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MagickalMemories wrote:Christ! Does every thread on Dakka need to include a disclaimer about all of the presumptions that must be made for the thread to make sense

Does every thread on Dakka need to include someone getting worked up for no apparent reason?

One of the stated aims of the tutorial was that this would be cheap, indeed, it was the third sentence. Since virtually everyone in America has access to a Walmart, the unstated hypothesis was that everyone could get these for $10. I simply pointed out I myself was not able to find this case at Walmart in person, and that online the shipping costs queer the deal. The closest approximation I could find cost twice as much. As these cases are half the size of a Sabol Army Transport, I pointed out - accurately! that you won't save that much money unless you can find them at Walmart for $10. So, settle down, Beavis. I'm not saying I don't believe him, just that your mileage may vary, or it could be seasonal.

A better thrust, imo, for this excellent tutorial would point out that you can probably get these parts locally, it's fun to make them, and they do provide superior protection then a Sabol, points I thought I made rather clearly. It's a very solid tutorial and I enjoyed making my own following it.

First off:

MagickalMemories wrote:
Fine. You've got to buy files. That brings the total (using Zefig's numbers) to $92.96, or $23.24 per case.
STILL a better deal*.

*"Better deal" indicates that the final cost per case is a better cost per case and/or cost per stored 25mm based miniature than GW's case and does not take into factor any costs due to electricity, automobile wear & tear, gasoline or valuable time that someone might incur while making said cases.

That made me chuckle!

Also, you guys might consider looking anywhere else for any other kind of case. It could be anything - the gun case was just a suggestion. An army surplus store maybe, a garage sale, your grandpa's old luggage, whatever. The case could even be a hollowed out coconut.* The tutorial is mainly to show you hot to setup the foam trays to fit inside whatever you choose as a case.

*reference to recent Daily Show episode

Ouze wrote:

MagickalMemories wrote:Christ! Does every thread on Dakka need to include a disclaimer about all of the presumptions that must be made for the thread to make sense

Does every thread on Dakka need to include someone getting worked up for no apparent reason?

One of the stated aims of the tutorial was that this would be cheap, indeed, it was the third sentence. Since virtually everyone in America has access to a Walmart, the unstated hypothesis was that everyone could get these for $10. I simply pointed out I myself was not able to find this case at Walmart in person, and that online the shipping costs queer the deal. The closest approximation I could find cost twice as much. As these cases are half the size of a Sabol Army Transport, I pointed out - accurately! that you won't save that much money unless you can find them at Walmart for $10. So, settle down, Beavis. I'm not saying I don't believe him, just that your mileage may vary, or it could be seasonal.

A better thrust, imo, for this excellent tutorial would point out that you can probably get these parts locally, it's fun to make them, and they do provide superior protection then a Sabol, points I thought I made rather clearly. It's a very solid tutorial and I enjoyed making my own following it.

I wasn't worked up. Using specific terminology for effect does not necessarily equate to being worked up.
That said, I know how difficult it is to express tone via text. So, I'm presuming your above quoted message was just meant straightforward, as was mine.
Knowing that, PLEASE take the following question in the jovial manner it was intended.

If I'm Beavis, does that make you Butthead?

Back on topic... a quick feebay search found that Plano four pistol cases can be had easily for $25 each, shipped. Even at this substantially higher cost, you're looking at $38 a case. Considering all the factors involved, it's not a bad deal.

Also, FWIW, the Plano case I have was about $12.

@ OP
Perhaps you should edit the first post to state that this tutorial is based on the premise that all of the mentioned supplies are available to you at the costs indicated.

Eric

I bought the same type of case, you can't beat the $10 price tag...if only Wal Mart kept them in stock, at least at the one I go too....I'm going to stock up with a couple more.

only if this was posted sooner... o well looks pretty nice
A+!

I went to my local Walmart (10 miles south of me) to find said Plano Pistol case.. no dice. However, I did talk to the Sporting Goods Guy, and he told me that local restrictions prevented them from carrying that case within the city limits I live in.

So, I drove 10 miles NORTH (on a different day) and went to a more rural Walmart.. where I bought 2 of these (only had 2 else I would have gotten more.

So, if your local doesn't have em, ask as to why. They MAY be able to order them in for you.

Now if only I could find a good way to make ovular-shaped holes in the foam for my WHFB cavalry and my Termagants...

I bought a couple of these Plano cases off of Amazon, two for $26 shipped (free shipping on orders over $25 at the time). This is definitely a fantastic idea for circular infantry, I'm just not sure what to do about these darn cavalry models.

This is an excellent tutorial, thank you to kutzmon for taking the time to put it together.

Ouze wrote:Does every thread on Dakka need to include someone getting worked up for no apparent reason?

Well, I couldn't actually find that requirement in the posting guidelines, but if I were to answer based on a sampling of threads...

Kirbinator wrote:Now if only I could find a good way to make ovular-shaped holes in the foam for my WHFB cavalry and my Termagants...

I would think that Termagants could just go into the same holes "on end"/face-down, although you might need to use a thicker layer of foam.

For cavalry, you could make some holes the shape of 40k bike bases by cutting two circles, then using a knife to cut a straight line between them, like this:
_____
O___O

By using different sized circles and the distance between them, you could make a lot of different holes. Using the 1" hole and slightly overlapping them would give something like the 'gant sized hole you wanted; two overlapping 4" holes would probably approximate a trygon-style base. Using a 2" pipe spaced about 2-3" apart would give something more chariot-sized. Of course, you could always just cut rectangle shapes with a normal knife and get holes more like a GW case anyway and lay the cavalry down on their sides. The round holes are mostly useful for 40k or Warmachine, although using the pipe cutter is probably faster than making 4 knife cuts per hole.

I think I'm off to price some pistol cases too...

- H8

I already have obne the big GW cases, but i was looking into getting cheper foam soi coudl swap out armies. Thansk for the info!

Great tutorial

pity I don't have access to a lathe
or cheap Walmart cases.

Have just ordered some infantry foam off ebay but will also need some more customised trays for cav and tanks etc. Must check out that foam see if it is available here.

If anyone has any linkys it would be helpful please.

hehe FAIL! wrote:only if this was posted sooner... o well looks pretty nice
A+!

It was posted in May 2009.
Please, tell me that was just poorly delivered sarcasm. : )


Eric

I picked up one of the pistol cases at my local Walmart for the poster's 9.95 price point. I found the performated foam sheet is just the right size for the Uncharted Seas fleet with a little room to expand. Outside of glueing a sheet of foam to the bottom to keep the models in place, I plan to use it unmodified. I'll use the eggcrate to store my dice, rulebook, and measuring tape.

Thanks for bringing this thread back again and to kutzmon
for making it in the first place. Read it years ago and forgot about it.

I have a number of miniatures cases made from resale shop tape cases filled with surplus foam, for my vehicles, but as they are all separate, it's hard to transport them except in a larger case. Looks like I need to get some rivets and velcro!

Here's the cases I use. (pasted from a different thread)
Armor boxes.
I have two boxes very much like this one

They are cassete tape totes and are very common at your local resale shop. I think I paid a dollar or two each!
Break out the cassete tape dividers (this takes some patience) and line with foam.

I specify Cassete totes, because they are almost exactly the correct depth for a Sentinel or Tank hull and two layers of foam (top and bottom). The tank hulls above are held perfectly in place without subdividing walls and don't touch at all, while being stored as compactly as possible. One additional piece of foam on top of the Bassilisk hulls as they are slightly shorter than the Russes.
All safe with room to expand.

Found those gun cases at walmart today. Larger than I expected.

I think I may have posted this elsewhere, but Cabela's is selling these cases online for $11.24. It's the same case, labled as a "reel case".
http://www.cabelas.com/fishing-reel-cases-plano-reel-case-1.shtml?type=product&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleBaseUSA&WT.z_mc_id1=704776&rid=40&mr:trackingCode=860BDE51-F5D2-DF11-82EF-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA

The truely shifty (who are willing to wait for a card via mail) can sign up for a Cabella's credit card and get $25 (two cases) in Cabela's credit for free! I'm buying 3 as soon as my card arrives.

Also, I bought a pipe fitting as pictured in the first post. Though I don't have a lathe, two 8 minute sessions (copper gets hot) with a dremel and a bit of hand filing and I've got a nice foam cutter ready to go!

The only problem I found with the pipe fitting is that it dulls quickly. But other than that it works like a champ.

I went exploring and found a local source of foam for any of you who aren't so keen on ordering huge sheets of it online. A Jo-Ann fabrics near me had a bunch for use in seat cushions and stuff like that. It's about the same firmness as the foam that comes in the cases. The color...largely a taste thing I guess. I'm not incredibly keen on it, but I bought some so I guess it wasn't a deal breaker. Display like this:



The upside is that lots of different thicknesses were available for different sorts of trays. Jo-Ann Fabrics are pretty easy to find too, and I wouldn't doubt a lot of equivalent stores stock the same, or similar, stuff.

The biggest downside is the price. I ended up getting some offcuts of it, but they were firm on the price so I didn't get any sorts of discounts there. You may have better luck if you have a winning smile, who knows. I ended up forking over a little under $40 though for enough foam to make 2 2" thick trays and 2 3" thick trays, with some left over for miscellaneous foaming. Hopefully not at the mouth.

So. If you're going to make a ton of similarly-sized trays, you're probably better off going online and getting your foam in bulk. If you want to pick up a bit of extra-thick stuff to store your baneblade or a couple of flyers in, you can probably save yourself some dough by heading to your nearest fabric store.

Added note: I'm not sure if it helps anyone out, but the particular case being used is a Plano 1404. I couldn't find it on Plano's website, but if you do some digging it could potentially help someone out.

I had forgotten about ol jo-anns. Thanks

Jo-annes is a good source. I've bought foam there in the past, but as you say, it's a bit expensive. However, if you're patient, sometimes they have great sales and coupons.

Now I try to source all my foam from packaging and friend's with connections with businesses that regularly recieve foam packaging.

recycle recycle recycle
I found an old soil testing kit box. Since at the moment my army is very small, it will work just fine.
It will hold two layers of the 2 inch foam. So a full squad of warriors per level and a couple larger. It will work for now.

Nice find! Boxes like that are great for holding warbands and other groups of figs smaller than an entire army.

Once I get my third Tomb Spyder finished I will probably upgrade to a larger case. But I'm not in a big hurry since I don't count them unless they are finished.

Excellent tutorial (it saved me sooooo much money).

Just picked up two of these cases. The walmarts around Chicago don't seem to carry them, but the Farm and Fleet in Montgomery (near Aurora) does. 15 bucks each is more than 10, but more than satisfactory for me.

Eilif wrote:Just picked up two of these cases. The walmarts around Chicago don't seem to carry them, but the Farm and Fleet in Montgomery (near Aurora) does. 15 bucks each is more than 10, but more than satisfactory for me.

What cases?

im2randomghgh wrote:What cases?

The plano 1404 cases pictured in the first post.

Of interest, I've now seen at least 3 different title's applied to this case, all of which are the exact same case with the exact same interior foam and all have the same model of 1404.

Protector series 4 pistol case
Reel case
XL Accessory case

The one I bought was called the Protector 4 pistol case on the website http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/466298-protector_series_four_pistol_case.html?source=googleps but in the store it had the sticker calling it a XL accessory case. Interestingly, the sticker had the same pictures of pistols and reels that I'd seen in ads mentioned above.

I now only have one of the two cases I bought as it turns out that the case with just the two sheets of eggshell was the perfect size for the small guitar pedalboard my dad had just finished building so I gave him one of them. As a bonus he gave me back the pluck foam sheet since he didn't need it. This case has uses far beyond pistols, reels and miniatures. My dad said he'll probably buy a second case for microphones.

The one I picked up was labelled XL accessory case. I think it has to do with state by state regulations on selling firearm accessories.

Yep, it's probably that and wanting to sell the case to as many markets as possible. Here in Illinios firearms regs vary from county to county and even city to city.

Plano really should market this beyond sportsmen though. If I'd had a 15 dollar hard-sided mic/accessory case this large to sell when I worked at Guitar Center, I would have have sold dozens, perhaps hundreds.

Just got back from Hobbly lobby where I picked up some 3mm sheets of Funky foam (EVA foam) that looks to be the same stuff as the dense foam bottoms of some miniatures trays. 12x18" sheet of 3mm for 99 cents!
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=159888

The miniature tray I'm using appears to have 5mm of foam, so I may double layer it, but I haven't decided yet.

I also stopped at Menards and got a second pipe fitting, this one slightly smaller than one inch in diameter.

Eilif wrote:Yep, it's probably that and wanting to sell the case to as many markets as possible. Here in Illinios firearms regs vary from county to county and even city to city.

Plano really should market this beyond sportsmen though. If I'd had a 15 dollar hard-sided mic/accessory case this large to sell when I worked at Guitar Center, I would have have sold dozens, perhaps hundreds.

Just got back from Hobbly lobby where I picked up some 3mm sheets of Funky foam (EVA foam) that looks to be the same stuff as the dense foam bottoms of some miniatures trays. 12x18" sheet of 3mm for 99 cents!
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=159888

The miniature tray I'm using appears to have 5mm of foam, so I may double layer it, but I haven't decided yet.

I also stopped at Menards and got a second pipe fitting, this one slightly smaller than one inch in diameter.

Why get one smaller than an inch? the bases are 28mm...

also you will need a lot of 3mm foam trays, since a millimeter is almost nothing...an average FW mini is 3.5-4cm tall, so well over ten of those sheets...