Should I glue...before selling?

[kathrynloch]

Heya gang!

Okay, throwing this down here again because I'm thinking of selling my Pegaso Roaming Knight on Ebay(he's sooooo close to being done - so hopefully final pics soon). More than likely he won't sell, but just in case he does, how much should I glue on and how much should I leave for the new owner?

Okay, I figure remove horse from base, remove rider from horse. But horse and rider have bits and pieces hanging all over the place. I glued on the helm and the shield, those don't stick out a whole lot.

But the great sword, mace, the reins, the broadsword the knight is holding, even his spurs, all of that runs a risk of getting broken during shipping if I glue it. On the other hand, I'm having a fun enough time test fitting all this stuff and trying to get to stay and look good, I really don't want to do that to a customer - that just doesn't seem right (flashback to when I was a little kid and my dad had to assemble my toys on Christmas day. :lol

So how do you guys handle this situation?

Thanks so much!

Cheers,
Karrie

 

[housecarl]

Are you selling it painted Karrie?
Carl.

 

[kathrynloch]

Hi Carl,
Yuppers! He's almost done!

Cheers,
Karrie

 

[housecarl]

I'd go for the fully assembled option then, that way it would appeal to a collector, and not a modeller.
Carl.

 

[kathrynloch]

Okay, thanks Carl! I'll just have to make sure I pack it to the hilt so it doesn't break.

Thanks again!

Cheers,
Karrie

 

[Steve]

Hi Karrie! I am with Carl. Collectors expect a completed piece they can unwrap and put where ever it goes. If you do sell and need tips on wrapping it safely drop me an email.--

 

[Tecumsea]

Hi Karrie, as a collector I have received several models in bits due to poor packaging/assembly. The most common problems are caused by items not being pinned on assembly....horses come away from bases or break at the legs...riders come away from saddles.....figures become detached from bases. To compound the problem there is usually sufficient room in the packaging for the offending pieces to rattle around chipping paint off everything they come into contact with...................just a few tips to be aware off....good luck with the auction.......Keith

 

[Jamie Stokes]

I once asked about packing a figure, and got a lot of helpful replies...those links were 2 computers back, but I think Steve gave some good advice - I'd PM him, wealth of experience there.

 

[Jamie Stokes]

Advice from Steve, many years ago....

Regarding packing a figure for shipment, cloth of any finish will rub off paint. Wrapping the figure in several layers of plastic wrap, on the other hand, will both cushion the figure and protect it completely against abrasion as the plastic wrap has literally no "tooth" to damage the finish. The air trapped between layers of wrap serves to protect it further. Just another idea, and I wish it were mine but it was passed to me by a wiser man than I.--

Also, another idea was to double box. Wrap and protect your figure,a s above.

Get another larger size box, stuff with the old styro packing peanuts, nest the first box (holding the figure) inside the 2nd larger, box.

Seal, post.

The idea being that the outer box absorbs all the shocks and bumps from the minimum care employees, and the innder box protects.

HTH

 

[Steve]

Karrie, what Jamie says above is exactly what I was going to tell you. Be generous with the plastic wrap.--

 

[kathrynloch]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for all of the great replies! I have packed my resin horses for shipment - and yes, I double-box, but this is the first time I've got one with bits and pieces hanging all over it. I just cringe when I look at it.

I was originally planning to leave the rider separate, leave the horse separate from the base, and leave the metal base separate from the wooden one, with simple instructions - A attaches to B which attaches to C and so on.

But the consensus seems to glue/pin everything together so there is absolutely no assembly.

Okay, but now there is only one problem.



I woke up to pieces this morning.

The post office ain't got nothing on my vengeful cats. So I'm crying over here. I might try to fix him later when I'm not so upset.

Thanks again,
Karrie

 

[Steve]

Ahhh, death by feline. I have a number of cats and have taken to putting everything behind some sort of door they can't figure out, as at least mine think their mission in life is to destroy my work.--

 

[housecarl]

A catastrophe then.
Carl.

 

[kathrynloch]

Ahhh, death by feline. I have a number of cats and have taken to putting everything behind some sort of door they can't figure out, as at least mine think their mission in life is to destroy my work.--

The sad thing is, I don't know which one to scold. They very rarely jump up on the table because they know death will be hot on their furry heels. I haven't had to get after a cat for almost a month now.

A catastrophe then.
Carl.

*groan* Careful or I'll recruit you to help me fix him. lol!

 

[dinovision79]

Hi Karrie,

first of all, good luck fixing the figure!
As for packing, bubble wrap can still damage it when packing, unpacking it, can catch small pieces. What has absolutely always worked for me was to fix the figure into the inner box. I use dental threads, it's very durable, also, most bases have an edge, kind of a step, or steps along the sides (if not, you can still have the thread over the groundwork), so the dental threads go along all four sides of the base - 1 thread each side, which I take through holes on the bottom of the inner cardboard box at both sides of the base, and tie them as tight as possible outside, under the box, basically tying the figure down, the knot being outside of the box, by all four sides of the base (by this avoiding any movement and that shaking could get the base out of the loops, if you can get the same size box as the base, even better), threads getting a grip on the edge or steps of the base (or, simply the threads can go over the groundwork, which may be simplier and even more stable, but can damage the groundwork). This way, even if your package lands upside down, the figure is in the same upright position and cannot move within the box, whatever happens and only has to fight gravity and it's own weight, but if it's glued properly and double boxed, that should not be a problem either.

Well, I hope it was understandable... it's actually very simple.
Cheers
Denes

 

[kathrynloch]

Thanks Denes! I had to read it three times to get it, but then I realized the premise is the same as the zip ties on kids toys that drive you nuts on Christmas morning. Depending on the situation, the zip ties might even work.

One thing we do in the model horse hobby is mummy-wrap the horse with toilet tissue since too much pressure from even bubble wrap can cause legs, ears, and tails to break. It also protects the finishwork as the bubble wrap can stick to it.

The next time I pack a model horse, I'll have to take pictures of the mummification process. :lol:

Cheers,
Karrie

 

[dinovision79]

Glad you got it! Now I know what zip-tie is