Any sure fire safe ways to move Planes ???

Stuka Stunt Main Forum · 11 of 11 known posts recovered

Rob · Jul 11, 2004 08:41 PM

I'm planning a move from California to Minnesota within the next two months. Taking the money and running from this crazy real estate market out here. Sold one house in one day for 8 thousand over my asking price! Only in Ca!! Buying a 260 acre Farm in Minnesota. Lots of room to fly without anyone complaining about the noise!
Problem is I've got six 1/2as and a ARF Nobler to include in the move. Anyone know of a safe way to ship planes?? I've thought about building custom crates for them as that seems like the safest way to go, but if anyone else knows of a better way, I'm open to any ideas!!
Thanks,
Rob Johnson
Orange Ca., soon to be Little Falls,Mn.

Tools · Jul 11, 2004 09:38 PM

#1 source

I've had really good luck putting them in cardboard boxes, with simple heavy cardstock sheaths for open bay wings, then flooding the box with styrofoam peanuts.

I've shipped planes via FEDEX, on airliners and in moving trucks all the way cross country this way without a broken part yet.

It's simpler than fitted boxes, it's very lightweight which means less chance of being dropped, and cheap.

It's a pain to get them in and out on a regular basis, that's the only drawback I've found.

Making the boxes is pretty easy if you use mattress boxes to construct them. I recommend using cheap duct tape to assemble the box. Packing tape works alright, but will eventually just fall off it they're going to be in storage for a length of time.

I've put as many as four or five planes in one box. Just as long as some peanuts gets between them when they're packed, they'll do just fine.

Tools

Mike

Steve Scott · Jul 11, 2004 09:40 PM

#2 source

LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-04 AT 09:45 PM (CDT)

Crate up the kids and put the airplanes in the car

I moved from WA State to MN 8 years ago. I brought a few airplanes out with me but they were already suffering some damage. They didn't pick up any additional damage in the move.

At least you'll have the benefit of moving in the summer. We packed up the Toyota with 2 adults, 2 young kids, a cat and 3 goldfish and drove out in January.

What part of MN are you moving to? The Piston Poppers fly on the north side of the Twin Cities. Our next big stunt contest is in August. You also haven't lived until you've done the Jan 1 Frozen Fly!

OK, so I re-read your post. Little Falls is about 1.5 hours northwest of where we are. Do I hear a C/L contest in the works on your farm?

Jeff W · Jul 11, 2004 11:04 PM

#3 source

Rob:

Can't help with the moving but let me join the "Welcome to Minnesota" group. I too am one of the (original) Piston Poppers and when you get settled enough, we'd love to see you at our site. E-mail me at [email protected] for directions. We're about an hour and a half down US 10 then I-94 to our site. We fly on Wed eves and Sundays.

Remember: winter and Ice fishing start the day after Labor Day and end the day before Memorial day for highway construction season. We do have an Iron Man fun fly every New Years day. The club supplies Chili and hot cocoa.
One of the Zanier members built an Enya .35 powered "Flying snow shovel"last year. No Bull, a real 16" aluminum snow shovel with wings and an elevator added. Got 2-1/2 laps out of it and cleared his own circle. You have heard of Snow Blowers, haven't you?

Have a safe move!

Jeff W

Rob · Jul 13, 2004 09:36 PM

#9 source

Can't ship the kids and move the planes in the car as there all grown and gone, and can't tow a trailer for them as I have a Jeep and trailer that HAVE to go! The home made box idea will work the best for me.
One of my first projects after the move will be to build a circle. It's just so hard to find a place out here in Ca. to fly where people don't complain. I'd like to pratice a lot, but can't drive out to Whittier Narrows everytime I want to fly. Having my own circle will be perfect. Anyone needing a place to fly will be very welcome. My Uncle has a farm in Verndale Mn. He installed a runway for his RC friends. Last time I was out there, he put on quite a show.
I'll surely check out the Piston Poppers after my arrivial. If you guys are anything like the guys of the Knights of the Round Circle, your a great group.
See you all in September.
Rob Johnson
Orange, Ca.

Jeff W · Jul 15, 2004 10:28 PM

#10 source

Rob:

Be careful what you wish for!

We can only use our site Wednsday nght and Sunday due to one hostile neighbor (who would also like to close the Vo-Tech we fly on). You could be the most popular guy in the state 5 of 7 days a week.

Seriously, we look forward to meeting you when you get here and the lakes really don't freeze over the day after labor day (usually).

Jeff W

P.s: check www.pistonpoppers.com and you'll see a picture of our last Jan 1 Iron man, including the flying snow shovel.

Jeff W · Jul 11, 2004 11:13 PM

#4 source

Rob:

Just another passing thought. Our local shops are getting $90-95 for the ARF Nobler. For what it'll cost you to ship it, whynot see if you can get $50-60 for the one you have from someone out ther and buy a new one here. It'll take longer to build the crate than the plane.

Just a thought.

Jeff W

P.S., We would never hit you up for a contest site---until you had been here at least 2 or three days.

Steve Scott · Jul 12, 2004 09:14 PM

#8 source

>
>
>Rob:
>
>Just another passing thought. Our local shops are getting
>$90-95 for the ARF Nobler. For what it'll cost you to ship
>it, whynot see if you can get $50-60 for the one you have
>from someone out ther and buy a new one here. It'll take
>longer to build the crate than the plane.

Or do as I did - buy $20 worth of raffle tickets and win one!

ty marcucci · Jul 12, 2004 12:20 AM

#5 source

I have done it two ways. First like "Tools" does and once I rented a small U-Haul trailer. From Idaho to So. Cal (San Diego) via Arizona. Don't ask! Anyhow, when I got to the Calif. border, the fruit and vegetable gestapo wanted to search my trailer for living plants. I told them it just full of model airplanes. The olde guy didn't believe me until I opened up the back gate. He just stared for about five minutes. Shrugged and told me to go on through. I ha d about twenty combat ships hanging by their leadouts and one stunt ship, and about twelve free flight planes in there. All made it safely.

clflyer · Jul 12, 2004 08:01 AM

#6 source

Greyhound.
I box up a couple of planes and ship them to Phoenix and then back after the contest each year. Simply take them to your local Greyhound bus terminal and tell them where they are going. When they ship mine, they take them out to the bus put it on and drive to Phoenix. When it gets there they take it out of the bus and put it on a shelf. It sits there until claimed.
No conveyor belts, no major problems. When Bill Melton passed a few years ago, we shipped about 100 planes this way and none were damaged.
Price is reasonable. It costs me $30 to ship a large box from Aurora, IL to Phoenix.
Bill

Interested in C/L? Check out my site:
http://www.clflyer.com
Bill Calkins

wcrane · Jul 12, 2004 11:07 AM

#7 source

Agree with Jeff. Put a low enough price on em, and they'll move all by themselves. Just keep the one or two you really want/need.

From somewhere near Parkville, Mo.
William Crane
AMA 6733