GodMedia Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 My wife and I just went back to Los Angeles for a visit. While we were there, we were sure not to miss a trip to Frank & Sons where I picked up one of those cool GBP-1S Valkyries from Treasure Island Sports. On our return trip to Ohio, I wanted to make extra sure that my new treasure would make it back home safe and sound. Instead of packing it in my check-in luggage, I put it in my personal pack and brought it along as a carry-on item. I got to Ontario Airport and got our rental car returned, our bags all checked in and then my wife and I proceeded to the security check-in to go into the terminal. My laptop, my wife's laptop, both of our PDAs and about a half-dozen other pieces of tech (I'm a television producer by trade) made it through just fine. The guards would not let my personal pack come through, though. After a few minutes of debating amongst themselves, I was escorted to another securtiy area just outside of the terminal. The guard began asking me all kinds of questions and opening my bag at the same time. Then she asked me if there was anything in the bag that might be sharp or pointed or if there was any kind of weapon or explosive in the bag. I said, no, that all I was carrying was a robot toy from Japan that I was taking home and to please be careful with it as it was pretty expensive and a bit delicate. Really carefully, the lady brought the box with the GBP-1S out of the bag. She must have turned that box around over and over about three or four times and looked really carefully through the plastic window. After about 10 minutes and a short consultation with another guard the lady must have figured that it was indeed a toy robot of some sort or, at least that, whatever it was, I couldn't use it to try and hijack the plane in any way and they finally let me go with my pack and Valk to get on my plane to go home. Gratefully, the security guards never even tried to open the box. I would have been a bit upset if they had opened it as they might have damaged it. If they had damaged it, I know that I would have definitely been upset. The Valk and it's box are sitting happily on my shelf in my home in Ohio with my other Macross toys. Strange what we endure these days as a result of those psychos who caused so much pain on 9/11, but I'm happy to have endured that bit of confusion with the guards to know I'm safe and every other air traveler is safer today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicePiece Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 I love the inconsistency at airports - at laguardia last week, i got id'ed using my work ID badge going through the security gate. I actually had my passport in my hand about to hand it to the security person, and she said 'no its ok - I can use that ID'. I actually sent an e-mail to Laguardia's general e-mail address asking it that was SOP. Haven't heard anything yet. What a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LePoseur Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Yeah, I had a similar little ditty with security at Narita International last time I went home. They scan all your luggage before you can even get to the ticket counter, so when my check-in luggage was stopped, they asked me again, "Did you pack this yourself?" as my wife and I stood staring at this really nasty and dangerous looking collection of folded for travel Bandai reissues, a similarly folded Yamato 1/60 and a 60% Die-Cast Giant Robo figure. My wife's perfect timing with the question, "What is that?" allowed me to just answer "Toys." The guards all looked as like we had just given out the answer to a riddle, and let us pass. Now this was Japan, but I'd hate to think if it had been America these days. Somehow big Die-cast toys don't just spring into the imagination there like they do for Japanese men. I'd have been unpacking for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabidweezil Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Wow..you're lucky they didn't open it up and notice all the missiles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zentrandude Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Wow..you're lucky they didn't open it up and notice all the missiles lol good thing you didnt spell out gbp imagine the look on there face or even yours if the got nutz and had the bomb squad blow it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myk Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 That's quite an ordeal. Have any of you heard about possible action against compact discs? Supposively, an individual could snap the disc into shards and use them in a "malicious" manner. At some point, we will all have to travel completely naked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basara Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Don't kid around about that. I was strip searched at Kansai International. By a dodgy looking security guy in glasses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppy Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 ..did you see his I.D? When I when through the xray at Hong kong airport, I had a 1/48 1J & fastpacks box stuffed FULL of toys from a 3 day shopping spree.. I had thrown out most of the packaging to fit them in this box. The 2 security guards starting laughing at me when it went through the scanner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RosarioLuv Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 (edited) about 4 or 5 years ago I had to go to New Mexico for an improptu vacation at my mom's, right in the middle of a custom 1/55 VF-1A I was working on that I hadn't finished decaling and hadn't taken pics of yet (for ebay). So I put the valk and armour in "compact mode", along with a digicam and installation hardware, all in a little handy toolbox so I could have it as a carry-on on the plane (since I didn't want it getting crushed by baggage handling.) I too got stopped by security, and they thoroughly examined my box and even called other security guards to come look at it for a second opinion. Then the guard turns to me with a smirk on his face saying, "a toy and computer hardware....in a toolbox?" I was held up like 15-20 minutes just for that (this was before 9-11). I dunno what they were all fussy about anyway...heck, it was made with the blunt jetfire nose too, and I hadn't extended it yet either. Maybe they were afraid it could poke someone's eye out too. Oh, btw, they finally let me go, after giving me wierd looks. What, doesn't everybody carry around a toolbox with a toy and digicam hardware in it to the airport? What? Edited August 9, 2004 by redemption Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfx Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Things you don't want to say at the security checkpoint Security Officer: What's this? You : A grenade box protector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blaine23 Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 If we let them take away our toys... Then the terrorists really have won. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodMedia Posted August 9, 2004 Author Share Posted August 9, 2004 Well, I'm glad that I kept my Valk in it's original box (albeit I did it for collection purposes, not for any security reasons). I would have hated to have had any further troubles with security over an open toy. At least in the box you could see the pictures and everything that tells you that this is some kind of a toy. Again, what I found strange is that my laptops and media gear made it through without so much as the blink of an eye. That even after my wife's laptop had to be scanned twice because it is an old army surplus unit and it is made out of some kind of metal (they just asked her if it was a military model and she said yes and they let her go without any further hassles). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamion Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Yikes, I'm about to fly London -> Kuala Lumpur... with about 4 or 5 valks!! Pray I get them home safe and sound... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXO Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 GM: (waves hand) These aren't the valk's you're looking for... Security: These aren't the valk's we're looking for... GM: Move along... Security: Move along... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soze Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 GM: (waves hand) These aren't the valk's you're looking for...Security: These aren't the valk's we're looking for... GM: Move along... Security: Move along... LOL, EXO using Jedi Mind tricks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macross_Fanboy Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 LOL. Man, I thought that they perhaps would have mistaken anything remotely like a missile for an explosive of some sort. Maybe things would have been different if you had a 1/60 Valk with all those missiles showing through the window. I also thought this was going to be a rant about how they banged up the toy. When I saw this thread, I thought, "What? He bought an Armored Valk at the airport?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zentrandude Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Well, I'm glad that I kept my Valk in it's original box (albeit I did it for collection purposes, not for any security reasons). I would have hated to have had any further troubles with security over an open toy. At least in the box you could see the pictures and everything that tells you that this is some kind of a toy.Again, what I found strange is that my laptops and media gear made it through without so much as the blink of an eye. That even after my wife's laptop had to be scanned twice because it is an old army surplus unit and it is made out of some kind of metal (they just asked her if it was a military model and she said yes and they let her go without any further hassles). the outer case or the inner mesh that surrounds the internals? miltary laptops doesnt realy have any exoctic materials just more shielding and cusions to survive outdoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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