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I have seen some ingenious "self built" army transports built out of pluck foam and plastic tool boxes,(like the kind you can get at wallmart) for far cheaper than you can get these ultra expensive army transports.

My question is, if you can build one your self for 50% to 75% the price, why go with these ultraexpensive transports? Isn't it like the ladies that go into Dillards and pay big money for handbgas when a $30 handbag will do just fine?

It seems to me that even the plastic wallmart tool boxes would be more protection on flights than a bag that can be crushed.

GG

Some of us are just fools that think that GW will turn nice one day and the fact that you supported them all the time could make you happy.
In reality, because not all of us can make our own transports, and in Finland there is not many choices besides GW cases

Haha...laziness is a part of it, too. Cutting foam rubber can be a pain in the butt; having a nicely sized, pre-cut option saves a lot of hassle, and you pay for the simplicity.

My question is, if you can build one your self for 50% to 75% the price, why go with these ultraexpensive transports? Isn't it like the ladies that go into Dillards and pay big money for handbgas when a $30 handbag will do just fine?

Its a time saver XD. Plus, I had a hard time finding a tool box comparable in size to the Army Figure case that wasn't more expensive than the army figure case or awkwardly shaped. If I was going for that smaller case though I could have definitely found a cheaper route than $57.99 easy. I just didn't want to lug around 2 cases to carry all my figures, and the alternatives weren't much cheaper when I factored in the case of about the same size, the foam, etc.

I probably could have found a good gun case to do the job, but I didn't want to go walking into the mall with a gun case. Not in DC XD.

generalgrog wrote:I have seen some ingenious "self built" army transports built out of pluck foam and plastic tool boxes,(like the kind you can get at wallmart) for far cheaper than you can get these ultra expensive army transports.

My question is, if you can build one your self for 50% to 75% the price, why go with these ultraexpensive transports? Isn't it like the ladies that go into Dillards and pay big money for handbgas when a $30 handbag will do just fine?

It seems to me that even the plastic wallmart tool boxes would be more protection on flights than a bag that can be crushed.

GG

Why do you buy miniatures if you can play with stones and sodacaps? Everyone has a soft spot for something mate and spends money as they see fit... doesnt necessary means he is vain or that he buys for a hipotetic status.
Redundant things for you may be the playground of others.

Saldiven wrote:Haha...laziness is a part of it, too. Cutting foam rubber can be a pain in the butt; having a nicely sized, pre-cut option saves a lot of hassle, and you pay for the simplicity.

I can see this as a reason. But who says you have to do any cutting. Just by pluck foam and pluck away. You can get pluck foam for around $7. And cheap plastic tool boxes with wheels, for $25.

GG

You dont have to buy anything related to your hobby. Its a discretionary spend and so isnt required to survive day to day. Apart from stating the obvious, whats my point..

Well accepting the above, how much is your time worth to you, for many the thought of making your own case is a mare and not worth contemplating, and for others making the case is part of the hobby. If you are happy do what ever you want. No one should judge you.

While you make a good comparison the fact is that one is specifically designed for tools / tackle and the other is specifically designed for miniatures (I'm referencing Battle Foam here.), but most of the cost (IMO) is based in convenience. I'm paying so that I don't have to modify and redesign one thing to suit a need it wasn't designed for.

generalgrog wrote:I have seen some ingenious "self built" army transports built out of pluck foam and plastic tool boxes,(like the kind you can get at wallmart) for far cheaper than you can get these ultra expensive army transports.

My question is, if you can build one your self for 50% to 75% the price, why go with these ultraexpensive transports? Isn't it like the ladies that go into Dillards and pay big money for handbgas when a $30 handbag will do just fine?

It seems to me that even the plastic wallmart tool boxes would be more protection on flights than a bag that can be crushed.

GG

My first army case was a tackle box that I got at Kmart for ridiculous cheap. 4 slide out trays with lids that you could customize the size, a removeable tray with lid in the top (perfect for dice, tokens, etc.). All I had to add was the little pieces of foam from the blister packs to each slot in the tray, and my minis were surrounded by solid hard plastic protection. I've been using it for over 10 years.

I've never thought of mini cases to be status symbols. I never really notice what other people use. I see them strictly in the utilitarian sense - something to store and carry my minis in.

I have used GW cases (large and small), army transport, etc., and not really been blown away by any of them.

I'd rather spend my money on minis :-)

Saldiven wrote:Haha...laziness is a part of it, too. Cutting foam rubber can be a pain in the butt; having a nicely sized, pre-cut option saves a lot of hassle, and you pay for the simplicity.

exactly. I've done both and range from nice cases/Sabol to pistol cases to cardboard with foam. It depends on the pieces. My prefered now is just cheap pistol case where you can cut the foam.

pluck foam runs about 5-8$ a sheet, an army case with 6 1" trays and 2 2.5" trays with the case itself is only 65$, thats almost 50$ of just foam .... if youre going to buy the foam the case is practically free ...

rich1231 wrote: No one should judge you.

This isn't about judging. It's more about educating. Some of us gamers have the "shiny object, must have the precious" syndrome.(myself included) Just pointing out, that you can save 100's of dollars.

GG

LordofHats wrote:

Its a time saver XD. Plus, I had a hard time finding a tool box comparable in size to the Army Figure case that wasn't more expensive than the army figure case or awkwardly shaped.

This. I can't find something the same size as my Motor Pool that wouldn't weigh at least three times as much.

mon-keigh slayer wrote:pluck foam runs about 5-8$ a sheet, an army case with 6 1" trays and 2 2.5" trays with the case itself is only 65$, thats almost 50$ of just foam .... if youre going to buy the foam the case is practically free ...

Are you saying that the foam comes with the case for free? I know it does with GWcases, which are small handheld things, but I didn't think that was the case with sabol and battlefoam.

GG

generalgrog wrote:

rich1231 wrote: No one should judge you.

This isn't about judging. It's more about educating. Some of us gamers have the "shiny object, must have the precious" syndrome.(myself included) Just pointing out, that you can save 100's of dollars.

GG

You really only need 1 army case. After that, its pretty much buying a large bin to put multiple stacks of foam trays in and buying foam. The Army Figure case with proper cutting can carry about 2000 points of any army easily depending on the models. Practically, it'll be rare that you'll ever need more than that for a friendly trip down to the shop. Just swap out foam trays for what you need and your set.

Considering that, and the cost of alternative to the case with foam, its either get two smaller cases to carry all your stuff (which is cheaper), or buy a case of similar size that costs more when you factor in foam or about the same. Factor in maybe an hour to put the foam together, cut just right and set everything, some people will find the Army Case cheaper. I did. THe only tool boxes I could find that were the same size weren't very conversion friendly, and the ones that could be were kind of pricy. Ultimately for me, if I wanted 1 case to carry all my stuff, the GW case was cheaper than the alternatives that were readily available.

Are you saying that the foam comes with the case for free? I know it does with GWcases, which are small handheld things, but I didn't think that was the case with sabol and battlefoam.

Its not free with battlefoam, don't know about sabol. Battlefoam cases are awesome, but really really pricy. More than I was willing to spend.

Bunker wrote:

LordofHats wrote:

Its a time saver XD. Plus, I had a hard time finding a tool box comparable in size to the Army Figure case that wasn't more expensive than the army figure case or awkwardly shaped.

This. I can't find something the same size as my Motor Pool that wouldn't weigh at least three times as much.

You can make your own resin bases. you can make tanks out of plasticard... you can pretty much do anything in a custom scratch built way for material costs cheaper than a pre manufactured item, they take time and effort. and for many the effort is better spent elsewhere. Its not wrong to want something. Shiny and new or not either.

The only reason I use GW cases is that most of the lots I have bought off Ebay over the past few years have a case thrown in. As a result I have a case for every army I own so I can hack the foam inserts to fit accordingly and don't have to swap out for other armies.

I guess I wasn't really talking about GW cases. I was more refering to the high end cases like battlefoam. I mean you could spend $500 on one of those.

(In fact, to prevent further misunderstanding I'll modify the title.)

GG

I've transported my army in everything from a giant treasure chest to army surplus ammo canisters. Mostly just because I am a giant sucker for attention, and I think they're cool. They almost always prompt some fun discussion, though.

it does come free with some of the sabol cases, if you actually read their descriptions they sell loaded/unloaded of most of their versions.

i bought this after xmas and i love it, http://www.saboldesigns.net/armytransport.html

68$ and it comes fully loaded... holds quite a bit too, 4 waveserpents jetbikes 2 warwalkers and tons of infantry ion mine atm, and i have 3 unused sheets of the 1" pluck still.

Have you tried to make a case to transport a Thunderhawk or Reaver titan?

I'm not talking about 40 AoBR Marines here and a Dread.
Larger models that you put a lot of work in to that are awkwardly shaped , that would be my reasoning for buying custom cut foam, pluck foam cases are not large enough for some of the superheavies and Flyers.

I bought my BF 1520 because it was much easier and holds a lot more than I could have gotten out of a pluck foam case. Yeah I paid for that convience ($300), but I think it was worth every penny. I did the foam toolbox and pistol case routes before that, and the difference is night and day.

I dont know ... i dont think battlefoam could ever be worth the entire case, id order their 2 waveserpent(would hold 4 if stacked, its a 4" deep tray) 3 warwalkers and jetbikes tray, but no way would i ever spend an extra 250$ for no reason.

TobyDog wrote:Have you tried to make a case to transport a Thunderhawk or Reaver titan?

I'm not talking about 40 AoBR Marines here and a Dread.
Larger models that you put a lot of work in to that are awkwardly shaped , that would be my reasoning for buying custom cut foam, pluck foam cases are not large enough for some of the superheavies and Flyers.

How many people own T-hawks? Of course I get your point, and I can sort of see it in that case. But I'm mainly talking about the general useage, which is to use it to carry armies not single gigantic models.

GG

I would have thought the logistics of cutting foam to fit the distinctly jagged forms of Tyranids, for example, would be enough to make Einstein himself skulk off for a couple of Nurofen, hence why I have never tried.

filbert wrote:I would have thought the logistics of cutting foam to fit the distinctly jagged forms of Tyranids, for example, would be enough to make Einstein himself skulk off for a couple of Nurofen, hence why I have never tried.

That's why you use pluck foam. :-)

GG

Plano has a 4 pistol gun case that was perfect for any army up to about 1500 points. Hard plastic outside, egg crate foam on the inside. Deep under foam that is pretty easy to cut and perfect for holding tanks.

Walmart used to sell them for 8 bucks. I've got about 6 of them. Sadly I need too more and the cheapest I can find is 15 bucks now.

If I used to get cases for 8 bucks, hesitant to buy the same thing at 15, what chances do you think a 40 dollar case (of the exact same size) has?

I am so lazy though . Some times the cases are annoying there always that little bit too small to fit your huge forge world model in. If you do have larger army though its good to invest in alternative casing , my friend bought the large army case but he needs so much more room than he thought.
I havent thought much about how am going to get my army to the shop in perfect condition, its got rather big lately. I have been too busy painting it to think. This artical can come in handy now , I dont really want to spend another £ 50 on a case.

mon-keigh slayer wrote:it does come free with some of the sabol cases, if you actually read their descriptions they sell loaded/unloaded of most of their versions.

i bought this after xmas and i love it, http://www.saboldesigns.net/armytransport.html

68$ and it comes fully loaded... holds quite a bit too, 4 waveserpents jetbikes 2 warwalkers and tons of infantry ion mine atm, and i have 3 unused sheets of the 1" pluck still.

I too have a few sabol transports. The big one with wheels and the telescoping handle won't stand up strait and the thing rocks from side to side when I try to roll it for any distance. I hate it for anything except closet storage.

GG

If I wasn't so heavily invested in sabol cases at this point, I'd have purchased a battlefoam case. I still may for my tanks. I'd rather not have to jury rig something from Wal-Mart just to save a few bucks.