I expect to be relocating across country within a few months. I've got a few airplanes to move - a Stinger 60, a Hog Bipe and a Sig Rascal. I would appreciate any suggestions on shipping containers that can withstand the handling they will receive at the hands of the moving company.

A lot will depend on your budget and how careful the movers are.

If you think they will be "rough", build your crate out of 1/4" plywood. Have a foam block snugly between the nose cone and the crate wall. Do the same for the rudder (groove the foam out to accept the rudder. Securely fasten the fuselage in place inside the crate. For the wing, make foam saddles to go over and under the wing. They should be a snug fit with the crate sides. Again, use foam caps on the wingtip ends. Then fill the rest of the crate with foam peanuts and seal the crate. Short of them dropping the crate about 10' or driving over it with the truck you should be in good shape.

A less expensive alternative (provided the movers will take a "reasonable amount of care" ) is CORREGATED cardboard for the crate. The interior foam "bumpers" should still be used as well as the peanuts.

You may also want to see if the mover will offer special insurance coverage for the planes in addition to the crating.

Hope this helps.

Here’s a link to an article for building a shipping crate.

[edit] original link was incomplete. This link has full text, with photos http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=241 [edit]

[edit] it might be overkill but I think it would be worth the work and money to do this [edit]

for a suggestion,

I have had really good luck with wardrobe containers.

I moved last October from the U.P. to Indiana as a Military move which is normaly a nightmare!

Using one container for wings and one for a fuze, pad the nose and wrap it in heavy packing wrap. then set it in nose first with lots of padding/ packing paper.

same for the wings.

If the fuze is too long or for one pice wings double the containers to get the legnth.
I packed a 330L 30% with a 101 in wingspan, it took 3 boxes overlaped and padded with the wings and stabs in another box.
as well as 10 other birds. not so much as a sctatch
the only one I lost was a combat models F-16 that I couldn't get into a box and was "assured" that it would be loaded on the "top"
They bought that one!!

I absolutely insisted that I help with the packing!!

hope this helps!

Here is the article I meant to link in my original reply. The 'rcfaq' article is an incomplete copy of this one
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=241

All,

Thanks for the information. I'll probably be building crates following the example that Carrell provided.

Dave