I just got my Battlefoam bags

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Dez**

My models don't stay in the car longer than a workday. If I'm onsite, I really don't have a choice on Wednesdays

**hungryp**

Leaving stuff in the car can be strangely beneficial though. One of my gaming group has hobby gnomes in his trunk. Models that have been put away broken and forgotten about until the next week's game have come out whole again...

**Catyrpelius**

Unfortunatly my trunk doesnt work that way :( I need a magic trunk.

**Reecius**

@Menelker

You are the only person I know that has made scratch built foam transporters that actually work. But, you are also one of the most skilled handymen I have ever met!

For me, the top quality and efficiency of storage make BF the way to roll.

Bummer that the 720 won't fit in an overhead. I was planning on bringing mine as a travel bag.

**kirsanth**

Dang it. . .
Another reason to order one of these soon.

Tyranids are a pain to move about, it's good to know it works so well for them.

**Reecius**

Are you sure that won't fit? I swear I have stuck bigger bags than that into overheads before.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
@Kirsanth

Ah yeah, they are PERFECT for bug! My bugs didn't fit worth a crap in a Sabol bag but 2K with room to spare (and three Trygons) easily fits in a 720.

**Janthkin**

Reecius wrote:Are you sure that won't fit? I swear I have stuck bigger bags than that into overheads before.

Heed the words of Yakface, Brother Reece, and be informed!

The problem is solely the dimensions - many overhead bins won't accept something 12" tall, and the 720 doesn't have any dimensions smaller than that. Larger VOLUME bags are fine - Southwest takes 10x16x24 bags as carryons.

**Darkwynn**

Trying to find something that will fit on all airplanes is impossible in my opinion every Plane has a different set of overhead bins and some will fit and some won't. Let alone before you get on the attendants start to say they can't have anything checked in the plane because its already full. I don't even bother anymore with it but maybe that's because I fly about 30 times a year. I check my Battlefoam bag in every time and nothing has happened to it and no models brake ,I even did it going to Europe. Now I am worried about it at times not getting there with the rest of my luggage but oh well. If you are really concern just bring the bag and have them put it below right before you get on the plane and it should be fine plus you get the bag as soon as you get off the plane.

**Menelker**

@ Reecius: Thanks, I usually try to make stuff if I can, but that is more of a personal thing.

Here is a link to how to make those trays too. http://coolminiornot.com/article/aid/824 (I really should get these moved over to Dakka too ><

**Reecius**

@Menelker

You are also the best painter I have ever met, so it makes sense you take good care of your stuff!

Hey, are you taking any commissions in the next few months? I am way behind on stuff (as usual) and I was wondering if you would be interested in assembling, basing and painting my Revenant titan? That thing is still in the bag! Haha, I need to get it done otherwise why even have the thing?

@Darkwynn?

You check your bag? Hmm. I checked stuff in a suitcase going to Adepticon last year and nothing broke. That was far less secure than Battlefoam's stuff. I had a Vendetta wrapped in about 100 plastic grocery bags! Hahaha. I couldn't believe after the amount of hours that took me to paint I actually did it, but it came through both ways just fine.

If you have done it then I am going to just check the bags myself. If it worked for you then I am sure it will for me. The models seem secure enough that even if it got turned upside down they'd be OK. That is a hell of a lot easier than messing around with the overhead.

@Janthkin

Well, that answers that question. I guess I will just be following Darkwynn's lead and checking my bags.

**derek**

I'm psyched to hopefully be getting my bag soon. Ordered it on the First, had a few custom trays so hopeful it will be here within the next week (and hopeful that there won't be a delay due to the Out of Stock notice on several bags, since it was placed before that happened). I ordered a 720 for my Space Wolves, after being impressed with the several bags that locals have. After it comes in and I check it out, I may be doing another order for a 432 for my Codex Marines.

Curious as to what shipping/processing time was like for the others when they've ordered. Locals have said about three weeks with standard trays. Haven't ran into anyone that did custom yet.

**Janthkin**

The only time I checked a bag w/minis, it was searched by the TSA, and models went loose. Never again.

**Ordo Dakka**

I had a shop called Clark Rubber in Australia make trays for me. I just sent them a bunch of measurements and they did it in-store.

**Darkwynn**

Janthkin wrote:The only time I checked a bag w/minis, it was searched by the TSA, and models went loose. Never again.

Suggestion that I found out after talking to one of the TSA guys for awhile is to take your tape measure and put it with your clothes or somewhere else away from your miniatures. The tape Measure on the xray screens and everything else looks like high Density metal and wire which flags the equipment they have. They are forced to look at it and do all of the residue test. After your lovely TSA member finds out it was just its normal every day tape measure they are not to thrilled to put stuff back gently.

**AvatarForm**

Ordo Dakka wrote:I had a shop called Clark Rubber in Australia make trays for me. I just sent them a bunch of measurements and they did it in-store.

Thanks, might check them out.

**Miss Dee**

Can you get empty boxes and then get what trays you need? as Im doing a pre heresy DA army.

**Reecius**

@derek

I had mentioned int he first post that I ordered a custom load out with custom trays, asked them to expedite it since I am moving in a few days, and they got it to me in two weeks.

@Miss Dee

As I said in the first post, the trays fit in legal sized boxes. Check the first post for a picture of what I am talking about.

It's a snug fit, but they slide right in. You can then store extra trays safely and cheaply. Hell, you could even transport them like this, although it wouldn't be all that efficient.

Or do you mean can you get empty bags? The answer is yes. You can order the bag empty and then order trays, although it is cheaper to get it all at once.

@Darkwynn

That is a good tip. When I went to Adepticon and carried my bag on, the people pulled out the mins and started passing them around while I stood there waiting. It sucked!

I would much rather check the bags so long as it is safe. I guess taking ANY items like that out of the bag would be the smart play. Better safe than sorry.

**Arschbombe**

Darkwynn wrote:
Janthkin wrote:The only time I checked a bag w/minis, it was searched by the TSA, and models went loose. Never again.

Suggestion that I found out after talking to one of the TSA guys for awhile is to take your tape measure and put it with your clothes or somewhere else away from your miniatures. The tape Measure on the xray screens and everything else looks like high Density metal and wire which flags the equipment they have. They are forced to look at it and do all of the residue test. After your lovely TSA member finds out it was just its normal every day tape measure they are not to thrilled to put stuff back gently.

Reecius wrote:
That is a good tip. When I went to Adepticon and carried my bag on, the people pulled out the mins and started passing them around while I stood there waiting. It sucked!

I guess I got lucky then. The guy running the scanner commented that it looked like chess pieces. I said they were plastic figures for a tabletop game. He corrected me saying some of them were metal and that they would be better as chess pieces. But at least he didn't ask me to open it up.

**Reecius**

Yeah it was embarrassing! They were like, what are these? Oh wow, hey, Jimbo, come over here and look at this!

While everyone is watching.

Suck!

Yeah, checking sounds much better so long as I don't have a Janthkin experience.

**Janthkin**

Reecius wrote:Yeah it was embarrassing! They were like, what are these? Oh wow, hey, Jimbo, come over here and look at this!

While everyone is watching.

Suck!

Yeah, checking sounds much better so long as I don't have a Janthkin experience.

Most TSA screeners have asked about the contents of my carry on, but only one has ever wanted to open it, and he politely acquiesced to my request to please open the bag vertically, so Eldar wouldn't pour out. I can link that to the presence of a Cobra in my bag; large hunks of resin give them pause.("Is there a dragon in your bag?" - TSA screener, about my winged Hive Tyrant.)

It's simple economics to me - if my minis are in my carry on, then I'm always with them, they only get opened in my presence, they certainly won't get placed under a 500 lb. stack of baggage, and they only get lost if I let them out of my control. If I check them, I'm giving up a lot of control. As they are probably the highest value-to-volume item I'm ever likely to travel with, I'm not going to check them. YMMV, but my minis were all painted (slowly) by a lawyer - it makes them pretty darn expensive!

**Reecius**

Yeah, you make a good point. My models are painted fairly well, too. And, they may not be my most valuable items but they are my most prized possessions.

I suppose it comes down to which army I travel with. If I can fit them in a Motor Pool Sabol case, then no worries as those fit in an overhead just fine. But things like IG and Nids need a lot more space.

You're a lawyer, Janthkin? I didn't know that.

**Menelker**

I have a few people that I know that travel long distances for tournaments that will often involve planes. Either they always carry them on with them or ship the stuff via FedEx. When you are traveling to a tourney and if they happen to loose your bags you are totally screwed and the potential for damage is much higher too with them in luggage.

Also I would recommend getting some cotton from a craft store and just pack it in around all your miniatures in the loose spaces to keep them from shifting around. The flopping back and forth is what will break a lot of minis even if the case is not dropped.

And I agree that traveling with Tyranids sucks. I shudder at having to fly with them with all they space they would take up. Right now I just have them stored in a 10gal plastic flip top crate. I put a few levels in it with metal sheets and everything is just magenetized bases so they just stick to it and I don't have to worry about all their odd shapes. But there is no way that would work for flying.

@Reec: PM sent

**hungryp**

Jokorey wrote:I did make sure to add the .25 in per tray.

After doing some quick measurements, it looks like the 1520 XL may be just a little smaller on the inside than expected. Right now it has precisely 20.75" of foam inside of it, both by design and actual measurement. It has a resting clearance of about .75", and if I compress the foam in a way that I'm not entirely comfortable with and bend up/down on the bag, I can get it to about 1" clearance, but there is definitely not enough room to squeeze in the last 1" (1.25" with bottom) tray.

It might be possible if I wasn't concerned about the state of the mini's in the tray, given the fact that foam can be compressed to a degree, but it wouldn't be feasible to wrestle it in and out, really. It might be feasible if the top unzipped and you could drop the trays in, then cover, but the 1520 XL doesn't have that option (and I'm just as glad it doesn't).

I'm guessing it's not just me being bad at filling the bag, since the tray came loose in the box next to the filled bag from the factory.

Assuming my experience is typical, I would definitely recommend getting a 1520XL (and wow, the case is really nice, in addition to just the foam being great), but would also recommend treating it like it had ~21.5-21.75" clearance instead of 22"

Dave47 wrote: like Jokorey, I did notice that, having accounted for the extra 1/4th inch bases, one of the trays wasn't packed inside. I figured last night that I had just messed up the math when ordering, but I'm now curious if the tray isn't quite 22" tall.

Just noticed on the BF site they've got the 1520XL listed as holding 21" of foam now. Guess it's not just you

**micahaphone**

Just wondering, about how big of an army can you generally fit into a 432 bag?

40k wise, that is.

**Reecius**

@Micaphone

I don't know about that one. I only have a 732 and a 1520.

**micahaphone**

Reecius wrote:@Micaphone

I don't know about that one. I only have a 732 and a 1520.

Well then how much do you fit into those bags?

**Trilobite**

Reecius wrote:Are you sure that won't fit? I swear I have stuck bigger bags than that into overheads before.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
@Kirsanth

Ah yeah, they are PERFECT for bug! My bugs didn't fit worth a crap in a Sabol bag but 2K with room to spare (and three Trygons) easily fits in a 720.

Wait so my Hive Tyrant's tail WON'T break off next time I move it to absolutely anywhere??

**Reecius**

@Micaphone

The 732 fits a 2K Bug army no problem, including 3 trygons.

The 1520xl fits over a 5K IG army including three fully assembled Vendettas.

**Darrian13**

OK, so I decided to place an order with BF for some trays that are the same size as the Sabol ones. I did this because the trays will fit 40 models and I wanted to see first hand the quality of the product. I bought 3 of the 40 figure 1 1/2 " trays and 1 of the 18 model 1 1/2" trays. They were $9.99 each with $10 shipping for the order.

The order came in today, 9 days after placement. The trays are way better quality than Sabol trays BUT they do not fit my CSM models laying down nor my Ork models laying down and 1 1/2 " is to short for the CSM models standing. Unfortunatley 1 1/2" is the thickest trays that BF makes for Sabol dimensions.

This would be fine for SM or Tau or maybe WFB models but it is not effective for my collection.

**Cato Sicarius**

Darrian13 wrote:OK, so I decided to place an order with BF for some trays that are the same size as the Sabol ones. I did this because the trays will fit 40 models and I wanted to see first hand the quality of the product. I bought 3 of the 40 figure 1 1/2 " trays and 1 of the 18 model 1 1/2" trays. They were $9.99 each with $10 shipping for the order.

The order came in today, 9 days after placement. The trays are way better quality than Sabol trays BUT they do not fit my CSM models laying down nor my Ork models laying down and 1 1/2 " is to short for the CSM models standing. Unfortunatley 1 1/2" is the thickest trays that BF makes for Sabol dimensions.

This would be fine for SM or Tau or maybe WFB models but it is not effective for my collection.

We make thicker trays for Sabol bags than 1.5". We list most troop trays in or 1.5", but that does not mean you cant get it thicker. For your CSM models or Orks I would have suggested the 27 tall model tray. For anybody with questions of if their models will fit in the corresponding tray I reccomend measuring the model and then comparing it the the size of the cut outs we put on the description.