Martin B-51 Master - SORTED!

[scooter]

Might I suggest rigid foam insulation as both a base and pieces to secure the model and protect the outriggers?

[Rick Lowe]

Foam should be ok, but I've heard bad things about using polystyrene... affecting paintjobs and melting plastic are what I was told... but I can't recall what time period was being talked about - possibly storage, rather than transport.

[Old Wombat]

Foam should be ok, but I've heard bad things about using polystyrene... affecting paintjobs and melting plastic are what I was told... but I can't recall what time period was being talked about - possibly storage, rather than transport.

Continued outgassing from the PS plastic can melt the PS foam & it sticks to the model, or vice-versa (I can never remember which).

[PR19_Kit]

Cardboard struts sound the way to go....................

[Weaver]

Nearly all my models live in non-airtight plastic boxes ("Really Useful" brand), sitting on styrofoam bases (roof insulation) 24/7/365 and I've never had any problems with either the foam or the paint. Indeed I've had more deterioriation problems with models on shelves or in cardboard boxes, although I think those had more to do with the model than the storage. For those who've met me at shows, they're the transport boxes I bring: the models just live in them all the time. Note that finished models normally sit out on or near my desk for anything from a few days to a couple of weeks before they get boxed up.

I've invested in a cheap hot wire cutter for making new foam storage setups. It's a qualified success: it works as advertised and when it does, it's neater than having styrofoam "swarf" all over the place and sticking to everything due to static. On the downside, it doesn't have enough reach/throat for bigger pieces, and it cuts so fast that it's easy to make mistakes with a momentary wobble.

[zenrat]

Model vehicles with vinyl tyres should not be stored/transported in/on/with expanded polystyrene as the plasticisers in the vinyl will melt the expanded polystyrene which will stick to the tyres and to any parts of the model they come in contact with.

I discovered this when I shipped a box full of 1/12 motorcycles from the UK to Australia.  I packed them by burying them on a box of packing peanuts.  There were suspicious breakages so I think customs may have had a rummage.  They were in a shipping container which travelled by sea taking a number of months during which temperatures would have varied a lot.

[Rheged]

There's a lot to be said in favour of archive quality card boxes and acid free tissue paper.

[PR19_Kit]

As I expected one of the Master's wingtip balancer wheels has already broken, it's just TOO fragile to be of any real use. 

I've superglued it back in place, but it or it's mate on the other wing will surely break again. To get the Master home tomorrow, and then on to Telford for the weekend I've found a hefty cardboard box and I've got a layer of styrene foam in the bottom with cutouts for the balancer wheels, and supports for the wings. Let's hope it all does the job.......

[Charlie_c67]

This is one reason I did my tinySHAR in flight! Did not fancy faffing with those outriggers.

[PR19_Kit]

I think my 1/144 scale TinySHAR has LARGER outriggers than the 1/72 scale Master! 

I reckon scale fidelity can be taken too far at times. 

[philp]

Good luck and have fun at the show.
Please say hi to the guys for me.
Someday I will make it back.

[Rick Lowe]

Good luck and have fun at the show.
Please say hi to the guys for me.
Someday I will make it back.

Ditto, please.

As to 'Back', well... someday I may make it for the first time.
But probably not, so breath-holding is contra-indicated.