Storage of your models can be problematic especially when you intend on transporting your creations to your favorite CON or game store. This thread is dedicated to your creative storage solutions.

One of my favorite storage methods is using “Sterilite” plastic drawer systems. Their cheap, stackable and they transport well:



http://www.sterilite.com/Category.html? ... tegory=47#

Here are the two storage containers that I use.


Normal Box (for most terrain needs):
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Pr ... &CATID=175

Big Box (for bigger pieces):
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Pr ... ODID=62430


These are durable, and stack nicely. I have them (7 smaller ones, 2 big ones) stacked almost to the ceiling now, and haven't had any tipping or falling problems with them. My ArenaWorks pieces fit in two of the smaller ones, same with my collections of VillageWorks buildings. CastleWorks walls fit in nicely into the smaller boxes, and the Towers fit into the larger boxes.

I should note that neither a fully built out First Light nor Maiden fit in either box. But I suspect that will be true for most storage containers.

I use the one that is in Denny's pic. But I wish I had a way to get the Maiden protected for transport....

I just use those Office Depot or Staples cardboard boxes with lids.

Yep, Sterelite, and the stackable 62 Qt. boxes with the two part lids.

The Auld Grump

I'll have to put the 8 boards of Chunky Dungeon I had a the con last weekend back in my pickup and take a picture. It filled the bed pretty well.

--Chris

I just went to Staples and got an Iris 5-Drawer Organizer. It was on sale for $19.99, which is a lot less than the Sterilite ones.

It's also got a tool tray on top, so it's useful while I'm working to hold all the little bits.

Plus, it's black.

Thats one of two types of storage units that I currently use. What I really like about them is that you can remove and combine drawers as you want (though each tower set only comes with one top). I've got two so far, bought one, and was gifted the other by one of my gamers. I converted one of the large & small drawers into a paint storage centre, and the other 3 large, and 3 small into a WW's storage tower. I really see the use of these units and plan on picking up more. The large drawers are great for buildings, and the smaller drawers are great for everything else, and the bottoms of the drawers are actually flat , great for paperlinks & tiles.

A friend of mine uses storage tubs like this for his 40k models... which normaly I would call insane since they're unpadded but he puts a metal sheet in the bottom and puts sheet magnet like they use in refriderater magnets on the bottom of each mini. They sit still and touch nothing but air. I imagine this might work well for such big lightweight models like these.

SR.

Hi, Slackratchet!

I've got a friend who does the same magnet base thing, but stores his Tau army in a metal toolbox to tote around with him. It's a bit heavy, but those things don't budge!

It's a nifty trick and always causes some people to do a doublecheck when he turns a board full of minis upside down Now I need to find a box big enough for two Maidens and some magnetic sheet here soon.

SR.

Could you ask him where he bought his sheet of metal at? And, how much it cost him?
I've been thinking about doing this myself.
But, the prices for sheetmetal, at the various HomeDepots/houseware suppliers hereabouts... makes it seem kind of 'cost-prohibitive'.
Any suggestions on 'alternative (ie.- *CHEAPER*) suppliers', would be deeply appreciated.

Also, anyone wanting to do the 'magnetic-base' miniature thing, should consider going HERE for magnets...
http://www.amazingmagnets.com/index.asp

(I buy 'rods' of their 3/8th inch magnets, to base my figures with.)
http://www.amazingmagnets.com/index.asp ... gory=25595

(IMO, decent service and prices.)

I wanted to address this topic in an entirely NEW way...

I feel that this topic is actually composed of a 'series' of questions, that I'd like to see addressed 'individually' but 'accumulatively'...
(So, that all the info is in 'one spot')....

So, to that end, I propose...
A 'Questionaire'...

What follows are a series of questions, that I figure we ALL have had cross our minds at one time or another.
And, I think that 'sharing' our own individual experiences with them, will HELP everyone else. (ESPECIALLY us *NOOBS*.)

REPLY, IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT...

1)What type -and- how big is your assembly?
(I plan on assembling an entire Mayhem cityscape. I plan on the final product being around 3' by 6'. With some adjustments/extra pieces, I plan on being able to 'field' an assembly that would be *roughly* 4' by 7'. Something that would fit on TWO 3' by 8' convention-tables, set up side-by-side. With *roughly* a 1' gap all around the tables' edge.
If we game at my home, I'll be using the 3'x6' assembly, on a dining-table.)

2)Where and How do you store it?
(For me, this... until a better option comes along... will be in my garage storage-closet, I WAS going to put it in cardboard boxes... but, Denny's thread on 'Sterilite' storage-boxes, has me thinking about some of them, instead.)

3)Will your assembly be 'on display' in it's storage area? If so, How?
(For me... thats just an impossibility. Shelves just wouldn't be big/wide enough... I don't have THAT much space, and I don't own any 'display cases'. I am told that most assemblies are 'traditionally' stored... "in the open,.. on a tabletop,... up in someone's attic."
I've yet to verify this.)

4)What is your assembly for? Gaming? Display? Other?
(For me, it will be a variable/adjustable game environment for conducting miniature-battlegames on. Tho, I realize that TRUE cardstock enthusiasts, might like to have something put together, just for the 'display novelty'. ...like Alex Baldwin's character in the movie 'Beetlegeuse'. HEY! *HE* did store his in an attic!!)

5)Do you plan on assembling/storing more than one assembly? If so, how many? How much storage-space do they take up? each? Whats your limit?
(If I can ever get around to it, I'd also like to get a fantasy-pirates assembly together, for the same purposes. But, I think 'storage space' might stand in the way of me actually getting this done. ONE assembly MAY be my absolute 'limit'.)

6)If you use your assembly outside of your home, how do you transport it?
(I'll be doing mostly convention-gaming with mine... so, I'll be using some 'Sterilite totes', to get them back and forth in one piece.)

7)Do you take any EXTRA pracautions to keep your assembly from getting damaged?
(I'll be lining my totes with 'packing-foam sheets', and packing the empty spaces within, with discarded newspaper. To keep everything from banging around inside.
*WARNING*: For you LONG-TERM 'STORERS'... I know from 'personal experience' that what I've just described to you is considerd, universally by ALL 'vermin', to be *IDEAL* nest-making material!!)

How much 'overall' space do you dedicate to 'storing' your assemblies? To 'construction workspace? TOTAL?
(None, so far. But, when I get going... one 4' x 6' x 10' storage closet. And, my desktop... I'll have to do my assembling 'bit-by-bit'.
But, I already keep my art supplies in my desk, and most of the tools are the same. So, a few extra knick-knacks in one of the bigger drawers, won't make that much of a difference. I'd say that'll be about a 5' by 7' area, total.)

9)Any 'advice' on storage? On transporting?
(On 'storage'...
1- USE SOME PESTICIDES! Nothing will hack you off more than opening up your convention box, to find that 'fieldmice' or 'roaches' have 'GNAWED', 'POOPED', and 'NESTED' your $356.00/13-months-of-my-'friggin'-life 'precious' assembly into UTTER OBLIVION!! *groan*
Be sensible tho, remeber that your gear is stored in there with that stuff too, and you don't wanna make yourself sick when you pull it out and use it.
2)- Store it in a 'DRY' place. Keeping the 'humidity' down is essential to your assembly's longlife. As, absorbing ambiant moisture makes cardstock 'warp'. Something of a MAJOR problem, here in northeast Texas.)
3- Store it out of reach, of *EVERYONE*. Especially children!!
Most older relatives will 'trash' it, just because they don't ...'understand' ...your hobby.
But, children might ...along with doing a preshooler's rendition of 'Godzilla' ...try to eat a piece, and that could hurt them!!
4- Mark the box: "Granma So-and-So's family albums and vacation slides: DO NOT THROW AWAY!"
...**NOONE** will *EVER* touch it. Belive me!!!)

(On 'transporting'...
During transports *NEVER* store your 'superglues/epoxys' IN WITH your assemblys and figurines! ESPECIALLY, if your going to be CHANGING ELEVATIONS!!
...NOT PRETTY!)

10)Is there anything else that you feel might be useful/helpful for others to hear, about 'storage' or 'transportation'?
(I believe that these two things... even more so than 'price',... are the biggest hindrances to my participation in this hobby. I LOVE* the idea of making scalemodel cityscapes!! But, I also feel that space considerations' are going to keep me from doing/assembling anything more, than a basic 'utility set' for my gaming purposes. ...We'll see, tho!)

There you go. Thats it.
Any takers?

1) What type and how large?
I don't build just a single layout, but build components, so it's ever growing. My models are mostly modern with some sci-fi, and when I set up I usually got for a 5x5 tile set up (35"x35"). I have lots more than I need, but I like options.

3) Where and how stored?
I have a large closet in my office, in which I store a number of cardboard filing boxes from Office Depot and Staples. They each fit a couple of tiles with buildings on, empty tiles, and lots of props.

3) On display in storage area?
I wish! No, it's all boxed up and taken out when I want to use it.

4) What is it used for?
Gaming. I have built models as gifts (treasure chest from Coins of the Realm) but most is just for gaming.

5) More than one assembly? Limit?
No limit, I keep building... and I store as much as I build. I don't have limitless space, but I have enough for now. I don't build large individual models though... my warehouse (7"x14") is my largest. As I mentioned above, my builds are for multiple setups.

6) How do I transport it to game elsewhere?
Same boxes. I play a layout prior to the game and repack the boxes with the relevant pieces. I always take a few extra bits, especially props, as you never know what might happen. I used to use a single large plastic tote when I ran game demos in stores.

7) Extra precautions?
I'm careful, but not in a paranoid sense. The great thing about Cardstock modeling is that if something gets damaged, you just make another one. I have only had one model so far that had to be tossed out... that was my pedestrian bridge. It didn't survive a move across half of the US... which isn't surprising since we hired packers to pack for us and they opened my sealed boxed of cardstock to squash packing paper in... to make it tight a safe. Idiots. Through gameplay my models are all still doing fine.

8) Overall space dedicated?
Hard to answer as I don't really think about it. I pull things out when I use them and try to put most of them away when I'm done. Blades, bits, printed cardstock, etc. are all in a plastic set of drawers under my craft desk. Finished models are in the closet.

9) Advice on storage and transportation?
Pack smart so that things don't move about too much. Put small props inside larger props, and don't put large objects on top of fragile ones.

I didn't bother with question 10 as it is asked by question 9.

I hope that helps.

Arabin

1)What type -and- how big is your assembly?

My assemblies are a uniform 3’x5’ on a hardboard base.

2)Where and How do you store it?

In a glass enclosed 7’high x 10 1/2’wide adjustable rack unit along one wall of a room. Note: the rack unit does not have shelves. The base of the assembly is its own shelf and simply slides into place as you’d slide a CD into a rack.

3)Will your assembly be 'on display' in it's storage area? If so, How?

Yes, all assemblies are displayed behind glass in a dust free enviornment.

4)What is your assembly for? Gaming? Display? Other?

Most assemblies are just for display.

5)Do you plan on assembling/storing more than one assembly? If so, how many? How much storage-space do they take up? each? Whats your limit?

I intend to fill the rack eventually and have another built if necessary.

6)If you use your assembly outside of your home, how do you transport it?

Stacked on the back seat of my car. See below.

7)Do you take any EXTRA pracautions to keep your assembly from getting damaged?

Each assembly can be split into 2 1/2’ x 3’ sections which can slide into a plexiglass case. I have only two such cases because I don’t anticipate moving more than one total assembly outside the house.

How much 'overall' space do you dedicate to 'storing' your assemblies? To 'construction workspace? TOTAL?

My workroom (including the storage/display wall) is 14’x16’.

9)Any 'advice' on storage? On transporting?

None

I know.
I just included it, as a 'catch-all'...
A chance for everyone to say *something* that they felt was important, that I might not have covered in my questions.

Thnx, for the responses guys!
They are GREAT! LOTSA good insight.

I hope others will join in, and we can hear more from their points of view.

I've been throwing a couple of those desiccating sachets, that you get in tablet containers and electrical goods packaging, into each of the plastic boxes that I use to store my cardstock builds.


Over the last three years, despite having a fairly damp environment here, my builds have stayed warp free (except for construction errors) - and I'm pretty sure that using the desiccating sachets has been a major contributor to this.

(Now, if I could only achieve the same results with every build)