Storage solutions

[Chrismck]

Hey Folks,

Just looking for some ideas and pics of how you all store your minis/scenery and everything else in between. Looking for inspiration for my own storage solutions.

Thanks in advance!

[ithoriel]

Really Useful Boxes, MDF inserts and magnetic basing

[ced1106]

Walmart had some Plano tackle boxes in their fishing section, so pretty much cleared them out. 

Something no one really mentions about storage is stacking, availability, and price when you want more containers.

I've only had luck with the Plano 3700 series.

[syrinx0]

Really Useful Boxes, MDF inserts and magnetic basing

As Ithoriel mentioned... RUB boxes, inserts and magnetic bases work really well for me.

[Citizen Sade]

As Ithoriel mentioned... RUB boxes, inserts and magnetic bases work really well for me.

This. With RUB storage towers.

[Burgundavia]

I have a bunch of different bins of various size and types. Overall, I like clear plastic bins for most things. This lets me see what's inside. For my terrain, I mostly base it on some version of 2, 3, 4, 6 or 9" bases, so look for bins that have an inside dimension (not an outside one) that works for that.

[Chrismck]

So it would appear that really useful boxes are highly rated . I'd never even heard of them before. Look good for storing armies!

[AndrewBeasley]

So it would appear that really useful boxes are highly rated . I'd never even heard of them before. Look good for storing armies!

There are two disadvantages to be aware of:
1) Over time the handles stretch and the lids can pop open with the slightest touch. As I stack them on top of each other this often leads to the lids sliding around.
2) A fair amount of outside space is wasted with supports and edges - the inside and outside space are not always shown and I've been caught trying to fit them on some shelves


Saying that, they are strong, stack well and reasonably available in the U.K. - postage can be a killer sometimes if you are buying online.


Oh yes - one minor point is that the official labels can be a real pain to peel off!

[Citizen Sade]

FWIW:
1) I’ve only had problems with stretched lids when I’ve used insert trays on a box. The lids don’t fit securely without a tray after that.
2) I mostly stick with the 4, 9 & 19L boxes because they have the same footprint.
3) I tend to buy direct. I find postage, while not insignificant, is not too bad considering the bulk.
4) The stickers are indeed a PITA to remove.

[armchairgeneral]

With RUBs, check out the internal and external sizes before you buy. I was going to get the 4L which about equates to a box file but I found the internal height wasn’t quite enough to accommodate my flag poles unless they were laid down. So I went for the 11L which does have a much bigger area. I then got magnetic sheets for the base of the box and the underside of the figure bases from:-

https://magneticdisplays.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=20_89

[syrinx0]

Oh yes - one minor point is that the official labels can be a real pain to peel off!

I put a larger sticker describing the contents over the official label.  I appreciate the sturdy nature of the outside and the way they stack on my steel wire shelving.

[fusilierdan]

I've used the Plano boxes for many of my figures. Depending on base sizes you can't always maximize the space inside them.

Sterlite makes some boxes that worked but finding them is some times difficult and they don't really have a good one for 28mm figures with flags or for cavalry.

Lately I've been getting RUBs. The 4L and the 8.1L, I'm in the US. For my Marks Little Soldiers I made inserts and laid the figures down and was able to get four layers of figures in a 8.1L box. I'll use the same system for my WWII 15mm armies

I've bought mine from GoVets. Pricing seemed fair and service was good.
https://www.govets.com/isaac/search/result/?q=really+useful+boxes&qty_inc=1&v=1707656799

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Standard Jewelry storage trays

[AndrewBeasley]

If you are having an issue with pikes / standards etc not fitting as they are too tall then some sizes come an an XL version - these have a deep lid that adds a couple of cm to the internal depth.

Lids are sold separately directly from https://www.reallyusefulstorageboxes.co.uk BUT postage from here is £12+VAT

Amazon Prime comes in handy - you often pay a couple of pounds more but the delivery is inbuilt to the price...

[black hat miniatures]

I took a stock take of how I store figures a while back and the totals were:


    White boxes x 41
    This includes figures stored in boxes with magnetic/steel sheet combo and individual fantasy figures stored in KR foam trays in the boxes.

    Really Useful boxes x 3
    I have never found them that useful for storing painted figures but did pick up some MDF inserts which work well with the 25mm minifigs marlburians and a 4l box

    Kaiser Rushforth Cases x 8
    These hold skirmish forces, spaceships, ogres, etc

    Small bisley drawers x 29
    mostly 20mm, ships and smaller 25s such as the FPW infantry

    Larger Bisley Cabinets  x 14
    Cavalry, figures with spears, 40mm AWI, etc

    I also have 14 shelves of two display cabinets ocupied by 54mm Toy Soldier armies, 54mm Punic Wars and my 54 Napoleonics collection (10 shelves and a ton of figures still to sort and repaint/refurbish)

    Add to that the scenery which occupies:

    12 x 50L boxes
    9 x plastic drawers
    15 whites boxes and RUBs

    This doesn't include the boxes of unpainted figures which are in the loft or in the 2 under desk 8 drawer cabinets....

    I have started to rationalise the LOTR figure storage (I was storing them on movement trays but decided that took up too much space)

Mike