I Wonder What Condition This Arrived In

[2railjon]

[herronpeter]

Actually, I have done that exact same thing with diesel models but I protected the locomotive when the zip ties touch it with strong thin foam and I always run the zip ties over the body at the center of the trucks. I never had anyone report any damage. If I were to do the locomotive pictured I would have used 2 ties, each over the center wheel of each engine set.

Peter

[rogruth]

Wow. I wish I had your eyes.
What zip ties? I don't see no zip ties.

[2railjon]

Actually, I have done that exact same thing with diesel models but I protected the locomotive when the zip ties touch it with strong thin foam and I always run the zip ties over the body at the center of the trucks. I never had anyone report any damage. If I were to do the locomotive pictured I would have used 2 ties, each over the center wheel of each engine set.

Peter

I can pretty much bet the pilot in contacting the wood and frame of the engine. I have received 3 engines with that type of pilot damage.

[sarge]

To me it already looks like the cab is pulled down at the front already. It won't survive, especially coming from the UK. A cab is a crappy place to tie, especially so tightly the board is deformed.

I block articulateds with foam between the boiler and forward engine, make foam plugs to fit nicely under the cab eaves and another over and around the pilot, wrap the loco in a protective covering, either that thin white foam sheet or the plastic bags newspapers get delivered in, them wrap the whole tightly with two turns of clingfilm secured with tape to bind the stuff together. If something rattles I either accept what it is by knowing for sure it makes no difference, like those loose delivery pipes of Scotts to forward engines on articulateds, or I do it again.

Only then does it go on a board, secured with several tightened turns of clingfilm, then carefully banded with clear packing tape. Use the clear plain clingfilm and spring for a name like Saran Wrap. The coloured stuff and cookable stuff might have coatings that can do mischief to paints still outgassing if left in unconditioned storage for a long period. Even with the foam or newspaper bags as a first layer, I still keep that in mind having had to take acetone to a model someone left packed and a loft for a couple years.

Anyway, the clingfilm distributes the load and strain nicely, and I haven't had one shift around and get damaged packing this way. I don't want them coming back once I'm done with them. Then wrap the box in clingfilm and tape it shut after having filled the voids with soft material like packing peanuts or soft plastic grocery bags. A little pressure closing the lid, then taped under a little load is a good thing. Cardinal rule; if it makes noise when you shake it or roll it through all axis, do it again.

I have found nothing better, though I always tell people to unpack the dingus immediately after receipt. Never have I gotten a complaint of clingfilm damaging paint, though I fear it a little hence the instruction to unpack immediately, especially if the model goes into immediate storage.

[herronpeter]

Sarge, that is a great idea. I finally saw some large rolls of wrap at Home Depot. Prior to that I have only used Saran Wrap and didn't trust it to hold everything like you do.

Peter

[Rufus T. Firefly]

To me it already looks like the cab is pulled down at the front already.

Thank you! I was not sure of what my eye(s) were seeing there.

[2railjon]

Wholly Shites!!! That cab IS bent!