Help and advice needed!
A long time ago before my ‘sabbatical from wargaming’ I picked up one of these early Figures in Comfort bags. For carrying around plastic figures it worked fine and lasted well.
Fast forward to 2024 and I’ve started to travel more for wargaming. I’m using mainly metal figures, a mix of plastic and resin vehicles, and the old bag just isn’t up to it. A couple of times I’ve arrived at my destination (or back home) to find ‘stuff’ all over the place. The foam inserts are fine for plastics but the metals but just bounce around and into adjoining sections. No breakages or damage yet but it’s only a matter of time!
I’ve seen wargamers use a variety of solutions, from Really Useful Trays with inserts to metal cantilever tool boxes. I’m keen to hear what you’re using, so I can make an informed decision on what I try next.
Mostly I’ll be transporting 50-100 20mm metal figures and a combination of vehicles, artillery etc.
At the moment I’m considering a metal cantilever tool box with glued-in magnetic sheets (my figures are all based on magnetic 1p coins), but am keen to hear what works for other wargamers.
Thanks all!
WARGAME DESPATCHES 
With time being of the essence, your plan might be best! I use magnetic rubber on figure bases and then adhesive backed steel paper in my plastic DIY odds and ends boxes. My experience with magnetic rubber on bases is that the “bond” with a steel toolbox is pretty good (but you probably do not have the time to add magnetic rubber to all your bases). In addition I’d make sure all bases contact each other and I’d put the tool box in the boot on the left of the car and furthest forward against the seat with stuff piled round it to restrict movement. Vehicles are more tricky to store unless you can store them in boxes of no more than a single layer with soft material between vehicles – I use cut down A4 copier paper boxes and try and fill the boxes with vehicles to restrict movement. My vehicles don’t travel but if they did I’d add wadded kitchen roll between them I think and hope for the best (it’ll be metal vehicles that cause the damage if they get loose).
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Many thanks John, the solution I’ve gone for is very much like yours – I’ll do a quick update post. Thanks for taking the time to comment it has helped!
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You don’t want a lead tiger loose in a box, John! 🙂
Regards, Chris.
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If you ever find a good solution, let me know!!
I have a Games Workshop hard case from years ago. Hard plastic with 3 layers of foam inserts, carrying handle and all. That’s the best I’ve seen, but at 25 quid each over 20 years ago, I would have had to spend an awful lot to store all my figures.
I have old thick foam sheets, into which I have cut oblong holes, one per soldier, these lie in trays stacked in A4 boxes. The trays lie 5 deep in a box. The trays are 5mm foamcard. Tanks just sit in trays with foam offcuts between them. But they have to be kept upright.
It takes forever to cut the foam. That’s my latest attempt.
Every army I have is in a different “solution”, none of which are perfect. Scenery is worse.
Cheers,
Frank
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Frank sounds like you’ve got a good solution there! I’ve gone with strong magnetic sheets, I’ll put a quick post up.
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If you are going down the magnatised base route, buy decently strong magnetic strip or pre-cut rounds or they will still bounce around. I strap my briefcase into the back passenger seat rather than put it into the boot as it fares better on a cushioned seat. inside, I have RUBs with 15mm metal figures on magnabases and “steel” paper. the figures are fine, but the metal vehicles on bases still sometimes move.
Regards, Chris
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Thanks Chris good shout on strapping them down too. I’d been putting mine in the boot, will try the back seat next weekend. Cheers
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