Carrying case

[Deathknight69]

Hey gang, I need some reasonable idea's for a case that'll hold a minimum of 150 'Mechs and 100 Vee's. Reasonable as in: affordable, sturdy and sustainable and ability to hold more than the stated quantities briefed earlier.

Thanks,

Dk69

[Kerfuffin(925)]

That’s getting into the rolling toolbox sized cases. Most bag sized ones cap out around 100


This is battlefoams site, linked specifically to their BT offerings.

https://us.battlefoam.com/bags-and-bag-kits-4/

Fortress and Aries games both carry feldher bags, but I am not sure they offer large enough ones. Feldher itself might but importing a single bag might not be worth it to you.

[shadowdancer]

If you are willing to put in some work this is what I do for cases. Buy a large plastic toolbox. Make sure the insides are straight up and down. Also, rectangular. Using cardboard and duct tape to make shelfs. Then go to an upholstery shop and buy scrap foam to fill the shelfs. For mechs have the cardboard shelfs 3 in. tall with 2 in. foam. For vehicles 2 in. cardboard height and 1 in. foam. Then use a razor knife to make custom holes and cut the names off packages to label the holes.

I pick them up in flea markets and yard sales. I have $30 into this case.

[Daryk]

Brilliant!  The labels on the bottom level are a great idea too! :)

[Joel47]

Plastic or metal? If they're plastic, consider magnetic storage. One box, six trays (one was removed to make for a better photo), each tray holds 35 'Mechs or nearly twice that in vehicles.

(Plastic Jucoci-brand case from Amazon.)

[dirty harry]

Plastic or metal?

That is quite an important question. If it is metal we are talking about, 150 mechs and 100 tanks equal about ~10 kg (or ~20 pound) of material. Not all carry cases are made for that kind of weight. It also tends to affect the layout of trays and traybottoms.

I use cheap metal tool cases lined with two layers of 5cm high foam cut to fit my ideas of loadout (top layer with a thin plywood floor) and a single 3cm high foam for tanks and vehicles. I can load it with up to 120 metal mechs and about 50 - 60 tanks. These cases already exceed the 8 kg scale and the handles suggest no more extra weight.

[Joel47]

If it is metal we are talking about, 150 mechs and 100 tanks equal about ~10 kg (or ~20 pound) of material. Not all carry cases are made for that kind of weight.

Yeah, the cases I have for my metal minis are roller bags. I can *lift* them, but I really like having rollers for game stores without close parking.

[Deathknight69]

The question should have said for the plastic crack I'm currently sitting on. The metal crack is in an Outrider Hobbies "Overlord" bag and if I ever get the rest of my metal crack put together I'll have to get another bag/case for them.

[Joel47]

Then I definitely recommend some sort of magnetic storage. You get higher storage density because the minis can sit closer together, and no wear-and-tear from rubbing against the foam (which isn't a problem short-term, but I have lost some paint over years of use on some minis). The higher storage density also means cheaper storage, whether you're making your own with sheet steel glued into plastic or cardboard boxes, or purchasing a case. Finally, magnetic storage makes it easier to show off your minis because they're not nestled in foam.

The one downside is that if the case gets dropped you get catastrophic failure--with foam, everything takes a hit but you don't get minis bouncing off other minis. So if you do air travel, go foam; if you don't, magnetic storage is fine if you buckle the case into a seat in your car.

[Gunner178]

The foam and cardboard is similar to what I used for  30 years,  I however put them in 30 gal totes.  Luann board  3/8  underlayment sheet and sofa foam is what I use for the each layer.  I got free  from a guy who does that kind of work.  Once I got the sheet cut out  I used a spray paint to stiffen the top.  A loop of wire or string on each end  for handles to lift them out.  I have labeled the slots on the bottom or on the top.   I found I Like it on top better  make putting thing away a bit faster  not having to look in to each hole.  I have 4 such totes with about 800  minis mech, vehicles, and protos.  I try to keep each unit together on a sheet when its possible.

[Daemion]

Shucks!  Here I was hoping to see someone putting together a Mech scale Union or Overlord case to carry a company or battalion's worth of minis.