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Hello everyone. My army is nearly done (Just needs paint and basing) but I have a problem. I can't transport it to my LGS and I don't have the money to shell out for a fancy foam case. Is there any way I can transport on the cheap? Any help would be appreciated.

I have a friend who uses those big boxes paper comes in and then uses an egg crate foam pad to keep things safe.

Gun cases, moving boxs for glassware, and plastic bead containers come to mind.

 Desubot wrote:
Gun cases, moving boxs for glassware, and plastic bead containers come to mind.

For the bead containers, do I need to pad them out or do the models not jostle around enough? I play Imperial Guard and I take the bus to and from my FLGS.

I find that it depends on how you have glued it and such, but its probably wise to pad it down in the bead container. Iv had models fall apart when they jostle around in it.

for guards i would suggest the a gun or pistol case.

2 more options that come to mind are tackle boxes which also have individual compartments, and a metal tool box with magnets on the bottom of each model

though you might want to not take a rifle case in a public bus lol

 Desubot wrote:
I find that it depends on how you have glued it and such, but its probably wise to pad it down in the bead container. Iv had models fall apart when they jostle around in it.

for guards i would suggest the a gun or pistol case.

2 more options that come to mind are tackle boxes which also have individual compartments, and a metal tool box with magnets on the bottom of each model

though you might want to not take a rifle case in a public bus lol

Thank you. I've looked up gun cases and there are some that look like normal boxes. Maybe I could get away with putting it in one of those reusable bags grocery stores sell. Where can I pick one up, only gun stores?

Know a guy that uses egg cartons for rank and file troops. Oddly enough each one will hold 12.

magnets in bases and a metal sheet at the bottom of a box?

Walmart sells gun cases, also sporting good stores. if not online works too.

like the piano pistol case for something like 10 bucks should hold about 20-30 models i think.

generally though it may be well worth investing in a decent case like from battle foam depending on exactly how big your army is

 Desubot wrote:
Walmart sells gun cases, also sporting good stores. if not online works too.

like the piano pistol case for something like 10 bucks should hold about 20-30 models i think.

generally though it may be well worth investing in a decent case like from battle foam depending on exactly how big your army is

2 10 man squads, 3 Chimeras, 2 Russes and a CCS. I think I may have to bite the bullet on this. Thank you all for you suggestions, though.

With vehicles its definitely harder

i would however suggest somting like
http://www.packnmove.co.uk/glass-mug-box

i know they sells it in the home depot near by but i couldn't see it listed. you can also make the dividers your self.

the point is a good transport will aligned the contents and hold them in place in such a way they don't rattle around.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/362407.page
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/362407.page#2698475
Shows how much it carries.

Rigeld, beat me too it, but check out the links he posted to see my cheap and very protective Army Transport system that won't break the bank.

You could also invest in some simple magnets that you glue inside the bases and get a metal tool box. I have pretty much my entire Tyranid army inside one.

 TheCustomLime wrote:
Hello everyone. My army is nearly done (Just needs paint and basing) but I have a problem. I can't transport it to my LGS and I don't have the money to shell out for a fancy foam case. Is there any way I can transport on the cheap? Any help would be appreciated.

Make your own box.

1/8 inch plywood, some foam, and some imagination.

Otherwise, a few of those plastic divider boxes like in a sorter box for screws and nuts.

Fishing tackle box could work in some small armies (AKA: NOT ig or nids')

Go to a Lowes or Home Depot and get the big power tool cases. They are full of nice comfy foam sometimes in layers and sometimes they are the pluck kind. Used to use one to transport about a dozen Space Marine vehicles back in the day.

I never understand these threads. You spend hundreds of dollars and hours of time assembling and painting an army, but so many people refuse to shell out the $$ to protect that dollar and time investment. Blows my mind.

 cincydooley wrote:
I never understand these threads. You spend hundreds of dollars and hours of time assembling and painting an army, but so many people refuse to shell out the $$ to protect that dollar and time investment.

Because you need to hang onto that last kidney...

 insaniak wrote:

 cincydooley wrote:
I never understand these threads. You spend hundreds of dollars and hours of time assembling and painting an army, but so many people refuse to shell out the $$ to protect that dollar and time investment.

Because you need to hang onto that last kidney...

And I'm down to one arm and one leg.

I think I may end up going on dialysis to get an army case, though, since I figure that by the time I get everything ready for my army it would've been easier (And cheaper) to just buy it. Sometimes it's better to buy once and buy right. I'll definitely try the magnetizing thing once I get into Apoc, though. Thanks for the tips, though!

Because these inexpensive transportation methods are no worse than the high end stuff. It just takes time to create and doesn't look as nice.

If you have time and don't care about looks - why fork over the cash that could be spent on more plastic crack?

 cincydooley wrote:
I never understand these threads. You spend hundreds of dollars and hours of time assembling and painting an army, but so many people refuse to shell out the $$ to protect that dollar and time investment. Blows my mind.

Every dollar spent on storage is a dollar you can't spend on more models. Same issue with terrain, unfortunately.

Plus, IME, there are lots of people who don't really spend that much time on assembly and even less on painting.

 cincydooley wrote:
I never understand these threads. You spend hundreds of dollars and hours of time assembling and painting an army, but so many people refuse to shell out the $$ to protect that dollar and time investment. Blows my mind.

My method costs about 1/3 of a sabol case, holds nearly as much, looks just as nice and protects even better (Both use compartmentalized soft foam trays with EVA bottoms, but mine provides a hardshell case).

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/362407.page
I've got the time and minimal DIY skills that are required to make it work.

So, what is your convincing argument for why I should spend more?

Bog roll & bubblewrap my friend..

Wrap the minis in toilet roll, then put them in a box stuffed with bubble wrap. Works suprisingly well, but not very aesthetically pleasant...

 Leigen_Zero wrote:
Bog roll & bubblewrap my friend..

Wrap the minis in toilet roll, then put them in a box stuffed with bubble wrap. Works suprisingly well, but not very aesthetically pleasant...

My friend used to do this, it didn't work very well. It would take him ages to unpack and repack his army and he had quite a lot of breakages.

I used to just use cardboard boxes and layer them with foam sheets. I got both for free and so it cost me nothing.

Well, I am equally amazed that anyone would shell out big buck$$ for a purpose built case. The "industry standard" was cigar boxes for a few decades, and there are so many alternative choices these days that it doesn't make any sense (to me) to buy a repurposed soft-sided tackle box. YMMV. Of course, if you are looking to make a fashion statement ...

 cincydooley wrote:
I never understand these threads. You spend hundreds of dollars and hours of time assembling and painting an army, but so many people refuse to shell out the $$ to protect that dollar and time investment. Blows my mind.

I second the call for cardboard boxes and egg crate foam. The cheapest way to get the foam is to buy a mattress pad.

If you want to try something different you can make a wooden box, and mount the figures in the base by drilling base sized indentations in the bottom of the case and securing the figures with a bar. I do not need a box, so I just have my stuff on a board that has been routed.

I guess if you're not painting anything it doesn't matter if they're protected. I have plenty of well painted models I wouldn't transfer without proper storage. A gun case is intended for solid metal firearms. Not for miniatures with spikey bits or other breakable pieces.

Hell, at least invest In some pluck foam. If you're too cheap to buy a bag that it fits correctly, then at leads when you toss it in your recycled paper box it's moderately protected.

So you're of the assumption that battle foam or KR foam is a special snowflake magical foam thing?

Gun case foam is far better than you give it credit for. You don't have to have laser cut holes and a pretty bag to have a good case. I've played Battletech for decades and have had a handful of models break in transit - and they've always been the same ones that break during play too. Out of literally hundreds at a time.

You spend your money on whatever you want, I'll go ahead and save money on transporting. I don't know why you think that everyone will have breakages out the wazoo if they don't buy Battlefoam (tm).

 cincydooley wrote:
I guess if you're not painting anything it doesn't matter if they're protected. I have plenty of well painted models I wouldn't transfer without proper storage. A gun case is intended for solid metal firearms. Not for miniatures with spikey bits or other breakable pieces.

Hell, at least invest In some pluck foam. If you're too cheap to buy a bag that it fits correctly, then at leads when you toss it in your recycled paper box it's moderately protected.

Did you even read the tutorial post I linked to? Go back, read the link and then re-read what you wrote above.

My method DOES use trays of foam with slots in the foam made for each figure. Also, the foam used in gun cases is the same as the foam used in sabol cases and the "funky foam" that I glue to the bottom of the trays is the same EVA matrerial (albeiat a couple of MM thinner) that Sabol and others use for the bottom of their cases. Also, I do use pluck foam in some of my cases. but it's not really necessary when you can cut the foam to the right size yourself.