We've all waded through dozens of threads at various times, looking for the penultimate storage solution - that magical convergence of function, price, style, fanboy-service, efficiency, viability and of course availability.

Yet may be a good solution for gamer A, doesn't quite suit gamer B, and what suits gamer C, doesn't suit anyone else. etc.

In other words there is no perfect, one size fits all, storage solution. That much is so self-evident, there is no need to back it up with any sort of proof. If anyone denies it, it just means they don't know anything yet.

Having said that, if there were a perfect one-solution-to-rule-them-all, what do you think the most important attributes of that solution should be?

For myself the three greatest factors in my determination of what makes a "great" storage solution are:

1. Size: Smaller is better. fitting my fleet (including all epic ships) into a single carrying case would be a must.
2. Safety: I paint my minis - I want to protect them from scarring (or worse). They must be secure, and not bumping.
3. Sorted: I was going to say, Organized but I wanted to go with the alliterated fee. I don't want to be digging through layers of ships to find the one ship I am looking for and messing up the rest of it. I want to be in and out of storage when I put my 100 pt. fleet together for some game inside ten minutes.

Having said that, there are some lesser considerations that would be nice.

• I don't care for foam - that's my personal preference. When foam is snug enough to hold the mini, it usually snug enough to grip the mini as I take it out of the foam, and snags have marred my ships in the past. I am a careful person, but these things happen, and I would avoid them if I could. I like form fitting molds, but not the kind that the ship "snaps" into (like the vacuum packs), a nice hard plastic form is great - all you need is a decent cover.
• I am not a millionaire - in other words, I am not going to drop hundreds of dollars in a storage solution in a single go. I have probably dropped that much already as I've gone along - but if I was to switch to something else, it would be difficult to justify it to myself if it cost like crazy.

Now, the point of this post isn't to tell you what I think the perfect solution would be - it is rather to give the community an opportunity to prioritize the attributes that are most important to them in determining a storage solution. If money is no object, a person's main concern isn't going to be price - it may be something aesthetic (it has to have an Imperial Logo on it!) - some prefer geek-cred or beauty to actual functionality etc. This thread is for laying out what the most important "storage solution" attribute is according to your needs.

I personally like reading storage solution threads, and especially seeing pictures of interesting or unique approaches, but I don't think I've read a thread devoted to the "what is most important to me in a storage solution" notion.

I would think that the most important (given every other storage thread out there) would be how easily it expands to accomodate a growing collection, as well as how customizeable it is. If there's one thing I've noticed, collections are never... "set". New waves come out, the search for new storage solutions is on!

Myself: I have one case that holds EVERYTHING that's non-epic. Epic ships display on a shelf unless I take them with me. I also have 2 different "tournament" boxes. One for game night that has a duplicate of all tokens, maneuver templates, and holds 3ish fleets. The other tournament box strictly holds what I need at something like store champs and above. Fits between mats, barely holds it all, basically as small as I could get something that holds everything for one fleet.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000E3FKTO/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?qid=1445953713&sr=1-20&pi=SL75_QL70&keywords=plano+tackle+box

This box. The top compartment can hold 2 more tackleboxes if you wanted.

I have one for my small ships, tokens, dials, ship tokens, etc. And another full of my large based ships and their bases and pegs and ship tokens. I have a nearly 100% complete 100 point set of most of the ships in the game. If you have less than that you could fit your upgrade cards in also. I keep upgrades in an ultra pro binder, and imperial ship cards in their binder, with scum and rebels in a 3rd binder which all fit into an ultra pro messenger bag.

You could store an Epic ship in the top, maybe. I just keep them separate, normally I know ahead of time when an epic game is going to be played.

Well, I use plano 3700-sized boxes for my storage. They're made for fishing tackle, and the compartments are modular. They fit most large and small ships easily. I supplement the plastic compartments with foam that I cut myself, mainly to immobilize the minis within the compartments. They are about $6 per tray, and there are tackleboxes that can hold many trays.

Anyway, one thing I recommend is storing the dials and cardboard inserts for each type of ship next to where you store those ships. This is pretty easy to do with plano 3700s. I used to store all the dials together and all the cardboard inserts together, sorted by faction. But by wave 7, I had so many of each that I was having a hard time finding dials and inserts quickly. Now that I've started storing dials and inserts next to their respective ships, it's a lot easier to find my stuff.

I use GBP £1.99 plastic boxs from home bargains for all my small ships (weirdly i never really want to play my large ships and i only use them in epic games at home)

About 30 compartments, each one big enough for the entire contents of the expansion pack. The compartments also have dividers that remove so two of them with fit a kwing or punisher.

Because xwing models are so light and prepainted they dont chip or get damaged in transit.

In fact i've had more damage caused by foam cases snagging thing bits like Z95 or Bwing lasers.

I still use these:

I don't find that I need to fit my whole collection in a single case, I never take everything all at once.

So for portability your needs suddenly drop with long term storage being anywhere from cases to displaying.

For moving around I use a simple case with single compartments for small ships and a large compartment for large ships if needed. It fits in a messenger bag easily and as long as you don't jostle it too much it'll be fine.

For long term storage I'm more interested in safety actually. I've got two Bengal Cats that are not only very curious but also fast, fond of climbing, stubborn and armed to the teeth with sharp nails. I dare not put out any small ships in the open unsupervised, let alone something expensive like the Corvette or Raider.

I use some cheap fishing/sorting boxes with modular compartments. A bigger one with the ships, pegs, bases, dials and a smaller one with tokens and stuff.

I have some room left for some additional small ships (3 or 4), but I'll probably go on the lookout for another box like the big one and divide my ships into factions.

I don't use foam at the moment and there is too much room for ships to rattle, but I play mostly at home, so that won't be a problem, but some foam to prevent the ships from rattling would be advisable if you intend to carry it with you

There are some pretty good storage solutions at Winnebago.com, makes transport to and from local game nights, store champs, regionals, nationals and worlds no problem, no matter how large or small your collection is.

But in all seriousness, Plano 3700 series and a duffle bag. Have my epics stored seperately but makes it easy to store and to take to local game nights. Have a fairly large collection and loan ships quite often so it's nice to have a way to carry all standard ships at once.

There are some pretty good storage solutions at Winnebago.com, makes transport to and from local game nights, store champs, regionals, nationals and worlds no problem, no matter how large or small your collection is.

The way you say this makes me think you underestimate how large some collections can be

Plano 3700 FTW.

*Note the space for Punishing One and Mist Hunter.

And my most important attributes for storage in order of priority:

1. Scalability
2. Conformity
3. Portability

A small robot about 5' tall that followed you around and responded to voice commands. All the ships, cards, bases and dials would be stored internally. The bot would follow you around and, on command, bring forth your ships already mounted on bases with the required (requested) pilot and upgrade cards. He would also be abls to retrieve the minis and cards from the table after the match. He would also be able to dispense water, coffee and whatever snacks you requested. He should be called BOB.

Oh, one other thing. He would be able to collapse his frame and load himself into the car. That would be the "ultimate" storage solution.

Well, I use plano 3700-sized boxes for my storage. They're made for fishing tackle, and the compartments are modular. They fit most large and small ships easily. I supplement the plastic compartments with foam that I cut myself, mainly to immobilize the minis within the compartments. They are about $6 per tray, and there are tackleboxes that can hold many trays.

Anyway, one thing I recommend is storing the dials and cardboard inserts for each type of ship next to where you store those ships. This is pretty easy to do with plano 3700s. I used to store all the dials together and all the cardboard inserts together, sorted by faction. But by wave 7, I had so many of each that I was having a hard time finding dials and inserts quickly. Now that I've started storing dials and inserts next to their respective ships, it's a lot easier to find my stuff.

What this guy said.

Six dollar for box at fabric store. Two dollar for metre of thin foamy stuff same place. Five dollar for can of spray paint.

I will post picture.......when Imgur stops being goofy.

It may be long while.

A small robot about 5' tall that followed you around and responded to voice commands. All the ships, cards, bases and dials would be stored internally. The bot would follow you around and, on command, bring forth your ships already mounted on bases with the required (requested) pilot and upgrade cards. He would also be abls to retrieve the minis and cards from the table after the match. He would also be able to dispense water, coffee and whatever snacks you requested. He should be called BOB.

Oh, one other thing. He would be able to collapse his frame and load himself into the car. That would be the "ultimate" storage solution.

Will work for promos. Movie still Vader please. :3

Hah!

Imgur has been vanquished! I loot the body and find my pictures.

Twelve-dollar case. Enjoy!

A small robot about 5' tall that followed you around and responded to voice commands. All the ships, cards, bases and dials would be stored internally. The bot would follow you around and, on command, bring forth your ships already mounted on bases with the required (requested) pilot and upgrade cards. He would also be abls to retrieve the minis and cards from the table after the match. He would also be able to dispense water, coffee and whatever snacks you requested. He should be called BOB.

Oh, one other thing. He would be able to collapse his frame and load himself into the car. That would be the "ultimate" storage solution.

I think for the cost of that, you could just pay someone to be your X-Wing butler and pocket the rest.

Will work for promos. Movie still Vader please. :3

I agree it would be less expensive to have a warm body haul my stash but the OP did ask for the ULTIMATE storage solution.

So, you live anywhere near N.E. Ohio?

All I really need is a TARDIS in a suitcase.

Not too much to ask, is it?

A small robot about 5' tall that followed you around and responded to voice commands. All the ships, cards, bases and dials would be stored internally. The bot would follow you around and, on command, bring forth your ships already mounted on bases with the required (requested) pilot and upgrade cards. He would also be abls to retrieve the minis and cards from the table after the match. He would also be able to dispense water, coffee and whatever snacks you requested. He should be called BOB.

Oh, one other thing. He would be able to collapse his frame and load himself into the car. That would be the "ultimate" storage solution.

I think for the cost of that, you could just pay someone to be your X-Wing butler and pocket the rest.

Will work for promos. Movie still Vader please. :3

I agree it would be less expensive to have a warm body haul my stash but the OP did ask for the ULTIMATE storage solution.

So, you live anywhere near N.E. Ohio?

~40 minutes north of Detroit, Michigan.

It would look like a bag of holding.... I've never seen one

Here's my latest and greatest in storage:

Note that the dials and inserts for each type of ship are located in the adjoining slot to the minis of the ship they belong to. This makes finding the right accessories for any given ship a lot easier.

I wouldn't say it's the ultimate solution, but Plano 1374 (3700 series trays) with Microhangars works well for me. I use one tray for all my play gear (templates, asteroids, bases and pegs, etc.) and the other three for ships.

I originally put some thin foam under the ships. This was fine in the tackle box, but the individual 3700's I take to tournaments resulted in the ships getting knocked around a bit. I've found the Microhangars give me a good balance of density and safety. It is possible to hold more ships without the Microhangars, but my collection fits here.

I put the large ships in the top section, although most of them fit in the trays if I don't box them (all except for the YV-666).

All three huge ships will alternatively fit in the top, but I have them in a separate box as I have a few large ships.

I have a decent sized collection and it all fits here with room to grow except for the huge ships:

7 X's, 4 Y's, 5 A's, 4 B's, 3 E's, 2 K's, 2 HWK, 2 Falcons, 1 YT-2400, 1 T70

10 Tie Fighter, 3 Advanced, 3 Interceptors, 2 Slave 1, 1 Shuttle, 3 Bombers, 2 Punishers, 2 Defenders, 3 Phantoms, 2 Tie F/O

2 Starviper, 3 M3-A, 2 IG-2000, 1 YV-666, 2 Kihraxz

I have the starter set box, It holds everything I need except the ships not included with the starter set. the other 10 small ships i have are in there Original plastic cases in a Cardboard box, with cardboard pieces making layers to seperate them. Ultimate cheapness

I use a Plano 1374 and am in the process of transitioning from individual spots for each ship to the Microhanger boxes. The Microhanger boxes save a TON of space and protect the minis fairly well. I use one tray for tokens and such, one tray for Empire, Scum and Rebel share a tray, and I have one open tray (no dividers at all) to store all large ships. The large top portion makes it easy to store all the cards, laser level, rules, lists, and other assorted large items in one spot.

Granted my collection is not huge, I do have at least one of each ship plus some duplicates. and I have lots of space to expand. I do not drag my Epic ships around unless I need to.

Link to Microhangers: http://www.sirwillibald.com/?page_id=753〈=en

If my collection got too out of hand I would need to look at some sort of wheeled box where I could store the 3700 trays, Not even close to that yet.

^{I would like to add the Stanley Click N Connect as a possible "ultimate solution". I don't currently use it for x-wing (I use a nearly full Plano 1374) but I have started using this for Armada. The Stanley is deep, and would require some special inserts or using the microhangers, but it is a good size, reasonable price, and expandable (for $10 a pop).}

^{http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Click-Connect-Organizer-STST19900/dp/B00GJYTXLS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446030475&sr=8-1&keywords=stanley+click+connect+tool+box}