Once a week there is a question in the Discussion forum 'what case should I get', 'how should I carry my models'. I thought such a frequently asked question deserved a well documented response.
This article is intended to provide a single place detailing the available options of specialist Model Cases and Figure Trays by a number of manufacturers. We understand that many people are content with carrying their models in a fishing tackle box or with hand-cut foam, however this article is designed for players who wish to pay a premium for the foam cases and trays designed specifically to give wargaming miniatures the highest level in protection.
I personally only own one carry case, and I don't expect anyone to have owned all the brands listed below. I would like to keep this as an open article for anyone to add their personal reviews, particularly if they can compare between any two brands.
If you are submitting, please add a short description (100 words or less) of why you chose that product, why you prefer it over another, the options available, the quality of the foam, the quality of the bag/case itself, and any other pertinent information. Please begin with your name, and a rating out of 10. For example:
Citadel Figure Case
Joe: 7/10 The case is made of hard plastic and is very sturdy, although one of the plastic clips broke after six months - the second clip has been doing the job on its own for the following three years. The foam is quite soft (including the base) and the wall of the cells are thick compared to other manufacturers meaning less models for the case size and money.
When talking about a standard figure tray, I mean either: A tray of standard 1"x1"x2" infantry cells, or a tray of 1/4" pluck foam. Also please note that many companies use similar size trays to each other (the "Sabol" size and the "Games Workshop" size being particularly popular) so please note compatible ranges where appropriate.
To avoid perceived favouritism I will list the manufacturers in alphabetical order:
1) Battlefoam
2) Crystal Caste Battlehive
3) Feldherr
4) Figures in Comfort
5) Games Workshop: Citadel Figure Case
6) KR Multicase
7) Outrider Hobbies
8) Portable Warfare
9) Sabol Designs
10) Tabletop Tyrant Cases
11) TableWar
Battlefoam
Battlefoam Home Page
Overview: Battlefoam produces licensed cases for many of the most popular manufacturers - Privateer Press, Flames of War, Malifaux, Mantic, Spartan Games, Infinity and the list goes on. Battlefoam produces a wide range of custom pre-cut foam designed specifically to fit specific miniatures, in addition to standard grid trays and pick'n'pluck trays; customers can even submit their own designs to be cut exactly the way they want.
Available Cases: Cases are made of high quality canvas, come with carry handles and shoulder straps, and feature outside pockets and label holders. Some cases unzip down the side so that trays can be loaded horizontally. Cases come in sizes fitting anywhere from 32 to 1520 miniatures (standard infantry) either empty, or filled with Pick+Pluck or Custom loadouts.
Foam Type: Battlefoam trays are made of semi-rigid open-cell grey foam, with a denser 1/4" bottom. Trays are available in pick'n'pluck, grid, and custom cut varieties - BF sells many custom designs standard to fit popular, oddly-shaped models.
Available Trays: Too many to list.
Standard Tray Measurement: 15.5x12" fitting 72 Imperial Guard models
Standard Figure Tray Cost: $19 USD
Standard Case Cost: PACK 432 (holding 432 standard figs) = $69.99 empty, $99.99 pick'n'pluck, $139.99 full.
Other:
Reviews:
derek: The PACK 720 holds my entire marine army, rulebooks and accessories all in the one case with space to spare. However, at this size it is a little unwieldy. The cost was a little steep; at $200 it feels like you are paying for the brand name
Pixelpusher:
The PACK 720 with some spare trays enable me to either lug around my horde ork army or go for a more walker/vehicle heavy list without any extra bags holding odd stuff. For the price asking well worth it if you take advantage of custom trays.
PROS: Big enough storage for most armies.
CONS: A little unwieldy to carry for longer walks.
The PACK 432 is perfect for smaller armies. My first P.A.C.K. I used when my orks were around 1000pts. Adding vehicles and such to it, with the limited space avaliable, has to be planned properly. But it's still no problem for a small-ish Space Marine army to fit in there.
PROS: Small enough to be carried with you at all times.
CONS: Small. You will most likely outgrow it sooner or later.
Crystal Caste Battlehive
Crystal Caste Battlehives
Overview:
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Feldherr
Feldherr Portal (overview page)
Overview:
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Figures in Comfort
FIC Figure Cases
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Games Workshop: Citadel Figure Case
GW Figure Cases
Overview:
Available Cases:
Standard figure case (108 models)
Army figure case (216 models)
Monster case (~9" of pluck foam)
Foam Type:
Pre-cut grid for 28mm miniatures on 20-25mm bases.
Available Trays:
Not sold separately, though other manufacturers, such as KR, make trays to fit GW cases.
Standard Tray Measurement:
Games workshop trays measure 360x265mm
Standard Figure Tray Cost:
Not sold separately, though other manufacturers, such as KR, make trays to fit GW cases.
Standard Case Cost:
Standard figure case: 51.25 GBP with foam
Army figure case: 61.50 GBP with foam
Other:
Reviews:
Stormfather I have tried many cases. Games Workshop cases are not so great. I had one; it wasn't efficient (held a lot less models than you'd expect due to it's bulging design and thick foam). What really sealed the deal for me though was the fact that one of the clasps broke after a few months of relatively light use. Despite it's drawbacks, it's solid hard plastic, and the foam is very thick. I get the feeling that mini's in the GW case could survive just about anything- unless than second cheap plastic clasp breaks, at which point they'll all spill out and break. GW cases are also rather expensive
ArbitorIan I used to use GW cases, but sold them all and switched to KR. The cases themselves I found to be very high quality, and probably offer the best rigid protection bar none - the only structural issue being the clasps. However, they have a tapered shape which means that you can never fit as many model in as you'd like. The foam also has a tendency to fall apart.
KR Multicase
KR Portal
Overview: KR Multicase, based in the UK, sells relatively cheap foam trays and cases with free shipping. They have a variety of case types, ranging from cardboard to aluminium. They sell an extensive range of grid-layout trays, a few pick and pluck trays and a large range of custom pre-cut trays for 40k, Wings of War and Dropship Commander. The manufacturers aim is to create a "durable, yet economic solution"
Available Cases: KR offer a range of different cases. Their cheapest and main storage solution is a heavy-duty cardboard 'Multicase' (see reviews), which hold just over 4 inches of foam, or 160 standard miniatures. They also offer a range of aluminium cases holding up to 4x that amount, a range of 'Kaisers' - nylon-polyester carry bags and backpacks which can hold up to 4 of the card cases- and an 'Aquillla' case which holds a single foam tray - perfect for skirmish games. The 'modular' system idea revolves around storing your armies in the card 'Multicases' and then slotting the card cases into a Kaiser bag to travel to games.
Available Trays: Blue coloured soft, open-cell foam, in either grid layout, pick'n'pluck or a large range of custom cases to fit 40k and other games. They also offer a set of trays to fit Games Workshop cases which, due to thinner walls and floors, fit 160 models in a GW case - an increase of 50%.
Standard Tray Measurement: KR Trays measure 15x10" (380x255 mm)
Standard Figure Tray Cost: $10.99 USD
Standard Case Cost: Card 'Multicase' (full) = $38.99. Standard Aluminium Case (full) $89.99. Kaiser 1 carry bag including 1 Multicase (full) $84.99. All prices include shipping to the US.
Other:
Reviews:
notprop: I originally planned on getting BF but Wayland didn't have any black bags at the time so I opted for KR as a cheap tide-me-over. A year and a half later I don't see any benefit in getting a BF bag (they are nice though) for me. I stuggle to see any situation where the card one would not be enough protection for your minis...
lunarman: For £20 you can get a card case with foam. Sure, they're not going to protect your army from being run over by a truck (or even stepped on to be honest). But they're so cheap they can double as storage boxes for your models as well as carrying cases. I own 3, and although they've all been patched up with tape and such they're still all really strong. They're also quite discrete (better than the goddamn Games Workshop one!) and extremely light.
Hammerziet: Another recommendation for KR here. Don't be put off by the fact that it's card, I've been using my cases for years and the only damage they've ever taken is a slight dent on the side of one. (Models completely unharmed)
I also advise getting half sized trays, it's the same price and gives you much more flexibility transport wise.
Stormfather: Does what it needs to do, and lets you save some $ for more minis. The card cases are dirt cheap and more rugged than they appear. A $40 case/tray setup holds my 1000 points of Witch Hunters. The metal cases are a bit pricier, but look a lot better and feel pretty indestructible. I use a few card cases that I store my models in, as well as a metal case that I use if I need to carry my models around for an extended period of time. The card cases remind me of the boxes that computer motherboards come in, they're pretty beefy but at the end of the day, I don't lug them around because they don't appear to be waterproof, and they only have a rudimentary clasping mechanism (tabs and handle secure the top down). On the other hand, the aluminum case is built for travel, with briefcase-style metal clasps that keep everything safe and secure. The aluminum case's hard shell means that they can take a beating, much like the GW box, without the models getting squashed. I love my aluminum KR case to death. As far as the foam goes, some of their trays are pre-cut, some you must pluck yourself. They are less messy to pluck than my Sabol was, and there was no thick glue residue left behind to adhere to my models.
ArbitorIan I used to use GW cases, but sold them all and switched to KR. I think it's the best modular system on the market, both for protection and storage. The card cases, while not the most sturdy thing in the world, are better than you'd expect, and their soft foam and custom foam hold the figures very well. Although I've heard good things about the aluminium cases, I use their cardboard and Kaiser system - all my armies are stored in their (very cheap) cardboard Multicases, and then I have a Kaiser backpack that holds two Multicases as well as books, etc. I'd say that this combination of soft foam, hard card cases, and a canvas carry bag gives the best protection available short of a rigid metal/plastic box.
RFHolloway I use KR cases, and have a double backpack to transfer the card cases. They provide more options than GW cases, and are very flexible. They hold more than you think as well, 1 multicase will hold 200 marines or 108 terminators/ork boys, or 6 AoBR copters and 72 boys. Use half trays, and don't mix thirds (3 and 5 series - 3 = 1/3 height, 5 = 2/3 height) with quarter size (2 and 4 series - 2 = 1/2 height, 4 = 1/4 height) in the same box and you will be fine.
Blog review http://whiskey40k.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/why-kr-multicase-instead-of-x-bag.html?showComment=1349365236514
Outrider Hobbies
Outrider Hobbies
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Portable Warfare
Portable Warfare
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Sabol Designs
Sabol Designs Homepage
Overview:
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Reviews:
Stormfather:My next transport was a Sabol (the original, not sure what they call it). Plucking the foam out was an imprecise science that often called for the use of an exacto knife, and there was a gluey residue in there that ultimately got on a few of my models and necessitated repair. I've seen other people's Sabol cases (newer models, company/battalion and what have you) that didn't seem to have the 'too much glue' issue; I don't know whether it was a problem with the older products or a one-off issue with my case. Still, a few of my guardsmen got glue globbered on them, so I ended up mothballing the Sabol once I discovered KR multicase. The case itself was a firm cloth, soft on the inside and resilient plastic fiber on the outside. The opening was secured by a zipper, and I was quite satisfied with the case- it was the foam trays that were unsatisfactory.
Zathras:I've used Sabol's Army Transporters for a very long time and haven't had any problems with them standing up or with their durability. Also Battlefoam does make trays that fit in Sabol miniature bags so you can go that way as well.
Tabletop Tyrant Cases
Website - http://giftsforgeeks.org.uk/shop/figure-cases-foam|figure-cases-and-accessories|tabletop-tyrant-foam-and-cases/
Overview: Tabletop Tyrant produces excellent value for money cases with customisable foam load-outs to suit your requirements. Cases are available through our retail store or our online distributor [ http://www.GiftsForGeeks.org.uk]
Available Cases: Cases are made of high quality canvas, come with carry handles and shoulder straps. We currently have 3 types of cases one that holds 4 layers of foam, and 2 that hold 8 layers of foam. We also have another 4 layer case in development that will be entering the budget end of the market, we hope it will cost just £20.00.
Foam Type: Tabletop Tyrant trays are made of semi-rigid open grey foam, with a 8mm bottom pad. Trays are available in pick'n'pluck, pre-cut.
Available Trays: 10 types with more in development.
Standard Tray Measurement: 370 mm x 265mm x 28mm holding 36 28mm scale infantry models.
Standard Figure Tray Cost: £4.50 GBP or $7 USD
Standard Case Cost: Kingmaker Army Case (holding 144 standard figs) = £28.70 with a full foam loadout.
Our number one selling Tyrant Army figure case is only £41.00 with a full foam loadout (holding 288 standard figures)
Other: All our trays are produced in house in the UK in our production facility. We do accept bulk orders and have supplied board game manufacturers with foam in the past.
Reviews:
[http://tabletoptyrant.co.uk/Tyrants/?p=2409
I have one of the tyrant cases and it is excellent. I have the large pluck foam try and it holds 6 rhinos stacked in pairs so 3 holes with 2 rhinos each and I still had space to fit in my land raider. I have also swapped out some of the form from my GW hard case at time so I could carry more infantry trays and they fit pretty well in both cases, the size is not exactly the same but the difference is small enough that its not a problem. I would certainly recommend these cases to any one as given there price they are really good value. - Jonny Rico
TableWar
http://www.tablewar.com
Overview:
Beautiful portable display case, with glass front door and magnetic trays.
Available Cases:
Display Case, in both full and half sizes and in four available colors.
Foam Type:
No foam!
Available Trays:
Uses removable metallic display boards that can each house different removable variations of unit trays or a large flat tray. Unit trays are available with many different standard base size cutouts and can be swapped in or out of each display board as needed.
Standard Tray Measurement:
Dimensions for the assembled unit tray are 23cm x 48.4cm x 1.3cm
Standard Figure Tray Cost:
Standard Case Cost:
$175 for the Full Size Display Case, including four display boards and a drawer.
$110 for the Half Size Display Case, including two display boards and a drawer.
Other:
This is an expensive solution, but it is an eye catcher. It also makes tournament play so much easier as the removable display boards make carting figures from table to table so much easier.
Reviews:
video review - http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/394542.page
