Transporting scale models on a plane

[Rick_1138]

Hi folks,

I am going down to a painting\modelling competition in October and I am planning on taking the 3 entries as hand luggage in a secure foam filled aircraft case.

I have read over all the contolled item lists about what you can and cannot take as hand luggage and I am not taking any of the restricted things.

However I don't want to get caught out.

The 3 things are a tank on a base with plastic items and some scale barbed wire on it, all glued down.

a plaster board scene with a plastic buggy and figures, again all glued down, nothing sharp and a single figure in a jungle made of scale paper plants.

Now from what I can gather as long as its secure and couldn't be used to take down the plain\harm anyone I should be okay as the case can be opened and checked without fuss.

Has anyone any experience on transporting odd things in cabin luggage. The case is well within hand luggage limits.

It is Flybe I am flying with, internal UK flight.

I know its an odd request, I just don't want to find out at the last minute I cant get on the plane, as I don't like to think of the state they will be in if they go through baggage handling.

Cheers

[bobfett]

Easier to put in a peli case I would think, or avoid flying entirely if possible (my preferred choice these days)

[Rick_1138]

bobfett said:

Easier to put in a peli case I would think, or avoid flying entirely if possible (my preferred choice these days)

[-]Peli case[-/-] I googled. I actually am taking one like that, good plastic\metal one from Maplin, as it was within the hand luggage limit.

My worry was more if they say I can take something in the case on the plane, i.e. the metal bits or something fdaft.

Though having a right look at the list of what you can take, you can take scissor and sewing needles ona flight!

I would normally take the train, but as they have moved it to Coventry its over £140 and over 7 hours travel time.

Plane was £100 and less than an hour each way.

Edited by Rick_1138 on Monday 29th September 11:08

[shred2bits]

Plane was cheaper and quicker,however you wouldnt have to worry about something silly like toys being confiscated. Think on the day anything can happen, getting back from egypt few months ago i had 2l bottle of water which i walked onto the plane. The guards were loolin at all the white people leaving brand new bottles of water by the security booths, brown people were coming over taking the bottles and putting them back in the terminal shop. It was rather funny

[Seek]

Probably won't be an issue.

Try to limit the amount of electronics in the models as that could trigger attention at security.
Don't be tempted to bring modelling knife, glue, paint, etc
Also, bring a flyer with you of the competition just in case.

[Rick_1138]

Seek said:

Probably won't be an issue.

Try to limit the amount of electronics in the models as that could trigger attention at security.
Don't be tempted to bring modelling knife, glue, paint, etc
Also, bring a flyer with you of the competition just in case.

Nothing electronic in them at all, just plastic, wood, metal and plaster.

Glue, repair kit of paints and brushes and tweesers are going in the hold bag in a sealed plastic bag, as I am sure you can take water based paint, just not aeroesol cans.

Taking an information flyer is a good idea though.

[BristolRich]

Rick_1138 said:

Glue, repair kit of paints [...] as I am sure you can take water based paint, just not aeroesol cans.

"Glue" MEK, MEK-PAK,PolyWeld type stuff will be a straight no...far too volatile. If you are it will be limited to 'ml.

Paint, if it is acrylic you'll be ok, anything oil based will no be permitted, including any oil based enamels in aerosols will not be permitted..."includes mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour and includes acetone, benzene, cleaning compounds, lighter fuel, paint thinners and removers, petroleum, solvents, varnishes, enamels and nail varnish removers".

BA have a guide here - http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/Forb... and would also refer to the Royal Mails banned items list too (they've done it in response to international flight constraints).

If its in the UK,is there not a near by supplier you could pick up some bits from?

Edited by BristolRich on Monday 29th September 12:57

[shakotan]

shred2bits said:

Plane was cheaper and quicker,however you wouldnt have to worry about something silly like toys being confiscated. Think on the day anything can happen, getting back from egypt few months ago i had 2l bottle of water which i walked onto the plane. The guards were loolin at all the white people leaving brand new bottles of water by the security booths, brown people were coming over taking the bottles and putting them back in the terminal shop. It was rather funny

Brown people?

[shred2bits]

Is that a question ?

[Rick_1138]

BristolRich said:

"Glue" MEK, MEK-PAK,PolyWeld type stuff will be a straight no...far too volatile. If you are it will be limited to 'ml.

Paint, if it is acrylic you'll be ok, anything oil based will no be permitted, including any oil based enamels in aerosols will not be permitted..."includes mixtures of liquids or liquids containing solids in solution or suspension which give off a flammable vapour and includes acetone, benzene, cleaning compounds, lighter fuel, paint thinners and removers, petroleum, solvents, varnishes, enamels and nail varnish removers".

BA have a guide here - http://www.britishairways.com/cms/global/pdfs/Forb... and would also refer to the Royal Mails banned items list too (they've done it in response to international flight constraints).

If its in the UK,is there not a near by supplier you could pick up some bits from?

Edited by BristolRich on Monday 29th September 12:57

Re the glue and paint issue, does this include hold baggage?

Glue is cyanoacrylate (super glue) about 20ml and acrylic water based-paint about 4*15ml.

Again this isn't desperate just handy. But again anything like that would be hold luggage NOT cabin luggage.

[Starfighter]

Watch your dimensions, you may have to tip the case over to get it in the basket at the airport. Last time I went Flybe they were very strict on the size / weights.

[Rick_1138]

Starfighter said:

Watch your dimensions, you may have to tip the case over to get it in the basket at the airport. Last time I went Flybe they were very strict on the size / weights.

That shouldn't be an issue, the case foam hoplds the stuff very tightly and I tested it by giving it a good shake and holding it at all angles and giving the sides a slap, nothing moved.

I had planned on having to try it in the box at the airport so went for a box with a bit of leeway (case is 45*33*15 and Flybe is 55*40*23)

[shakotan]

shred2bits said:

Is that a question ?

Yes, hence the question mark at the end.

[shred2bits]

Surprised you choose to pick "brown people" and not "white people" from my post. Oh wait

[AnimalBob]

I think you'll be fine, I got through Barcelona airport with a screwdriver in my hand luggage a couple of months ago. I guess they decided I didn't look like a threat!