Storing the Collection

I can easily make out what era is in a tin

For years I have used a variety of plastic storage bins, like the ones found at places like Hobby Lobby or Michaels, to store my Check Your 6! planes. When I host a game, I pull out the bins to find the planes needed, and place the planes for the upcoming game into tin boxes used for mints (think Altoids) for transport to the hobby shop. The tins work well enough as the planes stay in place due to the magnet on the bottom of the plane. However, I was not happy with trying to access the various sized plastic bins from my rather full and narrow closet, which does not have a light and the plastic bins are not transparent enough to see what each one held. I got to thinking, "someone has to make larger tins" and sure enough, some searching on Amazon yielded numerous styles of tins, with a hinged lid, and in a wide choice of sizes. I decided to go with THESE as they are larger than the Altoid boxes (which do not handle larger aircraft very well) and this version comes with a window in the lid, allowing me to easily see what planes are held within. I ordered 48 tins (four sets) and have converted nearly all my current CY6! collection into them. I can fit about eight fighters, or a medium bomber and four or five fighters, into each tin.

More space than an Altoids tin yet still small enough to transport to the hobby shop for a game

I spent part of a weekend cleaning out the closet as a lot of items needed to go, and placed a small table to hold the tins. There is a second use for these tins in that I also no longer need the Altoid boxes when I host a game, and the wife is happy that the closet is looking much better, which also resulted in a tidier den. Another benefit, because of the magnets a stack of tins does not readily tip over since the tin above is magnetized a bit to the tin below. Brilliant!

Peekaboo! 1948 Arab-Israeli War planes beautifully painted by Miscellaneous Miniatures

I might pick up a few of the larger sizes as I have a couple of four-engine monsters that will not fit in these particular tins and I want to utilize the same storage and transportation method.