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Hey dakka! I was wondering what cases you guys use to carry your figs, the pros the cons and the pricetag, we could sticky this and make it a big FAQ thread for mini transport. FYI I currently use a cardboard box with foam inside of it. It doesnt really work.

I have a small GW case for my catachans, which also holds my warmachine infantry and solos.

Tanks are all in the tank boxes they come in (chimeras all together and russes all together).

Bitz, paint, and tank turrets are all in plano divided cases.

Tomb Kings are all in one small card box. I have like... 5 arms that broke off, but I blame that on the tiny glue point, not the case.

Bretonnians are all in a plastic tote thing. I have noticed a few breaks and bends, but I picked it up this way. Eventually they will get repacked.

Warjacks, sentinals, and my SM are all in card boxes.

Hopefully this will all change soon. Battlefoam will store my SM, valkeryies (which have no case), IG tanks, and dreadfleet (if I ever put it together). Fantasy will be a mix of foam and troops stored on metal trays with magnets.

quick edit: GW changed their cases. I might pick up one of those instead! Just out of ease mostly.

KR is what I will be getting in the next couple of months.


What I do have experience with:

Company: Reaper
Type: Soft case, pick n pull foam
Cost: $50
Pros: Custom unit arrangements
Cons: Easily crushed, chipped paint, foam falls apart

Prior to that I used a straight tacklebox. This proved wonderful for bitz, not so much for painted minis as they also got scratched (the reason I got the Reaper case as it were)
Since the Reaper case I've moved onto plastic sandwich bags. Same basic problem only considerably cheaper. I recommend the sandwich bags over the Reaper case.

Cases are incredibly overpriced I think.
You could just take an old suitcase, get two sheets of half inch thick foam, cut holes in one and lay it over the other to get the backing of the holes, make it so it fits in the suitcase and done. Can't get more customizable than that.

I'm with you. Cases are getting really overpriced. I carry mine in boxes full of styrofoam peanuts. works pretty well for me, but most of my small models are plastic and the big ones are pretty big.

KR multicase has a case for $48 including shipping and comes filled with foam. Not a bad deal I think, though certainly not as cheap as a box full of peanuts.

Think of it this way, the money you save on an official carrying case, you can spend on more models

Capitansolstice wrote:Hey dakka! I was wondering what cases you guys use to carry your figs, the pros the cons and the pricetag, we could sticky this and make it a big FAQ thread for mini transport. FYI I currently use a cardboard box with foam inside of it. It doesnt really work.

There's actually already an article about this at http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/Model_Case_Reviews_and_Recommendations

I use, and tend to recommend, KR Multicases. They're UK based, which is good for me, and much, much less expensive than the competition. Their system is based on cardboard 'Multicases' which contain custom cut soft blue foam. A Multicase contains 10cm of foam, and is made of rigid archiving card. Most of my armies fit in one or two Multicases. I then have a backpack carry-bag, which holds two Multicases. I store all my armies in their cases, and just pop the army I want to use into the carry bag when I go to a game.

A Multicase, fully loaded with basic foam, starts at £22. Which, considering that I have around 8 full armies, is the only affordable option. I think my £22 would buy me one or two TRAYS from Battlefoam!

Battlefoam is widely regarded as the best quality on Dakka - they're more popular in the US as well. They have hard foam with custom cut holes for models, and heavy duty canvas bags, all of which are very good quality. That might be easier if you're in the US, but they also tend to be ruinously expensive, and protection-wise, I prefer the rigidity of the KR system.

My little review on new APC box from Portable warfare.

http://mr-bugman.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-miniatures-transport-box-from.html

I love that box.

NAVARRO wrote:My little review on new APC box from Portable warfare.

http://mr-bugman.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-miniatures-transport-box-from.html

I love that box.

That's a nice box. If they'll charge me the same for shipping, I might consider it for my Necromunda stuff.

Portable Warfare products are nice. I have one of their bags, and I love it, even if my army outgrew it. I can't say enough good things about Battlefoam's line, I've owned a Warmachine bag, a 720, and currently a PACK Go, and they've by far been the best bags I've ever owned. My gaming group just recently gave away 2 Outrider Hobbies ranger bags, so I got to see and handle them, and they are very nice as well. Know a price range someone is looking at really helps someone with experience with multiple bags to know what to recommend.

I want a bag thats under $100 and can carry at least 10 terminators 55 tacticals, two land raiders, and 2 vindicators

I don't think it's going to happen at that price point. I'm not familiar with KR enough to say if they have something that would fit, but even going with pluck foam in a larger Sabol Case (probably need a motor pool), the number of trays necessary would put the price over the $100.00 you're wanting to spend. The tacticals, and terminators and Vindicators no problem, but Land Raiders fill a lot of space, both vertically and horizontally.

yeah, I was looking and, actually, I found a Battlefoam custom cut "Sheild bag" for under 100!

I like that shield bag. Could probably fit in all my infantry for my guard and space marines.

Time to do math.

Edit: So I did some quick math. 5 55 troop trays, and 1 2.5 inch tray should fit all my infantry for 2 guard armies and my current BT list, plus 3 extra terminator slots, and my 3 land speeders. This bag rocks!

EXACTLY!! Its cheap and very big!

Just make sure that when working out the load out for your shield bag that your useing GW sized foam trays and not BF sized foam trays.

Catyrpelius wrote:Just make sure that when working out the load out for your shield bag that your useing GW sized foam trays and not BF sized foam trays.

Basically the reason I didn't recommend it in this case. While it holds all of the infantry, and can hold the 2 Land Raiders in the pluck tray, I'm not sure it can fit the Vindicators as well. Maybe standing up on the their side in the pluck foam.

derek wrote:

Catyrpelius wrote:Just make sure that when working out the load out for your shield bag that your useing GW sized foam trays and not BF sized foam trays.

Basically the reason I didn't recommend it in this case. While it holds all of the infantry, and can hold the 2 Land Raiders in the pluck tray, I'm not sure it can fit the Vindicators as well. Maybe standing up on the their side in the pluck foam.

Your going to use all the room in the pluck foam tray to fit the land raiders...

The shield bag might be a cheap alternative, but I really would recommend moving up to a 720. You'll be happy you did.

I carry my Marines in a converted (with Battlefoam inserts) Laptop case. My Squats are in a wooden case from a local craft shop. Have plenty of room for the minis I have as well as books in both.

The Battlefoam bags work very well for me. I have one for my CSM army, and another one for my Cygnar army. They can be a little more expensive than other bags, but I think the price isn't too outrageous.

I also have a Portable Warfare bag for my Deathwing army, and everything I have fits in their just fine. The foam isn't as good as Battlefoam's is, but the bag itself holds up well, so I'd consider them a good alternative as well.

Battlefoam for me. No questions asked. You spend so much on minis and paint. Might as well spend just a little more to protect them.

That said, I've come across this as well:http://www.tablewar.com/

DIY Plano 1404

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/362407.page

Pros
1) Cheap 20 bucks or so. 1 or 2 cases is enough for most armies.
2) Hard sided case offers as much or more protection than most mini cases

Cons
1) You have to do the cutting and gluing yourself
2) Takes much more time.

That plano case seems very affective!

It is. It just takes some time and effort to make it so.

I see you're in Illinois. If you're anywhere near Games Plus in Mt. Prospect, I'm going to be there on thursday with one or two of them if you want a closer look.

Seconded on KR.

The have a US base/distributor now. You should check out their case builder on the website, pick the trays to suit your army and build up your own load. You can the choose the card/bag option or the metal cases. I have both and cant fault either if them.

Elif, that might be a yes, but what time...

The club is meeting at around 6:30 PM.

Usually we meet every other thursday at Chicagoland Games (in Chicago) but every other month or so we have a meeting at Games Plus to accomodate some of our suburban friends.

Feel free to show up just to see the case, but if you want to play, we're playing 2nd edition 40k that evening. PM me for details.

Eilif wrote:DIY Plano 1404

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/362407.page

Pros
1) Cheap 20 bucks or so. 1 or 2 cases is enough for most armies.
2) Hard sided case offers as much or more protection than most mini cases

Cons
1) You have to do the cutting and gluing yourself
2) Takes much more time.

Cons
3) Pistol cases aren't widely available outside the US

True, but the 1404 is also sold as an "XL accessory case" and a "reel case". Cabellas sells it as a reel case and ships internationally. There's links to the item in the topic I linked to, but I'll put it here also.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Rod-Reel-Storage/Fishing-Reel-Cases%7C/pc/104793480/c/104812380/sc/104527080/Plano174-Reel-Case/704776.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FN%3D1102358%26WTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd704776&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd704776%3Bcat104527080

Even with international shipping, it's likely much less expensive than the alternatives.