Moving day - loading ships?

[Dennis Toth]

Guys,
We are in the final weeks of packing up our FL house and moving to Fletcher, NC. This has been one of the hardest most stressful things I have ever done. It is like being on the Amazing Race on steroids. I finally have all the model stuff packed for transport except for the 10 stunt type ships. The good news is
two are take-a-parts and I can remove the gear on all but two. The plan was to have the moving company take most of them and just bubble wrap and keep them with our stuff. This may or may not work out. I need a plan B.

Has anyone done a stack pack or some type of slot box like the combat guys have for the wings? Time is getting short (we close on 7/31) and if you have ideas and could post some pic's it would be greatly appreciated.

Best,    DennisT

[Dave_Trible]

I moved last year but it was just across town so I made MANY trips carrying airplanes in the SUV two at a time plus the majority of the shop stuff and my 'garden' of palm trees.   I also had a couple months to get it all done.  I have seen twice where others have allowed moving companies to move airplanes with not good results-but mostly repairable.   I believe I would;  1. Rent a large van and haul them myself in a number of trips, or 2. Supervise the loading with the moving crew and put the models ON TOP of everything else wrapped loosely in blankets.   Also be on hand at the other end to inspect and unload them.

Good luck with your move-they are exhausting.

Dave

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

I think Dave is on the right track.  I'd use a method similar to what many attendees at the Brodak Fly-In do, outfitting a trailer with either a PVC rack or moving blankets.

There are several styles of PVC racks.  Mine consists of a base of four 23" tubes joined to make a square.  Each plane is supported by a pair of horizontal 23" tubes about six inches above the previous level.  My rack goes four high inside my SUV, but a five or even ten tall also works, I've observed.

The moving blanket thing also works.  You set the planes on the floor of a trailer, then cover them with moving blankets.  A second layer of planes goes on top, followed by blankets, similarly.  Repeat as needed.  Removing LG is an idea, though I rarely do so.

good luck,

Peter

[Steve Helmick]

Bubble wrap each model. Load them into your vehicle nose down, one wingtip on the floor on a foam mat, with props and LG's removed. It would be tempting to suggest an enclosed rental trailer, but trailers don't ride nearly as well as the typical mini-van or SUV. But if you gotta, you gotta.  Steve

[Dennis Toth]

About a week to go until pack/load day. I have removed or repositioned the gear on all but two ships that have them on firewalls that I can't get to. The plan for the car is to have a few suitcases flat then stack ships on top of that, anything that can't fit will have to go in the moving truck. As we are going through last minute visits by our buyer they indicated they will be doing a lot of remodeling, that means less cleanup for us, just make sure the trash is picked up no big cleaning crew. Gave our sofa to Habitat for Humanity, it was in good shape. We are almost back to the way it looked when we moved it 28 years ago. This is still hard to get all this is boxes we can identify when we unload but are trying to mark and label things as we go. I know once the movers get here things will start going very fast and no doubt some stuff will be in unmarked boxes and will take years to find. Fingers crossed this all works well.

Best,    DennisT     

[Steve Dwyer]

Dennis, it looks like you have made a decision on the model move but in case you are still open for suggestions here's my 2 cents. Moving 10 good size stunt ships is a challenge. I would suggest renting a trailer you can pull by your car. Instead of wrapping, stacking or shelving them on racks how about hanging them on the lead outs? You would need to fabricate a small frame that attaches to the ceiling of the trailer. I'd make it out of 2"x2" firring strips and space the models wing tips lead out positions side to side between 8" to 10" apart across the trailer. Position and hang the models nose and tail from front to rear of the trailer. Next, I would attach individual hanging packing blankets to the frame separating each model. You may wish to configure the lead outs, so they are spaced no less than 4 inches apart from front to rear to help limit the front to rear movement. You may also fasten a wood strip across the trailer floor beneath the wing tips and truss a cord from the landing gear or engine shaft down to a screw eye on the floor and up to the tail wheel or hook. This will further secure the model reducing both forward and lateral movement. A bumpy trailer should pose little issue with the pull on the lead out control system. Renting an 8' wide trailer should allow for at least the 10 models at the 10" spacing with some to space to spare. Using a narrower trailer might require a second row or the extra model(s) could safely go on top of the luggage without the risk of stacking and damage. Of course, if you have 60 size models be sure you have enough head room in the trailer you're renting.

Why are you leaving Florida? I have recently read where a number of people are leaving the state as well.

Steve

[Scientifiction .]

Depends on what a pack of morons the movers are .

Bob Hunts ' Foam Racks ' to seperate the suckers , would do well .
A peasant can hack foam sheets with a bread knife , easy . Slots for wings & fuselages & so on . But a bit of care and patiance would pay dividends ,.

Having dragged truckloads of planes across the countryside , NOSE DOWN , with a chaff strip under the spinner , and ' seperators ' so they stay apart , help .
Loading & unloadings the dangerous part . AND the smoothness of the road . The odd temptation to do a Ari Vartenan , can be a hindrance to . Getting airborne , sideways , or rough rutted roadsend up as a
' tumbler ' which is good , if you want all the sharp edges knocked off . 

For ' other people ' Id find a pellet . Some 2 x 2 at least uprights , a diagonal brace or two , and say a 1/2 ply TOP . So some stoopid flea brained swine
 ( not to mention W W Freight Dist Net ./ Melb !!!!!Q!!)
" Oh , a load of steel fell through it . I am NOT a half wit )

SO , unless youve guaraNTEES .  Hours to replace ! A U Haul Trailer , and keeping it below 90 , would be the go . ALSO , Moving , take a day or two out to recuperate from packing , before heading off .
There must be ' moving containers ' like mini shipping containers ? ?

Bobs Foam dividers & bags of bean bags , cusions from the op shop , old foam matress things , etc . A odd empty cardboard box or two , with the leading edges on it , to keep em level .
Multi layers of newspapers ( 1/2 the local rag - to get some cushion . 10 pages , doubled / folded . The odd bit off tape .

WELL something like that . Combination thereof .  Give em a wiggle & twist . Loaded . They should stay put . or you ned more ' packers ' . Cardboard anti puncture ' slips ' on the 20 pointers ! see they cant ' Chaff ' .

[Dave Hull]

Scientifiction---we wanna know whut you did with AirMiseries. We want him back. Non-negotiable.

Stunthanger Security Team

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

Rack for trailer/truck shown.

Trailering the car behind a one way truck is another concept.  No way I'd hand a stunter off to a mover.

[Joseph Patterson]

I think Dave is on the right track.  I'd use a method similar to what many attendees at the Brodak Fly-In do, outfitting a trailer with either a PVC rack or moving blankets.

There are several styles of PVC racks.  Mine consists of a base of four 23" tubes joined to make a square.  Each plane is supported by a pair of horizontal 23" tubes about six inches above the previous level.  My rack goes four high inside my SUV, but a five or even ten tall also works, I've observed.

The moving blanket thing also works.  You set the planes on the floor of a trailer, then cover them with moving blanks.  A second layer of planes goes on top, followed by blankets, similarly.

good luck,

Peter

                 Using moving blankets, or regular blankets worked really well for me on our last move of over 600mi.
         Doug 

[Les McDonald]

Hey Dennis, good luck with your new adventure! When Roberta and I moved to Citrus Springs we did it with POD'S. It seemed expensive at first but it worked perfectly. We put everything in and took everything out, no one else touched our stuff. No airplanes were involved but I could have easily packed some on top of all the other stuff.

[Dennis Toth]

Well, MOVING DAY is here and the chaos has started. They sent three older guys and I hope we get this done without a problem. Fingers crossed!!

Best,    DennisT

[Steve Dwyer]

Dennis,

Older guys are the best, an old favorite older guy saying is "now were cooking with gas".  Pull them aside and tell them how much your airplanes mean to you. Nothing like an old guy to have compassion and concern for someone else.

Steve

[Dennis Toth]

Well, house is empty, we are doing final cleanout and will get the car packed today and leave for NC on Tuesday. This was exhausting both mentally and physically. They finished packing the 53' trailer at 10:30pm. As you get into the loadout it gets really nuts. You can't keep up with what is staying and what goes. Luckly, we had the important stuff staged in one area and we are good. All I can say is make good check lists and check it often. I use the NOTES app on my iPhone with the bullet points, works great and you can always check that you did something. We are taking our time going up to NC as our Airbnb reservation start August 1.

Best,    DennisT 

[Dennis Toth]

We closed today! Somehow I got all the stuff in the car. Best tip I can give about moving is to have a few camping chairs so you can sit and rest between packing/cleaning tasks. We leave for Fletcher, NC tomorrow. With some luck I might be able to fly Saturday. Looking forward to some cooler weather so I don't have to go to the field at 7 in the morning.

Best,   DennisT

[Rusty]

Did you move close to Chuck so you guys can fly together again?

[Dennis Toth]

Rusty,
We are moving to Fletcher, NC which is close to Asheville on the western side of the state near Tennessee. This has been a big job and will be glad to get settled. Len has several of my ships I couldn't fit in the car coming up, we will swap them at KOI.

One other tip for moving, if you pack planes along with other belongings, make sure you have material to repair small damage in transport. I had all my stuff packed and will need to hit the LHS to get some silkspan/clear dope to repair small tear in covering, but will get there.

We arrive at the AirB and B in Fletcher, NC today and will be there till the house is finished in September.

Best,    DennisT

[Rusty]

Okay.  I thought Chuck moved to that area. 

Best of luck.  It has to be better than here.  Due to uncontrolled development, it will soon be like Miami here.  The traffic congestion is already ridiculous. 

I hope your health will hold up also.

Rusty

[Dennis Toth]

Ok, we have arrived at the AirB and B and will be here through October. Have had to get a lot of contractor work set-up for when we close on the house, it should be early October.

I have found an old, abandoned baseball field that is fenced in, open gates, and mowed. It has not been used for baseball in 10 yrs. The infield is now overgrown with grass (but still mowed). It looks like I could take-off from the surface as is but was thinking maybe using some sort of short roll-up mat that I could get rolling on before it got into the grass. Has anyone done this and what did you use?

Best,   DennisT

[Will Moore]

Hi Dennis, Will Moore here. Don’t feel bad, I have moved 12 times, 3 times since leaving Florida.
I also have found a city park with a ball field. i use the infield base area to twke off from. i have also used a long
Cardboard box, disassembled , and used as a take off area.
I live in Uxbridge, MA now and fairly close to the Wrentham area where local guys fly .
We had a great contest recently and it felt good to be back with the New England guys.
Hope everything works out well with you.
Will Moore

[Mike Morrow]

I use an 8' carpet runner. I thought I'd need 2 but 1 has worked out fine.

Mike

Sent from my SM-A146U using Tapatalk

[Dennis Toth]

Has anyone tried a Yoga mate for a take-off strip? Seems these mates are solid enough to support the ship and smooth out the bumpy grass?

Best,   DennisT

[Douglas Bykoff]

Has anyone tried a Yoga mate for a take-off strip? Seems these mates are solid enough to support the ship and smooth out the bumpy grass?

Best, DennisT

The model airplane builders in Portugal used this plastic mat to make a complete runway. The material was obtained from the paper and cellulose industries that is discarded from time to time.

[Dennis Toth]

We have finally closed on the house in Fletcher, NC. The furniture got delivered and all the boxes, boxes, boxes..... We have gone from being on the "Amazing Race"--- on steroids to "Survivor" on steroids1!!! but we are here and will get through it. Good news is I found a local field that I should be able to fly on, once I get some time away from the BOXES.

Seriously, thanks for all the support and suggestion for this adventure, it helped a lot.

Best,   DennisT