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Gangrene
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 939
Location: United States
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 Posted: 01-Apr-2002 12:00 Post subject: mini care |
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I have a question for all you guys who are into minis. What is the best way to hold them for tranport so that they don't get damaged?
Due to events beyond my control I was forced to gather up my small collection of metal minis from my parents house and carry them back to my place. They are rather fragile, almost to the point that I don't like using them at all. So for this trip I wrapped them up in newpaper and placed them in a box. I hope there's a better method; preferabley some kind of mini-storage box or something.
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Gangrene
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Talen
Capellan Confederation
Sang-shao
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1269
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Apr-2002 12:32 Post subject: mini care |
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hmm...egg cartons with some cotton balls?
Just had that idea, try and see if they'll fit
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"Historians exercise great power and some of them know it. They recreate the past, changing it to fit their own interpretations. Thus, they change the future as well." - Leto II
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Apr-2002 18:19 Post subject: mini care |
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1. Use a specialized storage container. Any container will do so long as it is compartmentalized. Me and Ronin are currently using two boxes made for minis and some bait+tackle boxes from Wal-Mart.
2. Use soft foam rubber as the padding. Many minis, including the earlier ones, had at least one sheet with them. Keep this sheet to use to pad them.
3. Metal minis should not be that fragile unless either the adhesive is not secure enough or the joint itself is too brittle. Either way, give them extra padding and possibly a compartment to themselves; unless they are too large, other minis can share compartments if there is enough padding inserted between them.
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Horhiro
Draconis Combine
Samurai
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1625
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Apr-2002 19:00 Post subject: mini care |
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I use the same system as Kraken, the "Guide" series tackle box from Wal-Mart. Comes with four boxes, you can cut the top chambers side walls to fit in a fifth box. Buy some pillow making foam at the local crafts store and cut to fit the boxes. Total cost is about $45 to expertly hold 120 mechs. Plus you can fit 16-32 infantry Hex stands in the top cover.
I think Hardware has a good story of a mutual friend being pulled over by the cops and having to open all his gun cases in the car to show them his mechs 
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"I have lived my life trying to be a virtuous man. The Dragon admires tenacity, and the code of the samurai upholds it as well." -Minobu Tetsuhara
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Sir Henry
Team Bansai
Senior Tech Specialist
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4899
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Apr-2002 19:12 Post subject: mini care |
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I use four figure boxes. I don't travel with them anymore.
Sir HEnry
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Sir Henry
A Dragon in the disguise of a bunny, is still a Dragon.
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chihawk
Clan Blood Spirit
Master Bartender
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 8072
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Apr-2002 19:13 Post subject: mini care |
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I've heard Hardware's story more than a few times and I laugh each time. 
BTW folks, Horhiro's mechs are stored in those tackle boxes in alphabetical order...I have never seen anyone so organized in my life 
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www.210sportsblog.com
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Apr-2002 19:30 Post subject: mini care |
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On 2002-04-01 19:00, Horhiro wrote:
I use the same system as Kraken, the "Guide" series tackle box from Wal-Mart. Comes with four boxes, you can cut the top chambers side walls to fit in a fifth box. Buy some pillow making foam at the local crafts store and cut to fit the boxes. Total cost is about $45 to expertly hold 120 mechs. Plus you can fit 16-32 infantry Hex stands in the top cover.
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Actually, I buy the ones that are sold individually since I don't buy minis that fast anymore.
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I think Hardware has a good story of a mutual friend being pulled over by the cops and having to open all his gun cases in the car to show them his mechs
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There was a thread on Warner's about a guy who tried to go through airport security with his. Needless to say, it was a large hassle and a few got damaged.
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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Vampire
Free Worlds League
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 912
Location: Spain
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| Posted: 02-Apr-2002 15:39 Post subject: mini care |
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Foam is the best way to go, but in my experience, they always move a bit, and the pressure from the foam damages delicate pieces like aerials and such.
My solution is to glue the minis or fix firmly in place with tape or such the bases of the minis to a suitable surface, like a plywood board, or the cardboard box. In this way, the minis behave like part of a solid block, if they are fixed firmly enough, you can even flip it over, though I advise to keep "this side up". This method is fast, and safe, if you don't mind scrapping the bottom of the bases after wards, you can add foam between the minis as insurance.
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Memento audare semper
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Lobsterback
Clan Wolf
Point Commander
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 18
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| Posted: 02-Apr-2002 17:58 Post subject: mini care |
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I have a question for all you guys who are into minis. What is the best way to hold them for tranport so that they don't get damaged?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Gangrene,
Cheap answer, buy a large pistol case.
They can be had at a Gun Show for around $20. The case will have a top layer of "egg
box" shaped foam. The botom layer should be solid foam that you can cut to shape of the minis.
Expensive answer, get a mini case made for Battletech minis. http://www.camelotpewter.net is the website, or you could order them from Ed Karl at Gamers Union (www.gamers-union.com).
These are the best cases for Battletech minis
period.
I own both cases, and plan on selling the pistol case and buying another "command box".
Lobsterback
[ This Message was edited by: Lobsterback on 2002-04-02 18:00 ]
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Lobsterback
FanPro Commando #13
(Metro Detroit)
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Kraken
Federated Suns
Marshal
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 2755
Location: United States
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| Posted: 02-Apr-2002 20:12 Post subject: mini care |
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Again, what method of transport? The method that I suggested works unless you expect to be going over rough roads. The suggested method for longer travels and possibly even air travel, provided you have a set place to stay (preferrably with someone you know) is to pad them as much as possible, put them in a large enough, blank, cardboard box, take them to a respectable mailing agency, get them insured, and mail them ahead. If it goes right, they should get there around the time that you do. But to play it safe, it may be adviseable to notify whoever resides at the address you will be staying that the minis are on their way.
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"I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat." -Edgar Allen Poe"I knew there was something special about you, but I never realized you were really a cat." Wolfwood to a random cat (Trigun)
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