Personal Flight Case

[danando]

Hey guys, im looking at making a personal flight case for when I go out on a show to hold personal things like Laptop, Mobile Phone, iPod, Some useful tools, multimeter etc. etc. I also want to have a power inlet on it so I can run multiple things at one time. The case will have a lockable laptop draw, 2 lockable personal belongings draw, 4 miscelanious draws foe anyhting, a draw for larger tools and a draw for smaller tools, also it will have the ever essential stationary draw. On each side of the case it will have 2 BNC connectors for 2 desklamps so you can read scripts, see keyboard etc. My problem is how am I going to insert the 2 lockable draws, tool and stationary draws, and the 4 miscelanious draws. Also how do you power the BNC desk lights? The Flight Case I am going to be using is here.

Here is a very rough drawing of how I would like the case to look like.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance, Dan.

[Yorkie]

I suspect that the case you have specified may be too small. To put the laptop in, all you need is one of these: CPC #DP29313 probably with foam in it if the laptop isn't in a carry bag.

[danando]

The laptop I will be putting in there is only a ASUS 14" laptop. I'm from Australia so its a little hard for me to track those parts down since we have to import them. The Flight case is 19" so it should be able to take it. However you guys + girls are much more experienced than me. So please keep posting suggestions/improovments.

Thanks in advance, Dan.

[gareth]

The case will have a lockable laptop draw, 2 lockable personal belongings draw, 4 miscelanious draws foe anyhting, a draw for larger tools and a draw for smaller tools, also it will have the ever essential stationary draw.

I make that 10 drawers (not to mention mains distro and desk lights) - in a 4U flightcase?! I think you might be barking up the wrong tree!

[danando]

The case will have a lockable laptop draw, 2 lockable personal belongings draw, 4 miscelanious draws foe anyhting, a draw for larger tools and a draw for smaller tools, also it will have the ever essential stationary draw.

I make that 10 drawers (not to mention mains distro and desk lights) - in a 4U flightcase?! I think you might be barking up the wrong tree!

I take it that you are saying that it will be extreamly hard to do the middle draws shown in this rough drawing here.

 

Any more suggestions?

Cheers, Dan

[roryfm]

What Gareth and Yorkie have noted is that 4U is only 17" (1U = 1.75 inches) so it'll be quite difficult to fit everything you want into it - you can buy readymade drawers that are 1U deep (which your laptop may fit in), but you'd probably have to build all the other drawers from scratch, and quite how I'm not really sure - I like look of the layout though, good luck...

 

roryfm

[MarkPAman]

4U is only 17" (1U = 1.75 inches)

 

You meant 7" :)

[danando]

What Gareth and Yorkie have noted is that 4U is only 17" (1U = 1.75 inches) so it'll be quite difficult to fit everything you want into it - you can buy readymade drawers that are 1U deep (which your laptop may fit in), but you'd probably have to build all the other drawers from scratch, and quite how I'm not really sure - I like look of the layout though, good luck...

 

roryfm

Yea, im beginning to realise the dilemor, I think it may be very hard to create those middle draws. Should I just settle for 4 draws (or 6 if I get the 6U), or can anyone suggest some alternatives, or set me on the right track

 

Cheers, Dan

[zonino]

you could always put dividers inside the full-size rack drawers

[musht]

Draw to scale, keeps a running reality check on what your trying to do.

Download Google Sketchup www.sketchup.com free edition, follow first tutorials, will have you drawing scale work box in under 15 minutes. Look in Google 3D warehouse should be able to find things like laptop to check sizes again.

 

Rack drawers are expensive because they`re steel with roller bearing slides, ideal for things like laptops but mebbe not necessary for other items. Have a look at office supplies type places or Ikea if they`re in Aus yet, for paper and filing drawers that could be built in to a larger case. DIY fitted kitchen catalogues can also be an interesting source for some parts, things like drawer slides.

 

As for lights, use goose necks by all means but use LED ones and run them off a rechargeable battery pack in the case, that way you can see what your doing till you get power or if you lose it....

[Jivemaster]

Look at a DJ 4u +10u case the 4u on the front for drawers, and the 10 u on the top for the lappie.

 

Dont risk making it too heavy or you will never carry it!

 

http://www.terralec.com/prod.asp?I=22315&a..._7U_FLIGHT_CASE

 

is one case - drawer in the front and script-tray on top for the lappie. Put a small psu inside to run the lappie and a light off mains, leave your passport and cards in it and someone else IS you when they "borrow" it.

 

The only benefit of a case over a padded bag is that you can sit on a case, but if you fill one up you will have such long arms from carrying it ...........