"28mm Figure Storage - Suggestions?" Topic

Currently my 28's are stored in random card board boxes. I need to implement a more organized method of storage. I don't have a need or room for display storage (glass). Looking for a stackable solution that I can grow as I add to the collection. Any one using a great system they want to share???

I use card board boxes from Uline. I put magnetic sheeting in the bottom of them and all of my figs are on either movment trays or metal bases. They then get placed in the boxes and the boxes stacked on top of each other on the shelves. It is pretty easy and cheap, they are also fairly transportable, just pull out the boxes you need, put them in a plastic tub and away you go.

I use Dollar Store metal trays and place them in plastic stackable drawers – from Walmart, IIRC. I also add non-slip mats inside the drawer when transporting them to games. Some of the metal trays have magnetic sheets and some have the same non-slip mats as the plastic drawers. Works pretty well. The plastic drawers come in different heights – tall enough for most terrain pieces too. Dean

My setup is exactly the same as Pictors Studio. Uline boxes, magnetic sheeting and metal bases (Wargame Accessories and washers).

As long as you store things in a dry (preferably climate controlled) room, they last forever.

My OCD side is telling me I need to label and sort my boxes better to know what is what at a glance. So far, I'm blowing it off. It's too much fun to open the boxes and see the random goodness.

Same as Pictors, except I use boxes from Staples.

Just use a sharpie and write what is in there on the side. That is what I do.

Warstore sells the Fozzbox for 66 minis which are protected and you can travel with anywhere-$12 each box. The boxes are easily stored and light. It is my system. There are hundreds of systems. These boxes come with cutout foam inserts which protect your collection. I have travelled all over the planet and never suffered a damaged figure. Knock on wood.

My OCD side is telling me I need to label and sort my boxes better to know what is what at a glance.

I dare say that your practical side would argue for that. Or, you don't have more than a handful of boxes to wade thtough…

As my wife moans about, I have way more than a "handful of boxes" now. There were local game stores (sadly no more), that didn't have stock to match up. I'm afraid it will take a bit more than a sharpie to do what really needs to be done, but a sharpie is a good step in the right direction.

A4 file boxes do it for me. Lined with steel sheet and figures magnetically based.

I store all mine in White castle Crave Cases! Perfectly sized!

link

Well I have one I use, the majority of my stuff is in plastic cases
like this;
picture

I use Army Transport bags and Battlefoam trays.

Map cabinets

Tally Ho!

4 Liter really useful boxes for 25/28mm.

They are translucent so you can see what's inside.

I had some sheet metal cut to fit in the bottoms and glue magnets to my individually based troops.

Superior transportability, stack-ability, and easy to see what's inside.

link

Battlefoam trays.: battlefoam.com

Sun can have a bleaching effect on paint so I want my stuff tucked out of sight. Plus I can drop whatever trays I need into the carriers for easy transportation.

Egg cartons

I use Plano plastic storage boxes for fishing tackle, the 3600 series, I believe. I generally use 20mm base per figure which makes 4 fit in one compartment. There are types more variable and others deeper. Everything has to stack under the gaming table so these work well.

Cardboard boxes that can be made up to variable depths. I am somewhat backward in that I put the magnet on the mini base and use metallic paint on the box. For details:

link

I use lots of different things.

Plastic pencil cases stacked in a larger plastic tub.

Unused pizza boxes. Local pizzerias will often part with these when asked nicely. I've since moved to plastic shoe boxes.

Some figures are in open plastic trays that stack inside plastic shoe boxes.

I've got about 20 or more Chessex cases.
link

I also use small cardboard boxes arranged in large tool boxes.

Some armies are stored in plastic shelf organizers on wheels that roll under my workbench. link

In another room I use 3 drawer plastic shelves that I have stacked. Like link

I also have some armies on their magnetic unit bases in low plastic bins (like would fit under a bed, but stackable). Similar to these link
These are lined with the non-skid rubbery stuff you'd find in a tool cabinet or kitchen drawer like DeanMoto mentions.

If you're going to the effort to reconstitute your storage, pick a solution that can also transport your minis. Personally I've found foam trays with individual compartments to be the most protective system for my figures.

I've put magnets on the bottom of 25/28mm figures for many years, and for a while used modular office drawers lined with galvanized steel, but invariably my car would go over a bump and something would rattle loose.

Right now I make my own modular foam trays to go in generic equipment cases, but unless that DIY vibe really appeals to you, I'd suggest going with a commercial supplier (I actually do now too as I buy commercial foam trays and cut them to the size of my modules; even if I modify the tray by sticking more foam onto it the one-piece original is stronger than if I'd built the same thing up from scratch). There are quite a few solutions out there, and some good ones cited by others up-thread.

I would suggest though that you start with your biggest figure(s) and figure out how they will work with your transport system. For me that was winged fantasy creatures with riders and that sort of thing. The problem with the Plano boxes I've looked at and similar otherwise useful hardware organizers, is the carrying solutions that seem attractive for infantry don't seem to scale up to really big models also.

I use the Dave's Baggage Train cases lined with magnetic sheet. They come in multiple depths, stack easily, and cases are available to transport them. Scott Mingus displays them in his blog entry here: link

I can't seem to find a website for them and haven't been to the last few HMGSE cons where I normally pick them up, so I'm not sure if they are still around. If not, the trays can easily be gotten from jewelers' supply places on line since they are the same thing they use to for transport.

Bit more difficult to come by than some choices – but I have always liked empty cigar boxes. Not the cheap ones, but the ones that are made from wood. If you have a local smoke shop – you can probably pick up the empties for cheap when they have them. Otherwise, most online cigar stores sell them as well (ranging from $1 USD each and up).

I have boxes that are large enough to fit a couple 1:48 scale Panzers in – so you can find boxes large enough for almost anything. Most are smaller than that though (depending on the gauge of the cigar they usually range from about 1" to 2" deep).

The nice thing with them is that they look interesting enough that you can keep the boxes on a book shelf in the open.

If you want bang for buck, here's the system I use . It's rigid, protective, and only 35 bucks!

Plastic Thread cases (sometimes called bead cases) can be excelent ways of storing and transporting minis.
picture
link

The ones I am speaking about have the length and width close to that of a standard piece of paper and a depth of 1.25-2 inches. They can be found for 2-4 dollars at craft stores. Hobby lobby has a nice version for 2 bucks. Placing a piece of 1/2 inch foam in each compartment (16-25 compartments depending on model) leaves exacly the right room in each compartment for 1-2 figures based on 25mm rounds or one BT size mech.

Each case has 18 compartments. I double up and can esily fit 35 figs in a case. A real advantage of these over all-foam miniature storage is that they can be stored outside a larger transport case without getting dirty, and being rigid, you're much less likely to spill your miniatures.

For transport They can be stacked and transported inside a standard letter file tote, which can be found for 10-14 dollars at office stores. I have a couple that are similar to this.
picture
link

A plastic file tote can carry 5-6 thread cases with just enough room left along side the thread cases for a couple of rulebooks. For those who don't trust the side clasp, there are versions available with a handle that attaches to the sides of the box itself.

So how does the $ stack up?

File tote: 15 bucks
5 bead cases 10 bucks (5x $2)
Foam 8 bucks from craft store (I use free foam from packing materials)

32 bucks for a rigid storage and transportation solution that will hold 90-180 figures.

I've got 3 of systems now and for storing vehicles I simply build a cardboard box (padded with foam) the same base size as the thead cases and double the height. Also, I recently started using the flexible foam packing sheet in the compartments instead of foam at the bottom. I cut it in a cross shape so that when pressed into the compartment it pads all sides. Also, you can find it for free!

"I use card board boxes from Uline. I put magnetic sheeting in the bottom of them and all of my figs are on either movment trays or metal bases. They then get placed in the boxes and the boxes stacked on top of each other on the shelves. It is pretty easy and cheap, they are also fairly transportable, just pull out the boxes you need, put them in a plastic tub and away you go."

This looks like an economical choice. How high can you stack the boxes? I think I'd need 4" high boxes to accommodate many of my 28s.

"This looks like an economical choice. How high can you stack the boxes? I think I'd need 4" high boxes to accommodate many of my 28s."

My 4" boxes are 6 high currently and quite full. No problems with collapsing edges or other load bearing issues.

I'd like to use 13x10x4. I'm assuming at those dimensions I should have no problem.