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So this week I picked up my army transport (or future army transport). At a repo auction, I came across four bank bags filled with cash boxes (tragically devoid of cash!) that I cabbaged onto for the bargain price of $3 apiece.

Here we see Brutus modeling the new purchase. Four used bank bags. Fun fact: collies are, on average, one of the smartest dogs in the world. Other fun fact: Brutus is a living reminder that all bell curves have a left end.



Each bag comes with a carrying strap, and the top flap both zips and velcro's closed. Quite a bit heavier than a Battle Foam bag, but I'd wager quite a bit more durable as well, given the stitched canvas construction.



Inside, each bag contains three cash boxes. The boxes all have a slotted hole for a lock (although none of them have keys), and are composed of durable plastic. Tamper tape is all over all the boxes, but I think I can scrape most of the old tape off with a razor. The boxes measure 9"x22", and the bumpers running along the bottom slot in with the box top of the next one down in the stack.


The rails on the bottom allow the cash divider to slide, but a single piece of sheet metal should rest level on the bottom of the case. Most of the cases have two sizes of boxes, one slightly deeper than the other two (meant to go on bottom), although one case came with three of the deeper boxes.


So the plan is as follows: cut sheet metal to fit in the bottom. Use hot glue to seal it around the edges (the raised bumper in the bottom means there will be gaps under the metal, and I don't want any bits that get dislodged getting under it. Magnetize all my minis, and go nuts.

I'm thinking about the possibility of also magnetizing the top of the boxes I'm putting infantry in, since they will be deep enough to not run into each other. The deeper boxes are going to be for vehicles. Raiders, Ravagers, and my Reaper will need to get magnetized to the side, but the box should be deep enough to accommodate their width. The deep ones are also deep enough to hold Venoms and Void/Starweavers without having to magnetize them to the side. (My skimmers are all going to wind up fixed to their bases, eventually.)

What do you guys think? Any tips or advice?

Tip #1: watch those fingers when cutting up that sheet metal! And, after the cut, dull down the edges or ensure they are unexposed/immersed in glue.
Tip #2: if you have a budget for the sheet metal, check out http://shogunminiatures.com/. He can do custom sizes of wonderfully cut steel trays nicely buffed with no sharp edges for a great price.
Tip #3: You may wish to magnetize the trays in the money cases as a removable plate makes set-up and put-away more convenient and efficient. You can rig ribbons or handles to the sides of the tray to make them easy to remove and replace. just be sure the magnets are powerful enough to keep the tray, and the miniatures on it, secured during transit.

Magnetizing the trays in the cases sounds like a phenomenal idea, actually. More work, but a really smart way to do the troops, especially.

I love this idea, good luck with it! I hope it comes out exactly as you're wanting.
For the tape, do you have access to "sticky stuff remover"? Saves a lot on peeling and scraping work, and you can use it for removing price labels for the rest of your life.

Also loving the thought of someone confusedly plundering cash bags and finding miniatures. Not that I'd ever want that to happen, that'd be hideous.

 Buttery Commissar wrote:
I love this idea, good luck with it! I hope it comes out exactly as you're wanting.
For the tape, do you have access to "sticky stuff remover"? Saves a lot on peeling and scraping work, and you can use it for removing price labels for the rest of your life.

Ugh. No. I used to work at a bookstore, and that s--t was like miracle goo. Have NEVER seen it for sale elsewhere though.

Also loving the thought of someone confusedly plundering cash bags and finding miniatures. Not that I'd ever want that to happen, that'd be hideous.

Lol, there is definitely some spray paint in the future for those bags.

Repo auction.... I thought they only happened on daytime UK tv!!

 SJM wrote:
Repo auction.... I thought they only happened on daytime UK tv!!

Lol, all the time. Only thing better and cooler are police auctions.

Jimsolo wrote:Ugh. No. I used to work at a bookstore, and that s--t was like miracle goo. Have NEVER seen it for sale elsewhere though.

Not sure if that's an approving or disapproving ugh.
It's available as Goo Gone on Amazon.
The reason you won't find it in many places is that it's basically very concentrated d'limonene, which is a spectacular degreaser (simplest example is in dish soap). But has safety concerns when carelessly or cheaply handled.

Jimsolo wrote:

 SJM wrote:
Repo auction.... I thought they only happened on daytime UK tv!!

Lol, all the time. Only thing better and cooler are police auctions.

Airport surplus auctions (things that people never come back for or have confiscated by Customs) are my absolute favourite.
Bags of swiss army knives by the kilo? Sack of mobile phones without chargers? Yes please.

Disapproving ugh due to the lack of availability, not the product.

I wish we had airlines that size around here, lol!

Got the metal trimmed up and put in place for one today. Unfortunately, hot gluing them in takes forever. I may switch to silicone.

On the other hand, the metal fits great! On another plus side, some of the boxes have a sliding divider (in case the cash wasn't enough to fill the box), and I discovered how to remove most of them without having to saw through the metal rails the divider slides on. Pics at some point.

Well, got the metal trimmed up and started gluing it down. So far, this part is working like a charm! Unfortunately, the part where the slides were, at the short ends, leaves a gap over the metal sheet.

Picture of the gap:


So far, I've just been building up a huge as pile of hot glue to close it. Any better suggestions?

However, I've magnetized one of my bases as a proof of concept. She's going to fly, Orville!

My thought would be something like electrical tape or duct tape over a strip of plasticard or the like, to extend and give a smoother edge.
Hot glue is a right bugger for picking up dirty, fluff and gripping things you don't want.

Looking good though! How many magnets will you have to fit (or is that not something you want to contemplate)?

I went with scraps of the metal I cut for the bottom to cover the gaps on the big ones, and just built up a wall of hot glue on the small ones.

Unfortunately, by the time you responded I'd already hot glued all of them!

Magnets are going to be 274 by the time all is said and done. Not counting the magnets I'll need to magnetize weapon options and the like.

Although it's been slow going, the first case is done. (Functionally. Lots of aesthetics to do, still.)

Here's the Eldar case. The standard bearer and the Treeman/Wraithseer had to be magnetized to the sides.