Storage for miniatures?

[KB9JMQ]

I put up a bookshelf for 1 of each mini for display purposes. Though I use them all the time.
I have two tackle boxes with smaller boxes in them which I put all my undead, mooks (who stand it for large groups of anything) and groups of various creatures I like to use often.
Everything else goes in big tubs which I search for what I need before the gaming session starts.

It works fine but I would like to organize the tubs a little better so prep time (searching) is cut down a bit.

 

[megamania]

Not the cheapest way to go but with the figures I have (I would guess over 8000) this is what I have done-



Short shelves with no layers. Within this space are my 20+ Chessex figurine storage boxes. These have my metal figures and 40K figures. I have two of these.

On top of that are are over 50 three drawer mini organizers I got at Wal-mart. Each are about 10x10x8. These are stacked 5 high and go 8 long. These hold my DDM figures and metal figures to be painted. Each drawer is labeled- Aberrations 1, 2, 3 Aspects, Animals and so on. I have seperated drawers by type and when required created a2 and 3. Each label has creature type then (done on computer) a # (denotes set) and a list of the figure names within.

Pricey and took about 5 years (including Chessex about 10 years to assemble) but easy to locate stuff.

A seperate section has a mini dresser with paint supplies, felt for grass/water/magma and other misc things. On top of that are three larger plastic drawer boxes where my Huges go. On top of that sits my Garg Black, MK Red Dragon and other bulky favorite toy fillins for DnD.

At some time I'll do a photo up.

 

[xmanii]

At some time I'll do a photo up.

Would love to see that.

 

[Grimstaff]

Definitely check the fishing section in your local Walmart or Sporting goods store, you're sure to find something useful.

 

[The Lost Muse]

I have an excellent suggestion for anyone with too many minis to store - I will gladly accept miniatures, and store them for you...

 

[Thanee]

You could use clear ziplock plastic bags to sort them thematically and then just throw the bags into a large-enough box.

Or put them into a Heward's Handy Haversack!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Mark CMG]

It isn't a matter of the type of boxes, IMO, so much as the effective use of labels.

 

[Thurbane]

Tupperware and/or ice cream tubs...

 

[JoeGKushner]

I still think WoTC is missing out on making official carrying cases for these things with slots for large and huge creatures available for seperate purchase from the core carrying case.

 

[SiderisAnon]

Storing/Displaying Miniatures

I can't take credit for this idea, becuase I read it online. However, it seems a very effective way to store minatures. It takes a bit of construction skill, but not a lot.

Get yourself some fairly sturdy baking sheets. You want something with a raised edge so the minis don't slide off, but also with some edge ridge (where you'd grip them to lift) to make carrying easier.

Either use an existing set of shelves or make a box frame of your own. Line the inside vertical edges with rows of thin boards. Basically, the side of the shelf would look like this:

__
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__
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__
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Assuming your box is just about the same width as the baking sheets, you can set all your miniatures in there on their bases, then slide them in and out in the pans. You can always carry the pan over to the table if you need a bunch of one kind of critter. Don't forget to leave some larger spaces for the oversized miniatures.

The original source also suggested putting little magnetic squares on the bottoms of the miniatures so they stick to the pan and stay standing.

You can label the pans. If you want to get really organized, you can put little labels inside the pans so you know where each miniature stands.


Sorry for the cruddy ASCII art.