one more thing

[solarbird]

Here's a grainy photo of the final interior. (It was dark and I had to lighten the photo a lot.) Really, I'm quite pleased with how it's come out overall, even with surprises of hate like the top eggcrate foam being too thick - I had to reduce its thickness one little segment at a time with a thrift-store electric carving knife, and trimmed about 2cm of depth off it that way. The back really does not look as even as the front does. At the far right of the inside of the lid, there's a little section that's full thickness, if you want a comparison.

You can't tell clearly from the photo, but the large segment (the part over the bouzouki proper) has a lot of individual egg-crate-point adjustment. I'm specifically avoiding lid-foam contact to the string path of the instrument, and the bridge. I also height trimmed to a lesser degree over the body of the bouzouki as well - I want the bouzouki held in place, not compressed! ^_^ Where foam meets foam tho', I've kept as much height as I could - it'll add more compression resistance when it's in the luggage the stack, or so is my plan.

Anyway, I thought it cleaned up well, and I'm feeling pretty good about my foam-carving work. And I like my little latch-operation drawings:


Whaddya think, sirs?

Comments

[denelian.livejournal.com]

very nice work!
i am a total imcompetent when it comes to crafty things, such as making a travel case for my hammered dulcimer (do you know how much those COST!?!?), so i am also quite jealous!

[solarbird]

I didn't make the case outright. I took a pre-existing keyboard case, cleaned it up a lot (including sanding off rust and other ick) and re-foamed it for bouzouki. I got a good deal on the case because it's a bit older and people apparently carry around larger keyboards now - all the keyboard cases I saw new were significantly bigger than this one, so it only cost $70. (Plus $40 in foam, and $3 for the electric kitchen carving knife from a thrift store. ^_^ And glue.)

[denelian.livejournal.com]

i know it was a mod - but i still couldn't have done it. when i say i am incapable of craft things, not exagerating. it'ss kinda scarey what happens when i am handed a glue gun...

[stickmaker.livejournal.com]

"It's like... she _wants_ us to open it..."

[solarbird]

I've read enough stories about cases being ripped open - and then left open - and instruments destroyed that I'm doing my best.

[leftbase.livejournal.com]

Yes, really nice work!

With the comment about burger flipping from your previous post in mind, my first thought about the latch operation drawings was, I hope they're not too confusing for those people.

[brombear.livejournal.com]

Very nice work. You might want to consider "declaring" your case, and have it put through in the secure section of the plane. I say this, having flown with firearms.

[solarbird]

...what's this then?

Seriously, I have no idea what you're talking about, but I am interested in your ideas and would like a copy of your newsletter.

[brombear.livejournal.com]

The biggest thing that I've encountered when flying with the "large, ominous box" is that getting there way early helps, and asking at the ticketing counter if you can check it in the secure area of baggage. You could also contact the airline ahead of time and find out what their policy is on musical instruments. I'm pretty sure that a hard case will wind up in the cargo area, but still...ask for fragile stickers from the airlines.

With firearms, I use a similar sized case, which has to be opened and inspected. They used to inspect it with me standing there, but now they don't let just anyone into the secure areas, and I make sure that I get the key back. Hope this rambling helps.