Airplane Box

[Brent Rogillio]

Thinking about making a airplane box with inlay of wood. Basically like a machinist box with Drawers and compartment for lines and handle. Trying to come up with a design so everything has a place and very well organized. Any comments are pleased welcome. The wood mostly will be walnut with the name inlay. 

[Dan McEntee]

  Several years ago, a club I think from New Jersey? was selling flight boxes in either completed or kit form. Seems to me there was a drawing available once this internet thing kicked in. Might have been garden State Circle Burners? I remember it being a neat box and reasonably priced. A lot of the box design depends on what you want and need to do? In all the years I have been doing this, I am always looking at what the other guy has to see if it's better than what I have. I don't like to take every thing I brought to the flight line to start a model so I have a compact box that holds a 7AH battery, power panel, and a few assorted tools I may need to change a plug or prop. I have another large tackle box to hold other various sundries and spares, another tackle box that has just spare engine parts, a converted suitcase that has my lines and handles in it ( I have a set of lines and handle for each airplane I own.) I have another tool box that has tools, materials and just about anything I need to build just about anything I may need, but I usually only take this to out of town contests. I find multiple boxes is more efficient most of the time. Ifd I don't think I need it, I don't take it. For a quick flying session, I can toss the basics in one of those Craftsman tool bags, grab a jug of fuel and my starter box and go.
  Today, I broke the side of my little compact starter box. I've had it a long time and it's showing a lot of use and abuse, so it's time for a replacement. i'll be curious to see what other guys are doing also.
   Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Avaiojet]

I drew the plans for this field/flight box years ago. actually 1984. I know because I still have the correseondence letter from Custom Woodcraft.

Here's detailed information on it.

As I said, I designed this flight box in 1984. Custom Woodcraft built it from my drawings, actually from 1/2 size drawings.

Their commercial unite measured only, 21.5" X 9.5" X 16". My unite measures 25" X 13" x 16.5". Still looks as good as it did the day I opened the box it came in because I never used it. Probably never will.

Lots of features:

Five drawers, with adjustable spacer inserts.
Power panel/module.
Gas can hatch/area with magnetic door.
12 volt Battery hatch/area with magnetic door.
Four folding legs,lock up and down.
Fold out wing holders.
Fuselage holders, rise up and lock, fully adjustable.
Three carrying handles, two on the sides one on the top.
Brass, steel and aluminum hardware.
Plywood and maple hardwoods.
Pecan stained with a clear Urethane finish.

Charles

PS. I dug up the original drawing and took a photo.

 

[Brent Rogillio]

thanks for the comments. I have a field box holds the fuel,battery, and starter. The box I thinking to make is the accessories you want to have at the field for flying and simple tools and repairs.

[peabody]

Dan has a pretty good memory. The GSCB did, indeed, sell flight boxes...they were assembled but unfinished.

In my opinion, Tom Hampshire has a terrific flight box....it seems to hold one of everything that I have ever needed to borrow, PLUS, it is sturdy enough to sit on.

I have an old SIG (maybe?) box that I assembled.

Have fun!

[Dan McEntee]

    Hi Rich;
    yeah, the old gray matter functions in a positive manor sometimes. Got a picture of that flight box? It wasn't very big as I recal. I think I saw one that some one had just received many years ago at a contest in Peoria. Anybody got one of them little computer drawn sketches of this thing? Am I correct on the approximate size? Couldn't have been to big to have been able to sell and ship it assembled but unfinished. I just may get lazy and epoxy some new sides to the old box!
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[john e. holliday]

How about a pic or drawing, as my box is getting a little worn that I put together.   It it nice to have a small box with just the neccessities for the flight line.