Custom Hard case for Lab Radar?

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

I am considering designing and selling a custom hard case for the Lab Radar seeing as how fragile they are.
I would like to understand how many people would be interested in one.

It would have custom cut foam to fit a Lab Radar, battery pack, and accessories. Would cost $150.

Would you buy it, or too expensive?

Exterior Dimensions would be 19" x 15" x 7"

There is a possibility it would also serve double duty as a stand for the Lab Radar. I also might figure out how to attach the flat base to the exterior of the case.

Thoughts?

 

[alaskalanche]

IDK man. I just picked up this off Amazon for $55 2 months ago:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ELQ659O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Granted I did have to tear out my own foam, but not sure that was $100 worth of effort. I just use a standard tripod as the head on my buddy's Labradar flat base is pretty cheesy.

 

[_Windrider_]

it needs a case for when its in use more than while its being transported. these things are not field grade, i wish they were built like my panasonic tough book.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

@alaskalanche - Thanks for posting that. Sure make it seem less price competitive. However I would say the custom cut foam is way more durable than the pick & pluck. That stuff degrades pretty dang quickly unfortunately.

If you don't mind my asking, what model of Pelican is that, so I can search for the same case on Amazon. I also wonder if maybe just selling the foam insert as an upgrade would be more palatable? Then guys could source their own case.

 

[alaskalanche]

Its not a Pelican case. The link to the case I bought in my original post. I agree about pull and pluck breaking down certainly, but I can sure by a lot of it for the price difference.

I agree they need a case certainly and the margin may be there especially marketed correctly certainly especially to guys that really always want stuff to just work out of the box. The problem comes with different size battery packs folks use (you can see in my pic above my buddy's Labradar on the left with the standard flat base has a different size than I do. Then if you put a QD mount to go onto a tripod that also won't play well with a one size fits all.

I think its a cool concept and look forward to what you end up with especially for the box being part of the mounting surface. Anyways, not trying to discourage in the least and hope you don't take it that way, merely showing the option I took, since no option like you are suggesting existed, and the costs associated with it.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

@TacticalDillhole -I agree, I have heard the break quite easily, particularly when they fall over. I was considering creating a better flat stand for them, since is seems there are few tripods that are solid enough to do the job.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

perfect, thanks!

 

[MarinePMI]

I'd think a case with a pic rail/acra rail mounted to one side, and an adapter to mount to the LR would be a good combination. A carrying case, and a mount so the case doubles as a base for it when in use would (I think) appeal to some.

 

[_Windrider_]

I'd think a case with a pic rail/acra rail mounted to one side, and an adapter to mount to the LR would be a good combination. A carrying case, and a mount so the case doubles as a base for it when in use would (I think) appeal to some.

only issue i can see with this kind of setup is that it wouldnt be height adjustable to ensure that the mic on the lab is level with the muzzle.

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

Thanks for the comments, any other ideas, or thoughts?

 

[MarinePMI]

The only other thing I can think of would be a hole or power coupling so you could have a battery in the closed case, and a cable that could be plugged directly to the case to power the LR (I did something similar for my kayak's fish finder, so the battery could stay in a dry box/pelican case and still power all the electronics I have in the kayak; i.e. fish finder, life well, etc).

 

[strikeeagle1]

Let the record show I did not initiate the power coupling idea. However, I have extensive experience in fabricating powered pelican cases for survival kits; the permutations for configurations are only limited by your imagination. The power (AC or DC) can be supplied to a variety of pelican case sizes via a variety of water tight charging ports; the LR could easily be secured to the outside of the pelican case with QD style ELS / QLS Safariland attachment systems for a stable mounting base. Look past the sat phones, VHF radio, GPS, EPIRB etc but all these devices stay eternally charged based on your availability of power, AC, DC, solar panels....just some food for thought. You would want to fabricate the case with laser cut foam or industrial strength-based velcro systems which are less expensive and even more modular for associated gear you might want to include in your kit.

 

[MarinePMI]

Bingo. #2 is what I used for my purposes (standard maritime waterproof power coupler used in the boat industry).

 

[Fred @ Bison Tactical]

Not sure that the expense wouldn't drive it out of reach for a bunch of guys going the powered route...

 

[NewsShooter]

Flat plates have been around forever for remote cameras. Just use a better mount, a nice monopod mount would be perfect. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1345432-REG/desmond_dmh_2_x1_monopod_head_with_clamp.html

I have this one on my monopod that I use for big lenses shooting sports.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1345432-REG/desmond_dmh_2_x1_monopod_head_with_clamp.html

 

[chris514scott]

$50 for a Monoprice case on Amazon. Closest thing I've found to a pelican yet. Also fits my battery and foldable stand.

 

[NewsShooter]

$50 for a Monoprice case on Amazon. Closest thing I've found to a pelican yet. Also fits my battery and foldable stand.

Harbor freight has cases too, not as nice as a pelican but they're well
under $40 with a coupon, https://www.harborfreight.com/3800-watertight-protective-case-16-516-in-63927.html

 

[mrtoyz]

While we are talking about things for LabRadar. Anyone found a very stable mini tripod for prone shooting that they think works well? Be nice to get a mini tripod in a case like this as well. Like having everything together.

 

[hereinaz]

I am gonna glue an adapter to the case and make it the base...

 

[Globalstar66]

$50 for a Monoprice case on Amazon. Closest thing I've found to a pelican yet. Also fits my battery and foldable stand.

What size case is that? Do you perhaps have the Amazon description etc for it? Thanks.

 

[chris514scott]

What size case is that? Do you perhaps have the Amazon description etc for it? Thanks.

Monoprice Weatherproof Hard Case with Customizable Foam, 19" x 16" x 6" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVA7RNI?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I was $50

 

[Globalstar66]

Monoprice Weatherproof Hard Case with Customizable Foam, 19" x 16" x 6" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JVA7RNI?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I was $50

Thanks chris514scott. Just got one on Amazon Canada for CA$63.19 or US$48.80 - awesome price.

 

[Elkkhunter]

Those look like great options for the price. I went a bit different and found a used Pelican 1520 case for sale for $50.
Pelican 1520 case INTERIOR (L X W X D) 18.06" x 12.89" x 6.72" ,

I have the base under the soft case. I take the base "Ball Head" off. I then purchased D-Ring Thumb Screw Adapter 1/4''-20 Thead for Camera Tripod QR Quick Release Plate, 5 of them from for $8 from Amazon.

I used a 3/8"-16 to 1/4"-20 Reducer Bushing Convert Screw Adapter for the bottom of the ball head, Amazon.

I took the original screw out that attached the the ball head to the base and made it a where I could take the screw in and out for travel and setup.

Added a Portable Charger Real 20000mAh with Lightning Input, External Battery Power Bank with 4 Port USB Output for $30.

I thought about going with another quick discount mount between base and Ball Head but figured the D Screw was easy enough, but a quick disconnect would be nice also.

Directions and cables go in the pouches of the Labradar soft case, could have done without the soft case and put foam around the unit like others above, and put cables below battery in the case. I like having the soft case and everything in one place.

Many ways to skin a ... best of luck.

 

[filefish]

If I would have found this 2 year old thread, I would have bumped it with my question without making my own thread.

any idea what size case to get that will hold the battery, labradar and their tripod? I just want to grab n go.