Traveling Painting Kits???

[Grumb]

Jeff;

Thanks for the feedback. On the varnish issue I figured I could use a coat of brush on dullcoat. Not my favorite either, but it would protect the mini until I could get it home and give it a good spray coat.

Sounds like your GW ink experience must be quite a story. What I usually do is transfer my inks to dropper bottles anyway, that should help with the problem. Transport of the minis is something I\'m still working on figuring out.

I\'m thinking a small container, only big enough for one or two minis with foam to hold them very still. I\'ll let you know what I figure out.

You and Finn are both right about the color selection, it would depend on the figures I\'m painting, and if I made sure I was carrying similar enough minis (like two orcs, or two elves, etc.) then I could carry the appropriate color set with me.


Cheers,
Grumb

 

[Evil Dave]

I find a regular toothbrush holder is just the right size for bushes, just slide the plastic tip protecter on the brush, slide the brushes in and voila.

 

[Grumb]

Originally posted by Evil Dave
I find a regular toothbrush holder is just the right size for bushes, just slide the plastic tip protecter on the brush, slide the brushes in and voila.

OOO, hadn\'t thought of that. Good one Dave!!

Cheers,
Grumb

 

[vincegamer]

Here\'s what I do

The case I use is a plastic carrying case from Target or similar, with clear sides and a handle on the top, about the size of a lunch box. In fact, I\'ve occasionally carried lunch in it.

--3 brushes (big, small, dry)

--Usually no more than 6 colors of paint.

--Bottle of water (can\'t always guarantee getting any)

--small plastic cups (about 1/8+ cup ea.) - used powdered drink packets.

--paper napkins

--small plastic pallet

--small box containing handful of minis I\'m working on, blue-tacked to the box so I don\'t need padding

The key is planning. Prep ahead, decide what colors those minis will be, and then only take those colors.
Look at my heroquest orks in my gallery for an example of my painting on the go. I only had black, white, brown and 2 shades of green. (my first NMM because I didn\'t think to pack any metallic paints)
Oh, wory about basing when you get home.

That works for me, but I\'ve never flown with it.

 

[Grumb]

Thanks Vince

Thanks for the input Vince. I\'m going to try working on this over the weekend. I\'ve got a long trip out of the country coming up and I\'d love to take some minis with me to work on while I\'m gone. I\'ll let you guys know what I end up putting together. Wonder if this would make a useful article?

Cheers,
Grumb

 

[airhead]

The key to the whole article is if they let you bring the minis aboard the plane as carry-on. Again, I think this is going to be a matter of what airport you are going out of and which security guard you get - because I am pretty sure that \"metal soldiers\" are not in either the \"OK\" or \"confiscate\" catagory and they will have to think for themselves.

 

[PaintMinion]

My gear box is the rather large and hefty Plano 777, but that\'s just local travel and driving. For light travels the Plano 4700 2 tier Stowaway boxes are really nice. (Guide series). Also 2 were included and fit into my 777.

For the first time I\'ll be traveling by plane to Gen Con So Cal and will have to modify what I normally bring...

The case is customizable, a hard plastic, slips nicely into a bag or a suitcase. It has 2 sides that open up, bottom is deeper and is where most of the gear is. Top is for paints. I use thin packing foam to line areas where I\'m storing figures, it holds all sorts of paint bottles. I use a standing toothbrush holder for brushes and throw in a free CD Rom or 2 from AOL...can be reused or thrown away and are much lighter to carry and find more if needed.

I also make sure I have brush on primer and matte sealers, a small white glue, small ziplocks for basing materials, and a spare paper towel or two. I usually make do with whatever cup I can find.

I do have to limit my paints, and if I wasn\'t flying I\'d have a small prep/sculpt kit as well.

Everything fits into this case nicely.

 

[Grumb]

That\'s what scares me....

@airhead - you are absolutely right! That\'s what scares me. The TSA folks, bless their hearts, just aren\'t used to having to think too much... lol

@Sue - That Plano gear sounds interesting. I\'ll have to do some research on that. I\'ve got a few weeks before I leave town so I\'ve got a little time. I\'m going to be in Margo and Alexi_Z\'s neck of the woods middle of next month.

Cheers,
Grumb

 

[Sand Rat]

Originally posted by Grumb
@draddogette - first of all, welcome to the forums! That\'s a really nice looking case. I\'ll have to see if I can find one like that!

@Finn, you\'re a pain in the arse.... you\'re right, but you\'re still a pain in the arse... lol

Cheers,
Grumb

Seen that one at Walmart Grumb - am actually going to pick one this week to ship over to Iraq with my painting supplies in it - I really dont want to have to explain what the paints are for to Iraqi Customs

 

[Grumb]

Originally posted by steelcult

Seen that one at Walmart Grumb - am actually going to pick one this week to ship over to Iraq with my painting supplies in it - I really dont want to have to explain what the paints are for to Iraqi Customs

Hey Lloyd! Get that BLT when you got home? I actualy found one of these at a store here called Garden Ridge over the weekend. It was missing the shoulder strap and was the last one they had so the store manager sold it to me for $9.99. Normal price is $19.99 so I was happy! :bouncy:

I want to take mine to Russia with me in a few weeks and am trying to decide if I\'m going to have any trouble with customs over it, so I can understand your hesitation about Iraqi customs. I\'m not sure if US customs will be any better though truth be told.

Cheers,
Grumb

 

[Sand Rat]

Well, at least US customs has a set of rules you can ask for - Iraqi customs is making it up as they go along. I was worried about getting my camera out and am now worried about getting it back in - sure, its a K-Frame Pentax, but I still get a lot of use out of it.

 

[vincegamer]

I forgot to mention one very important piece in my travel kit:

a small container of brush cleaner.

That should do it. Number of paints will depend on how long the trip is and how much room you have. Might I suggest (though it may get boring) that if you are working on an army you take some of those? Then at least you can continue to use the same colors without it getting weird.

 

[Grumb]

Good addition...

Vince; Glad you mentioned it, would have completely forgotten the brush cleaner. Hmm, wonder if that is flamable and could get me in trouble. I\'ll have to go read the bottle.

I picked up some travel kits today at the drug store that included tooth brush holders (for the brushes) but also included those little plastic soap holders. I was looking at it thinking that if I lined it with foam top and bottom and added some dividers it might make a convenient way to carry the minis.

I\'ll post a pic if I can cook one up to working form.

Cheers,
grumb

 

[draddogette]

What\'s the verdict?

Just wanted to see how everything\'s going with the traveling kit...

 

[Grumb]

Sorry didn\'t mean to leave you all hanging...

Sorry guys, been busy as heck getting ready for this trip and forgot to come back and post an update. I\'ve picked up the traveling bag from Plaid that was recommended first page, some toothbrush holders for the brushes and am putting together a container to hold the mini\'s themselves. I\'m struggling with substitusions for my other favorite tools like the pin vise, knives, etc. I\'m putting together suitable plastic substitutions...

I also picked up a new batch of blue tac as my old one was almost out (that stuff does have limited reuse.) I\'ll post some more info at the end of the week before I leave to let you all know how it came together. I\'m going to take pictures and maybe turn it into an article as well. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

Cheers,
Grumb

 

[Sand Rat]

I know how you feel grumb - I put mine together while I was home and am having the better half mail it to me - somehow the thought of having to explain all the stuff in there (knives, paints, minis, etc) to a Middle Eastern Customs guy just didnt appeal to me.

 

[Grumb]

Quick update. I did purchase one of these cases below and it has proven to be better then I thought it would be.

The pockets for holding the paints were made for those larger Plaid / Artcraft style paint bottles. What I\'ve discovered is that each of those pockets will hold two jars of Reaper paints or two dropper bottles of Vallejo paint. So, you can carry a lot more paint that I at first suspected. I\'ve created a couple of cases for carrying minis that fit neatly into one of the zippered pockets on the case, and stocked with all kinds of mini painting goodness. I thought I would write a quick article about it so I won\'t duplicate that work here. Thanks to everyone for your input and ideas.

Cheers,
Grumb