We will be moving from Merritt to Port Alberni (about 430 kms) sometime in December and I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions as far as the train stuff goes (HO scale). There is no layout to move, but there are completed structures such as a sawmill as well as locomotives and rolling stock. Plastic, craftsmen kits and brass.
We will be using a mover, but I was thinking of packing the items myself. For stuff without boxes, is bubble wrap a good idea, or thin foam (if I can find any), or packing paper, or????? It does not look like I will be able to actually move the MR items myself so they will be going into the moving truck with everything else.
Any ideas and experiences would be welcomed!
Thanks, Pathfinder
I would recommend that you repackage as much as possible into it's origional boxes. Many times pieces of foam may be needed within the box itself. This will protect the contents from a drop or mishandling. Movers or U Haul will have various box sizes, select sturdy ones that will allow packing the origionals for fit. Cushion the bottom, sides and top. It is always a good idea to add additional cardboard cut to fit the inside and use to reinforce the top and bottom. I will use the "Apple" shipping boxes from a supermarket. If you request they save them you can end up w/ a half dozen or so within days. The one refering to are the full slip over tops. Any venting holes can be covered w/ added cardbord. These seem to be a good size and extremely sturdy. Movers will appreciate simiar sized boxes and they will pack much tighter in the truck w/ less chance of shifting. I have done some considerable moving throughout the years, you tend to get good at it after a while whether you like it or not.
For odd pieces especially fragile structures, it would be best to pack individually in foam chunk packing (peanuts). Smaller ones can then be packaged within a larger box. If there are any specialty custom large pieces, you may need to alter and existing box or container or actually build and crate them.
Of coarse , quality packing tape wrapped top and bottom of boxes and fragile sticker are a must.
Double check on the insurance and the liability of the mover, this is true on anything you pack yourself. Some movers will not guarantee the items if not packed by them. You may be OK if they examine the packed contents before sealing, or let them tape up the box for final seal.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
For assembled buildings I would use styrofom popcorn as it will conforn to the building shape and has nothing to snag detials like bubble wrap or paper when unpacking, Do not use popcorn to pack unwraped or unboxed locomotives, I did one time and was a week geting flakes of styrofoam out of the drives,
There is no such thing as a bad day of railfanning. So many trains, so little time.
I moved a lot of rolling stock, but no assembled structures, from Tennessee to Nevada. Except for those items that had their own move-proof boxes (a few locomotives) I packed everything in plastic file folder boxes (the kind with the lock-down lids) separated by strips of fan-fold underlayment (thin extruded foam used by siding installers.) Individual cars were separated by little foam squares with cutaways for coupler clearance, lines of cars were separated by long strips of foam and there were several full-size decks separating layers. Somewhat thicker white-bead foam was used under the lowest layer and around the perimeter. The last slack was taken up by pieces of wadded paper towel (plain white, no printed designs.)
Packed in that manner, they survived about 2700 miles in the back of a pickup, then several months of packed storage while other things were taken care of. Other than a little dust, easily brushed off, none of the models suffered damage. All are currently in service, none the worse for their relocation.
When it comes to models, I strongly recommend doing your own packing. Professional packers emphasize fast, while models really need gentle. Once properly packed in sturdy containers, they can be left to the tender mercy of the movers.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Pack in original boxes as much as you can. If the box was say a Athearn BB, wrap in kleenex and pack foam peanuts in it.
If not. Get yourself some plastic underbed boxes{UBB}. Then get some foam from someplace that sells it like JoAnn Fabrics in the one inch thick variety. Cut one layer to fit the bottom of the UBB, and place wrapped in kleenex your locos or RR cars, with strips of 1 inch of the foam cut to go in between and around the edges. Then cover with another layer of the foam. Tape with package sealing tape all the edges of the UBB's together so when they are picked up they do not come apart {open} on the movers. You should be able to get 2 or 3 layers easily in the UBB. PAck like you are shipping ot china and LABLE "FRAGILE PACK ON TOP" ALL OVER THE UBB!!! Then BE THERE TO WATCH THEY DO!!!
For structures, Get large enough boxes from the moving company and pack with foam peanuts above, below, around, top and bottom, inside and out, all around with the peanuts.Pay carful attention to sensitive details like antennas.
That's the best I can give you.
And now all of us who have kept every last empty box the RR cars and Locos came in...now we know why...IF we ever have to move!
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Best - original packaging, stacked flat no more than four deep, and use wax paper between boxes to keep the nice box finishes in good condition. Around those stacked boxes place well-crumpled newspaper to keep them in place during handling and shipping.
Next best, and for general packing of just about anything in the hobby that needs care in handling - crumpled newspaper or packing paper if a moving company can spare some, or if you have saved some of it from a previous move. Layer crumpled wads in the box bottom, place the item centered, and then continue to wedge it in place with more crumpled paper. Do this fairly tightly with great care not to compromise the structure and details, cover over top the same way, and then close the lid, taping it shut and labeling it. Ideally, place that box inside another larger box, also lined with crumpled paper to keep the first box suspended away from the larger box's walls.
Good - styrofoam 'peanuts' or "marshmallows' inside a sturdy box. I place cars on their trucks with maybe a thumb's width between them inside the box. Then I hand layer the styrofoam bits, first letting them fall as I sprinkle them, and then ensuring at least three between each car side and end and whatever is close to those. Cover them up to the top, close it up, and tape and label.
If you have some, bubble wrap is okay, and so is that rubbery white foam sheeting that some appliances such as printers come wrapped in. If you have lost or damaged locomotive packaging, I would wrap locomotives and tenders in that, tape closed, and then do the popcorn/peanut treatment or the crumpled papers. I place locos on their wheels at the bottom, often diagonally for steamers and tenders that don't have breakable tethers, and then add some cars. Sprinkle popcorn or add paper, and seal and label.
Proper depth and density of the added padding materials is right when the top flaps don't want to depress to a shallow valley, but require some pressure to be made flat and held that way for taping. With that pressure, they will stack nicely several deep.
Crandell
Hi,
I've been thru a few moves years ago and am familiar with the problems of moving delicate stuff.
You have gotten some good advice so far, and mine will repeat some of it.
- Get what you can in original boxes. Get some cheap paper towels to help support the rolling stock so they don't bounce around in the box. Oh, don't forget to label the boxes, especially if you have a lot.
- Pack the locos and car boxes in your basic moving box - tightly. The less movement, the less damage.
- Structures are difficult to move. I used a number of basic moving boxes and placed structures inside as best I could. You will have damage - but at least the pieces will be contained.
- To minimize all the problems, move the boxes yourself - in your vehicle. No one is going to give them as much care as you will.
Good luck!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
mobilman44 - To minimize all the problems, move the boxes yourself - in your vehicle. No one is going to give them as much care as you will.
I will second this suggestion big time.
Move the structures yourself. I wouldn't entrust that stuff to the movers no matter how well you pack it.
Rich
Alton Junction
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
Wow, thanks everyone, all real good advise!
Fortunately we have a U-Haul here, and they have a good supply of different size boxes, packing paper and sometimes bubble wrap. All my locomotives have their original boxes but most of the rolling stock does not.
I would love to move it myself but that won't happen. My Forester will be filled to the brim with 2 cats, 2 kids and what we need to live on for a day or two until we get settled into the house, so into the moving van it will all go (except maybe some of the "rare" or more likely favorite brass/kitbashed locomotives). Hmm, maybe the cats and kids could for an adventure in the moving van
Again, thanks for all the suggestions, it is much appreciated!
Pathfinder
When I last moved back in September 2002, I used A-Line/Proto Power West hobbytotes.
They're a little expensive, but they work great. I still have all of them, using the trays for storing cars and locomotives off the layout under the staging yards as well as storing all of the equipment that has been retired.
For the more delicate cars that still have the original boxes, I still use those when possible.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
HaroldAPersonally I don't like styrofoam peanuts because here they aren't recycleable as opposed to cardboard and plastic wrap, which is. IMHO, it 's better for you to manage it as opposed to someone else.
Do beg to differ. Your local UPS Store will be glad to accept any donation of styrofoam peanuts - and they won't end up in a landfill. (That's where all the packing from my wife's QVC purchases goes.)
For structures, fragile items and anything of high monetary or sentimental value, by all means, find some way to move it yourself. It might even be worth renting a small storeroom (1.5m x 1.5m) in a climate-controlled storage facility for a couple of months, so you don't have to wait for the day of the big move to get everything to the destination city.
I would highly recommend NOT using cardboard boxes larger than those for individual models. Cardboard deforms under rather slight pressure. Plastic will take much more side force before yielding.
Pathfinder Wow, thanks everyone, all real good advise! Fortunately we have a U-Haul here, and they have a good supply of different size boxes, packing paper and sometimes bubble wrap. All my locomotives have their original boxes but most of the rolling stock does not. I would love to move it myself but that won't happen. My Forester will be filled to the brim with 2 cats, 2 kids and what we need to live on for a day or two until we get settled into the house, so into the moving van it will all go (except maybe some of the "rare" or more likely favorite brass/kitbashed locomotives). Hmm, maybe the cats and kids could for an adventure in the moving van Again, thanks for all the suggestions, it is much appreciated! Pathfinder
Get a trailer hitch put on that Forester and rent a U-Haul Trailer to put your MRR items in, and some of the household stuff you will need right away. Talk to the U-Haul folks, there might be a way to instal a temporary trailer hitch.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
when i moved my stuff for the building, many of which were scratch built , i loosely wrapped them i paper towels and then put them in cardboard boxes with more loose paper towels. I wadded these up like you might a snowball, but real loose. i put mutliple buildings in each box but made sure the box was large enough to put lots of the wadded up paper towels in each one, both between buildings and the outsides of the box. Also if you can get some double walled (thicker than normal) boxes it will help
good luck
I spent some years doing this for a store so I had an opportunity to get some practice doing repacks. Pack things tight enough that they can't move, don't pack so tight they get crushed. Use over boxes for smaller items. Make sure the over boxes don't get crushed because they will get STACKED up in the truck.
Lee
The LION worries about peanuts, popcorn, paper and such, at least if the structures are fragile.
LION would consider a box and attach the structure to a foam base cut to fit the bottom of the box, then build a foam box with 2" foam on all six sides. The model would have nothing touching it except at the base. The box cannot be crushed because of the foam bracing, and the boxes can be stacked. This should survive normal care and stacking rather nicely, of so him thinks.
Of course the LION's models were not all that fragile, and he wrapped his in paper and stacked them neatly in a box. But a hand made structure with fine detailed parts requires a hand made box.
roar, and good luck on your move.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I like the move it yourself idea if it is at all possible
I haven't had a lot of luck with movers over the years.
Once Upon a time.........
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http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/
I am a man of few words but lots of pics
I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !
I moved three months ago, and I can tell you I didn't let any of those ballet dancers TOUCH my train stuff. I suggest you put it all in your vehicle or rent something to tow. Packing is a lot easier if you don't have to use boxes at all or are simply putting stuff in a box, moving it yourself, and taking it out when you get there.
I suggest the most damage comes when you leave stuff laying around in boxes in the new place. If you can, put your train stuff safely away when you get there, no delay.
You have my sympathies....nothing's worse than moving.....
The St. Francis Consolidated Railroad of the Colorado Rockies
Denver, Colorado
Letting the movers handle it is asking for trouble.
Perhaps get a friend or relative to "move" with you. Paying for the gas for another car - even round trip - and road food for another person will be nothing compared to losing your stuff. It would also give you room for photo albums, documents and such that you would hate to lose if the moving truck goes off a cliff. Also handy in case of car trouble on the road.
Alternatively, store the fragile/important stuff at a friend's house and drive back and get it yourself on a long weekend, - you'll be glad to get a way for a couple of days after the "joy" of moving!
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
I am "moved" by all the "moving suggestions" to move the items with himself...but the OP clearly states..."It does not look like I will be able to actually move the MR items myself so they will be going into the moving truck with everything else".
I take it he doesn't or isn't able to, but Unless he wants to rent a UHAUL trailer to attach to his car or a UHAUL truck to drive separately...he will have to pack the items securely enough to be manhandled by the moving Company.