Pre-Move Inventory and Documentation
Before packing a single figure, photograph everything in your current display configuration and update your inventory spreadsheet with current condition notes. This pre-move documentation establishes the before state for any insurance claims if damage occurs during the move. The photos take 30–60 minutes for a standard collection and are worth every minute if a figure arrives broken and you need to demonstrate pre-existing condition.
Group your collection into three tiers based on replacement value and fragility: Tier 1 (highest value or irreplaceable — pack yourself, transport in personal vehicle), Tier 2 (significant value, moderate fragility — pack yourself, allow in moving truck with careful placement), Tier 3 (lower value, robust — professional movers can pack with supervision). This triage prevents the mistake of treating all figures equally and ensures your most critical pieces get your most careful attention.
If you have original packaging for any figures, locate it before packing begins and use it. Original box inserts are precisely molded for the figure they hold and provide better immobilization than any generic packing material. Figures in their original sealed boxes should be treated as their own packing unit — just reinforce the outer box with tape and pack it among soft items.
Packing Materials That Work (and Don't)
The best packing material for individual figures is acid-free tissue paper for the initial wrap, followed by a layer of foam wrap (the thin 2–3 mm polyethylene foam sheets sold in rolls at packing supply stores). The tissue paper protects the paint surface from direct contact with the foam, which can leave slight impressions on soft paint over time. The foam layer provides impact cushioning. Never use newspaper directly against figures — the ink transfers to vinyl.
Bubble wrap is useful as an outer layer or as void fill in boxes, but should not be used in direct contact with painted vinyl for extended periods. The bubbles can leave circular impressions on soft or tacky paint surfaces, and in warm conditions the plastic can bond to certain paint finishes. As a second layer over foam-wrapped figures, bubble wrap is excellent for cushioning against box impacts.
Packing peanuts (expanded polystyrene) should be avoided for figure packing. They offer poor immobilization, generate static electricity that attracts fine dust, and migrate — figures packed with peanuts shift during transport because the peanuts compress and redistribute. Use crumpled paper or structured foam inserts as void fill instead. The figure should not be able to move within its packed box even if the box is vigorously shaken.
Box Selection and Loading Sequence
Use small boxes (typically 30 × 30 × 30 cm or 30 × 40 × 30 cm) for figure packing rather than large boxes. A large box crammed with figures is heavy, difficult to handle carefully, and concentrates the value too densely — if that box takes an impact, you lose multiple figures simultaneously. Small boxes limit both weight and concentration of risk. Each box should hold no more than 4–6 standard figures.
Load figure boxes so they can only be oriented in one direction: right-side up. Mark all four sides with 'FRAGILE — THIS SIDE UP' and 'COLLECTIBLES — DO NOT STACK' in large, clear text. Mark will not guarantee correct handling but does provide documented evidence that instructions were given if a professional mover claims ignorance after damage. In a rental truck, figure boxes belong in a position where no other boxes can be stacked on top of them.
The loading sequence in the truck matters. Figure boxes should be one of the last categories loaded, placed against a sidewall in an upright position, with soft items (clothing, bedding) as buffer between figure boxes and any harder furniture items. The area directly behind the truck's loading doors experiences the most impact during travel — keep figures toward the forward cab end of the load.
Unpacking and Re-Display After the Move
Unpack figures before assembling display furniture if possible. This lets you catch any transit damage immediately while the experience is fresh and any insurance claim is straightforward. Inspect each figure against your pre-move photos as you unpack. Note any new scratches, paint chips, or deformations in writing with timestamps — documentation created in the first 24 hours after delivery is far more credible in any dispute than documentation created a week later.
Let figures acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the new environment for 24–48 hours before placing them in sealed display cases. If the new home is significantly more humid or dry than the previous one, this acclimation period prevents condensation or moisture stress on figures moved directly from one climate to another. Place figures unwrapped on a clean surface in the room where they'll be displayed and allow the environment to equalize.
Take the move as an opportunity to reassess your display organization rather than simply recreating the old arrangement. You may have acquired new figures since the last time you set up a display, the new room dimensions may suit different configurations, and figures you haven't properly seen in months may benefit from new placement. Treat the re-display phase as a deliberate curation exercise rather than a chore.