Crates to detail your loading docks

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What is the most noticeable thing in any photo of a prototype freight transshipment area?

What is missing from most models of industrial loading docks and other freight transshipment areas?

If you agree that the answer to both of the above questions is “crates”, then you are already  thinking like I was some time ago when I came up with the idea for this range of cast resin crates.

As a general rule, in any freight house or port scene, the more crates are piled up, the better.  They should be stacked everywhere, not just in ones and two, but by the hundred – and in as great a variety as one can muster.  Although several other manufacturers offer crates, most are very expensive and some also need assembly.

The crates offered here come in over 50 different configurations and are less expensive than most competitors’ offerings.  They are cast in resin in one-piece molds to avoid parting lines, and are available either painted to represent wood or as raw castings for the purchaser to decorate.

Most require no assembly although the largest crates are supplied as pairs of matching ends only.  This avoids potential problems with distortion due to shrinkage, and allows the purchaser to add sides of any length, in styrene or basswood according to preference.

Although more economical than most, a huge number of crates for a busy port scene or similar can still get expensive.  If you want many crates, consider purchasing the molds instead.

Our silicone rubber molds are poured to order from high-quality RTV rubber.  They are intended for use with casting resin (I have used Alumilite and Micro-Mark products with good results but cannot offer assurances regarding any other casting medium).  If treated with care, they will last a long time and produce a large number of excellent castings.

A note about scale:

N-scale:

Most of the crates in selection 1 (molds A and B) are great for N-scale with a plank width of approximately 11".  Although a few are wider - you don't need to fill every cavity so there’s no need to waste resin.  Most crates in selection 3 (molds C and D) are suitable for flat-car or gondola loads in N-scale.  The large crate ends (mold E) are not suitable for N-scale use.

HO-scale:

All these crates were originally intended for use on my own HO-scale layout.  Most crates have a plank spacing about right for a scale 1x6 although some are wider.  Crate ends (mold E) are intended for flat-car or gondola loads and use a scale 11" wide plank.

O-scale:

All these crates are appropriate for use in O-scale.  Most of the smaller ones have a plank spacing scaling out to approximately 3", although some are wider. Crate ends (mold E) are great for O-scale, allowing lots of flexibility and having a 6" plank spacing.

G-scale:

All these crates can be used for G-scale. Crate ends (mold E) are the most versatile, although even the smallest crates can be used if you are willing to accept a very narrow plank spacing.  The mid-range crates (molds C and D) make good small crates in this scale.  Small crates (molds A and B) would be good as components for palletized loads.