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Is this possible? I am happy to only take about 5 pots and one brush and a couple of models. I have a 14 hour flight and it would be a pretty nice way to pass the time.

Has anyone tried taking paint through security?

I know you're only allowed liquids under certain restrictions, I could envisage problems taking paint on board.

You would have to decant it into a wholly see-through container and put it in a plastic bag. You won't go to prison for trying though but might cause annoying hassle at the airport.

Honestly, hobby stuff can go in your check luggage quite easily. Just make sure your paints are in something sealed in case a pot or bottle opens up. It's just easier and lets you move quickly through customs.

If you're only bringing carry-on, I've got to be honest, go and explore the place you're flying to for a day or so and take a bit of time off of painting.

If you absolutely have to bring your painting stuff in your carry-on luggage, then just make sure to leave your hobby knife and the like at home.

How can anyone paint in a moving vehicle? Even in a smooth flight it still moves that it'll show especially when doing detail work.

I'm travelling for work so it's not a leisure trip and I regularly fly. I struggle to sleep and with the fact I travel quite alot the flights are becoming really quite boring! I just thought I may be able to get some painting time in, and time flies when I'm painting aswell (excuse the pun)!

The flights are smooth enough to do some painting, it will be fine!

I imagine that the hassle associated with trying to get a liquid filled container on-board would make it not worth your time.

Despite the pressurised cabins, I wonder if you'd be in for any nasty shocks with the flip-top lids GW uses.

Sincerely doubt an air-line will be prepared to let you take paints on board.

Taking paints on board will rarely be an issue, as long as you put them in a sealed zip-lock bag during security check. They're under the size limit for liquids.

I'm not sure if it'll work out painting on board, though. Most of the time the flight is smooth enough that I expect basecoasting wouldn't be an issue, but I wouldn't want to try detail work. It's not exactly the ideal work space, either. Between space limitations, having to worry about the water cup, paper towels, etc. If the air gets at all choppy it could get messy in a hurry. Wouldn't want to lose a fresh pot of paint all over the person sitting next to me.

As long as you have it in clear containers that are not larger than 2.5 oz you'll be fine going through security. Just make sure you tell them what it is, because they will probably be a little suspicious. Just make sure you have your brushes and stuff together in the sealed bag (that your paints are in) and they shouldn't give you much trouble. The airline might, however. if the steward/stewardess is an ass, they can tell you to feth off, and theres not much you can do about it. How are you planning on cleaning your brushes?

I tried this once. I put just one pot of paint and one brush in my carry-on along with the models I planned on painting. Had no issues getting it through security. Painted on the plane, had no problems, though I wasn't doing any level of detail work. I never did try to take more than paint pot through though.

I travel long haul frequently and carry GW paints in hand luggage. As long as they are in a zip bag, no problems.

AngelGrinder wrote:Is this possible? I am happy to only take about 5 pots and one brush and a couple of models. I have a 14 hour flight and it would be a pretty nice way to pass the time.

Has anyone tried taking paint through security?

They might or might not give you static. Just depends on if they are tired of strip-searching grandma for them to pay you any attention.

The liquid limits something like a shampoo bottle or something like that. As long as the stuffs packed up and looks neat, they won't give you a hassle.

My advice, take one of those little travel bags, put your brushes in a toothbrush case, and your paints in a baggie, or a little box. they will look neat, and Joe homesecurity leaves you alone.

If its scattered up in all of your stuff, looking like a mess, not only will the paint open, but the guy in the X ray machies going to give you the WTF look, while he's trying to decipher what the X ray is of the mess in your carry-on.

Bottom line advice- Pack it away neat, and people won't bother with it too much.

I went through once with a couple of books, some guys and my paint stuff, ( packed away as such) and ended up finding out that one of the cops played. They knew exactly what it was.

I once actually called CATSA (the Canadian airport security people). I was specifically asking if I could pack paint in my checked luggage. Their response was that it was ok as long as it wasn't a flammable solvent. So acrylics (which most of our hobby paints are) are fine because they're water-based paints. Oil paints would be a no-no. I'm guessing aerosol cans would be a problem too. He also said it was a good idea to make sure there was a label or some kind of documentation from the manufacturer that the contents were indeed a water-based paint.

That's my experience, but it doesn't hurt to call up your own airline or airport security organization to ask. In Canada CATSA has a number just for that purpose (1-888-294-2202).

While getting paints on board should not be an issue, per-se...

PAINTING on board is likely to get shut down, unless you're flying first-class, then they're probably used to eccentricities.

I don't think I'd like to sit next to someone with an open GW pot. If there is tourbulance and you spill that pot on me, are you prepared to purchase me some replacement clothes?

kronk wrote:I don't think I'd like to sit next to someone with an open GW pot. If there is tourbulance and you spill that pot on me, are you prepared to purchase me some replacement clothes?

Seriously, this exactly. Its not just turbulence. Your table is attached to someone else's seat... I've had people slam their seats back and have had my laptop nearly dumped. But even the shifting etc could cause difficulties. If someone has to get up and you are not the window, you are going to have to do a lot of maneuvering around of stuff, which is another very easy way to spill. If you have layovers, sure, paint in the airport. But in an airplane seat just sounds like a nightmare.

As far as carry on, you really should look at the specific requirements of all the airports where you will go through security. Most are pretty consistent, but read what they say, and don't overthink it. Water based paints are non-hazardous liquids, so follow those rules exactly. Glue and/or accelerant may cause problems, though.

Best of luck, and have safe and happy travels!

If you want to do some hobby stuff on the plane, you'd have better luck taking on board an emery board (metal files might be a problem), and a bag full of pre-clipped components so that you can remove mould lines on the plane.

Either that or put together some army lists on the plane using some mobile or laptop/tablet software.

Typing from the terminal, just got through security with a ziploc of about 30 paint pots and 8 brushes...didn't even open my mini case.

Round one finished, Round Two coming up.

So, how did it work out?

Curious to know what the flight attendant's reactions were.

Didn't bother in the end as due to problems with the plane, I was dropped down to economy, so not really enough room. Am off to China again soon so will give it a go then.

I really can't see any problem doing it on the plane. A paint pot isn't going to go anywhere in anything but the severest turbulence, they serve boiling hot coffee on them...I've yet to have one spill.

Will update this when I get a chance.

Couple of notes: I have done it on a flight before.....though it was a hassle for my stomach more than the minis. There is just enough movement to disturb my eyes (I can't read in cars or on flights either) so my stomach was not feeling too well when I got to Heathrow.

I really liked the suggestion for mold cleaning time.....that would be much easier to do on board and probably a lot less nerve-wracking for your next door neighbor worried about his/her suit, etc.

I used to travel A LOT for work, and would spend painting time just about every night. I guess I always found less distraction at the hotels than I do at home.

On security guards: Funnily enough when I used to work for GW (back at the end of the ice age) I did a few trips for work. I got to take some samples along on quite a few of those trips (new releases, a few give-a-ways, or tradepacks. I also tended to travel with my army (or one of them....) I would place it all in one case and travel with it- I was always afraid to check it, of course. This was all pre-9/11. Anyway when I started doing this, even at Baltimore, very few security had any idea or had ever seen anything like it before (of course Baltimore got more blase quickly). Then the Grand Tournaments started happening, followed by Rogue Traders, and now independents.... Security guards in places like Minnesota, Illinois, California, Texas, etc. all started knowing what it was. Either they (or their brother, cousin or something) knew it or had played it. A few mentioned things like seeing a bunch of people with those before (this was a month after a GT in Seattle). Working for them this was all kinda cool.

I don't travel much anymore, but if I had to fly overseas, I think I might just take some sprues to clean. It might be the best/easiest thing.....

Though of course if I'm flying to China/New Zealand/Australia and I'll be in the sky that long.....I'm taking my mega-paint set ;-)