[Ken Currell]

Hi

Packing a kit or an engine usually isn't that hard.

How do you pack an airplane for shipping so that it doesn't cost a fortune to ship and it arrives undamaged at the other end?

Thanks

[nony]

You need a container that has a tough outer shell, and will allow a minimum of 2" Between any surface and the model contained therein. Inside, the model needs to be held free of the outer surfaces and not allowed to move.....in between the two, you need packing material - lots of it. Styrofoam sheet is the cheapest and one of the best, with a layer of bubble wrap around the model. Avoid peanuts, and newspaper...they do not do anything to protect the model.
Two rules of thumb : you should be able to stand on top of your crate ,and dump it off a tailgate without the model getting damaged...thats the kind of handlilng it will get * ..I was in the business for over 20 years. You can't afford to go cheap on packaging.. Models are fragile, and damage claims won't be honoured if the shipper does not use proper packaging (I used to do damage claims too..). A lot of people forget that a box has 6 sides...

Having said all that, it does not have to cost a bundle to build a surviveable packing crate, but expect to pay for the cubic volume it occupies..

* It does not matter the mode, or the company. It is a volume based industry and boxes get handled as quickly as possible, often using automated handling equipment. Fragile stickers are useless..machines dont read them. Efficiency depends on filling every void with packages, meaning that your crate could be underneath hundreds of pounds of other freight....something to keep in mind...

[Noin]

How the heck are you supposed to be able to "stand on top" of a styro faom box? That styro foam must come from spruce trees.

[scaleguy]

checkout my post neer the bottom of the thread!

https://www.rccanada.ca/bb/viewtopic....18547&start=15

[nony]

How the heck are you supposed to be able to "stand on top" of a styro faom box? That styro foam must come from spruce trees.

The sytyrofoam is just packing to absorb shocks and bumps...youi may have missed the very first line:

You need a container that has a tough outer shell, and will allow a minimum of 2" Between any surface and the model contained therein.

[orenda635]

Mailboxes (UPS store now) has big boxes and you can buy packing peanuts bulk from them. Any RC stuff I've bought has been shipped this way. The post office sells the big boxes but not the foam. You can get packing stuff at Staples too but not in bulk.

If its delecate, I'd say put it in one box and fill it with packing foam or bubble wrap, then put that larger box and fill the remaining space with more packing foam. Just make sure to pack it tight. Most damage done is from an item sliding around in its box. Make sure both the bottom and top of the box are well taped. Use plastic packing tape as it's the strongest. The paper kind is no good.

* It does not matter the mode, or the company.

Sure it does. I've heard a lot of UPS horror stories. Send it ExpressPost or Purlator. FedEx is ok too. ExpressPost is the cheapest.

[nony]

Sure it does. I've heard a lot of UPS horror stories. Send it ExpressPost or Purlator. FedEx is ok too. ExpressPost is the cheapest.

Post Office stuff goes with Purolator...there are horror stories from there too....

Actually all the major carriers will co-load competitors freight depending on route and capacity

[Bryan Mailloux]

Basically you will be building a small coffin..... I have shipped many planes building from old plywood to build the box. Then make formers out of foam to keep it solid.

I have also made a box from coroplast which I reinforced the corners with wood.

Each methods has worked for me.

[Noin]

I still like the foam made from spuce trees idea.

[Ken Currell]

Hi

Thanks to everyone for their input and humour.

It was certainly an eye opener.

I don't blame anyone who doesn't want to ship an airplane.

Cheers