Helicopter Case - Fat Max - Waterproof

[SnowAviation]

Hi all, I'm pretty new to the helicopter scene and am on my third helicopter. (Sounds like the start to a Helicopters Anonymous meeting, eh?)

I have a Walkera 5#4 co-axial, a EF Sabre FP heli, and my newest is the Falcon 3D. Helicopter storage is starting to become an issue, the original boxes are a pain and when I would go to the hobby shop to shop I'd see guys bringing in their helicopters in these slick cases. I said "That's what I need" but when I checked out the prices, well they just seemed too high for what you got.

Or maybe I'm cheap...

Plus why spend my hard earned money on field gear when you will be needing it for parts and other flying bling right? I had read this online article that some Stanley toolbox from Lowes would fit my Falcon perfectly, but alas, when I went to my local Lowes that partucular size was no where to be found, nor was any other box of an appropriate size.

So I zipped over to Home Depot and saw the "Fat Max". I thought "Cool" it's the perfect size, it's waterproof (that's got to be a bonus the others don't have), and it's only a couple of dollars more than the chromey Stanley box I didn't find.

I took my new case home extracted the styrofoam from the origial helicopter box and went to work with my hacksaw. It was quite messy but after a few minutes I had trimmed the foam to fit perfectly inside. I now have an inexpensive waterproof carrying case that also has a tool tray for all my electric flying necessities.

Fat Max Dimensions: Outside W: 28" H: 11 1/2" D: 12 1/2"
Inside W: 24 1/4" H:10 1/2" D: 9 1/2
(You are probably thinking "4" less width?" It's true but due to the handles the built into the sides for carrying) One last thing, this case is strong, I can easily stand on it, I weight an incredible 250lbs.

[hawkman]

Good idea...very nice...just wish I could find such a case for my Predator gasser.

Heres a suggestion...you could replace the polysterene with some softer foam...like out of a cheap matteress or something.

Rob

[SnowAviation]

Yeah, that would be great. I'd like to find a local source for that black foam like they use in gun cases. That would be ideal, the local bulk fabric outlet has some pretty nice foam but I don't know how hard it would be to form.

Ed

P.S. I just looked up that Predator, holy cow that thing is huge. Is it really 55" from nose to tail?

[hawkman]

Razor blade and some love...that should produce a nice foam inlay....I likeed your 'Helicopters anonymous' quip....very funny

Yeah the Predator is one awsome heli.....look it up within the photos section of this site....under 'Hawkman' I have 3 pics....one includes my faithful old Hawk and the Bell 47 which is a CX2, basically.

I got the Predator because I was flying nitro...but fuel is expensive and a pain to get....dangerous goods and insurance etc....so I started looking about...something 30 sized and petrol would be ideal....but the Predator came up trumps with its cheap price and value for money....the instructions ****....which seems typical of Century but otherwise they produce some nice helis.

Rob

[photocop]

Be carefull going to a fabric store for foam. Try to get the dark gray foam they use for rifle or camera cases. You can get it either in sheets of different thickness or precut so you can remove just what you need.

Foam that is white tends to dry out with age and causes all kinds of problems with the dust getting into cameras, guns, or motors & servos. The gray foam after years of service just gets soft!

Jerry

[SnowAviation]

Good points.

[Jasmin Wang]

here are some aluminum cases for your choices