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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/armycase/a-case-hybrid/description

I know foam is all the rage for a lot of folks, but I simply cannot live without a good magnetic mini case. Ended up getting a Victory (the small version) last year and havent looked back. Extremely excited about the two new sizes on offer, as well as re-tooled tray slots on the Victory 2.0.

How would you secure tanks or any model on a non-conventional base with a system like this?

 Horst wrote:
How would you secure tanks or any model on a non-conventional base with a system like this?

I have a magnetized case currently and I just drill into the treads and greenstuff/glue a magnet there. It works well.

I know that in normal use this seems to work well. However, I do not think this actually protects models. What convinced me of this was when I saw a guy with a brilliantly painted army have his magnetic case pushed off a table by a offish clod walking by. What resulted from the smash into the floor was a tragic jumble of figures. The previously gorgeous models were now chipped, broken, and just a mass tragedy. I'm not saying that a foam case would not have had some tragedy, but it would have been on a far smaller scale, if at all. So, yes, I understand why there is an attraction to the magnet cases. However, I have seen first hand what can happen if the case is ever "jarred". So, these types of cases get a big NOPE from me.

Hmm. I'm not sure about your jarred case story but I would imagine if the magnets one uses are kinda weak, then it would not work so well.

Pretty sure I could drop my magnetic battlefoam case and it would be OK. I used rare earth magnets in the bases, not some thin magnetized plastic sticker or something.

I'm a huge fan of magnetic transport solutions and have supported A-Case both with Victory 1.0 (on IGG) and the A-Case+.

This seems like the logical step for the next generation, combining what worked before and throwing out what didn't (or simply wasn't needed).

What I can see from a quick glance:
Pro:
- powder coated (the bare metal of the A-Case+ was dissapointing)
- pre-bent (the DIY from A-Case+ just didn't work, there is always an edge that isn't right and won't fit in right after taking a tray out)
- Messenger size can actually fit a rulebook
- lock pins (wasn't really needed imo, but it's not wrong to carry it over)
- 6 tray slots for the Victory seems like a good deal between the 4 from v1.0 and the 10(?) of the A-Case+

Cons:
- Victory seems the same size? So still can't fit a normal rulebook.
- Messenger is pretty expensive, Kane seems unneeded.
- Not sure why they switched to an aluminum frame again, metal frame worked fine. Guess they wanted to reduce weight.
- Not sure if you really need to fit the trays upside down. I know I'll never will. The fear of glue braking off the magnet and a model smashing on the tray beneath is not something I'm gonna risk.

 ph34r wrote:
Hmm. I'm not sure about your jarred case story but I would imagine if the magnets one uses are kinda weak, then it would not work so well.

Indeed. Also helps if magnets are in direct contact with the trays, as opposed to airgapping. 5x2 - 6x3s seem to be the sweet spot for most bases in these cases.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Hanskrampf wrote:

- Messenger is pretty expensive, Kane seems unneeded.

I thought the same about the Messenger at first, but after some napkin math its nearly a 100% increase in tray space for a 40% price increase. Moreso if I can fit a 4th tray in there. As someone who can fit an entire 2-3k points worth of 40k infantry in a Victory, the idea of being able to fit upwards of 5k in a case with a minor increase in overall footprint and weight is frankly very enticing.

I have switched from foam to magnets and haven't looked back since. I highly recommend it.
I got mine from a German producer:


https://www.army-box.de/

 draugadan wrote:
I know that in normal use this seems to work well. However, I do not think this actually protects models. What convinced me of this was when I saw a guy with a brilliantly painted army have his magnetic case pushed off a table by a offish clod walking by. What resulted from the smash into the floor was a tragic jumble of figures. The previously gorgeous models were now chipped, broken, and just a mass tragedy. I'm not saying that a foam case would not have had some tragedy, but it would have been on a far smaller scale, if at all. So, yes, I understand why there is an attraction to the magnet cases. However, I have seen first hand what can happen if the case is ever "jarred". So, these types of cases get a big NOPE from me.

Yes and no, it depends on the type the drop, direction, and impact. There is no 100% solution and having one over the other doesn't necessarily guarantee 100% protection, you just have to pick what works for you. There are pros and cons for each system. If the fear is someone bumping into them and knocking them off a table, then we'd never take them out of the cases or out at all. As much as it sucks for that situation, it isn't entirely a valid example in my opinion.

Last year I experimented with both foam cases as well as magnetic cases. I was doing prints for demo/review kits for various companies, I also had my displays, so when traveling to Origins and GenCon needed a reliable method to travel with the miniatures. It meant having something that could be used for carry-on, not checked bags.

Foam Cases: I used two variations of Battlefoam PACK 216 and PACK, pluck foam and custom laser cut. Since the miniatures have various shapes and sizes, when using pluck foam, they work for transports. The issue tends to be that the miniatures don't stay well in the pluck foam. The miniatures could shift moving around. One bag was in my normal carryon hardcase, while the other I carried loosely. For the most part the one not in the suitcase was fine. Some miniatures shifted and there was some minor damage to a more finicky pieces. Laser cut foam miniatures didn't have any shifting and was fine but that gets expensive and you can't swap things out as easy. I have quite a few extra trays when I stopped using certain pieces that sit on a shelf because I can't use them for anything else.

They protected pretty well, there was some minor damage. The issue with foam cases isn't jarring motions but flipping them upside down or on the side. As long as the case was carried in the fashion that the case was designed, sat down in that nature, then it was fine. However if you flipped it upside down, on the side, that is when things with pluck foam (even with a foam topper barrier) can cause shifting. The issue with pluck foam is if your walls are too thin, they don't really provide support, and unless you use something to cut (hit wire knife) you can pull parts free, leaving space underneath as well.

Magnetized Cases: I had a couple cases, some metal lunch boxes but also an acrylic shelf that I put a metal sheet on the bottom to put miniatures for display. The case was clear so I usually carried it upside down, which always created conversation in the elevator or walking around. You have to use strong magnetics, most magnetized miniatures I've seen are not strong. If you put the miniature on the metal piece and it slides when you shake the case side to side, it isn't strong enough. Sliding is what will cause them to break free. As some miniatures are heavier than others, sometimes they need two magnets, other times just one. You need to test each of them to get the best results.

I had no issues flipping them upside down or swinging the lunch boxes around walking quickly. The miniatures didn't slide or move at all. I did drop a couple of them a few times. I also threw the lunch boxes in my backpack, which I have ran at full speed moving around things over various terrain (meetings were packed so had to make travel time) without any issues in my bag. Magnetized cases which have a tray that the bases fit in, to prevent sliding, are better than having no tray. Sliding is what can cause an issue, usually from using incorrect sized and strength magnets.

Note: These are mostly resin miniatures, where plastic miniatures and metal most likely would not have had an issue.

 draugadan wrote:
I know that in normal use this seems to work well. However, I do not think this actually protects models. What convinced me of this was when I saw a guy with a brilliantly painted army have his magnetic case pushed off a table by a offish clod walking by. What resulted from the smash into the floor was a tragic jumble of figures. The previously gorgeous models were now chipped, broken, and just a mass tragedy. I'm not saying that a foam case would not have had some tragedy, but it would have been on a far smaller scale, if at all. So, yes, I understand why there is an attraction to the magnet cases. However, I have seen first hand what can happen if the case is ever "jarred". So, these types of cases get a big NOPE from me.

There is no option that protects models from intentional damage, and there is no solution that is 100% optimal in all scenarios. I don't buy/use cases as some sort of armor to protect my models from attack. Their point is to easily transport my models while preventing any damage from the transport. I've used foam in the past, it is a simple idea, but it scales horribly. If you play 1 army in 1 game, foam is great. If you play 5 games with 2 armies each, then foam is endless waste of money. Furthermore, foam will always eventually rub the paint off the edges. It is simply inevitable. What is foam good for? You absolutely need foam for tall + thin models, magnetic transport doesn't work for that. Foam is also good for any model that has poor contact with the base and can snap if horizontal force is applied. Stuff like nighthaunt models.

I will use magnetic transport for everything else. It is so simple to transport and store. I can have all my armies ready to go at a moments notice. I won't rub the paint off by taking them in and out. You can fit many models in a small cubic footprint and need minimal space between them. It is especially good for infantry transports and anything that is wide and short. Yes, if someone throws your case from the top of the grand canyon, the models will take more damage than had you been using a foam case. That stuff rarely happens, and is simply a risk I'm willing to live with in trade for all the other benefits magnetic transport provides.

Very tempted to get one of these.

Almost all of my Miniature storage and transport needs would be for local (more or less) trips - driving with them in a car for local 15 to 30 minutes trips, or up 2 to 4 hours for stuff a bit farther away.

I backed the A+ case and was happy with the delivery time, communication could of been a little bit better but it was better than average in regards to kickstarters. I agree with Hanskrampf's points in regards to the A+ case.

Also appreciate Dark Severance's insight; got me thinking about 3D printing inserts for the metal trays to reduce the slide.

At a slightly lower price point, really useful box with additional."stuff"

The pre made cases look a lot better for regular transport, but just for.storage or sticking in the car, there seem to be other much cheaper solutions.