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How do!

So once again I come asking for advice and pointers, because now I’m about to be actively gaming again I find myself in need of an effective case to make sure my models aren’t smashed to buggery when travelling.

I’m not massively fussed for laser cut/particularly form fitting. Pick and pluck has seen me fine thus far, as have troop sized compartmentalised foam. But, a hard exterior is a necessity, as rather safe than sorry.

And of course needs to be stocked in the UK for ease of purchase.

Any recommendations?

I’ve always been a big fan of KR Multicase.

For my nids I’m doing a DIY magnetic boxes.

 Nevelon wrote:
I’ve always been a big fan of KR Multicase.

For my nids I’m doing a DIY magnetic boxes.

These are both my suggestion as well. I love my KR cases, but for some models, especially the newer Games Workshop models with tons of little spinkes and small pointy bits, I have recently taken the dive and begun test running magnetic cases. Of course, I forgot I only had a handful of magnets left when I started setting them up so that stalled out, but the test run is looking promising.

If you go with KR, when ordering the foam to fill a case, make sure you optimize it so to speak. It at least used to be cheaper to do 1 full case of their standard foams, and then do a separate case for their more custom foam sizes, instead of mixing multiple types in one box.

I been in the process of getting magnets for everything, for infantry I think it’s the best.

Also Sowing machine case, there are a few that are perfect size and design to be opened forward for sowing machines. If you have a shop nearby, I would check. Also often has wheals!
The downside is brand and type depends on what’s sold near you.

I've found the relationship between price and quality remarkably linear in the arena of carry cases. That new noodly GW gak excepted of course.

You just missed a sale at Battlefoam I think but there's bound to be one for July 4th, and they also usually have random licensed cases for dead games deeply discounted, my suggestion is you check that. And they do have a UK facility.

My thoughts on different approaches

1) MAGNETS - For basically any case setup that isn't going by air or other high impact/shudder methods - magnets are king. They let you fit WAY more models into a given space, especially with many modern designs being a lot more widely build off the base. When you look at old classic models from 20-30years ago many were fairly "at attention" in style and that worked fine in foam cases; today there's a lot of arms, swords, guns and more flying about and that makes foam cases hold far fewer models.

Magnets let you pack way more into a given space.

2) Foam - if you have models that have a lot of inherent wobble in the design or you are going to fly somewhere (or take other very bumpy transport option); then foam is best. Magnets are good but they hold the base of a model; if the rest of it is going to wobble around it might weaken or break plastic parts. Similarly if you are flying (or other high impact likely transport) the jolts of baggage handling and all can easily break superglue bonds on magnets and the like (And might damage models if they wobble around).

Also note model weight is a big concern. METAL models are not as suitable for magnets either and are better with foam. The last thing you want is your chunky screamer killer and zoanthrope to suddenly become an in-transport wrecking ball in your magnetic case.


3) metal sheets and stacker boxes. There's abunch of stacker boxes you can get now as a generic product; put a sheet of cut metal into them and boom you've got a magnetic case. The stacker aspect is important since one tray and sheet won't hold a whole army (esp with larger models too); but if they stack that allows for easier transport.
This is one of the cheapest ways to get a magnetic case. The downside is that its stacked trays.

That means its great for "my club is next door" or "I have a car and can park close"; but if you're doing any walking or such they aren't as easily grabbed and carried as a case.

That they are individual trays means you can quickly and easily pick up the ones you need for the night.

4) Cases. Battlefoam magnetic slider racks and a case are EXPENSIVE; but I've found they work great.
I really should write my review on the cases I got, but they do work great. A few pouches and pockets and you can stuff everything you need into the one case. This makes it a great "grab and go" solution.

KR Multicase have card cases that fit into their backpacks and handle cases and some metal cases too. The only downside is they don't have a magnetic solution so whilst this is affordable (more so than BF above); you do get bound into a foam system.

There's abunch of "no name" brand magnetic cases on the market that use racks and metal sheets and this has a big bonus over the Battlefoam because the BF is fixed plastic rods that you have to assemble. Durable, but it means changing from a "carries big things" to " carries more racks of small things" is abit of a faff in changing it up. Meanwhile racks and metal sheets you just slide the sheet in on the height you want.
The flipside is most of these rack and sheet cases that I've seen tend to be JUST a model carrying solution. No pouches for game materials, rules or anything.


Personally I sold a bunch of models that I wasn't building and bought some Battlefoam.
Their Pack 720 easily holds a 2K army for Tyranids with a range of big, medium and smaller bugs. I grabbed a few pouches and their wallet to hold a manual; the front pouch built into the case easily holds a codex and the side pockets hold all the rest. I can put an army and everything I need into that bag and grab it as one solution and chuck it in the car and go. Or carry it anywhere by handle/shoulder strap.

The PACK1500 is more practical for a 3K army (esp with a force like Tyranids with big things) or other larger models



The only downside on magnets are things like aircraft and tanks - I've seen a few doing FDM style printable slots that you can put onto magnet sheets that brace and hold things like tanks that don't have bases or aircraft. It's not a mature area of the market yet but I think with magnets being so popular this area will grow.

Also for any considering using the Really Useful box method I just came across this video. I've not looked further into it as I don't need this kind of storage, but this might be a good thing to research if you're going to go down that pathway!

 Overread wrote:
Also for any considering using the Really Useful box method I just came across this video. I've not looked further into it as I don't need this kind of storage, but this might be a good thing to research if you're going to go down that pathway!

That video reminds me of packing KR foam into their cardboard boxes. Juggling the fractional tray hights to fit the minis I have in my list and not waste space in the box. I could see putting magnets on those trays to make a similar system for the really useful boxes. Although for the half hight ones, you could just use 4L boxes instead of 9Ls.

Speaking of which, I need to order more boxes one of these days.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Overread wrote:
Also for any considering using the Really Useful box method I just came across this video. I've not looked further into it as I don't need this kind of storage, but this might be a good thing to research if you're going to go down that pathway!

That video reminds me of packing KR foam into their cardboard boxes. Juggling the fractional tray hights to fit the minis I have in my list and not waste space in the box. I could see putting magnets on those trays to make a similar system for the really useful boxes. Although for the half hight ones, you could just use 4L boxes instead of 9Ls.

Speaking of which, I need to order more boxes one of these days.

Yep, my thought is more that with those nested boxes you could use fewer larger containers to carry more trays and models instead of lots of smaller boxes. Which is practical for storage, but more of a faff to carry around.

Coming in here to also backup the battlefoam recommendation. I have three of their discontinued Nimitz cases and good lord, I cannot recommend them enough. They’re everything you could want, and the custom tray creator is a genuine joy to use.

I won’t lie; battlefoam hardcases are pricey. But frankly I think they’re worth the price, and I think the rarity with which you see them resold speaks volumes; I can’t even find any on eBay and that’s the norm. Definitely trawl eBay for deals or else buy from them during a sale, as they have a few good ones each year.

Also, while I used the Nimitz as an example you absolutely don’t need it. That thing holds something like 20k points if you’re efficient with it. Smaller ones are perfectly fine for smaller armies in the 2-4k range.

That said it looks like battlefoam is discontinuing a lot of their hardcases, so your mileage may vary in terms of getting one. I had to get all 3 of my Nimitz from different 3rd parties that still had one in stock.

My impression is that the economic changes have probable forced Battlefoam to downsize some of their inventory of bags. I've also notice a few of their brand label bags have vanished as well.

I think its just likely downsizing their product inventory and focuses on the core products. I think things like the PACK system bags will stay around for ages and what you do see is evolutions of them and different variations, but all to the same dimensions and same zipper interlock system and such.

 Overread wrote:
My impression is that the economic changes have probable forced Battlefoam to downsize some of their inventory of bags. I've also notice a few of their brand label bags have vanished as well.

I think its just likely downsizing their product inventory and focuses on the core products. I think things like the PACK system bags will stay around for ages and what you do see is evolutions of them and different variations, but all to the same dimensions and same zipper interlock system and such.

I actually went to battlefoam Phoenix (I love less than two hours north and was in town) last year when I was first looking at cases, as I wanted some guidance because I’m kind of an idiot. What I was told about the Nimitz, and several other hardcases, is that it took them something like a decade to clear the inventory from the FIRST order they placed for them, so they had absolutely no plans to restock them.

I think they said the Arizona was going to be sticking around, and maybe the seawolf? But the Nimitz and the Tripoli are being intentionally discontinued due to moving very slowly.

They’ll still make the foam though, which is frankly all I need.