I bought these kits recently and noticed the different
box-vs-content strategies of Roden and Miniart.

I think it would be possible to get one more sprue into the Miniart box if the sprue only has "flat" parts on it.
I'll let you judge the "potential" of the Roden box ...
/ Robin

Meng and Takom typically have very packed boxes as well.

Maybe a one-box-fits-all approach reduces production costs? Nobody would realistically expect a Jeep kit to take up that much space, would they?

It's no the size that matters it's what you do with it

Hotel builds = everything in one box. Starting with a bigger box means not having to switch to one. And then, since you're in a hotel you can use the bigger box for other things...

and leftovers get used for the diorama afterwards?
/ Robin

size vs speed/frequency?

What are leftovers? A concurrent meal perhaps, but never leftovers.

Robin, Robert, et. al. There might be enough room in that "hotel box" for "leftover" Lutfisk! (an inside joke between Robin and I). I've noticed Roden has a standard sized box for their 1/32 aircraft kits, and many of their vehicle kits come in the same size box. I've also noticed these boxes are difficult to open sometimes because the tops fit so closely to the bottoms. When Squadron was importing their "Encore" line of kits (mostly Roden reboxes). They used the very same box-- I believe from the same manufacturer. It's likely just easier to use what's on hand rather than to engineer a new box for a new item. Enjoy that Lutfisk! If you eat it in a hotel though, you'll empty the whole floor....
VR, Russ

Based on my experience so far the Miniart boxes are some of the tightest fitting (lid vs bottom). Nearly impossible to open sometimes.

A strange thing about those Roden boxes is that the Ludewig buses come in smaller boxes than the M43 above even if the bus contains more plastic.
Still a generous amount of air in the box but only half as much as in the M43 box

I used to do the old shake test, if you hear a lot of rattling you are buying a box of expensive air, if you can't hear much it may be full of plastic goodness. Unless it says Skif on the box.

Maybe that's why the lid is so tight - to trap in the almost-criminal aroma!

What gets me with some mfgrs is that they shrink-wrap the sprues as a bundle inside said jumbo box, ensuring that parts get warped or broken...

Try shopping from HobbyTerra, they ship the kits in the same way as they receive them from Miniart. Boxes as flat packs, all the sprues in a bag with the kit number on a sticker.
The instruction sheet is inside the flat lid.
1. Fold up the lower box
2. Find the correct bag
3. Place bag in box (take a swig from the bag-in-box if that suits you)
4. Find the correct lid
5. Open up the lid folds
6. Place instruction booklet in lower box
7. Try getting the lid down over the lower box.
8. Went frustration with foul language, hit the bag-in-box if you think it helps
9. Say Hurrah when the lid finally slides in place

/ Robin

Hi Robin,

That explains a lot! I assume they get these DIY kits in big cartons, so there's lots of squashing of bagged sprues against one another to add to the fun...