Storehouse Aluminum Case - Pictures and Review Added

[twopounder]

I ran across these on my last trip to Harbor Freight, but decided not to pick one up. However, they're now on sale for $25 and there is a coupon for an additional 20% off one item:

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-x-12-34-x-6-aluminum-case-69318.html

 

Has anyone used them before? Are they decent for the price? They have a nice customizable foam insert that you can break into sections or leave in place, and I was thinking of using them for vehicles/ravenwing with my existing troop trays on top.

[JeffTibbetts]

Dang. I might have to check those out too. Do you mind telling me if the coupon was something you found online or what? I have a store here in town and I might stop by.

[twopounder]

Dang. I might have to check those out too. Do you mind telling me if the coupon was something you found online or what? I have a store here in town and I might stop by.

 

Here is the coupon: http://www.harborfreight.com/20off-coupon912-aff-17560.html?utm_source=cj&utm_medium=aff&utm_campaign=wts-coupons&hftref=cj

 

It's good until the end of the month, and only on one case, but it covers the sales tax if you buy 2. At least, in my area where it's 10%.

 

The customizable tray looks nice. Just as good as one from army transport, if I recall. The top section with the tool holder pulls right out, too.

 

After measuring my existing GW trays, it looks like it will fit with 5.5" on the side and 2.25" on the front (approximately). But that's enough room for dice, measuring tape, templates, etc.

[Kaedes Nex]

It's only 6" deep, so I'd say it's only good as a skirmish case or an extra case on the side. For the amount it would take to carry most armies, you'd need 4+ cases in which case why not just buy a Battle Foam.

[twopounder]

It's only 6" deep, so I'd say it's only good as a skirmish case or an extra case on the side. For the amount it would take to carry most armies, you'd need 4+ cases in which case why not just buy a Battle Foam.

 

6" gives you 4 of the standard GW foam trays, plus some change on the side area. 2 of them should hold more than enough for a 2k game unless you play IG. Even then, 4 of those GW trays hold 36 models, so that's between 144 and 288 infantry. Not sure what games you play that would make 144 infantry + tanks "skirmish" :/ .

[Kaedes Nex]

6" to me seems like it would be one vehicle tray (4"), and either two 25mm trays (1" each) or one 40mm tray (2"). Ideally 25mm infantry would have a 1.5" tray.

 

So you can see why I am skeptical if your army has any sort of vehicles you are boned unless you want your excess infantry and medium sized units to flop around in the 4" tray.

Not to mention any large models like for say Tyranids or flyers. Honestly I was looking for a similar case like this originally, but seeing my current configuration for a mere 1500-1850 points with only a Land Raider and 2 Drop Pods, let alone other vehicles, I just ended up biting the bullet and buying Battle Foam. Since I already have the Battle Foam I'd much rather prefer that handy all in one package, but two of these cases would likely do the job just as well. It's just a pain in the ass carrying two cases instead of one.

[twopounder]

6" to me seems like it would be one vehicle tray (4"), and either two 25mm trays (1" each) or one 40mm tray (2"). Ideally 25mm infantry would have a 1.5" tray.

 

So you can see why I am skeptical if your army has any sort of vehicles you are boned unless you want your excess infantry and medium sized units to flop around in the 4" tray.

 

Not to mention any large models like for say Tyranids or flyers. Honestly I was looking for a similar case like this originally, but seeing my current configuration for a mere 1500-1850 points with only a Land Raider and 2 Drop Pods, let alone other vehicles, I just ended up biting the bullet and buying Battle Foam. Since I already have the Battle Foam I'd much rather prefer that handy all in one package, but two of these cases would likely do the job just as well. It's just a pain in the ass carrying two cases instead of one.

 

2 of these cases holds a total of 12" of foam with a lot of room left to spare. The included foam is customizable and looks perfect for vehicles, if you want to keep it in there. That's 1 vehicle tray and 2 infantry trays worth of space. 2 infantry trays gives you 72 infantry. So 2 cases would be 144 infantry - enough even for IG. In addition, it's 2 vehicle trays, and probably enough to hold at least 12 rhino sized vehicles.

 

I'll know more when I pick one up. I'll probably grab a couple today and post pictures for comparison. Even if you just need one for troops and misc. stuff, $20 is hard to beat for a locking aluminum case.

[twopounder]

Alright, I snagged a couple of cases. They aren't bad. About the quality you expect from harbor freight. Good for light duty, but I wouldn't put a $1000 camera in one and roll it down the stairs. There are only 2 bad things about the case:

 

1) It has metal tabs sticking into it from the hinges that really need to be cut off.

2)The foam it comes with is only 2" thick instead of 3", making it better suited for bikes. This wasn't an issue for my ravenwing force (see below). But if you have a vehicle heavy army, keep in mind that you'll only get 1 layer of vehicles out of this.Though to be fair, you'll still get more vehicles overall than a GW brand vehicle carrying case.

 

The case is attractive and built well enough for hobby use:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/GunMonkey/Space%20Marines/IMG_20140111_180914_921_zps6181ab14.jpg

 

It includes locks and a set of keys, but that won't keep someone from stealing it and prying it apart with a screw driver.

 

It can fit 4 GW brand foam inserts, but there is a fair amount of pressure when squeezing in that many and a cover. I'd recommend leaving the foam cover off, since the top of the case has a quarter inch of foam too. Unless you plan on checking these on an airline, it should be good enough without the extra foam:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/GunMonkey/Space%20Marines/IMG_20140111_180723_612_zpsc4e19fc6.jpg

 

The 2" pick and pluck foam is a bit short if you plan on taking 6" of vehicles, but it's fine with the included foam topping and 1 level of vehicles. It works exceptionally well with bikes, and almost my entire ravenwing force fits in a single 2" insert. I'll either spread my force between two cases, or push it all into one. I haven't decided yet:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/GunMonkey/Space%20Marines/IMG_20140111_181520_277_zps0c3e718f.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/GunMonkey/Space%20Marines/IMG_20140111_181500_424_zpsd569123f.jpg

 

Overall, I'm pleased with the cases. I know they aren't expected to last forever, but the bulky $100 GW version I had broke in about 3 months, and I'd rather not drop $300+ on an army case.

 

I do wish it was more of a standard size for foam inserts, but I can't really complain if I'm being thrifty.

 

So if you're on a tight budget, or just need an extra case for your vehicles, this works really well. If you need extra foam inserts, I'd try out Foam Factory's pick n pluck line. They sell in sizes up to 3" for a fair price.

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Some extra pics:

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/GunMonkey/Space%20Marines/IMG_20140111_204620_795_zpsd38bf3eb.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/GunMonkey/Space%20Marines/IMG_20140111_204611_665_zps75ffa35c.jpg

[JeffTibbetts]

I picked one up for $20 with a 25% coupon they had in the store! What a steal. Here is mine, so you can see the depth with some larger vehicles.

I was also pretty dang happy with this. It gets the job done, for cheap. I plan on picking up a second one. I found drop pods would end up sticking too far out of the foam, but I'm thinking about options for the second case.

[twopounder]

I picked one up for $20 with a 25% coupon they had in the store! What a steal. Here is mine, so you can see the depth with some larger vehicles. 

 

 

 

I was also pretty dang happy with this. It gets the job done, for cheap. I plan on picking up a second one. I found drop pods would end up sticking too far out of the foam, but I'm thinking about options for the second case. 

 

Try the drop pod sideways. Same with the dreadnoughts. Makes them a lot more manageable. Lucky on the 25% off coupon! They're a good case for the price.

 

Of course, my friend's unit brought back a ton of pelican cases from their last deployment to Kuwait, and he already snagged a $600 case they were throwing out. He's keeping an eye out for more that are scheduled to be dumped. Nothing like a 24" x 24" x 24" milspec hard case to transport models in style.

[Kaedes Nex]

Drop pods are triangular, so if you can fit two, you can fit three no problem by sticking the third one upside down in between the two drop pods.

[JeffTibbetts]

Yeah, I was trying them sideways but they stuck way up over the foam… That being said, I should be able to use some of the foam I picked out to maybe just pour over the top to keep them from moving around in the case. They'll def fit, no problem. The dread, by the way, took up almost no space in mine because I have a magnet in his waist and his arms come off too. You can see his base upside down in my pic over on the right, and his body is next to it. 

 

I got my other case last night, and and I've got left to put in it right now are 5 scout bikes and a couple of drop pods. I should have room to spare if I can figure out a good way to do the pods. 

[twopounder]

Yeah, I was trying them sideways but they stuck way up over the foam… That being said, I should be able to use some of the foam I picked out to maybe just pour over the top to keep them from moving around in the case. They'll def fit, no problem. The dread, by the way, took up almost no space in mine because I have a magnet in his waist and his arms come off too. You can see his base upside down in my pic over on the right, and his body is next to it. 

 

I got my other case last night, and and I've got left to put in it right now are 5 scout bikes and a couple of drop pods. I should have room to spare if I can figure out a good way to do the pods. 

 

Here is a way to fill out the foam: http://www.uline.com/BL_873/Pick-And-Pack-Foam

 

$12 for 12 sheets is a phenomenal price. It requires a bit of work, of course, but you can't really beat that. You can get a 1" and a 2", then put them together for a 3" sheet. Or combine a 2" and 1/2". Foam factory sells 1/4" foam sheets at $10 for 80" x 70" that can be used as spacers.

 

The only real question is what to use as an adhesive. I'm thinking some slightly watered down PVA glue would work, considering the spray adhesives for foam are $17 per can.

 

EDIT: I guess that won't work. You pretty much have to use special glue. 3M Super 77 is recommended and It's $10  a can at home depot. I can probably live with that. I didn't really want to have another chemical spray, but I guess it's either that or paying through the nose for foam trays.

[JeffTibbetts]

I was wondering about adhesives as well. Thanks for doing all the homework! Let me know how that works, if you don't mind.