Problems Shipping Complete Models part deux

I thought I had this problem licked... After having a couple of models show up at customers' places with several parts off, I started shipping them in display cases, taped to the base, with the cover on... then put that in a bigger box, and stuff it with newspaper and peanuts and whatnot. With this setup I was able to ship three other models without anything falling off (except one wheel, on the LS1 El Camino.) I also started shipping with Fedex instead of USPS.

But the '56 Chevy I recently completed (see COMPLETED Works) showed up at the customer's place after Christmas with the rear bumper and an undetermined number of wheels fallen off. It was shipped the same way as above, and only had to go as far as as Northern NY (like 4 hrs or so from here), whereas the other cars went to California without a problem.

I use a lot of crazy glue now, maybe 50/50 crazy glue to Tamiya cement in a model... is there maybe just a better way to mount wheels and bumpers? They seem to be the main culprits... or is there any other way I could possibly ship these things?

The few things i've shipped personally, i've just wrapped in an enormous amount of bubble wrap, with lots of space between the model and the box, so that if the box is thrown around, the model will survive and haven't had any issues yet, but I don't know if my example counts much since they were mostly anime figures without any major details or small parts.

I think some kind of custom foam packaging would probably be the safest bet.. check this out, it's not a car, but it might be adaptable:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/Packaging.html

Ya... but I'd figured the distance between the top and sides of the display case, plus the fact that the car is taped to the base, would keep it away from any impacts.

Then again, the wheels are on the base--and they're the things that break off the most often. But thanks for the url, that packing foam looks a lot softer than what I'd seen in the past, maybe I can find some of that...

i mailed a model on a display box wrapped in newspaper and whatnot and it arrived all smashed up. the next time, i mounted the model to its base, then wrapped it in several feet of bubble wrap, then put it into a rectangular ZipLock food container. then i wrapped that with some bubble wrap and out it in the shipping carton surrounded by wads and wads and wads of newspaper.

it arrived safely.

...plus the fact that the car is taped to the base, would keep it away from any impacts...

That may be your problem, if tape is the only thing securing the model inside. Have you been packing the display case with the model in it, with packing material also? Or is the model just loose, taped to the case?

No, nothing else inside the display case itself. I found that if I packed newspaper or peanuts in there then small exterior items would break off from the contact, bumpers, mirrors, etc...

FWIW, the guy who got the '56 was still very impressed with it, and wants me to eventually do 3-4 more models for him, and a huge gas station diorama to put them on!

And most importantly, he's only an hour or so over the border in NY, so I'm gonna hand-deliver the damn things :p

But the '56 Chevy I recently completed (see COMPLETED Works) showed up at the customer's place after Christmas with the rear bumper and an undetermined number of wheels fallen off. It was shipped the same way as above, and only had to go as far as as Northern NY (like 4 hrs or so from here), whereas the other cars went to California without a problem.


And most importantly, he's only an hour or so over the border in NY

I guess how far away this guy lives depends on the time of day and who's driving. :rolleyes:

Hi John,

I will try to explain in English what i've seen about shipping method and that could interest you, about the wheels problem or in general.

I saw a guy sending models with wheels off, model is put on foam holds,as if it was in a real garage... :naughty:
the model itself is held by a foam band, like a foam strap.
Do you see what I mean ? you can see such things in some kit displayed built like BBR...
of course model is fixed to its base with screws. Wheels are placed in "foam box".

another method consists more than model fixing itself in fixing the wheels through them with "soft wires" like tease.
I can only admit it's not my better solution and it's better used with metal kit.

I also often saw models sent or even moved without their rear wings on.
Some people place a small meal stem through the rear wing which come in a hole in the model in more of the glue. I even saw a guy twisting the stem which exceeds inside the body to prevent some dismantling.

Don't know if something of that could be a soluton for your models, but maybe something could help you or give you ideas. (only hope it was understandable)

Bye
Phil

hmmm well you say you are taping the model car to the base of the display? .. sounds like the wheels may be breaking off due to the pressure put on them + the pressure of being tossed around while shipping

i would get a peice of medium / high density foam and cut it so that it fits under the model's base and the frame of the car is actually resting on it .. but the wheels do not have any pressure on them ... then tape it to the base of the display ...

I guess how far away this guy lives depends on the time of day and who's driving. :rolleyes:

Yes... and the border's almost 3 hours from here. So.... About 4 hours. :rolleyes:

hmmm well you say you are taping the model car to the base of the display? .. sounds like the wheels may be breaking off due to the pressure put on them + the pressure of being tossed around while shipping

i would get a peice of medium / high density foam and cut it so that it fits under the model's base and the frame of the car is actually resting on it .. but the wheels do not have any pressure on them ... then tape it to the base of the display ...

Good point Flea, and thanks rallymaster... I think that's a given, I'll start putting foam under the car before taping it down...

Yes... and the border's almost 3 hours from here. So.... About 4 hours. :rolleyes:

Maybe you should read your own posts.

You did not say 'I am three hours from the state line and he is about an hour into the state', you said "an hour or so over the border".

If you honestly feel that simply stating "an hour or so over the border" in assumption we all know you live 3 hours from the state line is clear, then very well. My whole point though was the inconcise content of your post.

BTW, I am 35 minutes from the state line :rolleyes:

BTW, I am 35 minutes from the state line :rolleyes:

Which one? :wink:

Hope no SC patrolmen know how far you live from those two state borders :icon16: That Scooby wagon hauls more than groceries, eh :uhoh: :lol:

ok..... this is not going to help but if you can help it all, please try and not use any of the expanded foam packing products. Instead try and use carboard supports and shredded paper for padding as the paper is recyclable whereas the foam products are not. There are recyclable/re-useable/biodegradeable products out there but these aren't as accessible to regular buyers so if you can get that, great but in short, if you can help it at all, make a little effort.

[/personal crusade]

Maybe you should read your own posts.

You did not say 'I am three hours from the state line and he is about an hour into the state', you said "an hour or so over the border".

If you honestly feel that simply stating "an hour or so over the border" in assumption we all know you live 3 hours from the state line is clear, then very well. My whole point though was the inconcise content of your post.

BTW, I am 35 minutes from the state line :rolleyes:

Okay.... my apologies.... I didn't realize I needed to be completely concise about the distance from me to a guy in NY.... That wasn't really what the thread was about anyway....

hmmm well you say you are taping the model car to the base of the display?

not exactly, I said:

[...] with wheels off, model is put on foam holds,as if it was in a real garage... :naughty:
the model itself is held by a foam band, like a foam strap.


... sounds like the wheels may be breaking off due to the pressure put on them + the pressure of being tossed around while shipping

for sure yes it will if model itself isn't put on foam holds as I said...



i would get a peice of medium / high density foam and cut it so that it fits under the model's base and the frame of the car is actually resting on it .. but the wheels do not have any pressure on them ... then tape it to the base of the display ...

That was exactly what I said / tried to say... :grinyes:


Good point Flea, and thanks rallymaster... I think that's a given, I'll start putting foam under the car before taping it down...

that's the most important, that we can help you finding the good way or getting ideas how to send models without any dammages. :wink:


Bye
Phil