GT Spirit is foregoing the traditional model packaging in favour of the new window box style. This should be a welcomed move for those who display their wears in the OEM box. No issue with protecting the valuables inside. As the photo illustrates styrofoam shell and thick outer box should be more than sufficient.
New Packaging GT Spirit
Although they are ideal boxes for car model display, they can also be nightmare boxes for car model transportation. In this case the main issue is not the peripheral protection of the OEM box with thick outer styrofoam shells, but how the model car will be secured upon its plastic base. If GT Spirit is planning to secure the model car with only 2 screws upon its base, then we are officially in the danger zone.. When these type of boxes are literally get thrown like a basket ball, during airplane or even ship transportation, then the model car can easily brake loose from its plastic base inside the box and then it will be like a piece of clothe inside a washing machine.. You can kiss goodbye the 2 side mirrors, the rear wing, the radio antenna and in very severe cases also the wheels and the exhaust..
It happened to me in the past with an Ebay purchase and a Autoart Millennium box. It seems that someone in the transportation process decided to play football or basketball with the box and the poor purple Nissan Skyline R33 that was in it, arrived in a state that I really want to forget. And it was a real crusade back then to find it again, in Midnight Purple and with a price tag that would not annihilate my wallet. Fortunately my crusade was victorious.
I remember that Autoart fixed that problem later on, with its Millennium display boxes, with the addition of a small metallic cable that also secured the model car upon its plastic base, along with the 2 screws. Sadly though when someone will buy a used model car, that was removed from its box by the previous owner, then rest assured that there is no seller on planet Earth that will secure the model car on its base again with the metallic cable. The reality is that it is going to be “secured” and shipped with only the 2 classic screws. And in this case Clint Eastwood’s quote from Dirty Harry comes in mind. “Do you feel lucky?”
Anyway, I really hope that GT Spirit will think wisely and implement this the right way, as display boxes can be a double edged sword when safety is not the main priority and reduced costs are.
You are right. The nightmare of purchase from the second seller is coming.
GT spirit should think twice .
I think Kostas has some very good points. They should definitely add more mounting screws. Another issue with the new design is the possibility of damaged plastic frames due to rough transport. Hope they trial it first and see what the rate of damaged models will be before going all out.
Yes, agreed!
I wish they would use a tougher adhesive to attach the wing mirrors . I have several of their 1/18 Porsches & the wing mirrors separate almost by just breathing on them.
Easy enough ( I hope ) for me to reattach them with a proprietary modelers glue , but better if they changed the shape of the lugs or the strength of the factory adhesive .