15 replies to this topic

[Anastrianna]

Hey all,
I have never flown with minis and my painting gear before. Can someone share a few tips? I'm thinking all gear in the checked bag and all painted minis in a carry-on. Also I heard the DFW is very strict on the weight limit for the check bags...

I do not fly that often and lately it's for work and I only have a carry-on. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated!

[Castlebuilder]

If you have scrap metal in your checked baggage, plan on it being inspected. Also pack your minis so that the TSA employee can inspect your bag. All those wierd shaped pieces of metal always attract their attention, but other than them taking a look it has never been a problem for me.

[haldir]

Tools definitely should go into a checked bag. You can carry your brushes on with you thou, Just put them into a travel container & your good to go.

Scrap metal, yup I always get the "Your bag was checked..." note from the TSA with either the melt bag or boneyard goodies. Just not a trip to Reaper if there isn't one of those in your bag, ha ha.

Painted mini, I'll carry those on. If you got a padded container like a armytransport or even the Chessex boxes that will work for that. Paints, either put them into a bag & then into your checked & just expect when you re-open them they'll do the "pop" of paint with the change of pressure. Other then that your good to go.

Unless it's changed I've never have had a problem with the weights in any of my bags. Heck my big bag weighs in at around 20-25 lbs almost each time. I think it's 50 before any fees occur. Check with the DFW's site. www.dfwairport.com

Also I think the weight is dependent on the your airline of choice. As each has their own rules & such.

(reminds me I need to carry extra cash with me coming & going as I went the economy ticket on my both my tickets............ahhhhhh bag fees gotta love em )

RM

[Shakandara]

I carried a GW hardside case of minis as carryon on my last business trip. I had no problems with screening; of course they wanted to see inside the case after x-ray, but it was all very perfunctory. There are some other thread from previous RCons about traveling with your paints and tools. I'd recommend reading them.

EDIT: Handy link for the search-fu impaired.
And this one too.

There are more; try the advanced search, search title and description for "TSA" only in the Reapercon subforum.

~v

Edited by Shakandara, 24 April 2012 - 09:03 PM.

[Bruunwald]

A couple weeks ago, I went through the scan with a Battle Hive full of metal and plastic, both painted and not. Going through San Jose and Seattle, both, they X-rayed it, and let it through without opening it. On the way through San Jose, the guy at the scanner actually told me he knew those were "army men," and it wasn't a problem. So maybe they are becoming savvy. On the other hand, my son was with me, and while Seattle let me through no problem, they did ask my son what his box (similar to mine) was about. But they scanned it and didn't open it.

From what I can tell, TSA raiding your check-in is somewhat random and might depend on where you are going. On the way to New Mexico at the end of February, they didn't bother. I had all my models and tools and paint in there, but they didn't even bother. Same with coming back to San Jose. Going to Seattle and back, they ransacked my checked bags and broke tons of stuff. I filed a complaint. I have no problem with them wanting to take a look at tools, but they didn't need to break my plastic trees and leave my stuff out of the boxes when they threw it all back in the suitcase. Worse, turns out I did accidentally leave something banned in there, but they left it behind and removed something non-banned instead, because they just didn't seem to know what they were doing. Monkeys could probably be better trained.

My wife travels with lots of handmade stuff and tools all the time, and TSA often enough leaves it alone. Sometimes they rummage through it. There seems to be no pattern or meaning to any of it. But you probably should prepare for the worst.

The weight issue is an airline issue. Southwest allows you to check in two suitcases up to 50 pounds each for free, and to carry on a good-sized bag, and a backpack/purse, etc.

[MiniCannuck]

Thanks for all the info on flying with minis/tools.

I am a little worried about this as it is my first time flying with my minis. I have the Battlefoam bag which I will carry on and pack my painting/sculpting tools. I hope this will be fine.

[Pole]

Yes I highly suggest flying with anything painted or anything you don't want potentially broken as a carry on. The TSA punks won't tend to break things in front of your face, but you never know what they are going to do with your checked bags. They managed to bust a bottle of Captian Morgans I had in my checked bags last time I flew! They pulled me out of the security line to ask why my bag was leaking...

Talk about smelly clothes!

[Anastrianna]

Thanks all, this really helps!

[Wren]

I carry on minis and brushes, and check everything else. I expect my bag (full of pointy tools, putty and bare metal) to be searched. Given what's in there, I get a little worried sometimes if it's not. ;-> I try to pack all the mini-related stuff into a satchel that goes in my luggage, so it's easy for them to search, and I'm usually bringing the satchel anyway.

For carrying on minis, I have done a variety of things. I don't carry army (or even skirmish) amounts of minis. I have a purpose-made wooden case now, but in the past I have usually done variations of bubble-wrapped minis inside small hard sided plastic boxes/cases. I usually let the carry on scanner person know there might be weird stuff in there, could I help open it if they need to look closer. This past trip home from ArtistCon is the first time they've ever asked to look inside at the minis.

[MiniCannuck]

I carry on minis and brushes, and check everything else. I expect my bag (full of pointy tools, putty and bare metal) to be searched. Given what's in there, I get a little worried sometimes if it's not. ;-> I try to pack all the mini-related stuff into a satchel that goes in my luggage, so it's easy for them to search, and I'm usually bringing the satchel anyway.

For carrying on minis, I have done a variety of things. I don't carry army (or even skirmish) amounts of minis. I have a purpose-made wooden case now, but in the past I have usually done variations of bubble-wrapped minis inside small hard sided plastic boxes/cases. I usually let the carry on scanner person know there might be weird stuff in there, could I help open it if they need to look closer. This past trip home from ArtistCon is the first time they've ever asked to look inside at the minis.

Good advice. Now I just have to figure out where to put your cherry blossoms

[Wren]

Yay, I'm very excited about them!

[buckyball]

If you are a miniatures gamer. I would advise against packing casualty caps in your carry-on. If you happen to have some with your figures, and you are asked about them, it may be better to call them TV antenna tips. It turns out the TSA doesn't like the name casualty cap.

Hey all,
I have never flown with minis and my painting gear before. Can someone share a few tips? I'm thinking all gear in the checked bag and all painted minis in a carry-on. Also I heard the DFW is very strict on the weight limit for the check bags...

I do not fly that often and lately it's for work and I only have a carry-on. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated!

[Qwyksilver]

It also doesn't hurt to clearly label anything in your checked luggage. I've had boxes taped closed with a note attached stating - Art supplies, please handle with care. Contents include non-flammable, non-toxic acryllic paints, files, Xacto knives, rotary hand tool and bits, lamp, brushes, ceramic palette, etc. Once I started doing that I found my bags were searched, but the box was most often left undisturbed. I presume, because I provided a contents list, they can easily scan the smaller box, and check the image for the items without necessarily having to open the box and tear everything apart.

[Humansquish]

If you are a miniatures gamer. I would advise against packing casualty caps in your carry-on. If you happen to have some with your figures, and you are asked about them, it may be better to call them TV antenna tips. It turns out the TSA doesn't like the name casualty cap.

What's a casualty cap?

It also doesn't hurt to clearly label anything in your checked luggage. I've had boxes taped closed with a note attached stating - Art supplies, please handle with care. Contents include non-flammable, non-toxic acryllic paints, files, Xacto knives, rotary hand tool and bits, lamp, brushes, ceramic palette, etc. Once I started doing that I found my bags were searched, but the box was most often left undisturbed. I presume, because I provided a contents list, they can easily scan the smaller box, and check the image for the items without necessarily having to open the box and tear everything apart.

That is an excellent idea that I will use this year. Thanks Mike!

[haldir]

I seen Wiebe's tools & it had a message on it & that prompted me to put one on my main tool box that I can stuff in my big bag. Has worked every time.


Cau. Cap

I'm assuming these? Thou I'm not exactly sure what they are? Cap the mini if it is put out of the game??

http://www.wargameac...ages/WA01_A.JPG