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Re: Storing figures?
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 1:51 pm
by mellis1644
[quote="david53"][quote="Robert241167"] but it scares any ladies I get back.
Rob[/quote]
I bet it does? BTW what scares them again.[/quote]
I had a college buddy who did try the chat up line "come back to my place I want to show you my miniatures...". Well we got some laughs/jokes from that, but it did work for him a couple of times.

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 5:01 pm
by kevinj
I use either box files or an A4 sized semi-opaque platic box that Hobbycraft sells. It's quite handy to be able to see what's in it without opening because, even when you start out with the best of intentions, things get moved around to try out different army combinations. Also, they are "proper" A4 sized, so there's no need to muck about with extra strips around the edges, boxfiles are larger than A4 and require this. I've also got some Really Useful Boxes (from Staples), they come in some handy sizes and are often on special offers.
I've found the magentic stuff metal sheeeting sold at shows to be quite expensive, I get mine from
http://www.magnetic-paper.com/shop.asp?ID=9 where an A4 sheet works out at about £1.30 if you buy 25. Postage is free and it generally arrives in few days. Rob - I've recently bought a batch so if you want a few sheets let me know.
Kevin
Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:03 pm
by Spartacus
I use secondhand map chests from office suppliers. They usually have 6 number 3" high drawers each being about 48" X 30" and overall height of cabinet being around 30" which means they get used to support game tables too. They can be bought for around £100 (after some haggling) and will hold about 30,000 points of figures. I use 1/4" square wood as separators to prevent breakage problems. They come in wood or metal so no need to line the metal ones. If you need to take them on tour then use a metal cantilever toolbox.
Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:24 pm
by pyruse
I have a set of shelves into which go wooden trays, each about 17" deep and 9" wide. 3 trays per shelf, and I guess there's about 20 shelves.
This is for 20mm and 28mm figures, of which I have rather more than I can count in numerous periods. A typical army takes up 1 to 2 trays.
The shelves were from Ikea. The trays I made.
I rarely need to transport figures, but when I do I have a couple of sturdy wooden boxes with partitions inside.
Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:49 pm
by Legionbuilder
I like Plano storage boxes - they are clear plastic and are easy to stick magnets inside. Plano makes fishing tackle boxes and these are the removable inside parts - they each have compartments and hinged lids which can be removed also. Planos are better for 15mm than for 25/28mm. the basic sizes are 1 1/2" or 1 5/58" thick but Plano makes them in 2" and 3" thickness as well so you can use them for pikes and mounted spearmen.
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 4:17 pm
by bobm
Go to the poshest shirt shop you can find (£70+ and usually Italian); he'll have stacks and stacks of the strongest boxes in a most useful size you can have for free because the purchaser of the shirt never wants the box!!!
Line them with the rubberised basket weave cloth that's sold to put on car dashboards so they'll hold pens etc (£1.25 a roll at Home Bargains).
....your visitors will think you buy extremely expensive shirts and are a man with syle....which will overcome their fear of toy soldiers.
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 3:09 pm
by peteratjet
I use Really Useful Boxes, which are stackable, with magnetic tape lining the bottom. An A4 box will accommodate most of an 800pt army, with maybe a couple of smaller boxes for odds and ends. Precision cut steel bases stick like glue. In fact, with the super-dooper 2mm thick tape, very much like glue. I have found that figures merely attached to the base with polyfilla tend to come lose before the base detaches from the magnetic tape.
Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:30 pm
by saltire
I support the Really Useful Boxes option.
Staples are a good source and there is an incredible range which covers all scales and all army sizes. Check out the RUB website for box dimensions.
I use self adhesive steel sheet for lining and then self adhesive magnetic tape for the figure bases- Result!
They are also very stackable and can therefore maximise cupboard space.
Stick a picture of your army on the outside and its job done.

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 6:59 pm
by ShrubMiK
Another vote for the A4 Really Useful boxes, with magnetized bottoms...
They are convenient both for storage at home, and transport.
I'm not sure how you can get an 800pt army into a single box though. Maybe I just have larger than usual armies of lesser than usual troop quality!
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:30 pm
by saltire
That's where the vast range comes in so Useful (pun intended). They classify their boxes by volume.
The A4 boxes are 4Litre but I find the most useful are the 7Litre and if you have a really numerous horde then use the 10Litre.
They are all the same height and the 7 & 10 are the same width which makes stacking Really easy.
See through, clip secure handles and very sturdy - these are the future of figure storage!
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:53 pm
by hannibal
I line my box files with steel paper from here
http://www.magnetick.co.uk/gbu0-catshow ... sheet.html
£12 for 5 sheets seems about as cheap as you can get