Shipping
Cheapest ways to ship model kits from China
Shipping is usually the biggest hidden cost. Line choice matters more than agent choice.
Rules of thumb
- Sea freight: cheapest per kg, 30–60 days, best for heavy paint and tools
- Standard air lines: 10–20 days, good balance for most hauls
- Sal (surface air lifted): middle ground for medium boxes
Cut the weight
Ask the agent to remove retail boxes for models you don't need displayed. One haul dropped from 4.2 kg to 2.9 kg just by discarding packaging.