I’ll be moving about 1500 miles coming up here in December. I’ve got about 40 various models in three large display cases I’ll need to move, but I’m not looking forward to packing them all in custom boxes so they arrive safely. So, I’m thinking of alternatives:
Photograph them all from all angles and trash them. Save a few that have sentimental value. Switch to a smaller scale since I"ll be living in an apartment until I can buy a house.
Pack them all and bring them.
Find homes for them among other modelers or the hobby shop.
I’m leaning towards #1. Most of my models are in the larger scales–1/35, 1/48, 1/25. And 1/72 kits have been getting really great in detail and features, so I’m leaning toward scaling down.
Anyone done a long distance move with models? What did you do? What should I do?
I recently had a similar long distance move. I packed all my models as well as I could, tried to make them bomb-proof, with bubble wrap, foam, newspapers, whatever and in good sturdy boxes. Nevertheless, the movers managed to damage some, but fortunately not beyond simple repairs. Pack them as well as you can, turn them over to the movers, and pray!
Anything really special, I would take in my car. Good Luck!
I’m with Chuck. I’d take them and if you want to downsize on the flip side you can do it without the pressure of a move. I’ve gotten rid of treasured things in the past in lieu of a move and have regretted it. If it’s within your control keep 'em and then weed out what you may not want later when you are ready.
Great question Chris! I’m watching this thread for sure. I’ll be doing the same in a few weeks myself. I’ll be back in Vermont this weekend and plan on packing my built ones as best as I can. Hoping for just some minor repairs when they get to Florida. I’d say pack them best you can and do damage control when you get to your new place. At least you won’t wonder if they would have made it or not. [:^)]
i think this thread applies to moving period i mean many move great distances but even more people move 15-20 miles away 2-3 towns away and to smaller places or it is just not practical to make 64 trips to assure that they all make it there in 1 pc i am a bit of a hoarder and i have lost,damaged or left behind much over the yrs
Cadet Chuck has the best idea - pack and transport them in your own car. However, another solution is to donate some of your kits to your local American Legion or even a VA hospital around your area for them to display. I think they would enjoy seeing them. Just a thought.
Pack boxes in bigger boxes until you have a tight fit that you know they won’t move during transport. Think foot lockers with bright stickers labelled FRAGILE!!! DO NOT DROP!!!
We have moved several times in the past 9 years. I sold some on Ebay to thin the herd and packed and transported myself the ones I kept. Do not trust a moving company to handle your models unless you like to rebuild busted up kits.
I packed them in packing peanuts and took them in my truck. The display cases can be transported by them. Just make sure all the glass shelves are off and shadwhiched in cardboard. I went to Home Depot and got tons of boxes for free. You just have to be there about 8am before they slice up their unused boxes.
Keep em! Even if they stay in storage for a while…or forever. Spare parts always come in handy!
When I move to MI from KS…I packed around 70 or so models in 4 large boxes. Only had a coule very minor repairs (a couple fuel tanks, a wheel or two, etc had fallen off).
Supplies needed…Boxes (obviously!), extra cardboard, Elmers glue, scissors, foam padding, and styrofoam blocks.
The styrofoam blocks serve as supports for each “story”/layer within the box.
Cut the foam padding to cradle the model, like so…
Use Elmers glue to glue the foam to the bottom of the box. Depending on the size of box you use, you can usually finagle 4-5-6 builds per layer(again, depending on size of models). Glue the styrofoam blocks the to bottom and sides of box (these should only be an inch or two taller than the models on that level). Cut a piece of cardboard to fit snug(so it doesn’t slide around)…repeat.
You can see, kinda, in this pic, that I have two layers in this box.
I know I’ve posted it before…many moons ago. I think I submitted it for the mag as well. I know the first time I posted it, it was in a thread asking how to best transport the models for a contest…same way! (Those pics were taken as I loaded those builds to go to a contest).
On a similar note…“shipping built models”. I see this topic come up from time to time, so…
I cut “cradles” out of plywood, and screw them to a block, which gets screwed to the bottom of a shipping box (which is made of wood, and buried within a cardboard box, with a couple layers of carpet padding surrounding the wood crate). Sometimes, it works best to cut rounded “cradles” for the fuselage, sometimes it works best to have a slight arc to fit the wings. Each model varies a bit, as far as the best way to go…sometimes upright, sometimes upside down.
Just give your completed models away to show your craftsmanship to others and take the boxed kits w/ you.I did that on my many moves when I was in the Air Force as a F-4 Driver.Giving or selling the completed models will give you more room .I was lucky to find a local aviation museum to take my models.
