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Hey guys I recently finished building a FW Thunderhawk gunship and I am having a difficult time finding a proper place to store this massive ship when not in use. I have considered products like BF and KR multicase but the prices are a little too steep for my wallet for a transport bag for just one huge model.

For those of you who own a thunderhawk or Tau manta or any other superheavies, what do you use to safely store and transport your masterpieces of work from one place to another? I could use some suggestions for alternatives.

Can't afford the models, themselves, but I can at least tell you how I would do it.

Dedicated products are great, but, as you've discovered, expensive. I'd opt for the semi-DIY method - a strong container with custom foam inserts that I cut, myself. Don't know what sort of stores you have access to, but big-box general, sport, and home improvement stores here all carry a variety of suitably large and strong cases - plastic and/or metal gun cases, footlockers, tool boxes, etc. Larger ones frequently have wheels and handles for easier transport, as well as sturdy metal clasps for secure closure.

On the inside, firm neoprene or similar foam (commonly used for shoe insoles, mousepads, and kids' crafts) makes for a durable lining with just a bit of give. Cut panels to fit and secure with hot glue, contact cement, or spray adhesive. Craft stores or upholstery supply houses (it's frequently used for seat cushions) are your best bet for the open-cell foam you'll want to cut your trays and/or spacing blocks out of. You can either compress the foam and cut it with a knife/scissors (foam dulls blades like crazy, so keep plenty of spares around) or use a hot wire cutter. Permanent attachments are generally best made with low-temp hot glue or foam-safe spray adhesives. If you can find a big block, carve your tray out of one piece - it'll be a fiddlier process, but better in use. If you can only find thinner sheets, you'll have to laminate them. This does make building up the tray simpler, but the time and effort saved in cutting is simply spent gluing, instead.

Lock it down on metal sheet with magnets too? Dpble security aas well as foam so it cannot move and is fully paddded . maybe over kill but there dambn expensive

People seem to reconmend it for models that are tricky to carry about.

Not sure magnets would help here, jhe90 - the thing is just too damned BIG. Magnetic bases on metal sheet are great for keeping delicate infantry models or smaller MCs/vehicles from having parts bent or snagged by tight-fitting foam, but the pull strength required to keep such a massive chunk of resin from shifting would make removal from the sheet impractical - the landing skids would pop off well before the magnets separated. For standard bearers, spear-/pikemen, and super-dynamic-acrobatic-"why is the base over here while the body is over there?" sculpts, though, it works a treat.

Just a thought, there big n expensive and well do not want to spend ages repainting any damage foam can do to paintwork of its rubbing against n moving abit.

You want to do all you can to pack it nice n safe.

I think that GW has a large case where foam blocks inside can be pulled apart to the shape of your large model, but I can't recall the price. I'm sure it's expensive

You could also use a hard shell camera case with foam blocks inside, like the ones made by Pelican. They have a similar system, that allows you to "build your own case" inside (to accommodate all manner of lenses for example). Pelican calls it "Pick n Pluck Foam". There are cheap knockoffs that you might be able to find that essentially do the same thing.

Here is an example from amazon (it is way too big, but it's cheaper/easier to have one big case for several large models, if you're going to take them gaming):

http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-1510-000-110-Carry-Case-Black/dp/B0002SKHIK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415472072&sr=8-2&keywords=pelican+hard+cases


If budget is a factor, then I'd suggest going to a suitcase/briefcase store, buying a hard shell case of the right size, and then having a piece of foam cut to fit at a foam shop. I'm sure you can choose the type there, that you want. The trouble with this is you'll need to cut out the foam after, which isn't as easy as tearing out perforated blocks

Battle Foam has a foam tray just for thunderhawks.

I think with a model that expensive and valuable, you should spend money on a good case from KR Multicase or Battlefoam. Skimping on it means something bad is bound to happen.

 uk_crow wrote:
I think with a model that expensive and valuable, you should spend money on a good case from KR Multicase or Battlefoam. Skimping on it means something bad is bound to happen.

This. I find it odd one can spend so much on one model, and then say that storage options are too expensive.

Simple, uk_crow/the_Armyman - humans are generally born with only two kidneys and require at least one to survive. If you can only sell one of two, you can only afford to buy one of two. Which purchase makes more sense, an unwieldy but badass model or a resilient but empty case?

Does the case have a big 'mystery box' question mark on it?
I say open the box but then I'm a gambling man.

 oadie wrote:
Simple, uk_crow/the_Armyman - humans are generally born with only two kidneys and require at least one to survive. If you can only sell one of two, you can only afford to buy one of two. Which purchase makes more sense, an unwieldy but badass model or a resilient but empty case?

I can understand that, being a broke gamer myself The other question being does the OP plan on dragging this around the countryside to gaming venues, or is he a home gamer? If a home gamer, there are options for display cases that are considerably less than the aforementioned expensive foam cases.