"Best way to ship painted stuff?" Topic

I'm sure this topic has been brought up before but…what is a cheap but good way to ship painted models? Wrapped in newspaper? Bubble wrap? Foam tray?

Thanks,
Dunadan

For small things bubblewrap. Not paper as it may stick to the paint.

For delicate items I glue them with white glue to a cheap piece of cardboard, which I then glue to the actual box. Then pack around with bubblewrap.

If you go overboard you can double the weight, which you pay for.

Good advice from Mark.

If you have bubble wrap, then that is excellent. You can wrap the figures individually, and even line the top, bottom, and sides of the box. I have acid free packing tissue, it is soft and it doesn't stick to figures.

Bubble wrap is lighter and, as Mark says, this can be a cheaper option.

Puffed rice is the best. Dump, shake, and fill to the top.

At the other end, just use a vacuum to remove.

Light weight and very good results.

mjc

For shipping lots of unbased or singly based figures, put 3 layers of bubble wrap in the bottom of the box, bubbles up, then a layer of figures. Then layer 3 layers of bubblewrap, bubbles down on the bottom, up on the top, and repeat with figures, wrap, etc. When all the figures and wrap are in, pad out the top, with bubble wrap, a cm higher than the box lid, then close the lid, squeeze and tape.

If sending 'stands' of figures wrap them up individually in bubble wrap, two layers thick, and pack them tighlty into the box, squeezing balls of wrap into any holes. Try not to use tape as this is a pain to unwrap at the other end. Layer as above.

When you have finished, you have a tight package without 'rattle'. It's the 'rattle' that damages figures.

One last piece of advice, make sure the figures are dry before packing, especially if varnished or painted with enamels. I leave them for three days, as a standard, before packaging. And remember, postage costs will be what they will be – forget them and do the job right.

James
Olicana Painting Services.

Wrap them in TP.
Seisouly.
Pictors does this, and I never had any problems with any shipments from him.

If I'm just shipping one (or a few), then I wrap them in tissue paper or cotton wool, then put it inside the yellow plastic container that comes inside a Kinder Egg, and tape that shut. That then goes in a padded envelope.

I used to use the plastic cannisters that film came in, but in these days of digital photography I've run out of those.

Puffed rice is the best shipping material ever invented. I have shipped dozens of boxes of miniatures, including microarmor and AOS ships with not a single figure damaged. And if you don't want to save a few bucks and have it for breakfast, puffed rice is 100% biodegradable. Just toss it out the back door and the birds will take care of it.

Not, I repeat not, in a padded envelope !!!!

From bitter experience as a recipient !

Actually toilet paper is far better than puffed rice. It takes a while to pack but if the stuff is painted well enough the extra time is certainly worth it. You have to support the sticking out bits so they don't break.

Do not use peanuts (the styrofoam type). And if you use puffed rice be very sure you have it packed tightly.

Three 25mm Hinchliffe ellies in a box with puffed rice – assembled, one painted. Arrived as one assembled, one elephant with separate howdah, one disassembled collection of parts. All with dings and scrapes.

Box of medieval 15s on stands (steel) not painted. Packed in puffed rice – arrived with half a dozen of the stands partially cut off at the ankles.

I have had others packed in puffed rice come through very well. Pays to be careful however you do it (have gotten some 30s and some micro armor that looked like some one ran them through a washing machine or cement mixer for half an hour).