| |
I'm not sure where this should be posted, so I placed it in events, general, and
storage. Stacy and I are planning to attend Brickworld and possibly BrickFair
this year. We would like to exhibit at both, but this year will be our first
time doing any kind of public exposition. Since we're first-timers, we have a
few questions (and I warn you this could get long) about AFoL events.
First we'll focus on Brickworld since it is closer to us in distance. We will
be driving (probably a MINI) from the La Crosse, WI area and will be coming down
either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Our questions...
1) How do most of you transport your MOC's and layouts to shows?
2) What types of containers do you use...if any?
3) How much stuff do you usually bring?
4) How do you determine what to bring?
5) How much stuff your first time exhibiting?
6) Does anyone collaborate on transport (i.e. multiple groups renting a U-haul)?
Next, we have BrickFair. This would involve us flying in...which presents a new
challenge. I'm leery of letting the airlines handle my MOC's, but I don't
really have the vacation available to drive out to VA. So...
1) If you fly to an event...do you brings MOC's?
2) If so, how do you get them to the show (airline, UPS, etc.)?
3) How much stuff do you usually bring to shows you fly to?
4) If you bring MOC's on the airline...how do you package them?
5) If you ship them, what type of container do you use?
I think this covers most stuff. We're just trying to get the logistics down for
going to these shows and bringing our MOC's, if possible. This will be a
new...and fun...experience for us. Can't wait to meet some/most/all of you this
summer!
Oh, if anyone is passing through the La Crosse area on the way to Brickworld and
has some "transport space for hire"...we'd be interested. :-)
Thanks,
Dave
|
|
| |
I have driven and flown with MOCs.
For driving, I just load them into boxes. I might put a bit of padding
around some items, but mostly they just get stacked up.
Note - my larger MOCs tend to break down into smaller modules - with the
exception of my coastal scene which is 5'x7.5', but that has only travelled
in town (well, a couple pieces have travelled to Seattle from Portland).
For flying, I take more care with bubble wrap, but not much. In fact, mostly
what I do is pack the smaller modules into individual bags to assure that if
parts do fall off, I know which module they came from. I usually fit a few
boxes into a suitcase, and sometimes a duffel. I've also transported some
stuff just in a box (one such box flew to BricksWest just before I moved to
Portland, I never even unsealed the box before moving, the moving guys were
a little skeptical about loading a box I had packed onto the truck, but I
pointed out that I had consigned that box to baggage handling, they were
going to handle it with kid gloves in comparison).
In general, I have found very little damage to my MOCs. But I did help
Thomas Avery deal with the damage to his crane once:
http://news.lugnet.com/technic/?n=8646
One note - most (all?) airlines have reduced maximum bag weight to 50 lbs.
70 lbs was so much handier. A decent sized suitcase that will hold boxes
that will hold a 48x48 grey baseplate seem to weigh about 15 lbs empty, so
with a 5 lb buffer for differences in scales and last minute additions to
the suitcase, the suitcase itself uses up 1/3 of your baggage capacity, as
compares to less than 1/4 of the capacity with the 70 lb limit. Weigh your
suitcases before you get to the airport...
Frank
|
|
| |
Hi Dave & Stacy,
I've been to BrickFest '06 (in my backyard) and I've driven to Brickworld (12
hours in small SUV).
I'll start one step ahead of your questions. I go out of my way to create MOCs
that are built-to-show. In BF'06 I made a mosaic. It traveled just fine, flat
in my car. For BW'07 I built the World Trade Center and planned it so that each
module fit into it's own box. Both were very "simple" MOCs without a lot of
loose pieces, individual minifigs, etc. So when a part broke off, it was realy
easy to spot it and put it back. And upon arriving at the show, my setup time
was about 5 seconds, whereas many other people (those crazy train folk) were
going at it for hours.
How much to bring? As little as possible that you can enjoy showing off and
still have fun. If you're driving to Brickworld, as I did, you must know that
you'll be spending at least a couple hundred dollars on Lego when you're there.
All this stuff has to fit into your car. I drove to BW'07 with a nearly empty
SUV, just 3 boxes for my MOC, and drove back PACKED TO THE BRIM. Much of it was
my own, for my BrickLink store. But I also carried back shopping bags for 3
others. So take just a little bit of MOCs with you.
I haven't flown. I drove 13 hours to Chicago specifically because I love my MOC
and my Lego. Next time I'll try to ride-share with someone so I don't have to
drive 12 hours straight.
I hope to see you at BrickFair!
Todd
|
|
| |
In lugnet.events, Dave Sterling wrote:
| |
I’m not sure where this should be posted, so I placed it in events, general,
and storage. Stacy and I are planning to attend Brickworld and possibly
BrickFair this year. We would like to exhibit at both, but this year will be
our first time doing any kind of public exposition. Since we’re first-timers,
we have a few questions (and I warn you this could get long) about AFoL
events.
First we’ll focus on Brickworld since it is closer to us in distance. We will
be driving (probably a MINI) from the La Crosse, WI area and will be coming
down either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Our questions...
|
Hi, Dave (& Stacy:-)
I’ve been much too quiet around here, so I’m taking this great opportunity to
sound off. I remember being in your shoes not so long ago. Our first show was
LaCrosse:-) So I will share with you all I can. But for sure let’s plan on
having dinner together in LaCrosse in March and talk about it at length.
First off, when you say “MINI”, are you talking about a Mini Cooper or a
minivan? Because what you bring to shows is completely dictated by what will
fit in your vehicle.
I remember packing things SOOOO carefully into our car for our first show. The
reality is, once stuff got into a car, it hardly moved. If you pack studs up,
and you avoid accidents and rough driving, you shouldn’t have any real problems
with MOCs. Containers are nice because you can pack MOCs in them and then
safely stack the containers, giving you more packing space.
But again, how much you bring will be determined by the size of your ride.
Another thing that REALLY helped us were “dry runs”. We used LaCrosse as a dry
run show for the NMRA show in Cincinnati. If you are thinking about
transporting a layout to Chicago, consider contacting the LaCrosse show to show
there first, as a sort of dry run.
As far as flying goes, I’ve never brought more than just a container of MOCs
that I carried onto the plane for an event. It’s just not worth trying to bring
a lot via air in my mind. I just suck it up and enjoy the MOCs of the locals:-)
JOHN
| |
1) How do most of you transport your MOC’s and layouts to shows?
2) What types of containers do you use...if any?
3) How much stuff do you usually bring?
4) How do you determine what to bring?
5) How much stuff your first time exhibiting?
6) Does anyone collaborate on transport (i.e. multiple groups renting a
U-haul)?
Next, we have BrickFair. This would involve us flying in...which presents a
new challenge. I’m leery of letting the airlines handle my MOC’s, but I don’t
really have the vacation available to drive out to VA. So...
1) If you fly to an event...do you brings MOC’s?
2) If so, how do you get them to the show (airline, UPS, etc.)?
3) How much stuff do you usually bring to shows you fly to?
4) If you bring MOC’s on the airline...how do you package them?
5) If you ship them, what type of container do you use?
I think this covers most stuff. We’re just trying to get the logistics down
for going to these shows and bringing our MOC’s, if possible. This will be a
new...and fun...experience for us. Can’t wait to meet some/most/all of you
this summer!
Oh, if anyone is passing through the La Crosse area on the way to Brickworld
and has some “transport space for hire”...we’d be interested. :-)
Thanks,
Dave
|
|
|
| |
In lugnet.general, John Neal wrote:
| |
In lugnet.events, Dave Sterling wrote:
| |
I’m not sure where this should be posted, so I placed it in events, general,
and storage. Stacy and I are planning to attend Brickworld and possibly
BrickFair this year. We would like to exhibit at both, but this year will
be our first time doing any kind of public exposition. Since we’re
first-timers, we have a few questions (and I warn you this could get long)
about AFoL events.
|
Hi, Dave (& Stacy:-)
I’ve been much too quiet around here, so I’m taking this great opportunity to
sound off. I remember being in your shoes not so long ago. Our first show
was LaCrosse:-) So I will share with you all I can. But for sure let’s plan
on having dinner together in LaCrosse in March and talk about it at length.
|
Yeah, you have been kinda quiet lately. I was wondering where you disappeared
to. :-) Dinner in La Crosse sounds great. Did you guys make it to “The Depot”
last year for BBQ? If you like BBQ it’s awesome.
| |
First off, when you say “MINI”, are you talking about a Mini Cooper or a
minivan? Because what you bring to shows is completely dictated by what
will fit in your vehicle.
|
MINI Cooper. We COULD bring our monster van...but it’s a pain on long trips.
We’re still undecided as to which we’re bringing. I guess it will depend on how
much stuff we want to show and how much more stuff we intend to bring back. :-)
| |
Another thing that REALLY helped us were “dry runs”. We used LaCrosse as a
dry run show for the NMRA show in Cincinnati. If you are thinking about
transporting a layout to Chicago, consider contacting the LaCrosse show to
show there first, as a sort of dry run.
|
Yeah, a dry run would be awesome. I’d love to do La Crosse this year as it’s in
our backyard. Do you have any contact information for that show? Or any advice
on how to get in? I can’t find any contact information online. Also, I heard
rumors last year that they were going to limit the LEGO Train participation
because some of the “old timer” model train guys were getting grumpy about the
AFoLs getting all the attention from the kids and media. Of course this rumor
came from an “old timer” as well. We’ll see.
| |
As far as flying goes, I’ve never brought more than just a container of MOCs
that I carried onto the plane for an event. It’s just not worth trying to
bring a lot via air in my mind. I just suck it up and enjoy the MOCs of the
locals:-)
|
Yeah, I think we’ll probably go this route. I might do a few Vigs. or something
like that. Maybe bring a couple train engines or cars to show. I think we’re
planning to do more volunteer stuff at that show versus actually exhibiting.
The distance is just too great to safely bring everything. Maybe we’ll drive
there in 2008. :-)
Gotta run,
-Dave
|
|
| |
In lugnet.general, Dave Sterling wrote:
| |
Yeah, you have been kinda quiet lately. I was wondering where you
disappeared to. :-) Dinner in La Crosse sounds great. Did you guys make it
to “The Depot” last year for BBQ? If you like BBQ it’s awesome.
|
We always skip that, and hang out together as a group (with the GMLTC usually)
| |
| |
First off, when you say “MINI”, are you talking about a Mini Cooper or a
minivan? Because what you bring to shows is completely dictated by what
will fit in your vehicle.
|
MINI Cooper. We COULD bring our monster van...but it’s a pain on long trips.
We’re still undecided as to which we’re bringing. I guess it will depend on
how much stuff we want to show and how much more stuff we intend to bring
back. :-)
|
| |
| |
Another thing that REALLY helped us were “dry runs”. We used LaCrosse as a
dry run show for the NMRA show in Cincinnati. If you are thinking about
transporting a layout to Chicago, consider contacting the LaCrosse show to
show there first, as a sort of dry run.
|
Yeah, a dry run would be awesome. I’d love to do La Crosse this year as it’s
in our backyard. Do you have any contact information for that show? Or any
advice on how to get in? I can’t find any contact information online. Also,
I heard rumors last year that they were going to limit the LEGO Train
participation because some of the “old timer” model train guys were getting
grumpy about the AFoLs getting all the attention from the kids and media. Of
course this rumor came from an “old timer” as well. We’ll see.
|
I’ll get it to you (contact info) via email. The flyer did say that they were
restricting new participants, but you never know. It would be best to contact
the person in charge personally (he’s in LaCrescent)
| |
| |
As far as flying goes, I’ve never brought more than just a container of MOCs
that I carried onto the plane for an event. It’s just not worth trying to
bring a lot via air in my mind. I just suck it up and enjoy the MOCs of the
locals:-)
|
Yeah, I think we’ll probably go this route. I might do a few Vigs. or
something like that. Maybe bring a couple train engines or cars to show. I
think we’re planning to do more volunteer stuff at that show versus actually
exhibiting. The distance is just too great to safely bring everything. Maybe
we’ll drive there in 2008. :-)
|
Sound like a good plan. TTYL
JOHN
|
|
| |
In lugnet.events, Dave Sterling wrote:
> ,,
> 1) How do most of you transport your MOC's and layouts to shows?
> 2) What types of containers do you use...if any?
> 3) How much stuff do you usually bring?
> 4) How do you determine what to bring?
> 5) How much stuff your first time exhibiting?
> 6) Does anyone collaborate on transport (i.e. multiple groups renting a U-haul)?
> ..
> 1) If you fly to an event...do you brings MOC's?
> 2) If so, how do you get them to the show (airline, UPS, etc.)?
> 3) How much stuff do you usually bring to shows you fly to?
> 4) If you bring MOC's on the airline...how do you package them?
> 5) If you ship them, what type of container do you use?
Dave-
We've been hauling LEGO around since 1995, first for contests, then
commissions, and later for small events around town. In 2001 we started doing
LTC shows and in 2004 we started attending BFs.
Initially we carried fully assembled MOCs on custom bases (wood framed mirrors,
for example). These fit fine in a VW Vanagon and an extra car as needed.
Our family stuff for our first SCLTC shows fit on 30x60 custom tables that we
slid into a custom rack in the van. We could carry up to 6 and at the show we
would just insert legs and bolt the tables together. Very quick and easy and
very fast setup since everything was nearly completely assembled.
Then we made an 8 foot high building for the NAB convention in Las Vegas. That
required taking the tower and top floor top off the MOC and putting the
remainder in a custom crate that cleared the minivan door by 1/4 inch. We got
tired of the effort required to carry and pack the large custom crate, so two
years ago we "fractioned" the building into multiple height levels and now pack
the sections in custom boxes with hand cutouts. Now 1 person can transport and
set up the 8 foot building in minutes instead of requiring 4!
SLCTC shows kept growing. In 2004 we were up to renting 24 foot long trucks for
the trip from Irvine to San Diego (85 miles) and the Orange County Fair. We
built custom crates (inside dimensions 192 studs x 96 studs, 4 feet high, on
casters, with adjustable rails (nearest inch). We pack the loaded tables in
them, mixing and matching heights of the MOCs to get the max per crate and label
the crates with the contents and the grid coordinates in the layout where the
tables belong. Some stuff goes in ordinary boxes (trains, power regualators, and
such) and other in custom containers (a wheeled cart just for poles of the rope
barrier system).
Also, in 2004 we did our first BF. We compacted our twin 192 stud log cable
stayed bridges, wrapped them in bubble wrap, foam blocks, and tape, and put them
in two large duffles. We also borrowed a huge aluminum shell case from work and
put a downize verions of our hotel with working elevators in it using lots of
foam. The baggage checkin person at Alaska Airlines was a LEGO fan and plastered
them with Fragile stickers. We used the combined free baggage allowance of the 4
of us traveling together for all our MOCs. The bridges arrived fairly trashed
while the hotel was unscathed. It took less than 2 hours for the 4 of us to
reassemble everything.
For later BF's, we have flown with a huge roundhouse that we thoroughly
disassembled and carefully packed. It took 4 of us about half a day to
reassemble in DC and 3+ hours to repack to ship back. It traveled well. Wrapping
anything you can tightly in film wrap works much better than wrapping things
loosely in foam.
Last year we got very ambitious: We took a complete (though not large) SCLTC
layout to BF. We convinced two friendly souls to cart the majority of the stuff
for us from Southern California to Portland via train after discovering a loop
hole in the AMTRAK baggage allowance (each person is allowed 3 checked bags at
no charge plus 3 more for $10 each = 12 total for 2 persons where a "bag" is
defined as no bigger than 36" x 36" x 36" -- plug full sized suitcases as carry
on luggage!). We purchased boxes from ULine and packed them carefully with
styrofoam on the bottoms and 4 sides. In the end, AMTRAK trashed some of them
while others arrived unscathed. It took 5 of us more than 1 whole BF day to
rebuild the display from 1000s of pieces, but we were sucessful. We packed
things better still for the trip back and got AMTRAK to put the boxes on pallets
so they could use a forklift rather than kick the boxes around. They arrived
back home in much better shape, except for two damaged tables I have yet to
repair.
Whatever you do, careful planning is important. It's work, but in the end you
get to make other people smile, so it's usually well worth it.
-Ted
|
|
| |
let me tell you about Brick Show 2008. You can bring you MOCs, you can build
MOCs at the show, or just jump in on the mass builds.
www,brickmuseum.net
dan
Never tried to fly with MOCs, usually we bring glued models so packing is very
easy...but we drive!!!
I would assume the airline is not very good with unglued models. So making a
custom box would probably be the way to go!!!
|
|
| |
In lugnet.events, Dave Sterling wrote:
> I'm not sure where this should be posted, so I placed it in events, general, and
> storage. Stacy and I are planning to attend Brickworld and possibly BrickFair • snip
>
> Thanks,
> Dave
I am sure that many will find this post to off the wall, but if I ever go to
another event--which of course I plan to--and I if I decided to take all my
equipment with me and a layout, etc. I will never go again without simply
renting a car,van,or uhaul trailer large enough to take care of needs. Uhaul
trailers are really pretty cheap if your car can pull them--and most can without
much problem. If you shop and get unlimited mileage, you can do a lot of
driving an put all the wear and tear on the rental vehicle. How often do you
really need a really big vehicle and if you do a cost analysis on it--it does
not really come out much more expensive than driving your own vehicle. And if
you end up going to say Brickworld or BrickFair and there is a LEGO store there,
and you can practically save the whole cost of the car/van on the good deals
that you get.
If you can go in together with someone else--so much the better. Also, although
I have not looked into it, but it might be worthwhile, is to have one of those
private shippers ship it for you--the guys who deliver TV's etc.that understand
that damage is not an option.
And it is much more "green" (and cheaper) to drive a vehicle that gets good gas
mileage for 350 days out of the year and then rent what you need for the other
15.
Just my thoughts.
Hope to see you at BrickWorld
Tommy Armstrong
|
|
|
