Best way to store miniatures?

[Breakstone]

So, I've been storing all of my miniatures in a shoebox, and, quite frankly, that's just about the dumbest thing I could have done. Their paint is scraping off, and I have to search through them for about three minutes until I can find a single figure.

I was thinking of purchasing some sort of toolbox to store them in, but I thought asking the "experts" would be an even better idea.

Any ideas, folks?

 

[Kriskrafts]

I went with the toolbox method, but went with a heavy-duty super-deluxe jumbo sized box with multiple pull out shelves (Flambeau Model #22060). I don't even know if they still make it, but it works great and holds about 300 easy to access miniatures in the four regular-sized shelves. There is even a smaller top shelf for dice and pencils and larger bottem shelf for oversized miniatures and props.

 

[Tewligan]

Get a miniature case. The one I have has 2 layers, with a bunch of little cut-out foam compartments to keep the minis safe. I've also seen people use gun carrying cases - a hard plastic shell lined inside with soft foam that keeps the minis from rattling around against each other. I'm also looking at picking up one of those sweet looking Battle Hive cases - mind you, I don't actually NEED it, but it looks so tasty...

 

[Skade]

The tool box idea is a good one. I took nice solid black foam, the kind used in gun cases, and with a hot-knife cut out wholes of approximate size to my miniatures, with specially shaped holes for the more unusually designed ones. Be sure that you clear coat your minis though, becuase even the foam will eventually wear off some of the paint if handled very often.

Edit: Forgot something. I bought a rifle case at Academy for around 8 bucks, that I use for my 40k units. It was very cheap, and with the egg carton shaped foam I can hold I think around 60-80 minis. It helps that they are almost all of a uniform size. Anyway, its very useful, and was very cheap.

 

[Kesh]

Most collectors use actual miniature cases, which can be found online. You can get something similar by purchasing a toolbox and removing all the trays. Then, line the bottom and sides with thick styrofoam. Get another layer of foam, and cut out sections to fit your figures.

Place the figures in their slots, then cover them with another layer of foam. Voila! Miniatures case.

 

[Zenon]

I have found that Plano fishing tackle boxes work well. Simple line the smaller boxes with thin foam and viola!:

See here for a pic of one:

http://www.tracker-outdoors.com/tackle_boxes.htm

 

[Sidereal Knight]

Army Transport

My partner went all-out for a mini case: The Army Transport.

We first ran across it on the Reaper web site, then found one at our local game store.

http://www.reapermini.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RM&Category_Code=ACC-ARMY

We also looked at the Battle Hive cases. Although the Battle Hive is a solid-side case, it isn't as large as the Army Transport, and the foam padding didn't seem to be as high quality. The cost about the same, and since we didn't plan on sending it through airport baggage-handling, having a hard-sided case wasn't as critical.

 

[Stone Angel]

Our group has about 1000 plus minis. We just bought a cheap metal shelf from ace(6') and then super glued magnetic strips to the bottom so they can really go about any where. Then we have a system for filing them for easy access.

 

[mistergone]

Just a lil common sense note. While it looks cool to carry your minis in an actual gun case, it is very not cool to have the cops tackle you to the ground and handcuff you. ALWAYS have large, easily seen and read labels on the outside of your case that state there no actual firearms inside the case. Even then, this may not be the best of ideas. I know at one local game store around here the diehards think it's the coolest thing in the universe to carry around gun cases, for whatever reason, but they'd wet their khakis if a cop drew a gun on them and told them to put their hands in the air. Sound ridiculous, or that I'm being too cautious? Well, these are post 9-11 times and people have been stopped by the police for less.

 

[Gospog]

Tsunami,

The cardboard cases that computer components come in work really well for storing minis. They are lined with foam inside, and have ton of small indentations in the foam that the minis sit in very nicely. You can pack the box in a duffel bag or carry it under your arm with no fear of the minis rolling around inside.

How many minis are you looking to store? If you'd like, E-mail me and I can mail you a box or two. It's the least I can do for all the times you've posted pics of my minis for my story hours.

Just let me know.