Fnurban #40 : Boxing Clever

I should give fair warning, this post is about storage boxes. I don't want any of my readers to risk  triggering  any adverse physical or mental health reactions due to becoming over-excited; so please, look away now if you are at risk..

I've been looking at storage options for the various collections of toy soldiers that I have accumulated, with the aim of standardising a bit and organising properly. As seen in my last post, the 25mm Seven Years War / AWI forces seem to suit A4 box files, which are widely available and cheap; the next challenge is the currently expanding collection of  6mm figures for the Italy 1859 Risorgimento  project. For obvious reasons, these can fit in smaller, and especially shallower, boxes. I've been looking around various outlets including supermarkets, DIY stores and 'Pound Shop' discount stores, and this week I struck lucky, I think. 

don't get too excited..

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the 'Crofton' stackable food storage range from Aldi supermarkets, here in the UK.  Aldi are a German 'discounter' supermarket chain with a special feature being the 'middle aisle' which has an ever-changing seleciton of homeware, clothing, DIY kit etc, which currently includes these boxes. There's actually a range of sizes, and this is the 'large', measuring  27.4 x 20 x 4.7cm   ( about 10.5 x 8 x 2 inches ).  Decent sturdy plastic, secure 'tupperware' style lid.  It looks just right for the 6mm chaps, and I  reckon I can get about a Division's worth of troops in each box. Here's an example, the temporary cardboard storage  'sabots' (actually just blu-tacked )  for two Austrian brigades fitting nicely in there, with a bit left for some artillery and/or  cavalry if needed

1859 Austrians : one complete brigade and one partly-finished

 

I will have four Divisions to accomodate (two Austrian, one Piedmontese, one French) so I ended up buying 6 boxes, allowing for 'extras' and expansion. Price  £2.99 per box which  seemed quite reasonable. Of course the collection may expand, and who knows whether these appear on that middle aisle ever again, but fingers crossed!  I should add that there is also a version of this size box with one internal partition, which might be worth thinking about if you're interested - but as I said above, I wouldn't want anyone to get over-stimulated by this, so please do just take care.

Having been looking around for suitable boxes, I also couldn't quite resist an impulse buy at our local B&M  (which somewhat confusingly has replaced a branch of B&Q) - they had a multi-pack of three Really Useful boxes 1.75 litre size ) at a good price (£8 for 3 boxes)   

Really Useful indeed..

 Really Useful seem to be the Rolls-Royce of storage boxes and priced accordingly, so bargain offers are good to find! I think these may be good for some of  the 20mm. WW2 D-Day Dodgers - I have found that their 2.5 litre box will hold a Rapid Fire battalion of infantry, and these will be handy for brigade HQs, artillery units etc I am sure.

I hope that's been interesting, and not too emotional for everyone - I just wanted to highlight these current offers, so if you are in the UK and these look useful, you may need to get down to your local Aldi ASAP..

In the meantime I have managed to put in a few more painting sessions on the 1859 Austrians - about 240 shakos, muskets and backpacks have been completed.  

from the front.. 

  

..and the back 

Each coffee-stirrer stick in these pictures holds a 24-figure battalion. The Commission Figurines figures pretty much oblige you to 'keep it simple' - there are features like cross-belts etched into the MDF, and moulded canteens and back-packs etc,  but that's about it detail-wise. The figures are in 'At Attention' with musket grounded and not projecting above the torso, so  I 'drew in' the muskets using a fine-line artists sepia pen - you'll have to look very hard for that!  Now just blanket rolls to paint in (optional, still considering it), flesh for faces and hands, and brass/gold splodge for a badge on shako front, and they'll be done - 'simples!'

Now after that thrill-ride of a post, I think I may need a lie down in a darkened room.. I hope this has been of some interest, at least, if you are looking for similar storage items. I'll try to do something slightly more interesting in my next post - may have even finished those Austrians!   Until then, keep well, everyone.