Miniature Transport

Sooner or later, we all start to accumulate a large number of games under our belt, and with that, our armies expand in size. It is usually then that we face a dilemma; the transport of our miniatures. When still starting out in the hobby, a cardboard box is sufficient for transport, and we go along our merry way having fun, unhindered. Yet when armies reach the 2000pt mark, too many arms, guns, and other accessories are found snapped off when we bust out the box o' minis, pushing us to protect the little ones.

The (insert common household material here) box
It's quick, cheap, and does a sufficient job holding its contents together. But for the serious hobbyist .... no. Just plain no.

Miniature Case
There are many suppliers out there which provide foam transports; Games Workshop, Sabol, and Reaper to name a few. Pros are that it is a durable case with pre-made slots, and it is an instant remedy for transport issues, with no further hassles or deals. The problem with these is that they can't be customized to such a great extent. Some provide you with trays of perforated foam rectangles, but irregular shapes can't be made. Overall, it's a nice padded container, provided you can shell out the dough for one.

Gun Cases
An alternative to brand name mini cases is buying foam lined cases for other objects such gun cases. It shares many of the pros of the Miniature Cases, but additionally these are cheaper, costing you about $40. Yet, this case lacks the foam slots the previous case had. You would have to go through a hassle carving out slots in the pre-made foam, if you wanted individual mini protection. In addition, gun cases usually have egg crate foam. This type of foam is good for protecting against pretty large shocks (such as if you accidentally drop the container). But the design of the foam having "mountains" and "valleys" causes minis to naturally lie in a "valley". When the miniature count gets high, and the case starts to fill up, they start rubbing against each other, and once again arms start popping off. This case is good if you want a container with foam already lining it, but to ensure the complete protection of your minis, you would have to spend the time either cutting out slots, or positioning each mini in their own "valley" so that they won't rub against each other. Another thing to keep in mind is the impression you would be giving off to others if you're walking around with a gun case and an eager look on your face as you enter someones house/store.

Custom Case
Ah, the custom army transport case. A fine specimen, evoking feelings of intrigue and wonder. The pros and cons of this kind of case are cost, construction, and durability. If you know what you are doing when you make one, it can be really cheap, scrounged from available materials; accommodate a wide variety of figure shapes and poses; and can last you until the end of your gaming career. Yet at the same time, it can be a horrendous experience if you don't know what the hell you're doing.

Overall, it's truly up to the gamer and their preferences for which case to use. What case do you guys use for your needs?