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Recommendations sought:

I have tried making enough of my own cases, and buying tool boxes from ____ and all that crap. I really just suck at making my own, as I always wind up with more broken models than I think is logical- given the care in which I do package & transport. so, NO MORE.


Id like yalls input on cases made by somebody else for army transport. Specifically, Id like to see how Harlequins (or Dark eldar) units fit in said case, Id like to see how Thousand sons fit in said cases... So, If you guys would be so kind as to provide recommendations AND photos, that would help put things in context for me. yes, I go to amazon and I see foam cut outs for infantry, and i think, "how nice now how do they really fit and look in there?"

I would appreciate any help yall can offer, my filthy heretics and xenos deserve more love than i have offered.

When I still subscribed to the Emperors lies, transporting tactical marines was easy.. But my delightful xenos and heretics, with all their spikey goodness, deserve more love than Ive been able to offer.

So, recommendations + picture showing how things ACTUALLY fit would be most helpful...

Another way of dealing with this is to magnetise the offending spikey bit so that csn be removed for transport and also hopefully the magnet will give before you end up with broken models should you forget.

Best thing I ever saw, though it's tricky, is to magnetized the bottom of all your models and your carrying case that is carried upright, so the models are both on display and safe in transit.

Likewise, I have put in metal inside of a "file box" and magnitized all my bases. Mortarian and my vehicles sit in the bottom of the box and the poxwalkers and cultists can like the sides of the box.

Most of my Death Guard have lost spikes and bits due to transit. Whatever happened to those nice foam interiors that GW did once where you could just pull out the rectangular blocks to fit what you needed?

 BlackLobster wrote:
Most of my Death Guard have lost spikes and bits due to transit. Whatever happened to those nice foam interiors that GW did once where you could just pull out the rectangular blocks to fit what you needed?

Pluck foam is still available from (almost) all foam providers.

As for the OP,
I use custom trays from companies like Battlefoam. Yes you can get trays that will only fit particular models (like my trays for eldar jetbikes) but they are not that expensive and as you say, you want to keep models intact.

I tend to assemble my minis with as few fragile points as possible. Particularly land speeders have an aerial prong that protrudes ahead of them. After my first couple broke I just snipped them off the next couple of speeders I assembled.

To a lesser extent, I've assembled my custodes bikers with their lances held pointing downwards to minimise potential for breakage.

I also recommend having spiky bits to be magnetised on or able to slot in and out where possible so you can remove them for storage.

 Yarium wrote:
Best thing I ever saw, though it's tricky, is to magnetized the bottom of all your models and your carrying case that is carried upright, so the models are both on display and safe in transit.

What's the tricky part of doing that? I'm considering magnetizing my army's bases myself.

The tool box method is what I use for my GK (the pointiest army I have).

It's the best method I've come up with. GK is just too fragile even for a fancy Battlefoam case.

I hate to say it but...

The best way to transport delicate minis is often the most inelegant.

Sandwich baggies that seal airtight. Trap the mini in an air bubble and pack them in layers into a case taking care not to put too much weight on the bottom layer. I highly doubt any pointy bits will puncture the plastic but if you're worried simply pack the mini in the bag with some tissue paper wrapped around it. If you wrap the minis you can actually fit four maybe five infantry in a bag with plenty of air pocket room left.

I used to do this and pack my army into a kitty litter tub. Always got made fun of for my ghetto ass case but I never had to fix any dudes at the shop. Foam battle case guys, always bitching about losing parts thanks to pressure points. With my way the models are free to move a little with no undue stress caused by jarring. A power sword trapped in contact with anything will snap off the moment force is applied, even from simply picking up the case! If the mini can move around a little it stands a far greater chance of survival because there is no resistance. Even with a few individually wrapped models in each baggie there will still be enough room for them to shift freely and they shouldn't damage each other because the wrap will soften any impacts. There is also the fact that the models won't actually be able to move enough inside the bag to generate enough force to break anything.

Now, I know this sounds crazy but just try it. It's a pain in the ass, but wrap each model in a bit of tissue, or even some plastic cling wrap works too. Put as many minis in each baggie as will reasonably fit, leaving some wiggle room. Then zip the baggie closed and ensure that there is enough air in it. Then you pack your baggies into your case, any vehicles should go in the bottom as well as any other heavy models. You should be good to go! Yes, it's a lot of work to pack and unpack your army, but it also works.

In fact, I have a finecast terminator chaplain that rode in the trunk of a car for over 3000km packed in nothing more than a Ziploc bag with a scrap of newspaper in it, which was stuffed in a shoebox full of X-Wing models that were loose. Lost 3 B-Wing guns, but that flopcast chappie was just fine.

I'm telling you, before you rush out to buy a $300 case, try this method.