Cheap Raider/ravager carry case

DE vehicles are a slight nightmare to transport to and from games. While Battlefoam is good I cant justify paying their prices, as to me its just foam for plastic soldiers.

I got around it by going to the Container Store, and using their cheap packing foam to make 'U' shapes. Cut a rectangle and then curl it into a U. I will get photos, but for now brief diagram.

So a side view would look like this UUUUU with a raider/ravager sitting in each gap. I stapled the U's together and taped the bottom to the container. Like so:

I once thought the same... until you think about what the models are worth, the tools used to assemble them, cost of paints and your own time...

I figured around $180 US for the battlefoam bag i needed... and the army including production time costs well over $2000... not such a big deal now to keep that investment safe!

Massaen wrote:

I once thought the same... until you think about what the models are worth, the tools used to assemble them, cost of paints and your own time...

I figured around $180 US for the battlefoam bag i needed... and the army including production time costs well over $2000... not such a big deal now to keep that investment safe!

As a painter more than a gamer i want my models safe, that doesn't mean I have to break the bank. The foam protects the model, and it works for me. Total cost was less than $15 and it holds upto 10 raider/ravager so i'm happy.

But yeah, if you have the money and feel battle foam is worth it then go for it. I just think this aspect of the hobby is where we can really get ripped off.

Levitas wrote:

But yeah, if you have the money and feel battle foam is worth it then go for it. I just think this aspect of the hobby is where we can really get ripped off.

I got really ripped off by the Battlefoam case, but am really happy with the case (as long as I NEVER think about how much I paid ) Thanks for posting suggestions for those with the patience to make their own.

Levitas wrote:

As a painter more than a gamer i want my models safe, that doesn't mean I have to break the bank. The foam protects the model, and it works for me. Total cost was less than $15 and it holds upto 10 raider/ravager so i'm happy.

But yeah, if you have the money and feel battle foam is worth it then go for it. I just think this aspect of the hobby is where we can really get ripped off.

I agree - but only in relation to buying something you don't need.

My time is worth $40-$50 per hour at work... more when i am at home as what i am doing is them competing with the kids, my wife etc.

So if it takes me 5 hours to paint 10 kabalites then the unit is 'worth' $300 Aus. i have 40 kabalites so thats now $1200 Aus. They have 4 vehicles minimum at 3 hours per vehicle so thats $200 Aus per vehicle... and another $800 for the 4...

So just 4 troops choices effectively cost me $2000 Aus... spending less than 10% to carry that (let allone the rest) seems like a sound investment.

I'm in the same boat, my time is very valuable, and the battle foam is the best thing going for DE, in my opinion.


I agree I have paid a lot for their cases and foam and one or two bits have gotten broken in them by getting stuck, although that is more of a DE pointy bit problem and not a problem with the case.

I spend on average 2-4 hours per model in my army, vehicles can take a week. I want them protected as best I can. Battlefoam does that for me.

On a side note, I have seen and plan to use this technique on some of my Fantasy armies. A little magnetic work and some effort get a lot of results. One of my buddies uses some big 25 gallon tupperware containers for his fliers. it works, costs less than $20 USD, but it is large and cumbersome to transport. Fortunately for him he does not mind, but it would drive me nuts since I don't have as much room in my vehicle to transport stuff around.

Good points gents. I know what you mean about a time investment, my wife already thinks I invest too much and I too take time to ensure the army looks pretty. I work as a designer with an hourly rate so you have me calculating how much my army is worth now, ha ha.

The hobby is a weird beast, I see guys carry mobs of orks in zip lock bags while another friend has over 10ks worth of BAs in a deluxe battle foam case costing hundreds. I have a couple of army transports for my troops and venoms, but Raiders are such a nightmare to carry around I needed to work something else out.

My DE army was something of a shoestring army, I picked up the core from a friend who didn't like the way they played. The whole deal was less than half retail, so I was happy. I wanted to continue the money saving theme by coming up with a cheaper transport option. I could have shelled out for battlefoam, but other hobbies were hungry for disposable income too. I'm also a creative problem solver so wanted the challenge.

This is just an affordable method that works if cant have battle foam. I haven't had anything break yet and I drive like Mario.

Its all good. Cases are a weird one, in that some cases cost as much as some armies do to buy.

To me, it really comes down to what you want. If you are more of a painter like I am, then you typically want the best protection you can get for your figures.

If you don't give a lick about the painting, then a shoebox and rubber bands will do the trick.

And then there is everyone in between.

I always try to maximize my usage out of whatever I have. My old GW hardcases are great for storing paint pots.
My Sabol cases still get use, but I am giving those to my son as I get more battlefoam cases.

Some of my historical armies have magnetic bases and are placed on steel paper on foamcore movement bases and those are taped down or velcroed to the lids of plastic cases like you have shared with us for your raiders.

Its all what works best for you.

BTW, thanks for sharing your case ideas.

I think the Battlefoam products are the best ready made option, and the ability to custom design the trays is fantastic, but the high time and money cost of our armies does not make laser cut pieces of foam and a nylon bag worth that price. Foam and nylon are dirt cheap materials, and while the bags are very well designed, they are not especially durable.

My school is getting a laser cutter soon and I'm going to draw my own templates and make my own. If there is sufficient interest, I can do a deal where you guys could order foam online and have it mailed to me with $5 a tray for my time and the cost of shipping it back to you. I'm graduating soon, so it will be a limited run. I might graduate before they get the machine, but it's a distinct possibility. If they don't get it in time, I'm just going to cut out the trays on my band saw. I could still sell them to Dark CIty members, but I'd have to charge $10 instead. Any takers?