I fell in love with gaming miniatures not long after I first started playing Dungeons & Dragons. Back in those days, Ral Partha and Grenadier minis ruled the day. I can't recall how many driveways I had to shovel and how many lawns I had to cut, but within a few years I had amassed a respectable collection of miniatures: elves, dwarves, orcs and too many beasties to remember.
Miniatures Storage
Back then, there weren’t many options when it came to storing and transporting my miniatures. Grenadier sets came packaged in cardboard boxes with slotted foam (which was nice), but Ral Partha minis came in simple blister packs (just like Reaper Miniatures today). My only solution was to keep my collection in shoe boxes lined with tissue paper. Overall not a bad thing as long as the boxes were stored safely beneath my bed, but when it came time to transport my miniatures to my best friend’s house for a weekend of D&D, it truly became a nightmare. More than one paint job became chipped and damaged as my minis banged and crashed against each other on the car ride over.
BattleHive II
As far as miniatures storage goes, the good old days weren’t so good after all. Today’s gamers have a much wider variety of options available when it comes to safely protecting and transporting minis.
One of the more intriguing options is the BattleHive II manufactured by Crystal Caste. Yes, this storage solution isn’t for everyone, but if you have a big enough collection and the budget for such a large case, the BattleHive II is sweet.
We’ve been carrying the BattleHive II at Dark Elf Dice since we opened for business in 2005. The case is a specialty item to be sure, but we always try to keep a few in stock for the gamers that need one.
If you’re considering purchasing the BattleHive II, here are a few of the positives in my opinion:
- If not the biggest, it’s definitely one of the biggest storage cases on today’s market. Great for large collections and entire armies.
- Hard-shell case offering better overall protection than a soft-shell counterpart.
- Has wheels and an attached tote handle for easier transportation.
- Comes with 7 foam “pick and pluck” storage trays of different depths so gamers can customize different openings for specific miniatures.
- Comes with an accessory tray for storing dice, tokens, pens, and whatnot.
Final Thoughts
The BattleHive II isn't inexpensive mind you, and the price has gone up over the years due to increased manufacturing costs. At the time of this article, the case is $124.95 + shipping. That said, you get a lot of bang for your buck with the BattleHive II, and depending on the size of your collection you may be able to fit all your miniatures in the case and save money by foregoing multiple, smaller cases (or shoe boxes).
That’s it for this week, fellow travelers! If you have any questions about the BattleHive II or any of the other miniatures storage cases we carry, be sure to ask. And as always, remember to make each and every day count. Live life to the fullest and game on.
