It’s all in the box
A new kit from Model Engineers Laser provides a handy place to keep all your bits...
Last month we gave you details on the news page of the locomotive running tool boxes newly released by Model Engineers’ Laser. The enterprising Ed and Hollie Parrott, who took over MEL at the start of the year, have sent us one of the box kits to review.
MEL may be known for laser-cut metal components, mainly for locomotives, but it’s a sign of the firm’s expansion that the box is made from quality 4mm ply. As we explained last month two versions are available, the first designed for those operating smaller-scale steam locomotives such as in 16mm and Gauge 1 scales, whose accessories principally comprise tall butane gas bottles and water top-up bottles.
The second is aimed more at
EIM’S prime audience, running larger 3½-inch and 5-inch gauge locos and whose essential accessories are more likely to be coal shovels, spanners and the like.
Both boxes are of similar design, the only difference being that the smaller-scale one has a half-width drawer, the other a full-width version. They cost the same too, at £29.17 plus VAT and post. Their protential uses also extend further – at the National Garden Railway Show Ed and Hollie were using one to carry lunch and goodies to keep their daughter (the real company boss) happy while manning their stand!
The kit comprises 19 ply parts and a page of instructions – the only extras one needs being a suitable PVA glue, some varnish to protect the box once complete and optionally a length of 18mm dowel to add an extra carrying pole. MEL also recommends sandpaper but during my build I never found a need to use it.
First step on opening the package is to identify all the parts. This is essential as there are a number of components that are very similar to each other – MEL supplies a useful diagram of ‘all the bits’ which aids identification, and I found it useful to lightly mark each part with a pencil once I had identified it.
Look no glue
Equally recommended is a final check one can carry out before committing to glue – MEL suggests doing a ‘dry-build’, putting as many parts together as possible to ensure you know where everything should go.
Remarkably when we tried this, as the photo shows we were able to dry-assemble the entire kit without it falling to bits like a giant pile of Jenga! MEL’S ‘slot and tab’ construction is well known in its metal components, and works very well here – the parts are so accurately cut out that everything slots together easily but firmly, and extremely accurately – one doesn’t even need an engineer’s square to ensure right angles are maintained.
Once you are convinced you know where everything goes, construction starts with the central partition, which is attached with the shelf to one side. Again you need to concentrate – the sides for example have a correct way round, one edge having cut-outs, the other enclosed slots.
MEL recommends applying glue to the edges but not the male tabs. Use enough glue and then once the parts are joined run along the joint with a
paper towel to remove any excess PVA.
You need to be especially careful when attaching the ‘combs’, into which the adjustable dividers will slot – it’s essential you don’t allow any of the glue to flow into and potentially block the slots.
When glueing MEL recommends you use tape to keep everything square but, at the risk of repeating myself the connections are so accurate I did not find it necessary to add any help. The only time I used extra clamps was in attaching the central combs either side of the partition, while I found a suitable weight (actually a 16mm battery loco!) to keep the back of the drawer firmly pressed in place while the glue dried.
Cutting-edge design
The box goes together very quickly and once complete you can see clearly that a great deal of thought has gone into its design. Four dividers are supplied for the 16 pairs of slots, making it very easy to adapt the box to perfectly suit your requirements. And unlike plastic ones they don’t get flimsy and fall out.
The slotted handles in the sides are gently curved, making the box easy to carry, though I would recommend adding the suggested 380mm length of dowel, enabling one-handed carrying.
And there are neat touches, little clever items such as the extra holes cut into the sides and to which one can attach essentials such as keys to avoid losing them.
The box is high enough to accommodate such items as butane gas cans and store them very securely thanks to the dividers. But as such cans still sit below the flat top boxes can be stacked on top of each other should you need more than one.
I was very impressed with this box – it’s cleverly thought out, easily built and once complete is a quality item and very useful for keeping everything in one place at the track.