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Most of us have that second army by now. Wether retired in victory, or cast aside in shame, it lingers waiting for its eventual return. Foam trays, tackle boxes, etc. How do you store your figures?

KR multicases.

All figures in foam trays in card cases.

Game time, pick the right case and put it in a KR backpack and rock up to where ever.

Cheap and simples.

Second army? Try 'dozenth.' I store 80% of my armies on the sprue, in a drawer or a box in the closet. It's the most depressing storage method, but quite space-efficient.

On bookshelves, right next to my active armies. Even if they don’t see the field of battle, they still look cool. I have the space, so they get to stay on display.

Display case for things that are done.
The rest can go hang out in a plastic tote.

 Desubot wrote:
Display case for things that are done.
The rest can go hang out in a plastic tote.

Good point on the unfinished stuff. I’ve got a few random boxes of bare/primed stuff in the oubliette that is the back of my workbench.

KR cases. The ones that are not currently in use are in vac bags, loosely vacuumed to keep damp and bugs out whilst they are in the loft. Keeps them safe and easy to get at. I have no minis that are unbuilt or unprimed. Lots unpainted though. I love building and priming is so easy.

Long term.. sitting in the crawl space under the house, encased in plastic totes in foam trays. Stored on old Pallets. Well labelled.

My children will thank me.

Everything finished goes into tall Ikea display cases. The unfinished is stacked up on the shelf of shame.

For you folks who use a display case long term, how do you deal with dust?

majorhavok wrote:
For you folks who use a display case long term, how do you deal with dust?

Let is slowly accumulate?

I know it’s not a good answer, but I’d rather have dusty models on the shelf, where I can see them, rather then pristine minis packed away in a box somewhere. If I was a better housekeeper, I’d dust them regularly, but let’s be honest here, I’m lazy.

I try using an inclosed case (glass case)

Otherwise blow it out once in a while with dust can.

Dusting on a regular basis works for us.

I've decided to go the display case route. I'm going to seal the major seam (around sliding glass doors) and use a blower with electric dust filter to create positive pressure in the case.

Gaming pieces get magnetized and put into baking trays with locking lids. Cheaper than foam and doesn't rub minis like foam, either. Put those in a bag designed for foam and you get an easy solution. Otherwise, you can store baking trays on shelves or in boxes pretty easy. Put some bubble wrap in them for long term storage or moving. Packing peanuts, too.

I don't have any display space for minis so I use the same modified Plano pistol cases most of my oft-used and rarely-used armies
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/362407.page
They all live on a shelving system on the rear porch. I think I've got 7 of these filled now.

The exception is my Kings of War army which lives in Sabol foam in old video equipment bags, my 28mm mechs which are in foam in larger cases, and some warbands which live in a variety of smaller cases (usually pistol cases) with foam.

All this to say, every finished model is in some kind of foam inside a hard or semi-rigid case. DIY cases are cheap enough that there's no reason to skimp on protection for your minis.

majorhavok wrote:
For you folks who use a display case long term, how do you deal with dust?

Glass doors minimize dust accumulation within the case. Once a year or so, I open them up to give them a good dusting (though most normally don't need it). A blow gun hooked up to my airbrush manifold gives pretty strong puffs of dry air to knock any dust off. I also have a few soft bristle fan brushes that I can use for stubborn dusty parts (those are normally on armies that get more play...skin oils and what not).

Keep in mind, the popular Detolf cabinet from IKEA (and ones built in the same way) have rather large gaps - so they won't keep all the dust out (depending on where they sit in a rooms air flow...they can even gather more dust than they keep out). Mine are styled after old school barrister book cases, and I have added weather stripping to the back to provide a good seal when closed.

Keeps these risk-free and straightforward to find. I have no minis which are unbuilt or even unprimed.

Stuff I want to show off or use from time-to time live in Billy bookcases from Ikea, half glass to keep the dust out and the bottom half is covered so it's full of archival boxes of unbuilt stuff.

Stuff I'm not likely to use in a while, or I'm currently using live in a range of foam trays (either Figures In Comfort or Battlefoam) in a cupboard, so I can just grab them and game.

Bits tend to be in boxes and balanced on any available space in the spare room.

Chessex hardcases
http://www.chessex.com/figure%20boxes/Figure_Storage_Boxes.htm

Way back when I first got in, there weren't as many choices as we have today. I probably own something like 2 dozen of the 40/56/80-figure cases, with a few of the 56s doubled to hold 100+ figures.

These cases have lasted very well, surviving multiple moves and such. Very sturdy - I don't regret the money I spent on them at all.

If I were starting clean, I think I'd be looking at the KR multicases.

The Chessex boxes are/were a good classic solution, but even the big cavity trays are on the small size of what alot of todays minis require.

I think the new Reaper cases from the kickstarter will be a contemporary alternative when they hit distribution.

The Chessex cases are fine for things on 25mm bases. As most of my stuff is old metal GW, they work great.

The newer "dynamic" stuff is harder to package in Chessex. Same with the big models that GW is pushing hard. Vehicles are a no-go -- you need something else for those.

 oadie wrote:
Second army? Try 'dozenth.' I store 80% of my armies on the sprue, in a drawer or a box in the closet. It's the most depressing storage method, but quite space-efficient.

Sprues are basically the most space-inefficient storage method there is. You can fit several sprues worth of bits in a tiny plastic baggie!

Using the crawl area beneath the home, enveloped within plastic material totes within froth trays.

 JohnHwangDD wrote:
The Chessex cases are fine for things on 25mm bases. As most of my stuff is old metal GW, they work great.

The newer "dynamic" stuff is harder to package in Chessex. Same with the big models that GW is pushing hard. Vehicles are a no-go -- you need something else for those.

Very True. I've looked at chessex boxes many times as a potential storage solution for my Song of Blades warbands and other skrimish forces. They're a very handy size for slipping into a backpack with other gaming stuff.

However, the prices (13-30$) keep me away. 7 dollar pistol cases are just so cheap and easy to modify. They're not quite as nicely sized (who really needs a handle?) but I'm kind of a cheapskate...

Very informative thread.

For those who do not mind doing a bit of work, "The Container Store" makes all kinds of very rigid storage and transportation boxes.

While I would LOVE to display my figures, most of them are currently in storage, as I am in Houston, and they are in L.A.

But that does sound like something to think about doing when I finally get my own place, again.

Until then, Chessex, KR, and Container Store boxes sound best.

Mymearan wrote:

 oadie wrote:
Second army? Try 'dozenth.' I store 80% of my armies on the sprue, in a drawer or a box in the closet. It's the most depressing storage method, but quite space-efficient.

Sprues are basically the most space-inefficient storage method there is. You can fit several sprues worth of bits in a tiny plastic baggie!

I agree. I used to keep my spares on the sprue, but it's amazing how much space you save when you pop them off and put them in a baggie. As long as you remember to label it, because it's hellish trying to tell the difference between bags full of arms.

Herzlos wrote:

Mymearan wrote:


Sprues are basically the most space-inefficient storage method there is. You can fit several sprues worth of bits in a tiny plastic baggie!

I agree. I used to keep my spares on the sprue, but it's amazing how much space you save when you pop them off and put them in a baggie. As long as you remember to label it, because it's hellish trying to tell the difference between bags full of arms.

Baggies will work, but it can be really annoying sorting through them.
For those looking for a way to store their off-the-sprue minis, I suggest a "Craft storage case", also known as a bead case or a thread case. Container store is good for variety of cases, but their prices are a few steps up.

This thread case...
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/craft-storage-box-666735/
…is 3 bucks and will hold ALOT of bits.


This case…
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/clear-curved-compartment-storage-box-231100/
…Has just a smidge less space, but the rounded bottoms make it much easier to get your parts out.


I have 4 similar styled cases and a few smaller versions that I use to sort my massive bits collection and another 10 or so holding the rest of my unpainted minis.

If you really want to get organized, a letter sized plastic file tote will hold 5 or 6 of these. I've got 4 totes like these...
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/1371160/OfficeMax-Weather-Resistant-Compact-File-Box/
...to hold my trays of bits and figs.

That ends up being a fair amount of $ spent to sort figs, but I built it up over time (a decade or so…) and it now makes it extremely easy to locate exactly the figures and bits that I need for a project.

The problem with Rubbermaid / Plano is that they aren't padded.

Just buy KR Multicase.
(this coming from a committed Chessex man)

 JohnHwangDD wrote:
The problem with Rubbermaid / Plano is that they aren't padded.

Just buy KR Multicase.
(this coming from a committed Chessex man)

I though planos come padded. (guncase) you usually cut out the foam to fit models.