How do you store and transport your KoW armies?

Where did you find the steel sheets? I’m looking into storage/transport solutions. I have magnetized bases but am trying to figure out the best tote/steel sheet combo and where to get it. Reviews online are all over the map.

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I got the totes from Big Lots, but Target also sells them, tho both places tend to have limited stock that quickly vanishes - Sterilite Large 2 Layer Stack & Carry Clear With Green Accents : Target. You can also order them on Amazon for about twice the price.

However not too long ago I built a bigger, better, more mechanically secured tote and talked about it here: Magnet-Ready Army Case 2.0

EDIT: Just saw you specifically talked about steel sheet. I got mine from Lowes in both cases, but any American big box hardware probably has them. I wish I could tell you which gauge I got but I didn’t take note :confused:

Thanks. Do you like the mechanically secured tote better? Aren’t you losing real estate by having the bolts sticking through? I’m not terribly mechanically inclined, so I’m trying to do some research before I dive in on this one.

Yes, I really prefer the bolts, and use the space around the bolts for individuals to hang out so it isn’t a total loss. The creaking epoxy of my stacking tote always creeps me out, especially once my buddy had a sheet detach. It didn’t really have anywhere to go and nobody was damaged, but certainly pushed me to look into mechanical connection.

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I never have far to transport minis but… mine are in cardboard boxes of different sizes. If yall remember the fat mouse from cindarella cartoon (1950s version) carrying too many corn kernels… yeah that’s me with my many mini boxes.

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@Cyberactivity Saw this in your army thread and was interested in some of the details. How carefully did you have to choose the magnetic tape for strength and adhesion? How does the metal paper work, say compared to steel sheets?

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@MarkG I’ve written a quick guide on making the storage solution on my army blog.

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Thank you for taking the time to put up a full guide and the details of the materials.

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You’re welcome. Hopefully the guide will come in handy.

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I have an army case from Sabol, called Army Transport (mark II). This is a foam case, the foam needs to be bought separately. This is a super sturdy case which have been with me around europe and even to the US (as carry on luggage) for eleven years now. I also was able to buy some more of these for my friends.
I don’t know if they make them anymore, or if Sabol is in business, but last I checked they made the Mark III which was not as good because it was top loaded, which is too much of an inconvenience, compared to my Mark II which is back loaded so the foam is easier to slide out of the case without needed to use force.

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@Cyberactivity Picked up the materials and followed your guide - great results.

Some notes:
Used 19mm magnetic tape to easily cut a 19mm square for 20mm individuals.
I picked up a pack of ten A4 self adhesive ferrous sheets so that I didn’t have to cut them at all. Not missing the inch gap at each end - units adhering fine overhanging.
I’ve over magnetised some plastic units - these could probably be stuck to the walls of the box, if it was covered with the ferrous sheet.
Some of the metal units won’t slide but will detach if tipped somewhere before 90 degrees (not planning on doing that!).
2 of the large plastic storage boxes I used snugly fit in this bag (dimensions in the questions): Amazon.co.uk

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I personally use sheet magnets (ie fridge magnet), that I buy in rolls of 1m on ebay.

Sheet magnets to lay out on the base of carrying container? Happen to have a link to what you’ve used in the past? I ordered off Amazon something that was supposed to be like that, but it doesn’t appear to do much.

I also picked up thin steel sheets and attempted to cut it, but I don’t have the tools to do that well, so I’m looking at something I can order off Amazon/eBay to stick to the bottom of the container.

Anyone have a link to something that worked well with magnetized bases?

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I have magnetic sheets on the bottom of my boxes and under units.

Might not let me hold my box upside down, but keeps things from sliding around

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I bought these and they’re useless:

Printable Magnetic Sheets - 5 PCs… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087Z8HJV2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

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Never gotten printable sheets, that might be an issue.
Could be that that brand is poor quality.
From the reviews it looks like those are thin and weak, designed for stickers or fridge magnets.

I usually get the self adhesive variety.

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Great timing. I literally just finished rebasing my Free Dwarfs ready for a KoW day in Mayo.


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Several things:

  • when you buy the fridge magnet stuff, it is magnetic but it will NOT go with magnets. It only means that it’ll go onto ferromagnetic material like iron/steel, NOT magnets glued under your bases
  • you can buy ferromagnetic rubber sheets, kinda like the fridge magnet stuff. BUT this isnt great, as it’s basically iron dust mixed in rubber, and magnets have like 30% of their strength against it at max. Meaning usually it’s good for the bottom of a storage box, but not for a transport box (if you shake/bump or generally dont keep your box carefully horizontal, magnets will fail on that stuff).
  • if you buy sheets of galvanized steel thin enough (mine are 0.2mm or 0.17mm), then all you need is an xacto knife, a ruler, cutting mat, and some patience. If you mark the cuts like five times in a row (being accurate to get on the exact same spot each time, and applying reasonable pressure, with a reasonably new blade), then you can bend and separate. It only works for straight cuts, but it certainly works.
  • you can buy a paper cutter of a certain strength, they will usually also cut thin steel like that.

Stuff I get:
Stahl Weißblech, verzinnt online kaufen | Modulor => metal stuff to make trays
Magnetfolie Roh Braun 1000mm x Meterware | eBay => this is magnetic, goes under bases or bottom of trays to attach them to metal stuff
https://www.ebay.de/itm/262559629810 => ferromagnetic stuff, to put on the bottom of storage boxes (I used Really Useful Boxes 4L and 9L)

Hope this helps :slight_smile:

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So… if you have ever seen floor registers (a/c vents in the floors of manufactured homes) there are magnetic sheets that go over those. The sheets are pretty thick and hold up pretty good, unless an 18 month old gets a hold of it and hides it, folds it in half… you know.

Might try those.

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I saw this in a GSW-newsletter. Looks interesting. The price is quite good

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