airport security controls and miniatures

[Donpimpom]

Its many many years I don't take a plane with miniatures in my hand baggage.
I'm planning a trip to London in the upcoming weeks and I would fancy to visit some store and pick some miniatures.
Any LAFer has recent experiences traveling from/to Gatwick or Heathrow with miniatures in the hand baggage?

[joroas]

I put mine in the hold luggage when travelling from the US to Heathrow.

[Emir of Askaristan]

I've taken plenty raw lead internally by air via LHR in my hand baggage and have never been stopped or questioned because of it. I bought loads of Copplestone stuff from Orc's Nest.

Internationally I've come home from the US via LHR, and home from Holland with figs packed in my hold luggage, again without issues.

Given that figures are not sharp, not liquid and not electronic, you shouldn't have any bother. The worst that might happen is that you have to open your bag and let them see what the dense lump of metal is. I wouldn't worry - they'll have seen a lot more unusual things in bags than anything on this forum!!

[Sterling Moose]

I've travelled through both LHR and Gatwick with my pockets stuffed full of lead with no problems whatsoever other than an odd look when I empty my pockets, remove my watch and belt etc prior to going through the metal detector.  They did open the zip locks and poke them around with a piece of gauze on the end of a stick once but that was all.

The paltry hand luggage allowance has always been an issue.  How is it that hand luggage is limited to 8lb or 10lb (whatever it is, I know it's airline dependant) but once you clear the check in and the metal detector you can pretty much buy whatever you like from the multitude of shops on the departure side of the terminal?

So, as I rarely intend to buy anything I transfer the pounds of lead from my pockets to my handluggage as soon as I'm through the metal detector.

Enjoy your flight   

[OSHIROmodels]

The paltry hand luggage allowance has always been an issue.  How is it that hand luggage is limited to 8lb or 10lb (whatever it is, I know it's airline dependant) but once you clear the check in and the metal detector you can pretty much buy whatever you like from the multitude of shops on the departure side of the terminal?

You can actually get stopped from boarding the plane if you buy too much, they stop you at the gate and you get asked to leave it or to not get on 

Never seen it happen myself though but that's only with 2/3 international flights a year.

cheers

James

[Donpimpom]

yes, long time ago the boarding card or the flight ticket were displaying some limitations for alcohol and tobacco, but I think this was more related to custom tax requirements than cargo issues, but very probably (after Maastricht) those regulations are gone for flights inside the EU area.

The only time I have been stopped at an airport control was long before 9/11 flying from Washington Dulles to Paris while carrying a box containing 2Kg of raw metal miniatures, an the lady at the control point was fascinated when she saw the miniatures 
Thank you for your tips guys.

[OSHIROmodels]

When I said too much I meant by amount/volume rather than duty cost.

I'd love to see someone buy a suitcase worth of goods and try to get on 

cheers

James

[joroas]

The only time I got stopped was on my first visit to Florida, the Immigration officer looked at my passport, asked what I taught and, on hearing the word history, we embarked on a discussion on Oliver Cromwell.  I don't think the rest of the passengers were happy.......

[Vanvlak]

Some 14 or 15 years ago I had a new-in-box GW high elf chariot and a GPS (it had been a work trip) and the security chap dismantled my bag, allowedme to put everything back in, had second thoughts and again took everything out. I guess the combination was a bit too weird for his tastes.

[FramFramson]

Reminds me of how every time I go through customs with Magic cards in my luggage they want to take them out and see what they are. Apparently longboxes full of collectible game cards look like ~something~ on their scanners. 

[joroas]

My son took his MTG with him to the States last year, he found packs in some of the most unusual places and found games in Montreal and New York.  We spent a lot of time waiting for him...........

[Dewbakuk]

I used to fly constantly with display figures in armoured cases, always in hold luggage... I got stopped every time

[Sangennaru]

Given that figures are not sharp, not liquid and not electronic

Do you mean, something like a T-1000?

[joroas]

Sharp(e) and Harp(er):