Mounted Viking (MAJOR BUMMER!)

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AJLaFleche

A Fixture
Joined
Oct 29, 2004
Messages
982
Location
West Springfield MA
Here is one of my recent projects, Andrea’s 54mm mounted “Viking”. I painted and presented him as a Game of Thrones Wildling and titled the piece Valar Morghulis, or All Men Must Die.

It debuted at MFCA a couple weeks ago and the day after I got home from the show, I got a phone call with an interested buyer. The figure was packed securely attached to a box inside a box that would not move. It was sent Priority Mail, marked FRAGILE in numerous places on the package and insured.

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This is what arrived

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Needless to say, I’ve filed a claim on the insurance.
 
Bummer, Al. Bummer collector! I learned a tip from Ron Wehrman many moons ago that will help prevent this sort of nightmare. The process is exactly what you have done, except for one step. Before putting the figure into the inside box, wrap it up like a cocoon in kitchen plastic wrap. Does not have to be a name brand, just any old plastic wrap. The wrap has no "tooth" that will rub paint off and layers provide perfect protection. I have sent a lot of painted figures this way with a great survival percentage. 99% or so. It is not as tricky as it sounds. The first wraps are very loose and then I put about an inch of wrap on it, all firmly in place but not so tight as to wreck sword blades or anything. Practice makes perfect etc. but it is not rocket science. I wrap the who le figure including the base. Delicate parts like swords or rifles get a length of soda straw to protect them before being wrapped. Enjoy rebuilding your Viking!
 
I've bought figures which have arrived this way. It is essential to wrap them but also to support the figure on the base so that if it becomes detached it doesn't rattle around in an empty box damaging everything it touches. Pin everything and don't rely on superglue which will not stand shocks. The russians have it right they cut out the shape of the figure in sponge/foam and then insert the figure so that it can't move. Sorry you had to learn the hard way, it is so disappointing to see so many hours of work destroyed.

Keith
 

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