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I have various foam cases and what not for transport but I've accumulated a few armies and now would like a good way to store the ones I'm not currently using. Not really looking for a display type case but soemthing that isn't too expensive where I can keep things organized. A place where I can keep my 40k, aos and blood bowl stuff that I'm not currently using. I was first think maybe a plastic container with drawers and tall models could get out in their side. Then maybe a drawer per army.

Anyways, what does everyone else use?

Larger transport systems. Things like Battlefoams 1520XL or simply lots and lots of cardboard boxes from KR. If you go the larger, fewer style with things the size of a 1520XL, you can get whole armies into single cases. If you go for the smaller, more style like KR card cases, you can tailor each case to something specific. Either way makes it easier when you want to get something out to use.

Personally, since I switched to skirmish games, I'm going for the display approach. I've got 2 ikea cabinets waiting to be built with spaces for extra shelves (I won't add the actual shelved unless I need them, but it's easier to add the parts during construction). My 40k stuff sits in its 1520XL case of shame.

What I use is just shelves.

What I would recommend (if you can afford it) would be to get KR boxes for everything. That way your minis will be protected, and still easily accessible. The idea of having them in a drawer evokes images of them banging into each other every time you open/close it.

If you want a long term, low budget option, I’d get some long, low, wide storage boxes and layer them with towels (paper or fabric). You should be able to store a lot that way, and keep them stacked in a closet somewhere.

I used to have IKEA filing cabinets (Helmers I think?) which had about 6 drawers each, all metal - I'd then put lines of double sided tape inside the drawers to stick my models on, so they don't move about at all. Pretty handy system, but you may have to replace the tape every once in a while if you live someplace dusty (which I did).

G.A

If all metal cabinets and right metal you could use magnets on base to hold them in place.

 jhe90 wrote:
If all metal cabinets and right metal you could use magnets on base to hold them in place.

That's actually a really neat idea I didn't think about - I think my cabinets weren't steel though, they were probably IKEA monkey metal

 General Annoyance wrote:

 jhe90 wrote:
If all metal cabinets and right metal you could use magnets on base to hold them in place.

That's actually a really neat idea I didn't think about - I think my cabinets weren't steel though, they were probably IKEA monkey metal

Glue in a cheap steel sheet or lined to magent to then
Magenets can hold them all vertical as it moved and lines would keep them from rubbing.

I sae it used ad a way of transporting big nids and deamons that never fit in non custom foam.
Mag locked to a metal plate in box with foam.

Do it your self and save money. Make the trays to fit your current bag and when not in use store them in plastic totes

http://creativetwilight.com/making-your-own-foam-trays/

My out-of-use armies (5 of them) that rarely see play are boxed up and in the basement. Labeled and closed up (I have both small children and cats), they're ready if I need them and are secure enough. I keep a printout of what each box has in it taped to the top, in case I need to grab something to use as a proxy or pull something apart for a conversion.

I do keep a representative or two from each army on a high-up shelf that the kids/cats can't reach so they don't get completely forgotten. That would make them sad.

For home storage I still keep stuff in foam. If you're not looking for a display cabinet, then it makes sense to keep them put away where they are cushioned, protected and kept away from dust. This can take the form of putting them in foam trays and keeping them in boxes or drawers or in some other DIY option.

Personally I keep most of my figs either in foam trays (bought second hand) in various cases or in hard cases and trays that I build myself from Plano 4-pistol cases.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/362407.page

They're all lined up on the porch and reasonably well labeled so I can get what I need quickly.

I store my painted figures in IKEA display cabinets. I have three, and need to add more shelves (I keep adding more finished units!). My unpainted stuff lives in boxes or trays or drawers... Anywhere I can fit them.

I keep what I can't fit into my carry cases, in egg boxes protected with bubble wrap and keep them stored on shelves out of the way. It's a remarkably low cost and effective storage solution.

Most of mine go into foam cases, either carry cases or the card boxes with foam sheets. Scenery in plastic boxes, some mini's in display cabinets.

 -Loki- wrote:
Larger transport systems. Things like Battlefoams 1520XL or simply lots and lots of cardboard boxes from KR. If you go the larger, fewer style with things the size of a 1520XL, you can get whole armies into single cases. If you go for the smaller, more style like KR card cases, you can tailor each case to something specific. Either way makes it easier when you want to get something out to use.

Personally, since I switched to skirmish games, I'm going for the display approach. I've got 2 ikea cabinets waiting to be built with spaces for extra shelves (I won't add the actual shelved unless I need them, but it's easier to add the parts during construction). My 40k stuff sits in its 1520XL case of shame.

You got me excited there, mate, as I own very nearly 2,000 Blood Bowl/Fantasy Football miniatures, that need a new/better home.

Then I saw the trays are "pluck" types, then I was all

I bought a bunch of stackable plastic storage boxes from a hardware store, bit like tackle boxes with removable dividers. I just stand models up in them and then stack them in a bookshelf. It's not a transport solution because obviously stuff will just bang around and if some idiot decided to pick them up and shake them, my armies would be destroyed, but I have no pets/kids so it works fine for me.

I like it because the storage boxes work well for incomplete units, of which I have heaps, because the dividers are removable I just leave 1 or 2 dividers in place so I can shove all the bits for a unit in the compartment next to the models themselves or sort partially assembled models.

For actual transport I have foam lined carry cases, but I'd need a huge number of carry cases for all my models and the plastic storage boxes mean I can fit my 20 years worth of models in to an area about 3'x3'x3' large.

Some of the larger stuff that doesn't fit goes in actual display shelves. I've stopped buying large models unless I actually intend to display them.

I have a cupboard.
Armies that I play with currently go in the cupboard. In foam trays. When needed, the appropriate trays go into a case and go with me.

Armies that I own and no longer play with (because I liked the models, but not the rules enough to continue with them) get exiled to the shed of shame in the back yard. There they remain unmourned and unloved, to be forgotten - or waiting for the off chance that I will find another ruleset that is generic enough for me to use them in.

[My 40k stuff gets used in the odd game of Tomorrow's war. I stopped playing 40k 4 years ago.]

Battlefoam type trays fit in IKEA Kallax (or olderExpedit) compartments **exactly** (just have it about an inch, maybe two off of the wall!). 12" worth of foam per compartment, no need to have a bunch of the expensive cases just to keep the foam trays in, it's brilliant.

I need to find a place that makes glass or plastic sheets cut to size to fit my Ikea cabinets. Any ideas?

I have an Ikea cabinet with shelves and pull out drawers.

I'm in the same boat, I just use the cardboard boxes from KR. Not the cheapest, but probably the safest, most durable option for it's price point. And when you realize how much money and time each box is protecting, it's a good investment.

Cergorach wrote:
I'm in the same boat, I just use the cardboard boxes from KR. Not the cheapest, but probably the safest, most durable option for it's price point. And when you realize how much money and time each box is protecting, it's a good investment.

Thanks for making me remember how much I’ve spent on this hobby over the years.

I don’t mind really, it’s been a long time building and I’ve gotten my fun out of it. But looking at those shelves and thinking about MSRP, it’s sobering.

Not to drag this thread off onto a tangent on how expensive things are. But it’s good to keep in mind that it’s not just the price of plastic, but the time invested. Worth taking care of.

Absolutely - there's a lot of time and effort put into our collections; that's the real thing I'm protecting (and displaying)!

I use $20 tubs from WalMart for long storage, you can see them in my video here where my RRT minis are being stored:

 Gen.Steiner wrote:
I need to find a place that makes glass or plastic sheets cut to size to fit my Ikea cabinets. Any ideas?

For glass shelving, find a shop that sells mirrors and glass for table tops. They have the glass that can handle weight and the wear and tear of moving models in and out of a cabinet.
As for plastic sheets, or plexiglass as we say on this side of the pond, I can get these at my local hardware or home supply store, I'm sure there's no difference over there.

Awesome, that's a good shout. Thank you!

I have models that I don't use stored anymore (but don't yet want to sell) inside shoe boxes with bubble wrap. This is way better for home relocation (which I've had to do a lot of) and a lot cheaper than most other wargaming containers. When its time to pack them up, I just stack the shoe boxes inside a plastic trunk with the lids taped down. I think I only had one goblin spear break when I moved to Japan.

Shoeboxes and bubblewrap is a classic.

Tablewars and a steel toolbox are my primary means of transporting figures. At home, they are in trays in the closet or in the display case. I have extra tablewars trays, so I use those to organize my figures.