Advice needed on packing completed models to avoid damage

[AZ]

I know that people who do commissions have to pack and ship built, painted models to customers. And vendors and contestants have to get their models to shows like Wonderfest safely.

What works and what doesn't?

I'll be moving half way across thew country next year, and I would like to keep my built-up models (mostly girl kits) from getting damaged.

Thanks!

[resin addict]

Don’t just cushion with plain styrofoam peanuts...the vibration of being in a car and the (surprisingly) abrasive nature of peanuts can actually wear off paint on high spots.
I learned that the hard way going to WF one year.
My wife’s job has (literally) bushels of bubblewrap that they recycle daily, so I have access to an unlimited amount for free...I usually wrap several layers around things (bubble side in)...try to get about 3 to 4” of cushion around each piece. The only time I’ve ever had an issue is when a carefully wrapped piece went through Canadian Customs (Hint - it wasn’t carefully wrapped when it left Canadian Customs).

[ffolkes75]

I haven't shipped a lot, but what I have shipped, I've used a ton of bubble wrap. The kit was built to disassemble in three pieces. Two heavy and one light. Wrapped the two heavys in a ton of bubble wrap...probably incased in 4" of wrap. boxed them individually...then put the individual boxes into a large box...again the small boxes bubble wrapped so they were suspended. Might have been over kill but I used to load trucks at UPS and I know what those boxes can go through. I don't quite go through all that going to shows...but I do take a lot of thought and time packing them for shows. Depending on their sizes, they go into individual boxes....either wrapped or suspended within the box. Oh and I usually custom make the boxes to fit the pieces. Think about it....you spent oodles of time building and painting the piece....they deserve a bit of time taken packing them.

[beaveren]

Jim Capone, who has shipped several completed models to me over the years, recommends wrapping the model in plastic or saran wrap. He then wraps bubble wrap around this and then in go the peanuts. He has also been know to "double box" in the past.

B

[pzcreations]

I do the same as Jim ,but I dont use Pnuts.. I use pillow stuffing ,buy it in big box at Hobbylobby...doesnt allow the model to shift while in transit ,but its cushion for it for the hard bumps. always worked great for all the armor models I shipped ,even loaded with photo etch. dont recall having any major breaks, especially on figures.

[DoctorG]

When bringing pieces on the plane trip to WonderFest, I wrap each piece with one of those plastic shopping bags that you get at the grocery store. They're non-abrasive and isolate the piece from anything else in the box that may come in contact and scratch the surface. They're cheap too!

[AZ]

Thank, guys. This is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for.

[AZ]

I am happy to report that the advice given nearly 3 years ago worked very well. I just finished unpacking my models this week (10 moving boxes), and all of models are in great condition.

I had packed up my completed, painted models in the spring of 2019 when we put our house in Arizona up for sale. The real estate agent thought the "girls" might offend potential buyers. So they stayed boxed up from that time through our eventual move and then the whole time we lived in a rental house while our new house in Texas was being built.

The only slight casualty was a warped spoon handle on my Hocus Pocus figure, which I assume was the result of travelling across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas in an unairconditioned moving van in August. The spoon handle is only about 1.5 mm thick. A hairdryer and glass of cool water restored it just fine.

I truly appreciate the advice.

[Tim Fortuna]

That's great news AZ. Glad that you can enjoy them again in your new home.

[Heavy Metal Spike]

I am happy to report that the advice given nearly 3 years ago worked very well. I just finished unpacking my models this week (10 moving boxes), and all of models are in great condition . . .

Love a story with a happy ending



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[Warped Speed]

Biodegradable peanuts! These are softer than typical type and absorb shock and cushion better than anything I've used. Buy a small bag and see what you think. And they're less likely to rub paint as bad as the styrene type too.

Carl-

[Heavy Metal Spike]

Biodegradable peanuts! These are softer than typical type and absorb shock and cushion better than anything I've used. Buy a small bag and see what you think. And they're less likely to rub paint as bad as the styrene type too.

Carl-

Oh heck no !!!!!!! - slightest bit of moisture and you end up with a kit that resembles the penultimate scene from John Carpenter's "The Thing"

I had to go through all my stash at one point to test & remove the little bleeders!


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[bucketfoot-al]

I know that people who do commissions have to pack and ship built, painted models to customers. And vendors and contestants have to get their models to shows like Wonderfest safely.

What works and what doesn't?

I'll be moving half way across the country next year, and I would like to keep my built-up models (mostly girl kits) from getting damaged.

Thanks!

We are moving from CA to SoTX in 2 months. 1800+ miles. Most models packed up in garage right now (will post some photos eventually. Mountains of boxes. Almost all of it just my modeling "STUFF" (as my wife likes to point out) .

What we did: bought BALES of bubble wrap, disassembled models (to the extent possible) and packed them inside boxes (both the cardboard and Costco big black plastic variety).

I am resigned to having to repair some of the kits prior to reassembly. I think even the best packing won't be perfect.

I had a nice "attaboy" post for you about the move ... and then saw that your original post was from 3 YEARS ago ... hate it when "dead threads" come back to life years later .... but glad to read that your stuff got there intact.

[bucketfoot-al]

Biodegradable peanuts! These are softer than typical type and absorb shock and cushion better than anything I've used. Buy a small bag and see what you think. And they're less likely to rub paint as bad as the styrene type too.

Carl-

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (See Spike's comment - nothing to add).