Army Packaging Newbie question!

[dingyah]

Hey guys, I'm new to BT, have only been lurking and have only done a couple trades here with users. Was thinking about selling some of my warhammer 40k / fantasy stuff, but the problem is that they are mostly all assembled, and i have NO idea how to go abouts packaging them together to send to someone. How do most people go about packaging assembled armies so they don't wind up all busted at someone's house? What about the army bases? How do i figure out shipping?


Thanks tonnes for any and all help.

-Wilson

[darkchampion]

when packing figures, especially assembled, ones, bubble wrap will become your friend! To ship without it would be stupid. Although, I beleive there may be a topic made for how to ship models period. You may want to get to know the search function, and find it, or else browse the forums, as I am sure it's gotta be stickied!

[MagickalMemories]

Yeah. A search will find you LOTS of examples.

Here's the simple breakdown:

Wrap each model in tissue if well painted or you are selling them to be playable right out of the box. If you're selling them as "partially painted or poorly painted or assembled, etc.," then you can skip the tissue paper.
Wrap wach model in bubblewrap. If you have long strips of bubble wrap, it may be acceptable to multiwrap for smaller figures (place figure, roll it secure, place another figure, keep rolling, repeat as necessary). Do not do this if it will cause excessive wear on the models. In that case, cut your long strips into smaller strips.

Fill the bottom of your box with foam peanuts, foam (like left over "plucked" foam from Sabol trays), or a layer or 2 or 3 of bubblewrap (depending on how thick/fat the bubbles are).
Once that is in place, place a layer of minis in the box. Cover with foam, etc like you did on the bottom of the box.
Continue in this fashion until your models are all packed.

Fill any excess space in the box with peanuts/foam/etc. Pack it in tightly to keep your models from moving.

There are many other ways to pack models. Many of them are good.
Do a search here and you'll find more.

Eric

[maple]

I generally send assembled minis in Army Transport foam trays, and make sure they are packed in with the plucked foam, so the minis do not move around while shipping. Next, I tape cardboard to the top and bottom of the foam tray, so the minis and their packing foam do not fall out in transit. I then find a box the gives me about 2" of space on either side of the foam and stuff it with packing peanuts/ shredded paper. I make sure that it is packed fairly tight, so there is little to no wiggle room around the foam trays.
Thus far, I have not had any major issues, with only one or two minis losing an arm/ leg in transit.
I realize that this is a bit more expensive, as you are using $7+ foam trays to ship minis, but the additional cost (IMO) is worth it. Plus, most of us have a few old foam trays sitting around.
-mat

[H W Raney]

dingyah
Welcome to BarterTown. Hope you enjoy your time and Trades here.
About packaging, all good suggestions with proven track records. I would add just a small addition - use ziplock bags for any multipart figures with "fiddly" tend-to-detach bits. If (and probably when) these parts detach during shipping, they'll stay in the bag and be a lot easier to find. Just a little personal experience there.
Wayne

[Agent-X]

I had the same question when I started here. I'm a new guy as well and a lot of these responses help!

[bluemeenie]

I wanna trade with maple so I get free army transport foam!!!!!

[MagickalMemories]

I had the same question when I started here.

Way back in "the day?"

I wanna trade with maple so I get free army transport foam!!!!!

LOL
You and me both.

Eric

[maple]

I wanna trade with maple so I get free army transport foam!!!!!

Rest assured, the foam trays are usually hacked up and plucked. I have a collection of old foam trays in my closet, just for doing trades/ sales.
I would rather spend a couple of bucks on a foam tray, then to have a trader upset at me for sending minis that broke in transit.