Really Useful box conversion kits

[Chris Abbey]

A couple of weeks ago, a customer who was running out of space in his hobby room, asked us if we could design something to double the amount that could be stored in his 'Really Useful Boxes'. This is what we came up with:



These conversion kits allow two layers of figures to be stored safely and securely, each layer also being easy to lift out. This MDF kit is very easy to assemble and only needs some wood glue.

The space inside a conversion kit allows for two inserts to sit snugly side by side on both the top and bottom layer. The idea behind this is that you can have two different inserts per layer. The height of each layer is 70mm.
It is designed to fit inside a 9 litre Really Useful Box.



At the moment we have listed an insert for storing figures based on 25mm round bases. Each insert has slots for 36 miniatures, so a converted Really Useful Box with 4 inserts inside it would have slots for 144 miniatures.



We have a lot more inserts designed and are happy to make any of the 40+ storage inserts that are currently available for our Warchest Figure Storage range to fit these boxes. These inserts include round, square, oval, hexagonal slots in every size imaginable together with special inserts to suit X-Wing, Star Trek Attack Wing, Wings of Glory, Sails of Glory and many other games and of course if we have not got an insert available that suits your needs, we are always willing to design one and add it to the range.

http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Really-Useful-Box-Storage

[Hupp n at em]

Pretty tempted by these, assuming the ones they sell over here in the states are the same brand/dimensions as those in the UK.

[Elbows]

Yeah, they should be - you can order direct from them.  I have a bunch for my dwarven forge stuff (the only boxes strong enough to handle all that resin).

[zemjw]

I have one of the "official" plastic trays, but I have to admit, these look very promising and more flexible.

Is there some way to make it not completely enclosed? The great thing about transparent boxes is that you can see what's inside Possibly a cutout in the side, or even just a base and  corner supports would be really useful (sorry, couldn't resist )

It would obviously depend on the weight of the items above, but plastic shouldn't cause any problems - and you could always add a plug in center block for aditional support.

[Chris Abbey]

Cut-out so you can see inside is a great idea.
I will get that done later in week.
We will also be making any of the 40+ Warchest inserts that cover just about every base size ever used available for customers to order. You can use 4 different inserts in one box, which is great if you have an army with mixed base sizes.

[zemjw]

I wouldn't transport painted figures in Really Useful Boxes, not unless they were very carefully packed.

However, for storing figures at home they're, er, really useful (sorry, again). They hold loads and stack well. They're also really strong and take a lot of crap without bending.

One expensive multicase bag for transport and loads of cheap RU boxes and inserts for storage is a good, and affordable, combination

[Elbows]

I will admit I don't entirely see the purpose (or why you'd need the RUB outer layer).  Unless it has a method for securing minis, I thought this was just storage in your game room (in which case the MDF will do just fine).

[Chris Abbey]

I think that lots of gamers have a stack of really useful boxes already.
A customer wrote to me because he was running out of space in his hobby room so wanted to be able to divide his RUB's so that they could hold more scenery and models. The insert I designed for him divides a RUB in half height ways giving you two 70mm high areas. I made a couple of samples during development and will use them to store walls, hedges, scatter terrain etc in, as these do not need the full height of the box. The customer wanted to be able to store scenery on one level and miniatures on the other, hence the optional inserts for miniatures.

Personally, I will not be using this option as I store all my miniatures in Sally 4th Warchests with clear perspex fronts and lids.



These are like mini display cases, that stack high and sit on a shelf in my games room so I can see my miniatures when I'm in the room. Storage is of course a personal preference, but I binned about 35 sets of foam inserts when I swapped to Warchest storage. They do give good protection, but I like to be able to have my figures on display.
http://wargamesbuildings.co.uk/Figure-Storage-Chests

[Derek H]

I make my own trays out of cardboard and stripwood.  Sometimes I put magnetic sheet on the tray.  You can get a lot of 6mm models in a 4L Really Useful Box. 

[MartinR]

Like Derek, I also divide a lot of my existing storage boxes up already (generally A4 box files) into layers.

I can comfortably get two layers of 6mm stuff into one low profile boxfile, and 3 layers of 2mm stuff. I just make the trays out of thick card with stripwood supports and coat them with steel paper, so all the magnabased elements stick to them.

With RUBs, I would gently observe that if they have too much height, just buy the lower ones.... they do come in lots of different sizes.

Having said that, I went double layer in one of my deeper RUBs for my 54mm stuff. Same setup as for the smaller scale things (magnabase is wonderful stuff).

Yes, I do transport stuff to and from the club/shows in these without any problems.

[Dr DeAth]

I'm a RUB fan too, mostly for 15mm figures but I'm starting to use them for 28mm too.

The lipped insert tray for the 4L and 9L boxes that's generally available in shops is the 'stationery' tray with compartments, which I don't find that useful.

If you order directly you can get the plain lipped tray, which is ideal for separating the 4L & 9L boxes



I base my figures on round metal shims that I make with a punch set so I've been lining the boxes and trays with cheap magnetic car L Plates. This provides relatively cheap and secure storage that is stackable and transportable.

[levied troop]

I go the same way as Derek and Martin, even unto the 64 litre RUB with 4 trays 

Been transporting 28mm figures/buildings/terrain to and from shows for about 20 years with no accidents.  A laminated sheet slipped down the side of the box tells me what's in each. 

[Jabba]

Charlie Foxtrot Models link do something too.

1p size version



2p size version

Tony.

[MartinR]

I go the same way as Derek and Martin, even unto the 64 litre RUB with 4 trays 

Impressive!