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Hey there. I'm currently in the market for a new figure case. I have been trying to decide between picking up the mid-sized "Army Builder" transport shell, which complies with FAA checked luggage size restrictions, or else buying one of the larger Battle Foam cases, which can't be checked, but in all other ways seem better for my storage purposes. Either way, I plan on using BF interior foam, since pluck-foam wastes too much space on dividers.

I don't see myself ever becoming a jet-setting tournament player, but the ability to take my little men on a trip is a draw, so I'm asking anyone with experience:

Do people who use Battle Foam check their cases on air trips? Ignoring the slim risk of lost luggage, should I also be worried about damage to the contents of the case? How do they stand up to being tossed around?

Thanks,
-David

I've only ever brought my mandollies on as carry-on luggage.

I know I can't trust the simians in baggage control to not damage it in transit.

DO NOT check a soft-sided mini case. Airline baggage handlers literally toss these things onto the trolleys and into the plane. Although they're more careful when loading where passengers can see them, they realld do throw them. And given the 50-lb. bag limit and the height of a cargo area, you might have up to 150 lbs. stacked on top of your case.

A "Fragile" sticker might help, but...

If you buy the uncheckable case and you do travel to a tourney, just buy some old hard-sided suitcases at Goodwill and fashion a custom carrying case with your Sabol trays inside, surrounded by enough foam and packing material (clothes work!) that they are nice and snug. Then add the Fragile sticker for good measure.

chromedog wrote:I know I can't trust the simians in baggage control to not damage it in transit.

Thowers. They're called Throwers.

Didn't you see Fight Club?

As a random, but mostly related aside, has anyone had trouble taking their models as carry-on? A few years back (pre-9/11, even) a friend took his case as carry-on, then was told he couldn't on the return trip. He was told the little man-dolly sized guns could be dangerous. There was more real danger from using the old metal dreadnought as a bludgeon, but their main concern was the dangerous looking little guns. Is this at least somewhat normal, or was the airline guy just being a huge ?

The Power Cosmic wrote:

chromedog wrote:I know I can't trust the simians in baggage control to not damage it in transit.

Throwers. They're called Throwers.

Didn't you see Fight Club?

Actually, No, I didn't. The thought of Brad Pitt in a movie leaves me with a cold feeling in my gut - so I try to avoid them. I read the book though.

Our baggage simians have been known to use checked luggage as their very own international courier service (if you're stupid enough to travel to Bali A LOT, not know about their drug laws, and not notice a boogie board suddenly double in weight).

My camera and my mandollies travel by my side. Clothing can go in the hold.

I have minis with better than a quarter million airmiles. I work around the world, and have been known to take models out to job sites on more than one occassion. I just got home a few days ago with 9 leman russ chassis form an Emperor's Fist Tank Company; all in my check luggage.

No casualties.

I use GW hard cases. Not only are they hard sided, but they are also double walled. In addition, I pack those into a roller duffel.

http://www.highsierrasport.com/Item?number=AT202&lang=en is my drop bottom roller duffel, except not in that GAF hawk turqouise color you see on the webpage. I put the GW cases in the drop bottom (I use 2 of the regular, smaller sized cases; not the bigger ones). The drop bottom is hardbacked and great armor. The top is where you stuff all your squishy clothes. Works a peach. And yeah I bout this bag with these in mind. Actually took a case to the store to test fit, lol.

I have rolled this thing through Trinidad, Angola, Democratic People's Republic of Congo (yeah, during the revolution but out on the coast FAR from the fighting), and India for a ridiculous number of miles and had nary a break.

I worked at an airport for a summer, in baggage. Imagine your soft-sided case being tossed out your vehicle's window at 45mph.

Le Grognard wrote:I worked at an airport for a summer, in baggage. Imagine your soft-sided case being tossed out your vehicle's window at 45mph.

At least...
My brother and ex girlfriend both were "throwers" and it is always fun to watch how far stuff gets launched when looking out the window.
Also if you play a high end sport and use "gear bags" with sponsor names or logs on them ( paintball, golf, skiing) expect stuff to be "lost" or stolen....

Savnock wrote:

A "Fragile" sticker might help, but...

When I was a baggage handler the Fragile sticker never helped. It is not the handler that breaks the stuff it is the belt system that moves the baggage around from point A to point B. They are dropped, tossed and thrown around worse than any handler.