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Hi folks,

I'm moving home in the next couple of months and it occurred to me in the 7 years I've been here my collection has swelled somewhat. Hard to guess but I'd reckon about 1000 minis plus a huge selection of vehicles and monsters. I guess my single GW carry case isn't going to be up to the job!

Does anyone have any recommendations on a cost effective (moving house is already expensive ) way to shift these guys? Most of them are conversions and somewhat fragile, I wouldn't want to bundle them in cotton wool and shove them in boxes. I've seen some of the battlefoam stuff which looks cool, but I presume to move a lot of guys you'd need a great many cases?

Aside from this they never leave my home, so whilst it would be cool to have some great looking cases there's no real need. It's just about transporting them thirty miles in complete safety.

Cheers for any suggestions,
Si

Packing peanuts and shoe boxes for plastics... and you know those cardboard carriers that carry 6 beer bottles? Those plus packing peanuts/ or bubble wrap for the metal minis.

I think the only cost effective option is to use cardboard boxes with any necessary packing material (at my job we always gets tons of leftover bubble wrap that is torn and can't be re-used for our own stuff, and the like) that you can get for free or for cheap.

Buying cases is ludicrously expensive, especially if you're never going to use them again!

If you have magnetized models, you could put metal sheets in the bottom of the boxes and affix your models to them. I have a magnetized tray that I use to take my army around, and it's great. You could do the same for cheap if your models are already magnetized... although if they're not, it sounds like you have enough to make that not really feasible, so packing materials in boxes would be (imho) your best bet.

Worst case, you have to do a number of trips in your car, but it'd be worth it! You could also unpack after one trip to re-use the packing material / boxes.

Edit: Also, for fragile items I think it's always easiest to put things inside the car, rather than the trunk... much less chance of them sliding around / turning over, etc.

I think it depends on your approach and intent.
Wrapping them individually in bubble wrap & boxing them up will be fine if you're moving them yourself and you (or someone who understands the fragility involved) are going to be the one to unload the box(es) and put it/them in the proper room(s).

That said, I think you should consider your intent beyond the move.

Will these models be put out on display? Will they be stored away? Will they be carried in alrge numbers back & forth to games?

If you have long-term storage needs after the move, or if you'll be moving them around from place to place for games, I strongly suggest a commercially available mini transport/storage case.

For a collection your size (about 1000 plus vehicles & monsters, per your post), Battlefoam makes a great product. Their largest pack will hold over 1500 models. Considering the extra space that vehicles & monsters take up, that might just be the right one for you.

You'll pay for it, mind you. It's not cheap. Then again, it's not cheaply made and is a top-of-the-line product.

I heartily suggest looking into it, if that its the kind of need you will have.

Eric

I'm a mover, and have packed(boxed) everything from china to clothes. Properly packed minis, will be safe as long as the box is not crushed.
If it were me I would do this.
1)Get a some 1.5 ctn (book box). and packing paper/news print.
2)Take the paper crunch accordion style long ways. Then wrap that piece around the mini. (This will protect little pieces that stick out)
3)Then take 2 to 3 pieces that are flattened out, set the mini in the middle and diaper wrap the mini.
4)Place in box.

Also use common sense placing minis in the box. Large solid items like land raiders, monoliths, rhino, go on bottom, light minis go on top. Pack the box just tightly enough to make sure there is little movement, but not so tightly as to put pressure on the models.

This is what I would do if I were moving long distance, had a lot of stuff that needed moved efficiently, or my items were going into storage. If I were just going across town (and could get away with it model count wise)I would throw my stuff in a box and throw the box in the car.

Check Wal Mart or a store with a large hunting section, or even ebay or amazon for large gun cases.

Use popcorn for packing material. It is both cheap and light. Use lots of it for security.

Non buttered of course.

I would try plastic tubs like the ones you might use for storing clothes. Those plus some egg crate foam from a craft store. Fairly cheap for a one time move and you can stack the foam.

Just my 2 cents.

thanks for all the ideas guys. I might try compromising, getting a smaller commercial case for my more delicate/complex models then just hope the rest survive.

I'll be taking personal control over the entire collection to make sure they get there, wouldn't trust anyone else with them

cheers again.