An army bag is all you need to ferry your army from home to your local game store, but what about protecting your models from the unknown dangers of the postal system? Maybe you’re sending a painted gift to a friend, helping out with a charity paint drive, or sending your army along as part of a big move. Whatever your situation, it’s important to have a secure technique for packaging your painted miniatures. In this edition of the Insider, I’ll demonstrate my tried-and-true packing method to give your miniatures the best chance of surviving the trip in one piece.

To properly package your figures you’ll need bubble wrap, packing peanuts, packing tape, and a sturdy cardboard box.

Start by wrapping each model individually in bubble wrap and securing the bubble wrap with tape. Some models, like this Gudrun the Wanderer, have long pieces that can easily snap or bend. Cover the protruding piece with bubble wrap and finish by wrapping the entire model with a second layer.

Next, line the bottom of your box with packing peanuts and place the wrapped models in the center of the box. Add more packing peanuts to create a layer between the models and the sides of the box.

Finish off with a layer of peanuts on top and seal the box thoroughly with packing tape. Now your models should be prepared for some pretty harsh treatment, but there are a still a few things you can do to help ensure your models’ safe arrival. When you ship your package, have the post office mark it as fragile and invest in shipping insurance. When you buy insurance, what you’re really purchasing is special handling for your package. This should guarantee it arrives undamaged, as long as your minis were well packed to begin with. Insurance is cheap (around $2.50) and well worth it, if just for the peace-of-mind.