"Dilemma: where to store my miniatures" Topic

I currently store my painted miniatures in boxes (actually, plastic containers) in our guest bedroom closet. This has been a good arrangement but for the fact that the space is somewhat limited and, more importantly, every now and then Mrs DestoFante would like to use the guest bedroom for, well, guests, and it would be nice to provide them with some closet space.

My alternative space is along the flight of stairs going down to the garage. The upside is that this solution offers more space than the small closet upstairs. The problem is that the stairs are outside the house proper; yes, they are enclosed, but not climatized. I live in Chicago. Those stairs can get very hot and humid in the summer, and very, very cold in the winter. The miniatures would sit on shelves against a wall on the other side of the kitchen, so perhaps there would be some warmth dissipating from the house. And I could protect my boxes further with some insulating foam sheet. Thus, temperature would be slightly less extreme than outside temperatures. But still: I am worried: worried that the painting job would be damaged by the extreme temperatures, and worried that the cold temperatures would get the miniatures unglued from their bases.

So, I am torn. Am I being unreasonable? How much damage hot and cold temperatures could possibly do to my based miniatures? Should I proceed to transfer my collection to the stairs, or hold on the smaller but safe space upstairs?

Thanks in advance to any wisdom you may have to share!

When guests next visit, put them up at a local hotel.

Can you get the ouside wall sprayed with foam insulation

Check the IKEA catalogue. Loads of storage ideas for small spaces. Is some kind of roller box under the beds not an option?

When the next guest stays with you have them hang their clothes along the stairs to the garage!

If you are going to the trouble of using foam sheets of insulation anyway…..build yourself a box and install 2 light fixtures. You can use the standard mechanic trouble light on an extension cord if you feel your wiring skills are a bit off. You will be amazed at how much heat an old style light bulb will put off---that will solve your winter problem.
Summer…I would think you need to be more concerned with the humidity than the heat…but a small project fan to keep the air flowing through your box should work pretty well.

When the guests visit put the miniatures up at a local hotel :-)

Buy a house in scale with your miniatures.

It sounds like this might be an older house, with ceilings higher than the eight foot that is now standard. When I was a kid, we had a house with 10' ceilings, and my grandfather built cabinets to go on the wall over the door. It ran the length of the room, and gave us quite a bit more storage. Of course, you needed to stand on a chair or ladder to access it. If this looks possible, check local building codes.

Grelber

Random Die Roll wrote:

You will be amazed at how much heat an old style light bulb will put off---that will solve your winter problem.

Indeed, which is why you won't find them for sale. Instead nice, efficient LED or those infernal poison mercury CFL are available.
Alas. Neither put out the same amount of heat

I think there is a danger of creating conditions for "lead rot" if you store in plastic boxes in conditions where moisture may build up. The only time I had this problem was with some Minifigs stored in a plastic box. I'd keep them indoors; Durnford1879 has the right idea!

I reckon the garage proper would be better than the stairs.
Mine have lived in our unheated garage for many years, and get cold in the winter and hot in the summer with no ill effects.

Next time the guests visit, put them in the unheated garage.
I have never experienced lead rot on my guests.