The Railwire Interchange Fleet

[delamaize]

I still have a set of unused BaconRail decals from DKS...!

I got some left also.....it might have to get tagged when it visits my pike!

Also, I'm on board.

[VonRyan]

I have added a poll to this topic to try and gauge folks opinions on what the car should be shipped in.

With both cardboard-box methods. A specifically cut continuous roll of bubble wrap will wrapped around the jewel case. End pieces will also be made.

With the crate option, It would be of the best quality construction by an expert woodworker. (So it ain't me who's building it). The crate would be lined with foam rubber and the lid would be attached either by 4 screws or a hinge and 2 screws.
Instructions would be to place a piece of tape or label over two of the 4 sides with "Railwire Interchange" written/printed on it, but without obscuring the screws or possible hinge.
For international shipments where customs may decide to open the crate. A simple instruction label could be printed on the crate in English, French, and German (since the only confirmed participant outside of North America is in Germany).

Vote for what you think is best and/or comment your thoughts.
Since this is a collective effort, I would rather get a consensus than just start doing things.


-Cody F.

[Kisatchie]

I have added a poll to this topic to try and gauge folks opinions on what the car should be shipped in.

...(since the only confirmed participant outside of North America is in Germany).

I think we should use plain cardboard boxes. Are we supposed to ship via priority mail. or first class?

By the way, do you know what it costs to ship out of the country using priority mail.


Hmm... a lot...!

[peteski]

THis crate thing, IMO, is a bit of an overkill. The car's standard jewel box with some bubble wrap should be good enough.  In US most people will probably ship it USPS Priority Mail.  That option provides a wide selection of shipping boxes for free (um. included in the shipping charge). I pay online, create a shipping label then stick it on the box and off it goes. Nice any easy.

If we start reusing the original shipping box, after going through 3 or 4 destinations, and after all the subsequent address labels are applied and peeled off the box, it will become a real messy eyesore, not suitable for shipping.

And a wooden shipping crate would just add the the shipping costs, and for international shipping and customs, it might not be a good idea.

[VonRyan]

From the US to other countries (I'll have to check and see if there is a middle-ground for Canada) it would probably be $15 at the most if you used priority mail. First class would probably be $10 at the most.
Of course, it all depends on the weight.
The crate would be very lightweight, remaining under 2lbs.
When it comes down to time to get the car sent out to start its journey, I'll compare costs between box and crate.
If anything, the crate can remain in North America and the car transferred to a box to head to Germany and possibly the UK. While the car is galavanting across Europe, the crate can be forwarded to the person who would be receiving the car after it is done in Europe. Which unless there are any late comers, it would be returning to me.
Of course, in terms of international, hopefully one or two of our Australian members will want to host the car, that way it can see what scale railroading is like "Down Under".


-Cody F.

[Dave V]

This isn't rocket science; I got a car around the world remember, with "a little help from my friends"... and that's the key; it's "friends" and "fun" not another example of people turning our hobby into a life or death struggle..... run the car, take a snap and mail it to the next fellow.... it's really simple if ya think about it..... 

Or the big ol' banhammer for the chucklenuts that doesn't return it.

[VonRyan]

Or the big ol' banhammer for the chucklenuts that doesn't return it.

Do I get banned if I forget to even mail it out to start the journey? 


-Cody F.

[Kisatchie]

From the US to other countries (I'll have to check and see if there is a middle-ground for Canada) it would probably be $15 at the most if you used priority mail. First class would probably be $10 at the most.
Of course, it all depends on the weight.
The crate would be very lightweight, remaining under 2lbs.

I sent a priority mail medium flat rate box (2 pounds or so) to Canada earlier this year. Instead of the $13 or so it costs to ship in the US, I was hit for $40 postage. Ouch. I'm not shipping anything out of the country ever again.


Hmm... bananas come
from other countries,
and they only cost 59
cents a pound...

[VonRyan]

I sent a priority mail medium flat rate box (2 pounds or so) to Canada earlier this year. Instead of the $13 or so it costs to ship in the US, I was hit for $40 postage. Ouch. I'm not shipping anything out of the country ever again.


Hmm... bananas come
from other countries,
and they only cost 59
cents a pound...

The international costs get exponential after the small flat rate box.
Having shipped a few things to the UK, was long as the box (crate in this case) remains small and lightweight, it should't be nearly as steap.

2lbs is the max I can see the proposed crate getting to, once fully loaded.


-Cody F.

[Kisatchie]

The international costs get exponential after the small flat rate box.
Having shipped a few things to the UK, was long as the box (crate in this case) remains small and lightweight, it should't be nearly as steap.

2lbs is the max I can see the proposed crate getting to, once fully loaded.

I don't want to be in the situation where postage is going to cost me $20 or so. Just remove my name from the list.
I don't have a layout anyhow.


Hmm... bang! dead...

[VonRyan]

I don't want to be in the situation where postage is going to cost me $20 or so. Just remove my name from the list.
I don't have a layout anyhow.


Hmm... bang! dead...

Nothing is final yet.
I'm just polling the audience for opinions.
I'm just worried about mail carries since my local carrier tends to not really care about much of anything... Especially packages.
There is not much difference between the crate and a box other than strength.
If you're worried about having to pay international shipping, I can assure you that you won't have to since the sequence of interchange would have it going from you to the Great Lakes area or the DelMarVa area.

That being said, If anyone is not willing to pay shipping to outside North America, it can be sent to me and I can try and sell some of my stuff to pay for the costs of getting it across vast oceans.
Of course, that will more than likely result in a long delay between it reaching me again, and it getting shipped across the pond.


-Cody F.

[Bendtracker1]

Since this a community project how about this?
The last person who gets it and has to ship it across the border or over seas, posts their PP ID [if they have one] and everyone can chip in a 50 cents or a buck to help cover the cost for that person.  If they don't have a PP account, then ship it to another person who does?

If and when it goes to Canada, try and make sure it only crosses the boarder once or twice.

[peteski]

2lb is simply silly for the package to weight while shipping one N scale box car (and a journey log in an aluminum cigar tube)!  Since Priority Mail goes in 1lb increments, this should not weight more than 1lb.  A crate would be nice if the car was presented to someone as a gift. This car is simply schlepped around the world, from one modeler to another, simply to be photographed, possibly tagged, and its visit logged on the sheet of paper.  Let's not overthink or overdo this - do this as inexpensively as possible. If something unfortunate happens, the next modeler should be more than capable of repairing it. After all, this forum is full of  s. If the car is lost or totally destroyed, another one can be made and continue the jurney from where the original one stopped. 

[VonRyan]

Peteski, you're probably right.
I was just giving a high estimate to cover my bases.
The crate idea is mostly to prevent any mishaps on the part of a postman. A double-layered cardboard box would probably be sufficient to keep everything from getting too squished.


-Cody F.

[TiVoPrince]

Create
a lightweight inner box that supports and protects the contents.  Elaborate is not necessarily a good thing here.  Something that is reusable by the average user would be fine.  Over packing with an easily replaceable external box that absorbs the shipping damage until it gets replaced as needed.

Otherwise have a ATA100 flight case custom built and it will cost $25USD each shipment, but it will always  arrive intact...