Subs on a plane, Any top tips?

[Schmitty1944]

I've committed to come to Subfest 2026 in Georgia (a long way for me from Seattle). I'm building a model that is 44" long but I have designed it to come apart in sections. My current plan is to put it in a carry on hard case so that it never leaves my immediate vicinity. It's a scale model and pretty fragile. Since RC subs tend to look like a pipe bomb, I (and my wife especially) is worried we will have a lot of trouble with it at the airport.

I would love to hear some feedback from anyone with experience with taking RC subs on a commercial flight. Any top tips?

I'm also a little worried about bringing tools etc, I won't have much space to bring all the tools I would like. My model uses a gas backup ballast system. I know I can't bring any cans of propel or duster gas so hopefully I can find some near the event.

Jason

[SubSteve]

Hey Jason, it'll be great to see you in Georgia! Hopefully Steve Mayou will chime in. He has a small sub in a small hard rifle case with pluck-foam that has logged a lot of miles. While not carry-on it does provide a tough package. I saw him in Bellevue at the tug regatta last weekend. Don't worry too much about tools, I bring enough to fix most anything including spare parts. Anything else you need that can't be transported, send me a list as I am driving over from Dallas.

[Fishb0y]

I’ll post some photos later, but like Steve mentioned, I picked up a couple of hard-sided rifle cases. When I check in, I just tell the ticketing agents they contain electronics, and I’ve never had an issue.

The biggest hassle is trying to find the case after I land. Alaska always seems to make me hunt for it when we get back to Seattle because it’s in a gun case.

My 212 uses NiMH batteries, so I leave those in the case. My Collins uses a LiPo battery, so I keep that in my carry-on along with my radio.

[SubSteve]

Forgot the lost luggage issue, throw an air-tag or equivalent in the case. Saved me when they said my suitcase, containing a pistol, was "missing".

[Subculture]

To get a sub on a plane requires a lot of watts!

[Schmitty1944]

Thanks so much for the response and experience. Air tag sounds like a great idea. I am very familiar with that 212 S. Mayou has. I didn't build it from scratch but I did a lot of the work on it. The model I'm bringing is a lot bigger and has a lot of fragile details. A big part of the challenge for me is building in such a way that it will fit in a case that is 20"x13"x8". It's 44" long and unusually tall for a sub. It's a scale model. I have seen them done before but it's quite rare. I don't think Bob M. has ever had one (at least not on his channel). Any guesses?

Thank you so much for the offer to borrow tools. I really appreciate that. I'll try and bring the basics and a few spares (o-rings, hardware etc). It's the glue and liquids/gasses that are hard to bring on a plane.

The other problem is I can't really bring anything for the sub-swap and you know I love to wheel and deal.

I better get cracking. It's almost exactly a month and I've still got a lot of work to do!

Thanks
Jason

[Subculture]

WWII Chariot?

[Schmitty1944]

Uncanny. What tipped you off, the length? Did you see my post a while back on the subcommittee FB group? Anyway, absolutely correct. 1/6 Chariot, built from the Mountfleet kit which I have to say is the poorest quality kit I have ever seen...but still cool.

Jason

[Subculture]

Yes the length, plus you said it was tall.

[SubSteve]

Jason, if you have swap meet stuff you can usually ship it to the hotel or to me in Dallas and I'll bring it to Georgia. Don't forget to send me a gas/battery list, or anything else you can't ship for that matter. 31 days to my wheels-up!