We are going to briefly discuss some ways to get your work to the show without ending up in an unfortunate scene involving you and a nervous breakdown. These tips are of course applicable to any time you have to move your work. So your hard work is done, and you look over the intricate detailing and simply admire. The first though in your head will be to guard this thing with your life! Yet, you will still like to show it off to the world. Sure, you can post it to your favorite newsgroup or website, but it's just not the same. There is something special about secretly standing back and watching people react to what you have done.

Probably the most critical aspect of transporting the kit will be whether or not it's attached to a base. If so, you almost have it made. Your best bet will be to find a cardboard box that is close to the dimensions of your base. You really only need enough room to allow your hands to lower the base down into the box. Having placed the diorama or kit into the box, simply use some dowel rods, cardboard tubes from hangars, or whatever you can get to wedge between the base and box to keep things from moving about. You will want to use a small bit of tape to keep the wedges in place. If your kit is not on a base, use the same method, but try foam blocks to gently support the kit from all sides. You can start with larger pieces and cut them down for a custom fit. Once the kit is well supported, gently rotate the box in a 3D motion to confirm that everything stays put. You can stop right there for short trips. If your journey is longer, with the potential for more 'action', you will want to do more. You can add some soft tissue and gently pack it around the kit to fill up the voids, but I have found that when removing tissue there is the chance it will grab onto small details and perhaps damage your work. A better solution is to use styrofoam packing 'peanuts'. Add these gently, just a handful at a time.

This will help to soften any blows the box will take. Their real function, however, is to keep everything inside in place. There is no substitute for keeping the boxed kit in your sight at all times. Don't even think about turning it over to a cab driver or airline baggage handler! Once you have arrived, the tricky part begins. How to extract the kit in one piece? The safest way will be to remove the box from around the kit. Some people will worry more about saving their box than the risks they take with their work! You do NOT want to try scooping the foam out, or turning the box on its side to pour them out. Also, don't try to cut the box apart from the bottom to slide the base out that way. You are sure to end up with everything upside down and in the floor. Now is the time to go to your survival kit (we will get to that), and get out your razor or xacto blade. Cut open the taped top flaps, and then cut down the side of the box right at the corner. Depending on the box size, you may be able to spread the box apart enough to extract the kit. If not, make a 90 degree turn and continue cutting across the bottom until you can. Basically, you are removing the box from around the kit. You should now be able to tilt the base or blow until the foam peanuts are gone. True, this a bit messy, but how long did you spend on that kit again?

Inevitably, now matter how careful you are, there will still be some minor damage from time to time. This is where your survival kit comes in. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Personally, I find that a small fishing tackle box with one tray is plenty. Inside, I pack CA glue, an xacto knife, tape, scissors, black and brown pastels, small bottle of thinner, plastic glue, tweezers, 3 sizes of paintbrushes, and a small flashlight (or penlight). Space dictates that I can't go into the specific use for each one of these, but I've found them all handy over the years.

Last year I was entering an Italeri RSO into a show and had to travel a short distance. When I arrived, I found the driver door had fallen off and given the little vehicle an unwanted UPS truck look! Did I go into my survival kit? No, because I didn't bring it that time. Always bring your S-kit. Another kind modeler let me snoop in his kit and I made the appropriate fixes. Not to boast, but the kit took first in its category that day, which would not have happened without repairs. You might now be saying, what about my cut up box? Simple. Get your tape from the S-kit and tape it back together. It will do well enough for another trip. This will all work much better if you have cut the box only on the edges. Pack everything back in, wear your medal around your neck and off you go. Hopefully these simple tips will give you enough confidence to take your work on the road. It's really rewarding.