| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1056.6 | thoughts about shipping crates, etc. | ROCK::MINER | Electric = No more glow-glop | Fri Jan 13 1989 16:16 | 92 |
| RE: < Note 239.1314 by LEDS::HUGHES "Dave Hughes" >
> -< need more convincing >-
> Well, you might be able to convince me. What's the configuration
> of the Ugly Stick, anyway? (low/high wing, symetrical/semi,
> tricycle/taildrag, etc)
Just like a Super Sportster: Low wing, symetrical airfoil, and
tricycle gear (which IS the same as MY SS 40 :-). It's the same
plane I had at the drop zone when you were there flying your SS 20
(the same day Fritz and Chris had a mid-air...)
> I was just recollecting the stories told by you and Al about
> servos coming loose and carbs falling off ...
The servo came loose because the stupid flight mechanic (yeah, me)
forgot to put the screws in. As for the carb, well, let's just say
you should check it after every dozen flights. RE: not being on the
ham band - I don't know how you would react, but I was much more
cautious and paranoid about making SURE I was doing the right thing
before I turned on my radio. When I fly here, it becomes more of an
automatic reaction to (get the freq. pin / put up my pin / whatever)
since this is good-old-comfortable-home-turf.
> Iff'n (I'm practicing) I borrered yer radio, how much work
> would it be to install it in the plane?
Nothing to it. Screw in the servo tray (the servos are still in the
tray), drop in the battery and receiver, screw on the servo wheels,
power on and line everything up. Oh yeah, don't forget to put in
the aileron servo and the servo SCREWS. :-)
> As far as packing, I wasn't thinking of something as crude as
> a cardboard box. I was considering building a crate out of plywood
> and pine.
I thought of this too and decided on cardboard for the following
reasons:
1. Building a plywood & pine box seemed like as much work as
building a MiG-3. Too complicated and time consuming.
2. After you get the box built and loaded, it's going to be HEAVY.
When they go to fill up the truck (or plane), they aren't going
to load the light stuff on the bottom and your heavy crate on
top, they'll bury your poor little plane on the bottom.
So, despite the fact that I was thinking about re-inforcing the
box with steel (heavier yet) to support a heavy load, I decided
I'd rather have my airplane riding on TOP of the shipment of new
bowling balls rather than under.
3. Packing it in cardboard and removing all the heavy stuff
(servos, batteries, motors) makes the plane more likely to be
placed on top of the load. Even if you choose to build a wooden
box, I still think it's better to remove the heavy stuff from
the inside. Imagine what will happen if they drop your crate
from 10 feet up. Those servos are still going to have the same
momentum that they do when your plane impacts the ground at 90
MPH (+/- 75 MPH :-) and tear you plane apart from the inside out.
Enough jabbering. I think ya' git th' idear. The airlines MIGHT
take better care of it but do you remember the American Tourister
luggage ads????
> As far as the repair situation, I think I'll just omit the
> crashing part altogether so that won't be an issue. Just so
> long as the plane doesn't come apart by itself.
I'm confident the plane'll hold together in the air. It's only the
way in which it contacts mother earth that makes the difference.
The only known problem with it right now is that the ailerons do
flutter if you go into a full throttle dive for an extended period.
> Whichever way I go, I'm still looking for a hard transmitter
> travel case. Anybody got one?
I just put it in a cardboard box w/ newspaper and put it inside my
hard-sided luggage w/ clothes all around.
Good luck you yer' trip. I know you'll have a great time flyin' in
the desert.
_____
| \
| \ Silent POWER!
_ ___________ _________ | Happy Landings!
| \ | | | | |
|--------|- SANYO + ]-| ASTRO |--| - Dan Miner
|_/ |___________| |_________| |
| / | " The Earth needs more OZONE,
| / not Caster Oil!! "
|_____/
|
| 1056.7 | How to build a Case! | CTHULU::YERAZUNIS | Since when do electrons carry charge? | Fri Feb 03 1989 14:19 | 60 |
| I'm sorry to hear about your 'Streak; what a horrid way for a wonderful
plane to go.
Which brings me to something else: the problem of shipping delicate
objects (and the finger-pointing associated therewith) has been
resolved historically by things called "ATA cases". These are usually
used by musicians and theatrical groups to ship expensive things
like instruments, amplifiers, and mixers around the country via
airfreight. DEC also uses ATA-type cases to ship VAXStations around
the country to trade shows (though we cheat on the edging; technically
our cases don't meet ATA spec)
An ATA case has a few interesting features you can incorporate in
your own cases:
ALL corners are reinforced with metallic caps; likewise all
edges are metal angle-stock covered. Pop-rivets are preferred
as the method of construction. "Wood-stick" frames are NOT
recommended; metal angle-stock (16 gauge or so) is used. (wood
splinters on edge impact, steel just bends a little.)
All latches and handles are recessed and so cannot be knocked
off, popped loose or otherwise released by bags sliding against
the case. Most ATA-rated hardware comes pre-riveted into recessing
pans.
All latches are rotary butterfly latches; no toggle latches
allowed (all the stress in a toggle latch is on one rivet and
if that rivet shears, it's all over). Pros use small wire
tiewraps through the butterfly for extra anti-open insurance.
The sides are only 1/4 to 3/8" thick ply; that's all that's
needed with the steel edging.
At LEAST 2" of closed-cell foam separates every part of the
delicate_object from the sidewalls. This _includes_ the lid.
Hinges are either full-length piano-hinge style, or are omitted
entirely and recessed latches are used on all sides to hold
the lid on.
The mating edges of case and lid are made of grooved metal
extrusions which interlock and thus are essentially weatherproof.
When the lid is "closed" the foam is slightly compressed to
keep the object from shaking around.
I have a source for extrusions, butterfly latches, hinge stock,
edge extrusions, handles, etc. (Penn Fabricators) and will get it
to anyone who wants it. (Penn Fabricators is also listed in the
NOVA::COMMUSIC notesfile)
The hardware costs but not much... two rotary butterfly latches,
pre-riveted into recessing pans, plus a spring-loaded retracting handle
goes for about $20. It's definitely "pro" stuff- the big disadvantage
is that it weighs like "pro" stuff! Heavy duty; with emphasis on
the "heavy".
-Bill
|
| 1056.1 | cost verses broken stuff | RVAX::SMITH | | Tue Jul 25 1989 15:21 | 13 |
| Hi Brian,
I don't think cost is your main concern. Packaging so that
everything arrives in one piece is. You can't always count on
the mail services to "handle with care" (right Dan Miner?) but
generally if care is taken in wrapping everything up and protecting
it as much as possible, and writing fragile all over the package,
it should arrive ok. Also be certain it's insured. I used to send
packages from east coast to west coast fairly frequently in weights
right around 5 to 8 pounds and as I recall, UPS was less than $10.00.
Steve
|
| 1056.2 | Shipped planes = Crunched planes | ROCK::MINER | Electric = No more glow-glop | Tue Jul 25 1989 17:46 | 27 |
| Steve is right. It's not the cost of shipping that's the problem.
The real problem is that there is a very good chance that your box
will get crunched. My box got bent and then squashed from end to
end. The box was about 8 inches shorter when I got it from UPS.
If you do decide to ship via UPS, I strongly recommend shipping via
"UPS Second Day Air" as apposed to the normal (7 day) truck method.
I can't be sure, but I think they take more care with the packages
shipped by air than they do with the ones shipped by truck.
FYI - I shipped two planes in 2 boxes to Phoenix, AZ (from MA) via
UPS Second Day Air and had no problems. On the return, I shipped
one plane via truck and the box got crunched.
The best bet is go to the UPS office with the plane and ask them
"How do I package this plane so it won't get damaged in shipment?"
_____
| \
| \ Silent POWER!
_ ___________ _________ | Happy Landings!
| \ | | | | |
|--------|- SANYO + ]-| ASTRO |--| - Dan Miner
|_/ |___________| |_________| |
| / | " The Earth needs more OZONE,
| / not Caster Oil!! "
|_____/
|
| 1056.3 | ship it... | K::FISHER | Stop and Smell the Balsa! | Tue Jul 25 1989 17:51 | 36 |
| > right around 5 to 8 pounds and as I recall, UPS was less than $10.00.
When I shipped one BJ to Phoenix the box cost me $80 and it weighed
about 40 lbs.
UPS charged about $35 but that was 2nd day air.
It came back slow mode and cost about half as I recall.
Kevin shipped a CAP 21 and built his own box (1/4 inch larger than UPS
allowed) I think he spend about 40 on parts to build the box and
his shipping cost was maybe 20 percent less than mine (his was lighter).
After it arrived in Phoenix is had minor damage. Then when he
shipped it back they sent it back to the motel in Phoenix because
they determined (after they accepted it) that it was too large.
Then Al Casey came to the rescue and sawed one end off the box.
Weeks later it arrived in Mass and this time with extensive damage.
If you are flying you can take huge boxes with you on the plane
but you should really talk to the airlines before to insure that
they will allow it and what it will cost. We tried that and couldn't
get a firm commitment over the phone.
If you take pack it in a softer lighter box (8 pounds) as above then
you should be able to ship it for around $10.00. That is probably
close to what Dan Miner did - but UPS managed to fold his box (and
hence his Electro-Streak) in half. I think he is still waiting
for the settlement.
Summary - I don't think you can economically ship a completed airplane
but I am most interested to hear of any good cheap reliable way of doing
so.
Bye --+--
Kay R. Fisher |
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| 1056.5 | If you hold it dear....don't ship UPS | CSCOA3::HOOD_DO | | Wed Jul 26 1989 10:43 | 31 |
|
Having worked for UPS in my college days, I would NOT ship anything
that I hold dear via UPS. If you do, it should be able to withstand
a 70 lb. (the max) box of nails dropping from 3ft on top of it.
EVERY box has "fragile" written on it. When you read "fragile" 5000
or more times a night, you really dont care what the box contains.
Ship anything you like, since it can be insured.....but don't ship
anything that is delicate that cannot be replaced.
As far as 2nd day air goes....
If a package will get there in one day (whether or not it says second
day air) they put it on the truck. This pretty much happens for
any destination less than 500 miles ( UPS is very good about getting
a box on a truck and in motion....they take great effort to get
nearly EVERY box on the truck and moving on the day it comes in.)
Another option that has not been considered is shipping via bus.
You might be able to put it on a Trailways (or other) bus. We did
that a few times at a propeller (boat) shop that I worked at. The
bus did VERY low volume, and there was literally nothing in the hold
(we were there when they took it off of the bus) with the props.
You would want to check to be sure that the item can be insured.
We shipped/received a few props less than 300 miles this way. I
dont know what the situation would be for longer trips. They basically
put your package in with the passenger's baggage...so you dont have
to worry about someone dropping a 70lb. piece of lead on your wing.
I have no idea what the cost is.
doug
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