Hi Kirk:

Rather than using cardboard and Styrofoam, you might consider using
Ethafoam planks (available from Carr Mclean, http://www.carrmclean.ca/,
in 1", 2" and 4" thicknesses) to build up supports for your models--it
can be easily cut and carved to accommodate landing gear and propellers,
is cleaner to work with than Styrofoam, and is archivally sound.

For boxes, try Durphy Packaging at
http://www.durphypkg.com/boxnonh.html.  The clear boxes have the
advantage of letting you see the contents without removing the box from
the shelf.  The Royal British Columbia Museum boxed a large percentage
of their ethnographic collection in Durphy boxes in the 1990s; I believe
they were quite happy with the results.

Cheers,


------------------------------------------------------------
Tim McShane, Assistant--Cultural History
Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery
1302 Bomford Crescent S.W.
Medicine Hat, AB   T1A 5E6
(403) 502-8587
[log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] 10/25/2004 8:41:21 AM >>>
Does anyone have experience and/or recommendations on packing plastic
scale
airplane models for storage?

We have several hundred 1/72 and 1/48 or larger platic scale airplane
models
we need to store away.  What kind of containers are used and how can
they be
packed to prevent movements that would break small parts like landing
gear
and propellers?

Often we receive these models in shoe boxes with tissue paper stuffed
around
them.  This does not always prevent them from being tossed about and
being
damaged.

Would it be a good idea to place each model in a plastic bag so if any
small
parts are broken off, they can be kept together with the model?

I can envision using cardboard dividers to hold the wings and tail and
small
styroform blocks to support the fuselage then more styroform blocks to
fit
on top of the fuselage to be covered by cardboard or formboard covers.

What is a good source of boxes and containers for this project?

Kirk Ransom
Minnesota Air Guard Museum
Minneapolis St Paul Airport

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