The Energon Pub

[Sportimus Prime]

Hey guys and gals. I'll be moving in a few months of less (I hope), and I was hoping I can get some advice on how I should pack my beloved Transformers, and other old toys I still have. Here's the criteria:

1. Will be moving nearly 900 miles.
2. Will be hiring a moving truck to haul everything for me.
3. Said stuff will be packed early (like this month), and will most likely stay packed up until I get settled (and buy shelves or display cases).
4. Said stuff must survive trip undamamged.

So, anyone have any experience with this? Some of my collection has their original boxes. Most that do, will still be loose in their boxes. The rest are loose figures.

[Zeedust]

I'll, er, hang onto them for ya if you want.

But seriously.... rule one, no shrink wrap. This has been covered in another thread a while back, but Shring Wrap is bad.


I'd suggest transforming your figures into whatever mode is mosr solid and compact before packing them, and trying not to leave anything spring-loaded locked in, as that might weaken the springs a little bit.

Past that, styrofoam peanuts?

[i_amtrunks]

I'll, er, hang onto them for ya if you want.

But seriously.... rule one, no shrink wrap. This has been covered in another thread a while back, but Shring Wrap is bad.


I'd suggest transforming your figures into whatever mode is mosr solid and compact before packing them, and trying not to leave anything spring-loaded locked in, as that might weaken the springs a little bit.

Past that, styrofoam peanuts?

I have found that alt modes are more often than not the best mode to put figures in for travelling purposes. Make sure to get yourself some re-sealable sandwich bags to put all weapons, missiles and other extras in, dont forget to label them if you are like me and have a horrific memory.

I have transferred my figures around in 30 litre plastic tubs, that have lids. I taped bubble wrap on all the edges of the clear tubs.
Then I wrapped each figure completely in some soft material (mostly shreds of old jumpers and trackpants and pillow slips), and layed them down as flat as possible, putting the larger, more solid figures at the bottom, placing a layer of bubblewrap between each level.
The material reduces movement, the material makes it very hard for loose figures to be scratched and the bubblewrap is just for extra security. (and to pop when the move is over!)

For the boxed figures, a similar strategy would work well, placing a sheet or similar between each level of boxes, as well as bubblewrap.
Pack them in tight, but dont squish them in, the less they can move about the better.

Also do everything in your power to make sure the tubs either travel with you, or are placed in the "fragile" area of the moving truck.

[Gutter Bunny]

Pack in altmode, 'copters on top. Consider allowing the most fragile and/or valuable to travel with you. Follow trunks's advice and you should be golden.

[Sportimus Prime]

Having them travel with me may not be an option. At least, for most of them. I can take some with me. I was originally thinking just to bubble wrap my figures, but now I hear that something should be used first. Would paper towel work? They're going in cardboard boxes. Kind of have no choice in that. I did plan on putting them in their alt modes since most of them seem to be at their strongest in that form. Great ideas.

[God Magnus]

I have found that alt modes are more often than not the best mode to put figures in for travelling purposes. Make sure to get yourself some re-sealable sandwich bags to put all weapons, missiles and other extras in, dont forget to label them if you are like me and have a horrific memory.

I have transferred my figures around in 30 litre plastic tubs, that have lids. I taped bubble wrap on all the edges of the clear tubs.
Then I wrapped each figure completely in some soft material (mostly shreds of old jumpers and trackpants and pillow slips), and layed them down as flat as possible, putting the larger, more solid figures at the bottom, placing a layer of bubblewrap between each level.
The material reduces movement, the material makes it very hard for loose figures to be scratched and the bubblewrap is just for extra security. (and to pop when the move is over!)

For the boxed figures, a similar strategy would work well, placing a sheet or similar between each level of boxes, as well as bubblewrap.
Pack them in tight, but dont squish them in, the less they can move about the better.

Also do everything in your power to make sure the tubs either travel with you, or are placed in the "fragile" area of the moving truck.

I agree with all of this. I've moved five times in the past four years.

[SnapTrap]

When I moved from SF Bay Area to Western NY in 2002 I was smart and left my collection in storage.

When I moved back "home" last year, I had amassed a pretty large collection of TF figures. I ended up buying those large 35 gallon storage containers with the lids and wheels. I then transformed each figure into alt mode and placed them in a ziploc bag which was then placed into a large cardboard box. The cardboard boxes were then placed into the storage containers. I did it this way so the figures on the bottom of the plastic bin wouldn't have all of the weight of the figures on top of them and to hopefully keep the paint from getting scuffed. I figured that they would be moving around alot inside the truck so I wanted to cushion them as mcuh as possible. So far they came out of it fine, but the plastic containers were pretty beat up. Plus I was glad that when the shocks on my mountain bike exploded/leaked, the oil didn't get through the plastic bin otherwise that would have been a huge problem.

[Tigertrack]

Gotta' be careful with collectibles and moving services. I've heard of quite a few missing items showing up later when things are unpacked.

900 miles is quite far to bring them yourself. It might be worth it for you to rent a Uhaul and drive 'em, if at all possible, along with some of your other more fragile and valuable possessions.

[bionic_radical]

if youre doing cardboard boxes, try lining the bottom with crinkled up newspapers. then load the inside with your treasures and lots of packing peanuts. top it off with more crinkled newspapers and tape it up. label and go!!

[sto_vo_kor_2000]

I moved over 400 miles about 3 years ago and I had over 3000 pieces [Tf's,Superheros,Anime,Starwars;Star trek and others]on display to pack up and move so this is what I did:
first I transformered them in to their least likly breakable form....for most it was their veichle or beast form....for the larger transformers it was their robot modes.....I then but them into large zip lok bags threw in some bubble rap or those little stryofoam chips and placed them in to comic book boxes witch I bought for them.I didnt break a single one and we did the move our selfs with my wife doing most of the truck driving.

[Sportimus Prime]

So Ziplock bags and bubble wrap is okay for TF's and other goodies then. Packing the bottom with crinkled up paper is a great idea.

[DREWCIFER]

I had to do that numerous times.

If you have the orig. package, put it in that. Pack them in cardboard boxes, they are like a jigsaw puzzles.

Loose figs, X-form to most compact form. Put each into a ziplock bag or Plastic bag to keep accessories. Label anything that you cannot easily tell what it is. If there is extra room, use packing peanuts.

Label and tape each box. Make sure you know how you taped it so you can tell if the movers have opened anything. There are crooks and opportunists in every profession.

Put all paperwork and cardbacks into a folder and keep somewhere secures.

Also, I inventory everything. For example, Box 1 (toys) has OP, Megs, etc.., Box 2 (toys) Armada, Energon, etc...

That's another way to tell if you have been ripped off. If a box # is missing or if the inventory in the box is missing, then you can raise H&ll!

That should get you where yo are going.

[Counterpunch]

Packing tip of the pros...towels.

If you're going to use any packing material, use plain white towels. They're light, prevent scraping, and provide great cushioning.

[SnapTrap]

Great idea witht the white towels CounterPunch. I NEED to do that with my collection in storage right now. If you are going to unpack your collection as soon as you arrive, you should be ok using ziploc bags. I'd say having it no more than one month in the bags.

Sportimus Prime, one thing that I did was create a code on each box so only I would know the contents. Labeling a box "stereo equipment", or "computer" or "collectibles" is just inviting it to get stolen. I just labeled it by the room it was going to go in and added the code to the box. Or you could label it like "pantry" or similar but that could be your code for "Transformers".

[i_amtrunks]

Packing tip of the pros...towels.

If you're going to use any packing material, use plain white towels. They're light, prevent scraping, and provide great cushioning.

I did the same with old jumpers and whatnot, nice and soft.
And damn cheaper than towels!