transporting models

I agree with Gerald, you want to carry it on.

Unfortunatly, due to my location, I will have to 'check it' in. Then there's Customs, and all the other things I have to contend with.

I start with a small layer of light, soft foam 1/2" thick. Then a piece of styrofaom (white kind works fine) with cut outs for anything "dangling." All flat portions should be resting on the styrofoam. Place styrofoam pieces all around so there is no side-side movement. Then build up the strofoam on top of the plane (wings etc) with pieces leaving spaces for anything sticking-up. A piece of soft foam on top and close the box to compress the foam on top and bottom a bit. That holds everything in place. I have shipped a model to myself once (saved a BIG headache) and had no damage.

Postal mailing boxes found at the post office are a good find for the size of most 48th planes. And cheep too. Most will fit into the compartments on commercial filghts.

 

I'll second that. You'll arrive in California about the same time some guy places a new model on his living room mantle. He gets a fine model, you have an unresolved missing luggage claim.

Find the dimensions of the maximum allowed luggage size you can transport on a plane. It must be able to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. If one of your trips legs is on a smaller commuter flight or regional jet your hosed. The size limitations do not apply and you may have to check the item at the jetway and pick it up after you disembark.

Hopefully you are building something other than a large fighter or bomber for the competition. The model must be packed in such a way that it is suspended inside the container and will not shift regardless how it is carried or dropped/bumped. A whole lot of planning can make a safe and secure transport carton, so it is undamaged when you arrive at your destination. If you let me know what your subject is I can make some rough sketches that you could follow to fab your container. Remember it has to be opened for inspection and subject to x-rays so try to leave out any lead weights. If possible your container should be transparent so they can see inside without opening. Also, never open it to show admirers your workmanship while traveling. Seen too many accidents happen to perfectly good models.

If you're not already a member of IPMS/USA, you're going to have to join to enter the Nats. Join now and ask that question of those who've transported 1/48 AC on real AC. There is no way I'd trust a contest bound model to the baggage handlers, no matter how many THIS SIDE UPs and FRAGILEs I had on the box.

  Thank you armornut

   for the Info-  I figured it would some sort of box, but I think about bread ties and soft foam

                                 ronald305

 taking a guess that yer transporting aircraft you could take a box(strudy corrigated is best) the size if your plane on diagonal(wingtip to wingtip corner to corner)then place a piece of foam on the bottom,punching holes and depressions were landing gear and wing stores(or engines)will set,set plane on foam then run bread ties over fusalage and thru foam to prevent sideto side motion.if the box is deep enough you could rig a stantion and invert the second acft allowing for vertical stabsand put two in one box.write "fragile" and "this side up" all over the box then pray that the cargo handlers pay attention(they do care but are very busy at times)hope this helps or maybe gets some more responses,good luck at nats