Unboxing figures

For the Big Move ™ down south I was quite worried about how the figures were going to manage the journey. I wasn't entirely sure of the best way to pack them, so like a good libra I settled for three different approaches.

Method 1: magnetised bases in steel-lined drawers.

This was recommended by various people. I didn't have enough space to send as many drawers as I would like, but I used this for elephants, chariots, pikemen, and figures which had a variety of poses on each base.

Method 2: magnetised bases in biscuit tins.

This is an extension of the first method. Used for baggage trains, cataphracts, heavy cavalry.

Method 3: intensive packing.

This was something I thought would save space, and might actually protect the figures provided I had varnished them as well as I thought I had.

This is a brief explanation of the method:

1. Box measuring approx. 330 x 300 x 100 is found and labelled in pen for easy reference and in the hope that it will deter the customs man at the New Zealand end from opening it...

2. In the box matching base is stacked on top of matching base so that the figures are horizontal and the base edges themselves are holding any weight. Sometimes the figures slot together; other times they sit head touching head.

3. Bases are stacked along bottom of box in rows, with some variation to make sure they are packed tight enough that they will not move around.

4. Figures mounted singly on coins are inserted into the gaps head first.

5. Contents are covered with packing material so that nothing can move.

Box is closed, taped, and subjected to several species of incantations chanted in an ancient and barbaric tongue.

6. Contents are pulled out of box at destination and inspected.

And it's not too bad: two shields and a pilum came unglued, and one Miniature Figurine bendy spear broke. Otherwise, no damage.

Three more boxes' and an ice cream container's worth to go!

Hopefully they will come out in similarly good nick.

And the damage?

A preliminary inspection of the most vulnerable of the 15mm figure lots seems to indicate that they've made it to the southern hemisphere relatively unscathed. I was packing my pants a little when I saw that one of the A4 sized file drawers had collapsed in on itself; miraculously, however, there appears not to have been any crushing damage to speak of, and those layers of protective clear varnish did their bit for the cause.

There may yet be some tears to come, but so far so good!

One of my first acts must be to put on a game for some of the Nelson wargamers who've welcomed me so kindly.

So now there's just the small matter of deciding what that game should be...

As a postscript, I was quite amused to see that Pat, one of my board wargame mates in Japan, was so taken with last year's What a Tanker! game that he's possessed himself of a very fine collection of Dragon and Hobby Master 1/72 AFVs, and looks as if he's going to start converting the neighbours!