Help with vehicle counter organization, Plano 3701?

[waxbanks]

Hi all --

I'm new to the game and have a kiddie question re organization.

This week I'm putting BV counters into some Plano boxes, using Ken Smith's organization cards. But for my life I can't figure out how to divvy up these German vehicles so's to make them quickly searchable --

1. There's a million 20L counters here, from tanks to towed guns to trucks -- the counters are nearly overflowing the partitions. What am I missing?
2. What constitutes a 'transport' in this system? Searching the rulebook last night left me no wiser, though in fairness I was in a fugue state at the time.
3. Ken's cards separate SS vehicles from the broader German counterset -- but while SS infantry is clearly marked as such, I can't see what constitutes SS vehicles...? Are they in a different module altogether?

Thanks much for any guidance you can provide. (I did email Ken for advice but figured I'd hit up you likely lads as well.)

--wally.

 

[Jazz]

Germans are easy, Wait until you get to the British/Commonwealth vehicles.....

 

[Ric of The LBC]

Use the Excell spreadsheet XVII from Texas ASL Download. Texas ASL (texas-asl.com)
Just saying

 

[Kijug]

Agreed Texas ASL website has a pile in the downloads section. FWIW, here is my Plano Germans layout.

 

[Ric of The LBC]

3501? Are you sure you don't want the 3701?

 

[von Marwitz]

Hi all --

I'm new to the game and have a kiddie question re organization.

Hello wally,

in fact, this ain't no kiddie question at all.

Numerous people here have spent days, weeks or maybe even months to develop the "perfect" storage system for RAACO, Plano, or other containers.

As has been pointed out, the download section of the Texas ASL Club is a true trove of material in this regard. Check it out - it might save you a LOT of time and "pain"...

The unnerving thing is that the "perfect" system is somewhat elusive.

This is due to the fact, that the personal kit that people have to store is rarely identical: New players usually have less kit, some grognards want double or triple orders of battel (i.e. counter sets), some want Third Party Producer counters included, others want them separate, the same goes for counters of historical modules. So even copying an existing system one to one might be more difficult than anticipated.

The second reason is that over the years, your kit expands, new products with new counters are published and all of a sudden, your formerly "perfect" system is missing "free slots" in your Plano, RAACO or whatever. To make the new stuff fit can prove to be a nightmare.

I went "through the hell" of creating a perfect storage (for RAACO that is). And as described above, I am seeing "a new hell" before me due to lacking free slots to accomodate new counter types while keeping the integrity of the current storage system without major reorganization.

Despite the fact that I use RAACO and you plan to use Plano, the following article might be of some interest to you because it illumines some thoughts that might go into designing your own "perfect" storage (or understanding the reasoning of systems devised by others). The article is geared to RAACO, but the reasoning and thoughts behind might help you to avoid mistakes or to select an existing system suitable to your personal needs and preferences.


von Marwitz

P.S. Welcome to the 'world of nerds', mate. Of course you can justfully declare us a bunch of crazies for wasting precious life-time on sorting pieces of cardboard (or heaven forbid, clipping them as well...). But here we are...

 

[waxbanks]

3501? Are you sure you don't want the 3701?

Just so -- I meant 3701 and am, it seems, debilitatingly low on sleep.

At any rate -- what constitutes a 'transport' in ASL, specifically among German vehicle counters in BV?

 

[bendizoid]

Punch them out as you need them then throw ‘‘em in a bag.

 

[waxbanks]

Punch them out as you need them then throw ‘‘em in a bag.

I believe this is what Gen Z kids refer to as a 'chaotic' answer.

Gary Gygax might've said 'Chaotic Evil' but I won't be so bold.

 

[Jazz]

Punch them out as you need them then throw ‘‘em in a bag.

Least you could do is tell him what size garbage bag you use?

From what I saw at ASLOK probably around 30 gallon?

 

[bendizoid]

I believe this is what Gen Z kids refer to as a 'chaotic' answer.

Gary Gygax might've said 'Chaotic Evil' but I won't be so bold.

He would have said ‘chaotic good’. I suppose Gygax was rather bold, no use trying top D&D.

 

[PresterJohn]

Punch them out as you need them then throw ‘‘em in a bag.

Yep, some zip-lock sandwich bags sorted from extra small to extra large. Vehicles done. Another bag for guns-n-stuff. All sorted. Time for refreshments.

 

[Jazz]

Yep, some zip-lock sandwich bags sorted from extra small to extra large. Vehicles done. Another bag for guns-n-stuff. All sorted. Time for refreshments.

You've never seen his bag have you?

 

[Vinnie]

Although it seems crazy, I played someone who had all his infantry in one box sorted by E, Square E, Circle E etc.
It was surprisingly easy to pick out the correct squad since you just looked for the right colour.

 

[Jazz]

Although it seems crazy, I played someone who had all his infantry in one box sorted by E, Square E, Circle E etc.
It was surprisingly easy to pick out the correct squad since you just looked for the right colour.

One of the locals on the Colorado Front Range does it that way and sorts them into match boxes….easy to find counters and he can fit his kit into one medium size suitcase.

 

[Gordon]

Although it seems crazy, I played someone who had all his infantry in one box sorted by E, Square E, Circle E etc.
It was surprisingly easy to pick out the correct squad since you just looked for the right colour.

 

[WAMedic]

I really like the coin envelope system for storing 5/8" AFVs and guns. There is a download for that on the Texas site as well.

 

[Gordon]

I really like the coin envelope system for storing 5/8" AFVs and guns. There is a download for that on the Texas site as well.

Yes, I use a variation of that for all my vehicles. Plano's for everything else, including some 3D printed subdividing "cups" for some of the small-numbered items.

 

[Jplott94]

Wally- I started off the same journey you are on about three years ago, and one of the best pieces of advice I received when I was trying to 5/8" vehicle counters was to use the Chapter H national vehicle listings (thank you Gary Bartlett!).

The plastic trays I use for counter storage are subdivided into 32 small compartments. I've labeled each compartment of my counter trays (containing vehicles) with the corresponding vehicle note number from Chapter H. For example, in the German OB, the compartment with vehicles 1-5 contain all the PzKpfw I and II variants. Trying to find one of the 2 StuH 42(L) counters in your German OB? Look in the compartment that has vehicle 35 in it. This system works with every vehicle MMP has published vehicle note for.

Using this, as long as you have access to Chapter H you will always know about which cubby hole you stashed that OT-34 in!

Welcome to this magnificent obsession we call a hobby! Best of luck, and roll low!

 

[ScottRomanowski]

I think the key is to have the contents inside the lid. Besides making it easier to find things, it also helps prevent counters from migrating over the dividers during travel. I sort by name.