain and dull, followed by BBX, GBX and PX. Saving some money wherever they can, I guess.

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Steve


"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

sammyk

I just re-boxed all my models for a move and the generic boxes would be frustrating as well but I found it isn't as bad as it seems. I found it only becomes a real issue if you're going to sell the model as you need to find the right box. If you are just boxing them up for moving or something then it really doesn't matter which box it goes in as long as it has the right cradle.

Fortunately Andrew has made it a bit easier with later releases where the boxes are specific to 737s, DC-9s, DC-6s, etc. After that there are specific boxes for 720s, 707s, Air Canada, Canadian, Latin, British & Irish, Asian, etc. So it's not that bad. The white AeroClassics box is the worst of course but I noticed that on the cradle there is an identifier of DC9, CV990, etc. so that helps.

dc-8-556

The AC boxes are not the best. I store many in a 'bookshelf' type display as space is at a premium(like most of us). The spines of the boxes are bare(or generic), so unless a person has a good system for storing models, especially when new arrivals land it can be an ordeal to find a specific model. arrrrghhh. The models are by far paramount, so I can overlook boxes. GJ get the A+ in the box art category!

L-1011-Heavy

They Are Not All Generic. Canadiana Models For Instance Come In One Type Of Box For Several Canadian Airlines. I Know For A Fact I'm Not Putting US Airways Or ANA Mohicans In Those Boxes. Though Limited It Does Help To Some Degree.
Them There Are Latin Classics, Euroclassics, B&I And A Host Of Individual Airline Names On The Boxes.
I'm Sure That Covers About 70% Of The Problem.
For The Generic Boxes, Become Familiar With The Shape Of The Cradle For Each Airframe Type. Aeroclassics Makes It Easy For The DC-9 Models. SMA Did It For Both DC-9 & 737s. There Are Distinct Relief Holes For The Wing Probes On The Classic 747 Cradle. 744s Won't Fit In Them Because The Wings Are Extended & The Cradle Is Longer To Accommadate It.
Another Suggestion Is To Do What I Do.
In A Large Box Mark _______Airline With A Large Label.
Putt All Model Boxes Of That Airline Only In The Cardboard Box.
Works A Charm.
99% Of Problem Fixed. 1%? You Fukked Up!

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The Heavy Armada
"In The Absence Of Excellence, There Is Only Mediocrity."

L-1011-Heavy

One Thing I Think Adds To The Collectable Value (Intrinsic, Moneteary Or Otherwise) Is Outstanding Artwork, Captioning With History Of The Airframe, Technical Details & History Of The Airline, & Links To Sources Of Further Info.
Gemini Is The Only Company That Makes Half An Attempt. However I Think Their New Style Boxes Are Crappy.
This Harks Back To The Days You Not Only Bought Vinyl Records, You Collected Them. It Was Awsome To Read Any Liner Notes Or Lyrics If You Were Lucky Enough To Get Liner Notes. It Really Enhanced The Listening Experience.
Plastic Model Kits Were That Much More Enjoyable If It Came With Captioning In The Instruction Book Too.
It's These Seemingly (And Incorrectly) Insignificant Nuances That Really Add Value To The Hobby.

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The Heavy Armada
"In The Absence Of Excellence, There Is Only Mediocrity."

ba777-236

Over the last year and a half or so, the generic boxes have drastically reduced.

I would say 95% of all models released these days either comes in a aircraft type specific box (ie a DC-9 marking box), a theme specific box (like this months Indonesian F-28's) or an airline box, like the MEA 990's.

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Faheem Ahmed

400 Scale Hangar Maintained Websites

A Tupolev

Thanks for the replies. Still interested in how retailers keep track of inventory with generic boxes for planes. Goldy, Norm how do you do it?

__________________
I am not a number - I am a free man.
More Tupolev planes please, Ty-114, Ty-134, Ty-144
My collection: http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...tion-3750.html

sammyk

I used to organize by type and then I'd just check the airline through the box window. If there were multiple regs then I'd put a post it on it.

ba777-236

I'm guessing most retailers keep their stock in the shipping boxes they arrive in, as they come in mini boxes of six (all models do). The outer box usually has a stock number or aircraft description of some sort.

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Faheem Ahmed

400 Scale Hangar Maintained Websites

sammyk

Yep, did that too.

N. Eberhard