I have a great tray solution I use to store my figures. Details here:
link
I embed a rare earth magnet or several in each figure's base.
For large figures, it works really well to line the trays with metal shingles got for dirt cheap and cut to size with Malco shears.
For infantry, it works best to have lift out inner trays that you can slide the figures off of, rather than have to pull them off individually.
I have about 70 trays now, but in most the figures are just freestanding. I haven't got around to lining the trays.
What I'd like to do is get some metal unit trays from Shogun and line the trays with magnetic sheet (which can be had for between $1.12 USD and $2 USD depending on how big a roll you buy).
So far so good, the trays stick to the magnetic bottom. Put some ribbons under the trays as you put them in and it's easy to lift them out again (thanks whoever suggested that).
This way, the idea is you make each unit on it's metal movement tray, and can pop the units in and out of the storage trays via the ribbons, never having to detach the figures from the movement tray.
The trick is what will happen if I put magnets on the trays, and then put the trays against the magnetic bottom. For figures with 1 magnet, I align all the magnets the same way, so I figure there is a 50/50 chance the poles on the individual figures will be opposite to the pole on the magnetic sheet. Essentially you have a layer of steel sandwiched between two layers of magnets.
Now for larger figures that have two or more magnets embedded in their base, I flip one or more of the magnets around because otherwise the magnets repel each other along the horizontal access. You can imagine sliding a circular magnet toward another circular magnet while the poles are aligned, and you'll end up pushing the magnet way. So with the larger figures there's no way around it, at least one of the magnets in the base is going to be opposite to the pole of the sheet.
The question is will any such conflict matter in practical terms? Will it weaken the attraction such that the figures will not stick well, or is the attaction to the steel in the middle going to trump any weaker repelling force between the two magnets.
I guess I can set up a test, but I don't have any magnetic sheet. I would have to try to find a store that sells a magnetic sign or make an ebay purchase of one.
Anyone have informed opinions about it before I get started?
Thanks!