How to protect your miniatures during troop transport

[@richardhogg2600]

Great to see you back in th saddle....And belated condolensces...Aged parents is a common element to our hobby for aging folk (well....blokes), and I think this topic is part of the overall support network that goes beyond advice on rules and paints, etc. Take care of yourself, and those around you. I am sure they are looking out for you too. With regard to figure storage....I love RUB...but had a minor disaster picking one up one-handed....I blame a sloppy blue locking handle thing, and not my poor handling....spilled my minis majestically on the floor. 3 printed helicopters and crew "dashed" to smithereens....I have now manufactured some 3D printed clips for 4 and 9L RUB to ensure it never happens again...

[@garrywillswargamerauthor]

Nice video Lee, I use steel paper on my figure bases and line RU boxes with magnetic sheeting.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

A few people have said the same so its a popular choice

[@timfarmer9604]

For the move from the UK to Australia, a few years ago now, I had steel paper lined A4 box files. The miniatures (15mm Napoleonics so no pikes but a few lancers and standards)were based with magnetic strip, the box files packed full with cushion stuffing material and taped shut. Cannons (which weren't stuck to bases) were put in zip lock bags and padded with the stuffing. After a nervous 3 month wait for the ship to arrive I was relieved when unpacking revealed no damage!

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

I assume your belongings came in a shipping container...not the hold of an aeroplane?

[@timfarmer9604]

Yes, that's right. I did manage to pack a box full of unpainted figures in my baggage allowance for my flight so that I had something to work on till the ship arrived!

[@sumerandaccad]

I've transported quite a few figures to the states in the last two years. Mostly 28mm fantasy and sci-fi but also 6mm WW2 and Renaissance. One or two arms came off those you put together, Northstar Stargrave Miniatures and GW Escher. All the others were fine, as were the associated buildings and scenic items. Most were packed away using bubble wrap and, if possible, put inside a building which was then placed into a plastic container and then into a suitcase. My son did buy a KR carrycase which I use for my F&IW figures. Just a slight inconvenience with the flags but they seem fine. Otherwise, it's box files for the 25mm armies, though these I don't transport around. And various small desktop style filing cabinets for various figures depending on the quantity of figures. Yes, it looks a little messy them not being all the same.

[@andydrb9673]

Enjoyable update Lee. Good to see you back at it and full of enthusiasm after your recent bereavement. Those hobby books are a great idea. I’m intrigued by the new project tease.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

I've enjoyed making the books and am working on a couple more now. The new project was supposed to be a small side collaboration but it's already mushroomed into something much bigger. 🤣🦋

[@colinnewmarch1106]

Good video Lee, really useful boxes for me ,I then use magnetic tape to hold them in place

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

Good choice. I've got some of that myself.

[@mr___blue]

For my 28mm rank and flank armies they have magnets in the model bases. Theses are then placed on movement trays that are ferrous magnetic sheeting stuck to 2mm mdf rectangles. They are then transported in plastic 40q containers with non-adhesive non-slip kitchen drawer liners held down by some double sided tape. With the low center of gravity and large areas of contact, this method has been incredibly effective for long distance transport by car. Anything that does not have a movement tray is instead carried in a second container with ferrous magnetic sheeting stuck to the bottom and the magnets in the base prove sufficient. For games with vehicle or other baseless models, I have stored them in a container with the kitchen drawer liner and had no issues. I will definitely consider tissue packing as an extra layer of defense in the future for all my cases.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

Magnets/magnetic sheeting seems to be a popular option.

[@BellaFigurarum]

Well I mostly use public transport to get into games- bus, tram, train. Don't think I ever had an issue. Dust don't kick the box, hold do it in case the vehicle breaks and you will be fine. I mostly use magnetic bases in a metal box and it works fine.

[@robertdean52]

Really Useful Boxes with magnetic sheets in the bottom is the system I use.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

This appears to be a common option.

[@andrewvaughan2911]

Many years ago I custom built a box for the back of my Vespa to take my army (25 mm French Napoleonic) to club meets.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

Ooo that sounds 'bouncy'. I assume it worked ok back then, but I expect it would be a challenge with todays pot-holed roads!

[@davidbenton8775]

My 6mm metal men are stored for transport just as yours are... RUBs and Warbases MDF trays. I find them robust and breakages are rare. I always take repair materials and replacement brigade bases as well. But.... I have about a five minute walk to the railway station, an hour's ride to Sheffield and another ten minute walk to the club. The RUBs fit nicely in a large travel bag carried on my shoulder. This hasn't been a problem, everything usually arrives OK. The only time I have any difficulties is when I'm simultaneously taking my custombuilt terrain...it can get cumbersome and a little heavy. The most problematic was the Battle of Gaines Mill a couple of months ago, I had a 3x3 foot table I'd built out of 18mm plywood... Including the hills it got to 54mm and was quite heavy but wrapped in tarpaulin, bungee corded to a rucksack frame I managed to transport it there. So public transport is doable as is man-portage, even of quite large loads. I would guess a bus would do, but for minis only really. I do find that 6mm metal minis are quite robust and as long as you varnish properly, they wear well even if they do escape the slots in the trays. You might have seen the Gaines Mill table... I photobombed quite a few FB pages with it's construction to battle story in multiple episodes.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

6mm is certainly easier to transport. I saw that Gaines Mill game in my feed, very impressive.

[@ThePlunderDen]

Great video. I really enjoy your content! For some reason I thought I was subscribed already, but apparently I wasn’t so I remedy that! I hoping to bring the Plunder Den over to the UK 🇬🇧 really would like to attend Salute

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

Salutes a great event with an eclectic collection of games and clubs on display and plenty of traders to tempt shoppers.

[@ThePlunderDen]

@@MiniatureAdventuresTVsounds like my kind of place! 👍

[@Jim-yk9if]

Great video, as always. Don't forget to purchase sunglasses, which you will need while basking in the glow of that adulation! :-p

[@simondrury7941]

Most of my figures have magnetic bases and I store them in Really useful boxes mainly the 11L size. Foam cases are good for some stuff. KR Figure foam cases has a 25% sale on till 2nd October. Always remember my mates turning up with figures just thrown in a shoe box and one of my mate ignoring the this way up on the box and tipping all my figures on their side ..... not too much damage!!

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

Ouch. That would make my eyes warery

[@andrewjenkinson272]

I had to decant most of my figures a long distance a few years back and I invested in several second hand GW cases from ebay. These could be had in reasonable condition for about £15 for the standard size and worked quite well. The figures were mostly unscathed and any minor damage was probably due to my overenthusiastic use of the right foot on the accelerator. KR metal cases are nice. but a bit pricey. I wouldn't fancy transporting figures or the train or bus, especially in a big city.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

That's a good price for GW boxes.

[@totalburnout5424]

I started with PC game boxes and small towels back then. Later I got a bag with foam modules, later a larger transport box, both from 'Feldherr'. Special cut foam inside for 10mm pikes. 😊 But I once forgot my cloth bag with the rulebook and accessories next to the car and then ran over it while pulling out of a parking space. 😮 No major damage, but I now have tire marks on my black powder rulebook. But the bond lasted. 🫣

[@ShaunTame-re5us]

Enjoyable vid, thank you. I am musing how to transport my Sassanid Saga force, I suspect RU box with tissue etc. Cheers.

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

My wife bought a metric ton of tissue paper for making Christmas decorations with...but she bought it in January when it was being sold off dirt cheap. I 'borrowed' some to use as packing material because it doesn't leave fibres on models and (when scrunched up) is a very effective way to stop figures moving around.

[@ShaunTame-re5us]

Your wife is clearly a very wise lady! Thank you for the reply and I will do the same. Cheers.

[@JackSargePainting]

Perhaps the best option would be the no transport one? If possible have all the games at your place and provide both sides 😄 I wonder how many folks can manage this? 🤔

[@MiniatureAdventuresTV]

I'd love to have the Rejects round mine for a game, but I suspect my 7x7ft room would struggle to accommodate eight players and a table🤣