Easy question pals, i have an old GW suitcase for store my models but is filled with my old skaven and i have no place where to put them, so i need another one for transport my dwarves.
Considering the fact that they are all metal, they will usually get some paint removed here and there, so my question is:
What kind of box suitcase do you have? Considering all my models i will reach more or less 100units.
Do you have any link for a good alternative? Because GWs are like always too expensive
When in need of an armytransport, I prefer Feldherr cases and bags.
Otherwise, magnetise your bases, get some magnetfoil and search for old winecrates etc. to put your models upright. Quite the investement, but it’s the best option if you don’t want your models to chip.
It’s the best quality-price deal out there. And let me explaing you why:
1) It’s huge.
2) It’s relatively cheap for its size.
3) It’s customizeable. You need thicker foam trays to store your Renders? No probs.
4) It has pockets. This might sound redundant, but it allows you to carry books & dice.
5) The big trays are the ones where you can pluck the foam out of them, maximizing customization. That Hellcannon/Destroyer is going to fit snugly.
6) Its zipper opens the top AND one of the sides, allowing instant access to the content.
7) It has a shoulder strap.
It also has a downside though. It is sturdy (very!), and features high quality stitching, but it’s still canvas and not hard plastic. Of course, it’s not like you are going to play football with it, but still.
I never found a cheap satisfying solution. But my researches lead me to jewelry and cosmetic cases. But nothing I found was cheap enough. If you find something interesting, I’m sure lots of people could be interested !
I’ve never come across a cheap one. I’d be interested if someone found a cheap but reliable quality alternative, yet in the end our collections of miniatures are quite an investment in money, work, care and attachment, and as such deserves a good transport and storage solution, even if it’s costly. In my hobby group, we use GW and Feldherr, and they’ve worked fine so far.
My brother and I once bought some cheap plastic boxes and put in layers of some cheap soft bubbley foam sheets apparently used to wipe babies and stacked Lizardmen, Bretonnians and the like in layer on layer with sheets between them. It’s cheap storage, but too clumsy and labour-intensive to be worth it in the end for frequent packing-unpacking for games. Yet something along those lines might be worth pursuing, with better, thicker and larger padding sheets cut to fit whatever suitcase or box you’ve found? Plus some padding walls glued to the inside of the box and lid and bottom? It could be possible to make something decent homegrown, if you find the right kind of padding materials.
You can get all you need at aliexpress.com for cheap… It also gives you the option to magnetise your movement trays.
But if you’re talking about 100 units, we’re probably talking around 2000 minis. At that size of an army, I fear all options to move it around will be costly.
My guess is that magnetising old winecrates foil and miniaturebases with rare earth magnets will be the cheapest, though most time consuming option. As a plus though, your miniatures have the least chance of chipping when being transtoprted this way.
I have about 4-5 different kinds of cases in use, including KR Multicase (which make some decent cardboard options), cheesex, and GW cases, and custom cases done with the below method which I find most cost effective.
I have purchased pluck foam from the FoamFactory.com in bulk lots (you spend a bit, but can get a large enough amount to store quite a lot; and way less expensive then buying custom cut, or even case sized pluck foam). Trimmed it down to size with a flat piece of EVA foam sheet (compressed and tough enough to be a bottom for the tray), glued on with contact cement for backing (12"x18" piece runs about $1.25). Can be cut to fit in any container, and some of the discount hardware stores have cheap plastic tool boxes in multiple sizes for $7-$20, or some smaller, but nicer aluminum frame cases for $24 (Harbor Freight Tools, or Menards.com for example). Takes more effort, but can be much more cost effective if that is what you are looking for.
I have also in some cases used metal tool boxes for magnetized armies, or lined the aluminum cases with flat steel sheet to attach magnetic based models to.
These are US options so I’m not sure if shipping is prohibitive overseas, but there may well be some closer similar options to look into. Cheers, JR