Pelican 1520 Camera Case With Foam (Silver)

Perfecto

I got the orange color (which I love) and am using it to haul my R/C plane radio & equipment back and forth to the flying field. It fits everything I needed and I am quite comfortable with its ability to protect my gear. It is stable when it stands up on the hinges, too, no wobble. The foam was easy to work with when figuring out item placements. I produced “half” size “steps” in the foam by removing the foam in the areas I needed reduced depth and slicing it with an electric knife for the required height.

The only thing I don’t like about the case is the amount of force required to snap the latches closed. Opening is fine, but closing requires a lot of effort and causes a very loud snap when latched.

I’ve been a huge fan of Pelican cases for a long time, and this case is no exception. I reserve Pelican cases for the most sensitive and expensive items I own, and I recently bought a Labradar Ballistic Chronograph. Being orange, I wanted to find a case that would work with it and noticed that Pelican makes orange cases. I typically buy the “Storm” cases, versus the “Protector” case that this is. I think I prefer the storm case’s latches and lightness, however this case is built like a tank, and I have 100% confidence that this will hold up to absolutely anything I can put it through and then some. I buy Pelican because I want the best; great cases like this are an investment/insurance for whatever you place inside.

One note on the foam…This case comes with “Pick and Pluck” foam. I’m not personally a fan of it. I have built my own hot wire cutter (You can find DIY articles and videos online that show how to do this) – This allows me to cut the foam precisely how I like it, instead of having to pluck hundreds of blocks out. Maybe you will prefer the pick and pluck, but it’s not for me. I had some replacement foam that I had bought for a previous project that I was able to cut to size for this case, so I went ahead with that rather than the foam that came with the case.

If you are looking to build your own hot wire cutter, all you need is some stainless steel wire (It must be stainless steel due to high internal resistance) – this is easily found at a “big box” store like Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Menards, or many grocery stores in their hardware section…the easiest way to get it is find stainless steel picture hanging wire. It usually comes in strands of 5-7 wires coiled…just separate them out, and it’s the perfect thickness for cutting foam. I keep old electronic parts when I dispose of old things I have, and somewhere along the way (I think my old furnace) had a 24v AC transformer, rated for 40VA. This was perfect, and I recommend AC transformers vs. DC because AC transformers allow you to use a typical cheap dimmer switch/wheel to adjust the heat the wire is at. I’ve found that 1 amp of current at 24V is the perfect amount for one of these picture hanging wire strands to cut the foam that comes in Pelican cases. I also made a hot wire thickness planer using the same parts, and with these two simple tools, I can cut foam out however I want with great accuracy and precision. All of my gun cases, etc, are cut in this manner. I’m happy to share more details with anyone that would like them, just reply in the comments!

Exactly as expected. I have a dozen Pelican cases for everything from dive gear to cameras to amateur radio gear. No complaints, except for the high price tag. Having said that, this is a case of you get what you pay for.

When I found myself in need of a carrying case, I very carefully considered many options and brands. Of course, a short amount of research and past personal experiences with such cases eventually led me to the pelican case brand. That decision made, I was then left with the task of choosing the proper model for my needs. After much time and effort, I found myself drawn to the 1520 case, and with only minor reservations I pressed buy. Two short days later I arrived home and saw that a package had been delivered to my home. With great anticipation, I opened the box and found within it the pelican 1520 case with foam. I quickly rounded up the items to be placed within and was pleasantly surprised to find that the items would all fit. Careful cutting and plucking of the foam resulting in well nested items secure within the confines of the case. At this point I then began to explore the other features of this case. I found that the handle was very securely attached to the case and was well designed and balanced such that you could easily carry the case with 1 hand. The presence of not 1 but 2 metal lock loops that easily accepted standard master lock padlocks assured that the contents of the case would be secure from prying eyes. The shell of the case is obviously quite strong and appears capable of surviving a fall from great heights and at high speed, though I have not tested this. The latches provide positive confirmation that they have closed, though those with weak fingers may have a hard time manipulating them. Overall I cannot think of anything that I would change to improve this case. In all seriousness, you get what you pay for when it comes to cases and pelican cases are well worth the money for protecting whatever you Need to put in them.