I travel (a lot) for a living and spend most days during the week on the road. When on the road, I’m really busy during the day but have a lot of free time in the evening. It seems like this is the perfect time for modeling. This got me wondering: could I create a small “travel” toolbox that has a minimal set of tools to keep me productive on the road? Has anybody out there solved this problem?
Obviously, I’d have to check any x-acto knives in my luggage. I’m not sure how to deal with glue or paint (even in small quanities).
Maybe using a small travel toiletry kit carry case as your tool box?
If your fluids are under a certain amount I thought you can check them so you may be ok for paint and glue.
As for flying with the work in progress I’m moreso lost. I’ve heard of others making a carry box with custom foam for the model, but you need something that can always change as your build progresses.
I also travel by air (and company van) a few times a year for work.
If it’s a new place that I haven’t been too yet, I’ll online search the area for hobby shops and craft shops in that destination area so I can get supplies as I need them.
If I fly then I only bring my model project. Either the whole kit(s) or sub-assemblies.
also tweezers, files, sanding stuff
I don’t bring blades, paints, adhesives, putty
If driving, I’ll bring my blades, adhesives and putty fillers.
I never paint “on the road” or do any final detailing. I’ll only paint if I plan to be away for months
I actually have a separate set of modeling tools that I keep in a fishing tackle box for when I go on trips. It actually started out because on nice days, I like to set up a little table and model outside. But it would get frustrating because I would always forget something from my regular tool set. Two minutes after setting up outside and getting started: “I forgot the super glue!” Go back inside and get the super glue. Five minutes later: “Didn’t I bring the file out?” Go back inside and get the danged file! Ten minutes later: “OK, now I need the hobby knife with the Number 10 blade!” Go back inside and get…
Eventually I got sick and tired of bouncing up and down like a Jack-in-the-box gone berserk, and that’s when I assembled a whole set of tools for outdoor modeling. And that’s when the idea hit me to try modeling on the road. It works out nicely: The tackle box and both spares boxes fit inside a nice red carrying bag my mother gave me years ago, plus a small workbench cover. (No point in slicing up the motel room desk.) A large cooler holds the model, plus a few extra things like an Ott-Lite and lazy Susan. I don’t paint on the road, but I do bring glues in my outdoor/road toolbox.
I haven’t tried flying with all this stuff; been over fifteen years since I’ve been on a plane.
This is an interesting topic. I myself have a separate little box of essential tools packed in one of those plastic crayon boxes (that snap shut). I keep everything i need to build a model out of the box or with very minor modifications. Plastic and superglue, files, sanding stick, knives, pin drill set, putty, tweezer and a few small spring type clamps. From time to time I have a lot of spare time at work my my computer is doing it’s thing. I have completed two models in as many months sitting a table in my office at work. I don’t paint there though, that is reserved for the home work shop. I pick models that can be built completely before painting. Now Aircraft of course, you’d have to stop and paint some stuff mid way through but I build armor so it’s not much of an issue on most kits.
I have sort of made it a personal challenge to do several of these “spartan” builds without the luxury of my 8ft workbench and multitude of tools at hand.
I bought a small plastic tackle/toolbox at Walmart to do this. I stocked it with a set of those small Testors acrylic bottles (like 8-10 bottles in a set made for military or aircraft painting), a few essential tools like an X-Acto knife, sanding sticks, some sandpaper scraps, sprue cutter, couple of paint brushes, tweezers, a small cold medicine measuring cup (like from Nyquil) and those black wedge shaped Testors model cement containers.
I always keep a small 1/72 scale aircraft and armor kit inside, but I have taken a ziplock bag full of road wheels from a regular project to do some of the tedious cleam up work while watching TV in a motel room.
Right now the box has an Airfix Gnat and an Airfix Chi-Ha inside.
I used to travel quite a bit - driving though, not by air - and would often be gone a week at a time. I found a mid-size fishing tackle box that could hold some of the basics and a kit, no airbrush. I almost always built 1/72 WW2 fighters at the time, so I could actually work it right up to the point of landing gear & fiddly bits without worry.
Took that in my hotel room just now. It fits in my bag easy and leaves a load of room for a kit. I build sub assemblies and finish the builds on weekends. Never had a problem with the fluid as it goes into my hold luggage.
