Keep a scrap bin!

[Jordan White]

This is one thing that has come in handy on almost every build, I strongly recommend to keep a scrap bin for cutoffs and other misc small parts! Sometimes you want to scratch something that may be tough to do with styrene strips/rod, or sometimes you need a piece of certain size or thickness to fill in a gap or hole, this bin has been a great source of pieces for many random things that I have done on builds!

[johnyrotten]

Absolutely,  one of the first things I did getting back into the hobby was start the junkyard. That miscellaneous piece or part could be just what you need. 

[PHPaul]

I keep two: 

One for cut-offs of basic shapes - sheet, tubing, rod, etc.

One for actual parts or 3D prints that wound up not being used.

As John said, one or the other - often both - get dipped into on most projects.

[Russell C]

Got jagged scraps and sorta roundy scraps ... 'cause ya just never know when one of those will come in handy in this hobby.

[shoeman]

21 hours ago, Jordan White said:

This is one thing that has come in handy on almost every build, I strongly recommend to keep a scrap bin for cutoffs and other misc small parts! Sometimes you want to scratch something that may be tough to do with styrene strips/rod, or sometimes you need a piece of certain size or thickness to fill in a gap or hole, this bin has been a great source of pieces for many random things that I have done on builds!

That looks like the dumpster by the end of the week at the body shop I work at.

[bobss396]

I keep small clean styrene and metal parts in pill vials. Bigger stock in bigger containers.

Leftover parts I have in 2 model boxes, general use and stock car. I just started a box for modified stock car pieces.

[Jordan White]

I have one of those desktop drawer organizer units for all my spare parts. I too separate out my good styrene tube/rod and sheet scraps in their own drawers, and this drawer is strictly for misc cutoffs, bits of sprue, and small parts that I'm too lazy to sort out but probably won't use! 

[stitchdup]

I keep my sprue for mixing paints. i cut lengths of it and leave a nub on one end. i find paint mixes faster than using a cocktail stick. For shapes i like to use aircraft kits or beetles to get curves and some of the shapes you can get might surprise you. for example a 1/48 de havilland vampire wing hides a wide arch (minus te actual arch) monogram mustang rear quarter inside it which is on my future builds list.

[Bugatti Fan]

Good idea keeping a scraps bin.

Not only for the parts carved off when converting but also the bits you cut off by mistake looking at the Aurora out of your windows Les.   Lol.

[Straightliner59]

I think I have about 40 of those!😅

[bobss396]

As a kid, me and my brothers had a communal parts stash. Mom worked for a big department store and would bring us boxes when we needed them.

One being a large coat box with a lid. If I had no money, I could often root through it and do an entire build out of it.

[Brutalform]

I have a Tupperware container with a lid, sitting on the bench. From the small leftovers I cut from styrene rod, or sheets, to aluminum tubing, gets tossed in there. I always rummage through the scrap bowl before grabbing a new piece of material. Not a very large container, but there are many usable items in mine, that I use regularly. 

[Bugatti Fan]

Tupperware. Now that's a blast from the past when my wife used to run Tupperware parties (anyone remember them?) back in the 70's. Coincidentally when we flew over to Florida with our kids in the early  90's to do Disney, Cape Canaveral, Sea World and others we happened to drive by Tupperware's factory by chance. I think I heard somewhere recently that Tupperware had gone into administration. Such an iconic brand from down the years. It would be a pity it it has now gone.

It also reminded me of a documentary about our late Queen Elizabeth at breakfast in the palace with assorted cereals in what looked like Tupperware containers on the table.

 

Edited November 30, 2024 by Bugatti Fan

[NOBLNG]

I picked these up at Dollarama for a couple bucks each. They stack nicely and come with 2,3 or four compartments and also in a couple of other sizes. I save most of my styrene sheet cutoffs and label them 1, 1.5, 2, 3, etc. with a pencil. It makes finding a suitable thickness easy when digging, rather than having to measure each chunk I grab.

[bobss396]

On 11/30/2024 at 4:47 AM, Bugatti Fan said:

Tupperware. Now that's a blast from the past when my wife used to run Tupperware parties (anyone remember them?) back in the 70's. Coincidentally when we flew over to Florida with our kids in the early  90's to do Disney, Cape Canaveral, Sea World and others we happened to drive by Tupperware's factory by chance. I think I heard somewhere recently that Tupperware had gone into administration. Such an iconic brand from down the years. It would be a pity it it has now gone.

It also reminded me of a documentary about our late Queen Elizabeth at breakfast in the palace with assorted cereals in what looked like Tupperware containers on the table.

 

My wife was a dealer when my kids were little. They had to buy their own display kits, she had everything in a big bag to take from party to party.

She qualified for a van as well, she sold so much and had a bunch of awards.

The quality of these items has outlasted lives and marriages, no doubt. There was always a pipeline to getting parts replaced.

[Brutalform]

Unlike many things today, Tupperware was made to last. 

[carrucha]

Good idea. I also have a box for sheet styrene scraps.  Very helpful when you need to create a small part from sheet styrene and you don't want to cut up a large piece of sheet styrene.

[dino246gt]

I have half a dozen scrap bins, and I use them all the time, they're a MUST HAVE for any scratching or kit improvements!

[Jordan White]

Oddly enough, I enjoy when I have to look through my scrap bin to find something to use because it really puts my mind to work!

[Brutalform]

I noticed my scrap bin gets a little, pleasant, plastic styrene, odor every time I open it. 🙂

[NOBLNG]

23 hours ago, Brutalform said:

I noticed my scrap bin gets a little, pleasant, plastic styrene, odor every time I open it. 🙂

My scrap bins are not enclosed, so I only get that rush from cracking open a new kit.🤤

[oldcarfan]

I'm taking you're advice for the new year. While looking for something I realized I have a bunch of boxes with sprues and loose parts. Maybe I can get organized in the New Year!

[Jordan White]

On 12/30/2024 at 7:22 PM, oldcarfan said:

I'm taking you're advice for the new year. While looking for something I realized I have a bunch of boxes with sprues and loose parts. Maybe I can get organized in the New Year!

Trust me, it makes finding spare parts or scrap pieces so much easier!

[gtx6970]

I have 2 of these sliding drawer bins.

Had them for years and I refer back them quite a bit

[rattle can man]

my parts bins alone take up 2  2'x4' shelves