Flight Case Recommendations

[nephilim]

I'm looking for a flight case type container to carry my main AP kit (not the mount etc). Its to make things simpler & quicker for set up so I can just take the entire set up off the mount & put in the case without having to strip it all down. 
Ideally it needs to be at least 60cm wide by 50 front to back  by 30cm deep (slightly bigger will be fine but not smaller). It also needs to have the pick & pull (I think its called that) foam insert so I can cut it to fit my gear. Non of the ones I've looked at have been any use & are either £25 questionable affairs from dodgy companies such as 'Wish' or specific to Drones etc.  Its to fit the setup pictured, I also need it to be a fair bit bigger than I require for future things of which theres usually something further down the line 🙄

Thanks

Steve

Edited June 26, 2021 by nephilim

[Tiny Clanger]

Not used them myself, but here's a few specialist vendors who might have something suitable:

https://www.cases-and-enclosures.co.uk/aluminium-flight-cases

https://flightcaseuk.com/

https://www.absolutecasing.co.uk/

and if you need cubed foam (or pretty much any other sort of foam ) I've bought from here  https://www.efoam.co.uk/pick-n-pluck-foam.php

[nephilim]

8 minutes ago, Tiny Clanger said:

Not used them myself, but here's a few specialist vendors who might have something suitable:

https://www.cases-and-enclosures.co.uk/aluminium-flight-cases

https://flightcaseuk.com/

https://www.absolutecasing.co.uk/

and if you need cubed foam (or pretty much any other sort of foam ) I've bought from here  https://www.efoam.co.uk/pick-n-pluck-foam.php

@Tiny Clanger Thats great, thanks for the links 🙂

[Louis D]

Just make sure to avoid the really cheap "aluminum" flight cases which are actually made entirely of thin, textured, metal-colored plastic.  The sides puncture quite easily.  Not even the edges or corners are made of metal despite the look.

[nephilim]

4 hours ago, Louis D said:

Just make sure to avoid the really cheap "aluminum" flight cases which are actually made entirely of thin, textured, metal-colored plastic.  The sides puncture quite easily.  Not even the edges or corners are made of metal despite the look.

Thanks for the heads up mate. I'm looking more towards these type of cases 🙂 https://www.absolutecasing.co.uk/waterproof-cases/max-cases/standard-cases/max300.html

[scotty38]

4 hours ago, nephilim said:

Thanks for the heads up mate. I'm looking more towards these type of cases 🙂 https://www.absolutecasing.co.uk/waterproof-cases/max-cases/standard-cases/max300.html

I have that exact case for eyepieces and binoviewers (from Amazon and was cheaper) and it's really very good.

[Louis D]

11 hours ago, nephilim said:

Thanks for the heads up mate. I'm looking more towards these type of cases 🙂 https://www.absolutecasing.co.uk/waterproof-cases/max-cases/standard-cases/max300.html

I have a couple of these Chinese made cases, and they're quite tough.  I have a small one to hold my six Paradigm (BST Starguider) eyepieces vertically that I picked up for $10 on sale a few years ago.  I also have a large one from a wholesale club to hold my collection of large, yet seldom used, eyepieces.  I also have a couple of vintage Doskocil cases as well that were American made.  I prefer the denser foam in them, but the lower density Chinese foam works well enough.  All can take quite a beating.

[tomato]

A few years back I needed a large flight case to take my mount. After a bit of research I visited Flightcase UK in Bradford, they make large bespoke cases but had a range of smaller and used cases. I picked this used one up with a bag of foam in fills for £40, first photo was in it’s as seen condition, second is after I smartened it up a bit.

[Louis D]

I watch our local Craigslist for such items (tripods, cases, fluid heads, etc.) that are cast offs from local film and music production companies/groups.  There are some good deals to be had if you don't insist on cosmetic beauty.

[nephilim]

8 hours ago, tomato said:

A few years back I needed a large flight case to take my mount. After a bit of research I visited Flightcase UK in Bradford, they make large bespoke cases but had a range of smaller and used cases. I picked this used one up with a bag of foam in fills for £40, first photo was in it’s as seen condition, second is after I smartened it up a bit.

That looks like a nice secure case & at a good price. I'll have have a look at their website. Also my parents are in Harrogate, not far from Bradford at all so it may be worth popping over next time I visit them.

[nephilim]

1 hour ago, Louis D said:

I watch our local Craigslist for such items (tripods, cases, fluid heads, etc.) that are cast offs from local film and music production companies/groups.  There are some good deals to be had if you don't insist on cosmetic beauty.

As long as it keeps my kit safe in not bothered about a few scuffs, thanks for the info 

[Carbon Brush]

It all depends on where you are going to send the kit, and whether you are there to supervise.
Also whether you want it look nice stacked up in the house.

A cheap (flimsy) case is fine if you are handling it. But not if it goes into the cargo hold on your holiday flight.
Or for transport by road. You might not throw into the back of a van or use it as a wheel chock. But cheapo freight delivery Ltd?

If you must have shiny chrome etc, then you buy new. If you want secure storage, then used is fine.

As for the foam. You can buy it separately from various retailers.
Sculpting foam with a really sharp blade or a hot wire is not that difficult.

I have had various cases in different quality and condition. And still have some.
When I have tried to sell surplus on SGL, there has been less interest in the 'used by a band on world tour' appearance than a 'shiny' case.
Having a case that is strong enough to stand on for reaching the eyepiece on a long dob being less important than chrome corners.

Actually I have found my strong cases (that look tatty) and didn't sell on SGL have became very popular with friends who are moving house😁

HTH David

[nephilim]

10 hours ago, Carbon Brush said:

It all depends on where you are going to send the kit, and whether you are there to supervise.
Also whether you want it look nice stacked up in the house.

A cheap (flimsy) case is fine if you are handling it. But not if it goes into the cargo hold on your holiday flight.
Or for transport by road. You might not throw into the back of a van or use it as a wheel chock. But cheapo freight delivery Ltd?

If you must have shiny chrome etc, then you buy new. If you want secure storage, then used is fine.

As for the foam. You can buy it separately from various retailers.
Sculpting foam with a really sharp blade or a hot wire is not that difficult.

I have had various cases in different quality and condition. And still have some.
When I have tried to sell surplus on SGL, there has been less interest in the 'used by a band on world tour' appearance than a 'shiny' case.
Having a case that is strong enough to stand on for reaching the eyepiece on a long dob being less important than chrome corners.

Actually I have found my strong cases (that look tatty) and didn't sell on SGL have became very popular with friends who are moving house😁

HTH David

@Carbon BrushThanks for the info David 🙂 It's actually just to be used for storage mainly & making set up easier.

 Ideally I want to be able to take my entire set up  (as in my photo at the top of here) wires & all off the mount in one whole piece rather than stripping it all down & need a good quality protective case to store it in. This will save me a lot of time & faffing at the beginning and end of an imaging session, I can just set up the mount & tripod, then mount all my imaging gear in one go, stripping down at the end will be the same process but in reverse.

There will be the odd occasion when it will be put in the car for trips to very dark sites but I'm lucky enough to have Bottle 3 skies at home so trips away with it all will be limited really.

Regards 

Steve

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2021 by nephilim