Friday 13 January 2017

Alternate Method of Transport

A cheap metal tool box available from your local hardware store and a fist full of magnets could be your next choice for army transport...

Welcome back, Today I'm going to share an idea with you that most of my gaming group also use as an alternative method for transporting & storing your Epic miniatures. I can't take credit for coming up with it as its something that has been used for other systems as well within our group but it has become a very popular option.

The method is rather cost effective and easily works out cheaper than your traditional foam and carry case set up.

The humble red tool box

The foundation for this is a sturdy metal tool box you can pick up from most hardware stores for around $15~$20, they generally come in a few different sizes which you could play around with to find something that better suits your needs. the one pictured is the mid size choice and has a tray insert which is fantastic for storing your infantry and some smaller vehicles, while tucking your bigger gear underneath.
Picture showing the metal tray insert

Don't let the tray insert get in the way though should you need the extra head room for larger true scale models such as titans you might pick up along the way, or fliers mounted on taller flight stands as this insert is easily removed by drilling out a couple of pop rivets on the side should you need it.

I really value these boxes because they not only transport but also act as a bit of a carry tray or poor mans display board to cart your gear around from table to table at a tournament without having to put away and pull your your army half a dozen times over a tournament from a foam case, which in the past has caused me a little heartache with flimsier models succumbing to wear and tear. I just find it handy having your formations set up and ready to go out of the box.

Now lets talk about magnetization,

Magnets certainly come in all shapes and sizes now and you really could find a magnet that suits your need via ebay etc for even the heaviest of models.
There is three types I want to talk about today, fridge magnets, magnet bases and rare earth magnets.



The two phots above show two different types of fridge magnets i've used. These are generally found at dirt cheap prices on ebay listed as fridge magnets, magnetic sheets etc and often come with an adhesive side you can just peel off and stick on as required, nice and quick. this options is perfect for most things in your army and could easily be the only option you need to use dependent on how heavy your models might be.


Magnetic bases is another option although I have applied the standard GW epic base on top of one, this is because magnets were an after thought for this army, you could quiet easily order your magnet bases for your next army project, I picked these up from here: http://shogunminiatures.com/shogunminjaturesmagbases.html



Lastly, We've got rare earth magnets, these fellas aren't in any way rare you can find hundreds of options and sizes available and again I typically find myself on eBay for these as that's the easiest way to find your bargains. but beware, if you've not used these magnets before, you might be surprised by how strong they are and how small of a magnet you actually require.
Rare earth magnets, in my opinion would be overkill for your infantry sized stuff, I typically find fridge magnets work best for them, save these for your heavier and larger models.

That just about wraps it up, from here please feel free to check back for more and share the page with your mates as I continue to power through the hobby in 2017








1 comment: