"Inexpensive Case/Storage for 1/100 Armor" Topic

Looking for recommendations for an inexpensive carrying case-slash-storage solution for what's soon to be a good-sized pile of tanks, mechs, dropships, cars, vans, trucks, etc. (Not to mention the figures, but that's another story.)

At this scale, tank turrets are as thick as sewing needles. Suggestions? Matchbox car carrying case? Toolbox/tackle box? Craft storage bins? Any advice welcome.

I happen to like Sabol's pluck-foam, but that's ~$8 a sheet. 1" foam for 15mm infantry, 1.5" or 2" foam for tanks and artillery.

I think you can get Plano fishing-tackle trays in 1" or 2" thicknesses for less than that.

I use this for 10 and 15mm:

link

You can get extra trays at Wally World or your local big box home improvement store for $3 USD-4. I have around 30 trays with specific units in each. Dice, rules, etc go in the top and swap the trays for that day's game.

I now use box files for all my figure / model storage.

I also use box files, lined with steel paper. Put magnabase on the models' bases and everything stays in place.

The box files fit in a "Figures in Comfort" shoulder bag for transport (it will hold 4 thin or three normal size box files).

I use these:

link

Very happy with them, lined with either foam rubber for tanks, or magnetic strips to hold infantry bases.

I use Sabol pluck foam, in no small part because my armies need to go about 100 km by public transit for most games. But it is quite nice and they hold up great!

Unused pizza boxes, with filler, or inserts.

The Plano box looks pretty cool, I've been eyeing those.

The box files/project cases/really useful boxes/friction top tins solution with magnetic sheets and washers for unit/vehicle/figure bases looks like a sweet idea too.

I'm wondering what foam will do to these cheap little tanks or this Snap-Tite helicopter that I bought.

:)

I use the Plano boxes for vehicle storage as well. I put some padding in each section in the form of no-skid carpet liner. Just another note: I also made a traveling painting kit out of a larger Plano box. I can put tools, brushes, minis, etc. in the various boxes and use the top compartment for larger stuff.

Magnet lined cardboard boxes. Then glue steel bases under the tanks. Find sizes that fit without showing. They won't survive a car wreck but they do fine even on severely pot holed streets.

Then I remove the turrets. I take a piece of cardboard and fold it over making a kind of folio. Inside this goes bubblewrap. Turrets go in the bubblewrap, Fold it all up and add a rubberband.

I've been meaning to try this…. link

These trays. link

lined with magnetic sheet bought on sale from AC Moore
I use 1 1/2" for infantry and 2" trays for vehicles

Placed in these bags.

link

A number of the solutions I use are on this blog post I did several years ago. I still use the same systems.

link

Box files lined with steel paper, magnabase on the bottom of the bases. For 15s you can use the half height ones.

I use these for my 15mm FoW tanks, they hold 48 vehicles, stand upright, and have a carrying handle. They were originally made for hot wheels / matchbox cars. Now they sell them in Walmart to hold sewing thread.

link

Razor,
That's a good find. Thanks

I picked up a couple of these for 13.99 each at Harbor Freight yesterday. link

I had some time to kill yesterday, so I did some old-fashoned shopping. As in going to an actua B&M retail location.

Wal-Mart had some nice Plano boxes, but I still need to measure my minis and vehicles to see if they will work.

Neither Wal-Mart nor Michael's had those spool boxes. I might try Harbor Freight or a different Michael's or Wal-Mart store.

How are you guys affixing the magnetic sheet and/or steel washers to your vehicles and storage containers? Is it just the magnetic "paper" that Michael's sells in a roll? Are you just attaching that to the storage container and attaching steel to the underside of the vehicles?

Pics, please. 8)

Having used a number of the methods I found NO ONE methods is better than the other as they all have merits. I have used Planno boxes, mailing box with metal and magnetic paint, pluck foam, A Flames of War bag, and KRmulticase boxes.

The Planno boxes are good for Infantry bases and small vehicles while they tend to beat up bigger vehicles. The mailing box with either metal or magnetics is good for long term storage but doesn't do so good when travelling. Foam trays work well but can be expensive ranging from $100 USD for the FoW bag to $42 USD for the KRmulticase.

Charles

Many people use metal tool boxes, magnetizing the bases of their figures. The type I use is a 5 tray box that holds just over 300 small bases worth (6 wide x 17 long x 3 levels = 306). They only cost ~$20 here so presumably ~$15 in the US. link

Try the Fuzz Box from The War Store. Cardboard box with foam. The cutouts fit jeep size or small infantry bases easily, cutting the middle piece from a pair of cutouts fits most every other vehicle or medium base.

"Bisley" style filing cabinets.