After spending twenty odd years in our current home, and letting everything settle comfortably around us, MrsJ has announced that sometime next year she wants us to move some thirty odd miles to be nearer daughter and grandchildren. As said daughter has also approved of the idea I'm on to a losing battle to stay here. Now, moving means considerable upheaval, especially for those of us who have numerous miniatures to move. I have soldiers, in various scales, model railway bits and pieces, a shed full of modelling materials and a garage full of woodworking tools, plus a fairly large library.
I would like to receive suggestions on how to pack my mini armies to avoid damage. Which type of box and how to wrap (tissue, cotton wool, bubble wrap) in order to let them be lugged around leaving me piece of mind. For those of you who may have done this recently, how did you do it?
Thankfully nothing will happen too soon, though I have been shown a number of properties on the market as MrsJ browses the internet of an evening. Mind you, I'd better finish painting the figures that are on the table at the moment!
I will have a good think and get back to you. What are you currently painting by the way?
ReplyDeleteOn the worktable at the moment are a set (8) of Rifle Volunteers with braided jackets and shakos, based on a recast Britains, and three different Yeomanry figures of the 1900s to see the different colour schemes. Photos when they are done.
ReplyDeleteMy wargame figures are all based so they do not easily fall down; when I move them I put them in stackable plastic boxes a little deeper than the figures. Figures that are not especially valuable or breakable I just keep in cardboard boxes found in various stores. Foam boxes wit lids are also found at supermarkets etc. They are light weight, which is an advantage. Books need to be packed in cardboard or foam boxes that are not too big so they can be easily lifted.
ReplyDeleteGarage sales prior to moving may be useful for disposing of unwanted furniture and stuff you don't really need. If you want to prune your collection Ebay is better than garage sales as you may not get collectors there who will pay non garage sale prices.
As you are only thirty miles away from the change of address the shift is going to be easier but for such a small distance why would you bother moving at all? In Australia that distance is considered just around the block!
I'd be happy to stay here, but who knows the mysteries of the female mind.
DeleteLarge plastic tubs with styrofoam peanuts packed carefully around the figures/units. Tape the lids securely on, and move them yourself if feasible. Barring that, give the house movers special instructions and add plenty of "This Side Up" stickers to everything to minimize possible shifting and damage. This worked very well when we moved from Illinois to Michigan 5.5 years ago, and everything survived the move and storage quite well.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Stokes
Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've had to move my collection 5 times in the last 40 yrs but each time it was a short distance with a couple of days to a couple of years to complete the move. So I was able to transport everything by car, one load at a time.
I've sent Boxed Toy Soldiers interstate - found Tissue Paper to be very good for wrapping individual figures or stands of figures- no complaints from my Customers.
ReplyDeleteWhen I made my last move, I didn't do too much about the miniatures. I keep my miniatures in drawers (storage equals transport for me), I simply put a sheet of bubblewrap plastic over them and that was it.
ReplyDeleteBUT! I didn't let the moving company handle them. I moved them myself in my car ... took more than one trip, but at least I was in control when something would go wrong.
As for the amount of stuff: a move is always a good point in time to think about all the things you have and getting rid of all the stuff you most likely will not use again. If you don't go through that exercise when moving house, then when will you ever?
Books in boxes - but not too many books think of the removal mens backs.. :o)) For figures I use "Really Useful" boxes of various sizes from Hobbcraft (and I guess other places), last time I moved house, I moved the figures (and anything lese delicate) myself in the car.. I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it...
ReplyDeleteI shall certainly be handling the troops myself. Don't even trust MrsJ with the packing of them. Last time we moved we put valuable ornaments in heavy duty boxes and filled in with sawdust (hamster bedding), but it gets everywhere and is a devil to clean out. I shall be having a clear out of the lead pile (lots of Crann Tara and Fife 'n Drum, so might list them here after the new year. Other stuff I'm arranging to go to auction.
ReplyDelete