some don't finish the mission or make it home....



USPS turned this into a total combat loss on it's unit transfer from CA. to the great state of Alabama.
There were no prisoners,no survivors,no insurance.
So,the question this prompts is:
How far would you go in packing something like this and what would you be willing to charge or pay for it?
What does the post office or other carriers deem "adequate and sufficient" packaging?

My buddy has had some success putting the dios inside a large plastic bag. Then you fit it inside the box. Then he gets as much air out of the bag as possible. Once set inside the box he sprays Great Stuff expanding foam like that stuff for insulation. Don't use to much or it will overexpand inside the box.

That's a great tip, I'll try that..
So far I have sent dio's in a sturdy cardbord box. I put bubbelwrap in the bottom, then put in the dio and use pieces of styro foam, cut to size to fit between the base and the top of the box. This stops the dio from moving. I then fill the box with scrunched up paper or those styro 'chips' and put half a roll of packing tape around the box. No cassualties as yet. (sound effect: knocking on wood)


Henk

That is a good tip. I will have to remember that for my next PCS.

I have done a great deal of moving both stateside and overseas, and have had pretty good success with styrofoam peanuts.

I usually start by removing the most likely pieces to break off--machine guns, pitot tubes, antennae, and place these in ziplock bags.
Then I put a layer of peanuts on the bottom of a box.
On top of that go the heaviest and 'squarest' (usually armor).
Then another layer of peanuts.
Then aircraft, sometimes upside down, depending on how long and spindly the landing gear.
More peanuts.
Smaller kits and what-not.
Then enough peanuts to fill the box.

Maybe not as efficient as the spray in foam, but it may be cheaper, cleaner, and easier.

Thanks guys,all good stuff-especially the foam in place idea 'On The March' was packed ala Henk's method.Just didn't work this time I guess.
Now how about the other part of the question?The cost/price of it all. I know I could engineer and build a really formidable shipping container for each and everyone of my works,much like a lot of us do to get them to AMPS NAT or IPMS NAT. Is it reasonable to charge for a one-off container if that's what it takes?Time and materials?Incorporate it in dio price?Make insurance mandatory?
Your thoughts please.TIA