A box for the B4 tank

 

All steam locomotives, be they electrically powered, or steam, need carrying boxes. None of this digging a model out of its shopping box, spreading packing materials all over the lineside. A proper box, works better, and looks more professional. I might not know what I'm doing, but I do my best to pretend. 

So, the B4 tank needed a case, and I wanted to have it sit in its carrying cradle. To this end, I make a wooden box, just like the ones for the rolling stock, complete with clear, sliding front.  

At this point, lightning struck twice. 

Years ago, when planning The Hellingly Hospital Railway layout, I planned for it to fit on the back seat of my 1973 VW Beetle. I carefully measured the distance between the sides, and built the baseboard to fit. 

When I came to put the finished layout in the car, I discovered that while it might fit in the back, the board was too long to fit between the B-pillars, so it simply wouldn't go in. I had to build the whole thing again...

And when I came to build the box for the B4, I measured the length of the cradle, added a bit, and got on with the woodwork. 

When I came to put the cradle in, I discovered that I'd not allowed for the length in the mouldings that the plastic front slides in. Duh. 

So, out with the saw and a heavy knife, to put cutouts in the sliding parts. They still hold the plastic, but now the cradle goes in. 

I'm not sure if this isn't the best solution. To have the cradle fit without making these alterations would require a box wide enough for the whole lot to slide back and forth. So, on balance, I have decided I am a design genius. The model goes in and out, and is held firm in transit. What more could I want?