A fiberglass sculpture passes inspection when the gel coat is uniform with no runs or blisters, wall thickness is consistent, seams are sanded smooth with no fiber print-through, the paint matches your approved Pantone within about 98%, and the internal steel frame, mounting plates, and hardware are verified against the approved drawing. Inspect at the factory before shipment and again on delivery.
Why Two Inspections, Not One
Most problems buyers find on site were visible at the factory. A crack at a mounting point, a soft spot where the laminate is thin, a seam that was filled instead of sanded, all of these show up under a flashlight and a tap test weeks before the crate is closed. Catching them in Quanzhou costs a repair. Catching them after a 5 to 9 week ocean crossing costs a repair plus freight plus schedule.
The second inspection matters because transit is its own risk. A sculpture can leave the factory perfect and arrive with a cracked base plate because a crate shifted in a container. That is a freight claim, not a manufacturing claim, and it only works if you document the damage before you sign the delivery receipt.
FibraCraft builds every piece hand layup over a welded steel frame, so the checklist below is written around how these sculptures are actually made, not a generic QC form.
Pre-Shipment Factory Inspection Checklist
Run this list at the factory with the approved drawing in hand. If you cannot travel, ask for photos and video of each item. A custom fiberglass sculpture manufacturer should be able to walk you through every line without hesitation.
| Check | How to test | Pass criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Gel coat uniformity | View under raking light at 45 degrees, from 1 m and 3 m | No runs, sags, blisters, or pinholes; consistent gloss across the surface |
| Wall thickness | Ultrasonic gauge at 5 or more points per section, or check the laminate schedule log | Within plus or minus 10% of the approved thickness; no thin spots at edges or curves |
| Fiber print-through | Look across the surface at a low angle in daylight | No visible weave pattern or distortion in the topcoat |
| Seams and repair lines | Run a hand over each joint, then check with a straight edge | Smooth to the touch, no ridges, no color shift at the seam |
| Paint and color match | Compare a cured sample panel against your Pantone chip in daylight and shade | About 98% match; no blotching, no overspray on adjacent colors |
| UV-stable topcoat | Confirm the topcoat product data sheet and batch number | UV-stable clear coat applied over base color; batch recorded on the QC sheet |
| Internal steel frame | Inspect before the last panel is closed, or through access ports | Welded joints, correct gauge per drawing, no rust, primer coated |
| Mounting points and base plates | Measure hole spacing and plate size against the drawing | Within 3 mm of drawing; plates flat, holes deburred |
| Structural ribs | Tap test at high-stress areas: neck, ankles, cantilevers, base | Solid sound, no hollow flex; ribs present where specified |
| Embedded hardware | Confirm material and grade | Stainless steel or hot-dip galvanized; no bare carbon steel in contact with FRP |
| Drain and vent holes | Pour 1 L of water into any hollow section | Water exits freely; no trapped pooling |
| Overall dimensions | Tape measure against the approved drawing | Within plus or minus 2% on overall size |
| Weight | Scale the finished piece or the crate | Within plus or minus 10% of the quoted weight |
| Packing | Inspect crate, foam, and bracing before closing | Foam at all contact points, no metal touching FRP, crate rated for stacking |
Two of these lines cause the most disputes. Wall thickness and weight are easy to measure and easy to fudge on paper, so ask for the actual gauge readings and the scale ticket, not a checkbox. If a piece is quoted at 180 kg and ships at 240 kg, you are paying for that difference in freight.
On-Site Delivery Inspection
Inspect within 24 hours of delivery, before the crate leaves your dock if possible. Once the driver is gone, transit damage becomes very hard to prove.
- Photograph the crate before opening, all four sides plus the shipping label and any visible dents.
- Open in a dry, flat area. Photograph the packing material as it comes out.
- Lift the piece out with two people or equipment, never by a protruding limb or fin.
- Photograph all four elevations, plus top and bottom.
- Photograph every seam, mounting plate, and base edge at close range.
- Tap test the same stress areas you tested at the factory and listen for a change in tone.
- Set the piece on its base plate and check that all mounting holes line up with your anchor layout.
- Write any damage on the delivery receipt before signing. "Subject to inspection" is not enough. List the specific damage.
If something is wrong, email photos and a short video the same day. For a US buyer working with FibraCraft, that means a written record within 24 hours of delivery, which keeps a freight claim viable and separates a transit issue from a manufacturing issue.
What the 12-Month Warranty Covers, and What It Does Not
FibraCraft provides a written 12-month warranty against manufacturing and quality defects. That covers things like delamination, gel coat failure that is not impact related, frame welds that fail under normal load, and color fading beyond normal UV wear within the first year. It does not cover transit damage, installation damage, or damage from improper anchoring.
| Situation | Covered by 12-month warranty | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Gel coat blistering with no impact mark | Yes | Manufacturer |
| Frame weld failure under rated load | Yes | Manufacturer |
| Crack from a dropped crate during shipping | No | Freight carrier claim |
| Crack from over-torqued anchor bolts on site | No | Installer |
| Color shift after 3 years of direct sun | No | Owner, gel coat refresh at 5 to 7 years |
| Missing hardware found at unboxing | Yes | Manufacturer |
Keep the QC photo set and the delivery photos together. If a question comes up in month 8, that file answers it in minutes instead of weeks.
Specs and Lead Times to Plan Around
Use these numbers when you build the inspection into your project schedule. Production runs 3 to 6 weeks from approved design for standard pieces, and 12 to 16 weeks for very large or complex landmark pieces. Sea freight door-to-door to any US state typically runs 5 to 9 weeks total.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small props and figures | $1,200 to $5,000 | Per piece, factory direct |
| Life-size figures | $4,500 to $12,000 | Depends on detail and finish |
| Large landmark pieces | $30,000 to $150,000 | Includes engineering and framing |
| Mold and tooling | $1,200 to $1,500 | One-time, per design |
| Minimum order | 1 piece | One-off and batch orders both welcome |
| Payment terms | 30% deposit, balance before shipment | Wire transfer or credit card |
| Service life outdoors | 10 to 30+ years | With gel coat refresh every 5 to 7 years |
FibraCraft has delivered 500+ projects worldwide since 2017, including 50+ in the United States, and quotes are free with an itemized USD breakdown within 24 hours. If you need a piece built from photos, sketches, drawings, or 3D files, you can request a quote and get a free 3D rendering with it.
Photograph These at Delivery
Your phone camera is enough. What matters is that the photos are dated, in focus, and show scale.
Shoot the crate from all four sides before opening. Shoot the packing material in place. Shoot each elevation of the sculpture, then close-ups of every seam, mounting plate, base edge, and any area that looks different from the approved rendering. Include one photo with a tape measure or a hand in frame so size is obvious. If there is damage, take a wide shot showing where it sits on the piece, then a close shot, then a shot with a coin or ruler beside it. Send the full set the same day.
For larger indoor pieces, fire-retardant FRP is available, and that spec sheet should be photographed alongside the QC sheet so it stays with the piece through installation. Browse custom FRP sculptures for reference builds.
FAQ
How thick should the fiberglass wall be on a sculpture?
It depends on the piece, but most life-size figures run 5 to 8 mm at the shell with added laminate at stress points. The approved drawing should state the thickness, and inspection should confirm readings within plus or minus 10% at 5 or more points per section.
How accurate is the Pantone color match?
FibraCraft matches Pantone colors to about 98% accuracy. Always judge the match on a cured sample panel in both daylight and shade, not on a wet paint chip, because gel coat and topcoat shift slightly as they cure.
What happens if the sculpture arrives damaged?
Photograph the crate before opening, note the specific damage on the delivery receipt before signing, and email photos within 24 hours. Transit damage is a freight claim, not a manufacturing defect, so the documentation is what makes the claim work.
Does the 12-month warranty cover shipping or installation?
No. The 12-month written warranty covers manufacturing and quality defects only. Transit damage and installation damage, including over-torqued anchors or improper lifting, are excluded.
How long does a full order take from quote to delivery?
Quotes come back itemized in USD within 24 hours. Standard production runs 3 to 6 weeks from approved design, large landmark pieces run 12 to 16 weeks, and sea freight door-to-door to any US state adds 5 to 9 weeks.