Temporary travel/shipping container?

[Kmot]

If you were going to travel by airline to a model boat regatta and you wanted to bring a model boat and support equipment, how would you do it?

Would something like a heavy duty cardboard box with foam insert work? Does it have to be a special airline approved shipping container? Etc...

[Aerominded]

I bought an SKB golf club case to transport one of my boats... Airline approved, TSA locks optional...

Example: http://www.exploreproducts.com/golfclubcaseskb4812.htm

I fit a US1M (Sheetboat) in it, no problem... Ramp worker proof too! ;)

[patmat2350]

If carry-on: better be a small boat!

Otherwise, pack as if you were sending it by UPS, and don't count on "This End Up"...

[Kmot]

Those other, shaped golf cases look interesting. Fatter at one end.

[LtDoc]

This is sort of extreme, but having been on the receiving end of such a thing, you might want to think about it. If it's shipped by air for any great distance, make sure the container is NON-airtight. Otherwise you are taking a chance of the container 'ballooning' a bit. Wasn't a model, didn't cause any damage, but made a mess of the container. :)
- 'Doc

[dostacos]

Tom which boat are you packing? a Pelican case is expensive BUT if it they are good enough to protect camera equipment they should be able to protect a boat

[patmat2350]

Footlocker (steamer trunk) with formed foam inside and suitcase straps outside.

http://www.trunkoutlet.com/

[toesup]

1/ Contact your airline and explain what you are trying to do. They are usually quite helpfull and should be able to advise you if its a carry on or checked situation. At least that way they are fore warned what you want to do.
2/ Read this.. http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html
3/ I remember recently a TSA directive regarding transporting models.. but i cant find it..
4/ Pack your model as if its going to be handled by an upset gorilla... :eek:

[Kmot]

Thanks guys! I am going to go check out one of these at a local Roger Dunn Golf Store:

[toesup]

You might want to contact the TSA too...

Some TSA goon will probably have kittens when they X ray a box with batteries and electronics in it...

"This wont hurt" he says as he puts on the rubber glove... :eek:

[der kapitan]

Kmot, You have about ten days to get all your packing done, and you might consider bringing your small boat as a carry-on. ;)

Toesup has a good idea in asking TSA what is acceptable. :)

For me, I'm looking at a 750-mile drive, which may be just as gruelling as going through airport security---. :eek:

[woodybob]

That worked for Kip. oldtribefan's CC Triple. (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8437541&postcount=37)

[Aerominded]

So which lucky boat goes on the road, Kmot? :)

[Kmot]

That worked for Kip. oldtribefan's CC Triple. (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8437541&postcount=37)
I'll be darned! :eek:

I am now the owner of a SBK Deluxe Staff Golf Bag Hard Case Carrier. :cool:

Which boat? I have to make a decision......

[Kmot]

and you might consider bringing your small boat as a carry-on. :
Carry-On =

Laptop and laptop case = one bag.

Cameras, laptop and camera chargers = second bag.

That's all they allow I think, and it's all I want to carry anyway.

[Aerominded]

Sweet! :)

[der kapitan]

I used to carry my small models in cardboard boxes, well-packed, in a carry-on when I went to the San Diego regattas at Mission Bay in the early '90's. Transmitters and batteries went in my checked luggage. ;)

Always got a big smile when they x-rayed the carry-on---. :)

I'm not sure how TSA would take it today, but I'm guessing, about the same---. :D

[toesup]

Always got a big smile when they x-rayed the carry-on---. :)

I'm not sure how TSA would take it today, but I'm guessing, about the same---. :D

I think in this day and age, without Kmot warning the airline what he will be bringing (or at least doing some research) the TSA will tear the box / packing / model to pieces to find out what the electrical equipment and batteries are for...

[Aerominded]

You do want to remove the batteries- especially if you are checking it- Most batteries in model boats are not mounted such that they will not move when significant G force is applied by the ramp crew when 'transfering' the bags... a loose battery pack inside the boat could destroy it from the inside out :eek:

[toesup]

[/url]
3/ I remember recently a TSA directive regarding transporting models.. but i cant find it..


Found it...
[url]http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/remote_control_vehicles.shtm (http://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html)

[woodybob]

Oh boy...take your shoes off, and what's in the bag? Leave early Tom.

[tigerbay]

Found it...
http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/remote_control_vehicles.shtm

So you put your Tx in your checked-in baggage. No sweat here. I have carried a suitcase full of electric tools as checked bags recently.

Also carried a laptop bag with a couple of RC Buggy battereies in it, no problem.

With so much electronic equipment being carried by people onto planese these days (MP3, iPod, CD players, DVD players, mobile phones, cameras and video cameras, dicataphones, Blackberry, PDA, Laptops etc, I think the guys are pretty well briefed on what a battery looks like under x-ray.

Additionally, airlines are pretty good at making exeptions on carry on baggage for exceptional items. They do this for golf clubs, fishing tackle, and musical instruments. However they must be contacted before the flight, so that they know it is coming on board.

[herrmill]

Tom, when I visited your neighborhood several years ago & picked up some supplies at Smith Brothers, I hand carried a 1/16 full option T34 tank through LAX security. It was packed in its carton inside a padded duffle bag, & certainly garnered some interest once they saw that long barrel. All I had to deal with were several very amused TSA staff after they had me to plug in the battery & start it up. I made sure that the sound was turned way down before firing the MG & main gun. :D

Needless to say things have changed since then, but I would do what I could to keep from having to ship a model as checked luggage unless TSA can do an inspection at time of check-in.

Chuck

[Boatfox]

Pelican cases are a bit more $$$ but you could get a better fit and definately tested to take the abuse. Not the only place to buy, but you get the idea.
Pelican cases (http://www.casesbypelican.com/pelican-cases-sizes.htm)

[Kmot]

Thanks to Aerominded for suggesting the golf bag case! :)

It is exactly the 'ticket' for transporting a single model boat and support equipment that I needed. I never knew such a thing existed.

I looked at all the hard cases I could find from all the different manufacturers. Most are square or rectangular in shape, which would be fine in many cases. However, most are not long enough for the typical 30" or so model boat. Many cases that are longer, are also not very thick because they are designed as rifle cases. The nearest size to the SKB golf case I could find, made by Pelican, is 6" shorter in overal length, weighs 10 lbs more (empty weight) and costs $150 more. So I am very happy with the SKB case.

Here is a quick trial fit I just did. I can place a boat, boat stand, charger, and oversized wheel radio in the SKB case easily. With proper packaging (I bought two 24" x 80'' sheets of 1" thick soft foam) I will be able to also add tools, batteries, repair supplies, and all the deck accessories that go along with this boat. I am quite happy at the prospect. And the link woodybob provided to oldtribe's Chris Craft stuffed inside of one of these SKB golf bag cases shows just how elaborate a model you can actually carry in one of these cases. :)

[woodybob]

Perfect...

[green-boat]

Tom,

Just make sure that you use a little extra foam. You want that squish factor so stuff doesn't rattle around.

[Kmot]

I will Phil. I bought enough foam so that nothing should be able to move once the lid is shut.
Of course. only time will tell once it has been handed off to the baggage handlers.

[Kmot]

I have spent the better part of two days, measuring and cutting foam and gluing some of it into the case, measuring and cutting foam layers and gluing them together as 'compression pads', and measuring and cutting and gluing and sanding styrofoam scrap together to make a top barrier inside the case. This has been a ton of work, I never would have thought it was so time consuming to get one of these cases ready.

I went shopping for styrofoam sheet and could find none at any of the home improvement stores. I finally got a few pieces out of a loading dock dumpster. It took a few hours to make the two pieces that fit inside the case.

Anyway, I think it is pretty well set for the gorillas in the shipping dept. At least I hope so. :rolleyes:

[woodybob]

Hey...so where's da boat?

Looks like you got it handled Kmot. Nice job.

[Kmot]

Thanks. I put some 'advisory' lettering outside. I hope it doesn't appear to be a target bullseye. :o

[green-boat]

You need some of that packing foam that they use for shipping. Throw in a few of those silver colored sheets, inject in some foam, close the lid and let it sit. That stuff will find all the voids.

Good luck and have a safe trip.

See you in a few days.

[Kmot]

Well, it's a done deal. I ship it in the morning, and it will be waiting for me when I arrive. See you soon! :)

[Prins Willem]

Never underestimate the power of a baggage handler or longshoreman. It looks like the packing job is all one could humanly do.

Kmot, It might have been faster to just R/C the case. :D