Transport Trays

[Mike W]

As an experiment, I recently purchased and just received a transport tray from Aerodrome Accessories. The try holds the planes and decks securely and protectively and could be a usable storage method for the hobby.

Would I buy more of this design? NO! While the tray is great for holding planes, 1/2 of the try is wasted - I do not need to purchase a foam try to hold decks of cards. A rubber band around the deck in a box with all the other decks in stacks works fine!

However, I would buy 8-10 trays if the entire tray held planes. Also, I and probably many folks buy planes in even numbers, e.g., either 2 or 4 of a type, since players frequently fly 2 of a type during a game. So, it would appear to me that the number of slots should be structured for 2 or 4 of a type, rather than the 3 on the tray. Given that a tray could be set up for 12 planes, I would suggest 3 types X 4 planes would work best (at least for me).

Lastly, I imagine the trays stack and fit is some kind of larger container? Where is that container available????

[Oberst Hajj]

Hello Mike. The trays are designed to hold a complete series of miniatures for either the Entente or Central Powers side. So, two trays would hold everything that comes in a Series release. That is why they are setup with three openings of of a single plane type. As for half the tray being wasted because it holds the cards, well, that is personal preference I think. I don't want to have to go digging through a box full of card decks when I'm playing or running large events. I want to be able to grab the plane and all of it's needed components in one ease to access location. It also makes it super easy to ensure I have all the parts when I pack up after a game.

Up until recently I offered a Customized Hangar tray that would allow you to select the type and quantity of planes you wanted in the tray up to a max of six. These trays were removed from the site because my supplier is no longer reliable on getting them produced.

I do produce a line of bags that these trays fit into:

http://www.aerodromeaccessories.com/media/catalog/product/r/a/rangerbag_2_1.jpg

http://www.aerodromeaccessories.com/media/catalog/product/r/a/rangerbag2_2_1.jpg

They have been out of stock for a while as they come from the same supplier as the trays.

The trays fit the standard size Army Transport bags (http://www.saboldesigns.net/home.html) as well.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

It's horses for courses in this case Mike. As with the choice of what should be the next aircraft type release, there are nearly as many different ideas as there are members. We did have a poll on what would suit the members best for storage and this method came out on top. It is just unfortunate that the supplier then was unable to continue to supply the required trays. It is not inconceivable that with a dexterous use of a craft knife you could convert some of the slots for more aircraft. Triplanes even fit into the card slots without modification. I have done this very successfully to hold some of the odd aircraft that I'm building. It often only means scooping out a small extension for the wings or tail.
Rob.

[usmc1855]

I prefer having everything related to the particular plane, right there, immediately available with the plane it belongs to. I no longer have to go through stacks of cards trying to find the specific deck to match a particular plane. The size of the trays also fit the Army Transport bags by a few other makers. For me. the aerodrome configuration works real well especially considering the number of planes I have to move, when I go mobile.

[Mike W]

With the flood of Shapeways aircraft being available, the storage needs of many potential customers are just now becoming known and the needs of past customers are changing.

For example, six months ago I had about 20 Wings of War/Glory aircraft with matching decks and just a few F-toys or Skytrex aircraft without matching decks. Now I have 20 Wings of War/Glory aircraft with matching decks, a few F-toys or Skytrex aircraft, and 24 Shapeways aircraft without a "matching" deck of cards. Anohter eight Shapeways aircraft are on order.

Storage for large amounts of Shapeway aircraft, which don't have matching decks, is now the the need of the channging market.

[Zoe Brain]

We also need large bomber stands for the O/400 and Felixstowe F2As (and can Ca4s and Zeppelin-Straaken R.Vs be far behind?). While it would be nice to have individualised versions of small bomber stands for Friedrichshafen G.III and G.IIIa, and Short Bomber, and Ca3 etc, just generic versions would sell well. If there's pegs to go with them, they'd sell even better.

Currently I use the Gotha base for my G.IIIs and Capronis. They'll do at a pinch. But for the large stands, there's no alternatives available.

[Oberst Hajj]

Mike, I can see where you needs have changed, but from the research I have conducted, the vast majority of players are not buy Shapeways models. There is a select group (http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?6335-How-many-Shapeway-minis-do-you-own&highlight=shapeways) that do, and they tend to buy a lot of them, but alas, they are not the majority.

I am looking at other alternatives in the supplier department for these, and when I find one, I'll be sure to look into offering trays without card slots for you Shapeways guys. Another draw back to this is just the sear configurations needed in a product to cover all of them. I'd have to purchase one of each of the planes from Shapeways to build the cutout from... no so small of a matter. Then there is also the issue of being able to control how many of each aircraft type can fit on a tray. You might be able to get 15 Dr.Is on a tray, but 13 Dr.Is and 2 D.VII might not fit. There is no real way to handle that on the store front. I have in the past handled custom orders like that manually, meaning I hand design each tray for the customer's layout needs.

[Oberst Hajj]

Zoe, I have the Caporni stand already worked up and it has passed the prototype inspections. I've just not put it into production as I was waiting to see what pegs the official bombers were going to use. I think they are going to be balloon sized pegs. That will cause some issues of it's own. On top of that, I don't think there are that many Caproni minis out there yet... maybe a dozen here on the site that would need stands??

For the larger stands, it again comes down to me having one of the models to test things out on.

[Mike W]

According to a poll somebody posted, about 1/3 of respondents indicated they have at least one Shapeway plane. There are a number that have significant numbers (10+) of Shapeway planes. Doubtless a number of folks also have other brands of 1/144 planes too, e.g., Skytrex, F-Toys, etc.

Its not as complicated as having to make a slot for each type plane. Aircraft wing span, cord, and length don't vary that much for most types. For example, the Sopwith Camel slot works fine for the Shapeways Tripe, Pup and DH5. The Albatros D.V slot would probably work fine for Albatros D.I, D.II, D.III. Etc. DH2 and Fokker E.III might need new slot design. Those that have the need could work with you to develop the slots.

[Oberst Hajj]

I've moved the Shapeways discussion posts to there own thread. I'd like to keep this one focused on Mike's initial concerns about the trays....

[Oberst Hajj]

When the whole product development began on these, it was just a single tray that had three generic "scout" slots and three generic "two-seater" slots. As more official planes came out, those slots no longer worked for all the different types. That's how the individual slots came about. It is still my preferred method, but I am looking at other options to handle the Shapeways issue. I do offer a tray for the F Toys planes.

[Pakratt]

Must be lack of coffee this morning..... I found the transport trays I want....and like the idea of keeping cards and planes together, but not finding the bag go in

[Oberst Hajj]

I'm completely out of the bags and since the restock date is so unpredictable, I pulled it from the site. They were supposed to be ready back in October, now I"m hearing January. When the order does finally come in, it will be for a very small amount.

[gully_raker]

:thumbsup: I am definately a Fan of having Aircraft & Cards all together in the one tray.
Saves so much angst in looking for Decks & Bases etc in another place.;)

[john snelling]

CO, when are going to restock the trays I do not like making an order for less then $75 due to shipping cost. Thanks for your efforts and making this all happen.

[Oberst Hajj]

John, the laser has been down for a while, but is expected to be back online Monday. I'll be able to restock shortly after that. What trays are you needing that are out of stock right now?

[Burma]

Hmm...
...this is what I would purchase imediatly if it was available at the AA:
- 1x Bag for transportation, the one I got some year ago is full.
- 1x WWI-Tray for the Gothas, the one I have is full and more planes are comming.
- 1x WWI-Tray for the Capronies
- 1x WWI-Tray for a Zeppelin-Staaken
- 1x WWI-Tray for a O/400-Handley
- 30x Larg bomber-/Baloon- pegs
- 6x WWII-Trays (representing all released or soon to be released WWII-planes)
- 1x Damage box - Daw of War

Keith I know you don't provide all of these articles, but this is what I'am missing!

[Oberst Hajj]

Well, this is what I can help you with:

Bag for transportation
WWI-Tray for the Gothas
WWI-Tray for the Capronies
WWI-Tray for a Zeppelin-Staaken
WWI-Tray for a O/400-Handley
WWII-Trays


[COLOR="green"]Green = Sometime this month.
Blue = Before summer.
Red = Maybe someday.

[john snelling]

John, the laser has been down for a while, but is expected to be back online Monday. I'll be able to restock shortly after that. What trays are you needing that are out of stock right now?
two Hangar RDS16 Revised delux
one Hangar 2G Gotha
the others you have in stock

[Oberst Hajj]

The RDS16 and Gotha hangars should be back in stock this month.

[john snelling]

The RDS16 and Gotha hangars should be back in stock this month.
Thanks , John