"15mm Sci-Fi Crates, Barrels, etc.?" Topic

Need some clutter for the Spaceport tarmac, and/or cargo hold of a spaceship.

Any ideas for good, and preferably inexpensive, crates, barrels, cargo containers, etc., etc. that look at least modern, if not a bit futuristic?

I see Khurasan offers a few items, and GZG. The latter has a set of assorted stowage cans and cases, but no photo, so I don't know what they look like, or how many come in a pack.

I know how to make pallets out of styrene sheeting and strips, and to put some stuff like electrical connectors, and/or tubes/dowels to represent pipes and rods on them. Can also use strips or thicker stock and balsa for wood/synthetic construction materials.

I suspect I could cut up some styrene plastic strips, and paint them, but would like to jazz them up a bit, so they don't look so mundane.

I've got a Matchbox forklift lying around somewhere, somewhere.

Could use some more ideas for small to medium, interesting looking crates and other containers.

It'd be nice to come up with some larger, interesting, Sci-Fi-ish, cargo containers too, similar to those 20' and 40' ones that humanoids put on trucks, trains, and ships, and that'll fit in a 15mm scale, cargo ship.

Any ideas, or tips?

Would love to see some inspirational photos too, if you have any to share.

Brigade models

Also these: just bought some for a game. Ready finished and would make great containets:

auction

John T

Yep Brigade. I love em. Critical mass has some too.

CMG has shipping containers that may be along the lines your after?

Link:
link

Micropanzer made some really nice ones, too. His site is not advertising, but suggest you email him and ask.

There are some examples on Rebel Minis site, but I can't get tinyurl to work, so I can't post link.

Wow, those all look really great!

I wasn't aware of most of those.

Any ideas for smaller stuff, e.g. little boxes, cases, and crates, from knee-high to about waist/chest high?

The first Brigade ones I mentioned come half way up a door, if you see what I mean, so that's around chest height, I guess. They also do stowage for AFVs that would fit your bill.

John T

Ya, Micropanzer has some great ones, as singles and piles.

Does this help?

More here, towards the bottom:

link

When I'm able to, I'm going to use these to add texture to some of those pieces.

link

Dan
TMP link
TMP link
TMP link

Ooooo, lots of great ideas!

Thanks for the tips, and links.

Those plastic parts and vehicle stowage will fill the bill nicely for the smaller stuff, and the cargo containers will be great for the big items needed.

Minifigs miniaturefigurines.co.uk

has a forklift

and assorted pallets

Micropanzer made some really nice ones, too

He sure does:

Thanks for the pics of the other items too.

I wasn't aware of the pre-made pallets, and forklift from Minifigs, and the other small containers from Micropanzer.

Hey Dan, where do you get those tiny little plastic bottles/barrels, cubes, and orange tubes from?

I don't recognize any of those, but they look to be very useful too.

GZG's offerings in a similar vein.

John T

I have 24 crates as of now with more size variant out soon -- you can get all 24 for 16$ if interested as a special price to see if you like them -- Large set of 12 is normally 16 and small set is 6.00 normally

Rebel minis also has Sci Fi/Modern containers.

rebelminis.com/baandsu.html

"Minifigs miniaturefigurines.co.uk

has a forklift"

Whereabouts is this in the catalog? I had (what I thought was) a good look, but couldn't spot it.

Duck

minifig forklift

minifig 12mm > modern > civilian > forklift

the pallets are modern > equipment

@Mako11: "Hey Dan, where do you get those tiny little plastic bottles/barrels, cubes, and orange tubes from? I don't recognize any of those, but they look to be very useful too."

Aaaa, most of those pieces are Legos!

Email me:
Daniel DOT Martinez1 AT sbcglobal DOT net

Here are some of them (from various random vendors)

Lego 1x1 pieces:

auction

auction

auction

auction

auction

auction

More: auction

Lego 1x2 tiles:

auction

More: auction

K'NEX Rods:

auction

auction

The big geometric "glitter" (sequins) I bought at Michael's.

Hope this helps.

Dan
PS. It helps if you order each type in a different color. Otherwise, you might end up a bit cross-eyed when you try sorting them. :)

For those queasy about using Lego for any reason, in the UK chain store Wilko's Blocks range there are boxs at the £1.00 GBP-2 range, which due to some slightly dubious design choices feature loads of 1x1 and 1x2 bits.

All lovely stuff thanks for sharing and you can easily build your own also with Pvc or do them in card.

e.g Dave Graffam's free cargo pod can be easily printed smaller etc.
davesgames.net/catalog-free-models.htm

or for eg. To make scifi containers,cut 1cm wide x 10cm long strips of 2mm/3mm Pvc ( the stuff they use for billboards etc, which can be found cheaply as offcuts at Sign makers ) Crimp them at regular intervals with a pair of pliers ( it will easily indent the Pvc with its teeth ) & CA glue them together.Cover the top with thin strips of card.

If this is not clear , ask & I'll show you how.

Hope this helps
Z

Thanks for the additional details, and all the links, CC.

I really appreciate it.

Haven't looked at Legos in quite some time. They sure have a lot of new stuff out now.

Mako11, I have a few bits left over, if you want to give it a try.

Dan

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the offer.

PM sent.

Best regards,

Rob

Rob,

By the way … this is the best glue for the Lego pieces and the plastic beads, Ambroid Pro-Weld:

Dan

Dan I'm going to follow your lead and start working on collecting Lego pieces all of those look like they would make great corgi and just plain ground clutter.

Lol. You should! I think you'd love how versatile these pieces can be.

And with your creative imagination being what it is, the sky is the limit on what you could come up with.

Dan

"Corgi!?" Damn auto correct it's "clutter" Damn it!

Thanks Dan

Doug

I've a metric b**tload of the K'nex; originally for the grandson, though he's a Lego maniac, but the smallest always looked like they could be made into Eagle-style space ships.

Tons in toy section of thrift stores 'for nothing.'

Doug (another)

Edit: Almost forgot; Deadzone did not do well locally, and we've got objective markers 'small crates' at reduced prices. I'll be snaggin' ours, soon, but worth a look elsewhere.

Why not build one? A fork lifter, I mean.

castrarunis.blogspot.com.mt/2016/07/atvs-starport-stuff.html

Not too difficult to make.

Z

Thanks for the tips on the glue, and other stuff too, like the forklift.

I love the Lego idea…

Also, check out E-Bay for HO scale stuff. Generally cheaper than stuff made for 15mm gaming, but doesn't usually come in "sci-fi". If you're looking for "normal" crates, barrels, etc., check it out in the HO train section.

link

Mad Mecha Guy does great storage containers, extremely cheap!