Creating movement trays for warhammer

[job]

Well, as a starter, I've been advised to make movement trays for my army. I took Justin's advice and found and bought little square magnets at Seria (100 en shop).
Anyway, the question is two-fold. First, what materials and to what dimensions do you make your homemade-movement tray? Secondly, if you magnetize your trays, how do magnetize the tray itself? with magnets or or make it with something the magnets are attracted to?

[me_in_japan]

having never had a need to make any kind of movement tray, much less magnetize one, I cant say specifically, but I reckon that since the movement tray is largely to ease movement around the board (as opposed to holding things firmly in place or for transportation from A to B), you could go with some sheet steel for the base. I bought a roll of steel from teh hardware store for... a coupla thousand yen, maybe? I canny mind exactly, but it was only a twitch more than I was hoping to pay.

That should do the business for you.

ps when I say "sheet steel" I mean like steel that is a bit thicker than foil. I cut it with scissors. We aint talking tank plating, here.

[The Other Dave]

I know some folks reckon it's a waste of money, but I was lazy and bought mine from Litko. Choose your base size and formation width and depth and you're done - they're super sturdy too. My 20mm-base 6x8 trays for my gobbos were like $8 each, which I figure is eminently reasonable. I got my whole army set up with trays for something like $30 including shipping.

They also sell sheet magnet and flex steel, pre-cut to your base size if you like, if you want to go the magnetization route.

(They also sell very nice acrylic tokens, counters, gauges, etc. for just about any game you please, but that's another topic I suppose. Yes, I'm an unashamed fan.)

[ashmie]

Oh I like this thread. I need to upgrade from using the back on cereal packets and WH boxes.
Thanks.

[jus]

good on you job. Its not until you've played a game with all regiments on magnet tray, that you realise how much more efficient magnet trays are. I hope you got about 25 to 30 packs of those magnets. More the better.

For the tray I use 5mm white foam card board that you can get from tokyuu hands. Easy to cut and can easily carry the weight of plastics (not metals though). It is also 147 yen for sheet of the stuff, that is to say; very cheap

I use the same magnets that I use for the bases as I use for the tray. Is that the best way? I don't know. Other people have suggested using some metal, but I using the same magnets works fine for me. The 20 mm on the tray will line up with the 20mm of the base you're good to go.

For each model that is given a magnet, another magnet is needed for the tray. So a a regiment of 20 models will need 40 magnets. 40 models will need 80 magnets. Yes, you need quite a lot.

If you choose to do it my way then its important to get the facing of the magnets right when attaching to tray or model. Depending on which side the magnet is rotated to, the polarity of the magnetic pull is determined. You can see this by the grain in the magnet. there are faint lines running down the surface, and you want to align the grain if you want a strong pull (what I use) or a dis align them for a weak pull. Test it out with the magnets first before attaching to the model or tray. The weak pull is quite weak, and a bit rubbish but allows for wiggle room. The strong pull is sufficiently strong enough for you to hold a full tray of models upside down and not have a single model fall off.

[Seb]

I am reviving the thread..
With me getting into WHFB I have also come upon this undeniable part of the hobby and need some movement trays, I have seen your movement trays Jus and they are good, the magnetic power makes sure that those models stay in rank.

But I really like the GW modular movement trays and was thinking about getting some of these.

Anyone tried these? I like the way the look after basing and painting etc.

[Admiral-Badruck]

Are there any movement trays out there that are a bit cheaper... 24$ american is a bit much for movement trays...

[The Other Dave]

Are there any movement trays out there that are a bit cheaper... 24$ american is a bit much for movement trays...

I'll shamelessly re-share my Litko link - I fitted out my whole goblin army - and that's a big army - with trays from them for something like $30US, including shipping. They're really nice, worth every penny in my opinion.

(I know some folks have scratch-built movement trays, but it doesn't do it for me personally - my own experience is of having tried a couple ways to make trays with 100-yen-store materials, but they tended to look like garbage and/or fall apart very quickly. Litko trays are extra sturdy, and they flocked up very nicely.)

[Admiral-Badruck]

I love the stuff from that store but I just cant justify the cost I need like 6 trays of 20 and that is going to cost me like 70$ american I could pay it but I really would rather spend 70$ on models and just have to move the trays..I can make out of 100 yen stuff...I really want those trays though... hummmm what to do what to do .....

[Seb]

Before I go and buy anything I am going to take the thin wooden board that I have in my closet and try to build something, we'll see how that turns out, I'll post pictures when I am done.