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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 18:37:17 GMT
Hi folks, As many of you know my wife & I are about to flit. To Spain. Now, because of complictaions we're only going to be in Spain for a few months so we're not taking much stuff as our house there is pretty well equipped as is. I AM taking my hi-fi though. Not the loudspeakers & main amp, but everything else. I've been looking at ways to transport the gear & there's a possibility now that we may be flying to Alicante direct, and picking up a car over there. So I need something to take all my gear basically. Here's the list.. 1 x Mac mini 1 x Superdrive 4 x 3TB HD's 1 x ODAC 1 x Project Ember 4 x Valves Plus all cables, batteries etc. I'm leaving my monitor to go direct to France & I'll pick up a wee cheapie in Spain that'll do the job. That job is, by the way, to get the internet set up in our apartment. When we rent out the place that's been the only negative people have been able to find (all 5-star reviews though). I'm only taking the Hard Drives because I'm not trusting them to anyone else. Plus, the idea of living without MY music for months is not a good one. The HD 650's are taken care of because I already have a Slappa case that's more than good enough. So, I need a big bloody box. I'm going to measure all the gear tonight so as to get a better idea of just how much space I need. I initially thought of Pelican Cases & they are excellent I think but they're helluva expensive. But then I get thinking that it's still only a fraction of the value of what's going to be inside and I wonder if it's worth it or maybe even that I'm being a bit paranoid. Has anyone ever had to move gear like this before through airports? I'd ideally like to be able to take it on-board as hand luggage but I might be pushing it. Another idea might be to buy one big 5TB drive instead & cut down on the space requirements there. But then I've got all my eggs in one basket (media-wise) & I don't like that idea at all.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 18, 2015 18:45:07 GMT
I always take gear like that with me on the plane, Gordon. I use one of those boarding cases or 'cabin baggage'. It's a hard one with wheels and zips up. so it can't be crushed. It also has handles so there's no lifting until you get to the plane. Then the secret is to put everything into little padded boxes inside and make them fit tight by using T shirts to pad them. Normal case goes in the hold with chargers wedged between clothes and amps/headphones etc go in my boarding case and I wheel it on with me. I have a few since each airline allows certain sizes only and they go above your head in the plane. Alicante can be a pain though because the baskets pull you over when they see the gear on X-Ray and they go through your case. Tenerife was even worse. I was nearly arrested for using my daughter's teddy bear to pad out some gear!! They also refused to speak English so I had to talk my way out. The British airport might also be cagey when they see it go through the x-Ray. Putting stuff in the hold will be asking for trouble. They throw them in and out and pile them six feet high before reaching the plane so the bottom cases get crushed. My gear always causes problems at airports. Mine is like this but heavy duty.... www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009LJMO5A?keywords=cabin%20baggage&qid=1447872464&ref_=sr_1_12&sr=8-12www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FANS57C?keywords=cabin%20baggage&qid=1447872672&ref_=sr_1_20&sr=8-20The more expensive ones are lighter, so you can put more in them and not go overweight. One is worth it for future holidays too, when you want to go away with gear. I think mine was £90 but it's like a feather.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 19:30:45 GMT
I was thinking more along these lines. What do you think? It looks bloody strong! At least I'm not taking a monitor . But yeah, I can see myself getting hassled by sensitive customs people. That's the one thing I don't like about the Pelican cases - they kind of scream expensive hi-tech stuff inside! Alternatively we might end up taking our own car all the way and so a cardboard box will do. And bubble wrap. Lots of bubble wrap.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 19:37:51 GMT
Every time I pop some bubble wrap the dogs shit themselves I tell them to think of it as practice, Spanish people like their fireworks.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 18, 2015 20:06:03 GMT
That's very similar to mine, Gordon. I just pack T shirts around the gear. Everything is boxed inside as well. That headphone case you have is perfect, and you'll find little spaces in the boxes to put little things like wires as well. Or you can just pack them in the case.
Is that case a bit small. Mine is bigger than that but built the same way with steel supports inside as well.
Tobacco tin for the tubes. Roll them in cardboard.
Amps can be wrapped in cleaning clothes or again, boxed.
You will get stopped. I was stopped for having two sat navs. One was a car one and the other, a handheld unit that I sometimes use to find places when walking around.
Once, I was asked why I had two headphones. (Closed and open) I stupidly said that I had two heads. That got me near enough arrested. In Tenerife, I was bundled into a back room for a teddy. In the Isles of Scilly, I had to take virtually my clothes off and was searched. I asked for a lady and got myself into trouble. On the way to Irelandin a car, they dismantled all the panels inside. Twice in USA, got held for my face.... They thought I was being a smart ass. (They were HUGE and I was kind of amazed that a human could be so big) In Germany, I was arrested because I walked down an autobahn. I had no idea what an autobahn was in those days .... For me, it was a shortcut to the hotel. In Austria, the waiters in a hotel got nasty because I eat a roll on my table.
Me and authority doesn't work. But the case causes way more problems!!!
Animals are funny. Since retiring, I've trained my daughter's hamster. He comes out now when I call his name; even if he's half asleep. Comes out with bad hair and drooping eye lids but always makes it when I call him. He ignores my daughter though!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2015 22:31:03 GMT
That's quite a story mate, I hope I'm luckier though. I've only been stopped once & that was going over to Larne about twenty years ago. That was interesting To be honest though it's looking like I'm going to be taking my own car all the way to Spain. That feels better to me. Then once we're down there I can take my time to find a replacement with the wheel on the right (left) side. So if we are taking the car there's no need for a flight case. If waterproof is going to matter then I guess I'm doomed anyway
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2015 0:25:26 GMT
Alicante can be a pain though because the baskets pull you over when they see the gear on X-Ray and they go through your case. Tenerife was even worse. I was nearly arrested for using my daughter's teddy bear to pad out some gear!! They also refused to speak English so I had to talk my way out. My gear always causes problems at airports. I think it's because you just look really, really dodgy?
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Nov 19, 2015 7:34:26 GMT
Well, I think I do. I always notice security eying me up for toast on the way in and eventually, I'm jumped on.
The USA borders are the most scary.
The Spanish borders are the funniest. They 'try' to be scary but unfortunately, it makes me laugh.
Excooose senior. Wat do you find in da cass? Poor favor, 'ere pleez. Oppen de cass. Berry good. Wat is dis, senior?
Then a chat occurs between them and they continue in Spanish with me.
It's like a comedy film. (Until I end up locked up!!)
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