Radio control cars are among the harder items to box: irregular shape, real weight, soft foam tires that deform, a delicate wing and often a battery riding along. The chassis dimensions from the spec sheet are the wrong starting point. Measure the assembled model with the body on.
Measure the extremes
- Length over the bumper and any rear wing, with the body clipped down.
- Width across the outside of the tires at the widest axle, since the tires usually sit wider than the body.
- Height from the tire contact patch to the top of the wing or roof, whichever is taller, with the suspension at rest under the model's own weight.
- Wheelbase and track if you plan a fitted tray, because the cradles have to line up with the wheels.
Scale is useful shorthand for which family you are in, and 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, 1/18 and 1/24 are the common ones, but two 1/10 models can differ substantially in width and height depending on whether they are a touring car, a buggy or a short course truck. Never size a box from a scale number alone.
Plan the layers, then the depth
| Item | Where it usually goes | Effect on the box |
|---|---|---|
| Car | Main cradle, wheels seated | Sets footprint and most of the height |
| Transmitter | Side compartment or upper layer | Adds length or a full second layer |
| Battery pack | Its own recess, never loose | Adds weight low in the box, needs restraint |
| Charger and cables | Under the tray or in a bag | Adds depth beneath the cradle |
| Manual and spares | Flat against a wall or under the lid | Adds a small but real amount of depth |
If a lithium battery ships installed or in the box, your carrier has labelling and packing rules for that battery chemistry and size. Get those requirements from the carrier and the battery supplier and give them to us, and we will build the carton and any printed marking areas around them.
Board, cradle and the tire problem
Weight drives the board. A small electric model can travel in a heavy paperboard carton with a die cut tray. A larger nitro or 1/8 scale model wants corrugated, often double wall, with a fitted insert that carries the load through the chassis rather than through the tires. Foam tires that sit compressed for months take a set and can be ruined before the model is ever driven, so a cradle that holds the car by the chassis or suspends the wheels just off the floor is worth the extra tooling. The die is included, so that cradle costs no more to tool than a plain tray.
Window boxes sell the model on a shelf, at the cost of a die cut window and a film patch, and they leave the contents visible to anyone deciding whether to steal it. Many brands print a full colour carton with a hero photograph instead and keep the box closed.
Ordering
The minimum is 100 boxes, with pricing from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes confirmed on your written quote. The die, plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof are included. Turnaround is quoted per job in three lanes, rush (expedited production plus air freight), standard (air) and cost saver (sea), from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery, and specialty imported constructions can run up to about 12 weeks.
Send the measured extremes, the loaded weight and the accessory list to the quote form and we will propose a carton and an insert. Related: custom toy boxes and corrugated box dimensions.
