Raaco/Plano - ASL Storage

[dlazov]

I think I seen him and the bag in Chicago, I think his name is Bob.

 

[Blaze]

This counter is in there...

 

[John Garlic]

This counter is in there...
View attachment 28892

Where did you find it!

 

[Kijug]

Originally my entire SL and then ASL counters were stored in the older GMT style containers and in the boxes. From the mid/late 90s on I switched to Plano's. For a while the entire ASL collection was in 3701's Counter bloat and more boxed HASL's later I had to augment those with 3600's to organize it all into a practical usable solution. Since 99% of my ASL is FTF I need things to be easy to find and readily accessible without using tweezers for the 1/2 counters.

Fast forward to 2024 and I now have a space issue. Plano's while the best storage as far as security and weather resistance and durability, it also can only organize so far. The Pros of security are great but at the expense of space.

Raaco is a very nice product for organization at the expense of security. The lids are not very secure and the durability of the plastic a bit flimsier than Plano. HOWEVER, the pros of Raaco have defiantly outweighed the cons for me.

Plano
Pros:

• Built for outdoor activities (Fishing)
• Weather resistant.
• Can be dropped and survive with the counters remaining in place.
• Relatively inexpensive.

Con's:

• Can only be divided so far.
• Takes up significant space.
• Not a lot of 3D print divider options.

Raaco

Pros:

• Excellent base storage inserts options.
• Many 3d printing options.
• Space saver.

Cons:

• Price (in the US) is expensive.
• Lids are not very secure (Assorter 55)
• Might not survive a moderate drop.

For me the last decider was the footprint. All the counters from the Plano's pictured are now inside those Racco's and even organized to the weapon/vehicle note.

I have every (official) ASL game except for BRT. All I have left to do is the Axis/Allied Minors, Hungarians, French, ROK, UN, CPVA, and campaign control markers. So, there are 15 more Plano's (not pictured) to empty into 3 more Raaco's (not pictured)


View attachment 28593

I have a nearly identical set of Planos and fit into two suitcases I lug around (generally works great). Getting older, however, it is harder to lift and put the suitcases into the car for transport (they are big and heavy!) So I’m considering the plunge to Raaco as seen above. Question: Is there a dolly of sorts that the Raaco boxes sit on so in the above example (or with the 4x boxes), I could wheel ‘em all around and take the boxes off one at a time, load ‘em into/out of the car, and dolly ‘em to the destination? I think I’ve seen folks with various dollies at tournaments, but I have not spent time investigating and am trying to surf the web without much luck in this regard. Thoughts?

 

[fenyan]

Not exactly Raaco but please see this discussion on Systainers http://www.gamesquad.com/forums/index.php?threads/new-desperation-morale-blog-post-asl-gear-and-the-systainer-system-an-introduction.154117/

 

[David Goldman]

Counters in one gallon size garbage bag?

That was and is one of the great ASL Players, Bob Bendis.

 

[Kijug]

Heh. I did use the garbage bag approach in the early days! After SL and in the early days of ASL, before the internet, in Alaska, I really only had one other friend to play with. We played about once a year. So we always spent time re-learning the basics and never got into armor. Hence, all my vehicles were in one large compartment (I had made my own “Raaco-like” compartments using cereal box cardboard and masking tape and put layers into the various SL, BV, Para, etc., boxes).

Eventually I started playing armor and had to find a tank or two. After a few tries of looking through all of ‘em, I figured there has to be a quicker way to get setup going. Also, given the more and more expansions (now around year 2000) I realized I needed a different approach as the custom cardboard compartments were getting overwhelming…enter plastic boxes…then a better approach—enter Planos. Now onto my fourth solution, this time in support of better transportation capability.

 

[Vinnie]

I suggest the Whisky box Storage method. Might be slightly more expensive but well worth the outlay.

 

[pensatl1962]

I have a nearly identical set of Planos and fit into two suitcases I lug around (generally works great). Getting older, however, it is harder to lift and put the suitcases into the car for transport (they are big and heavy!) So I’m considering the plunge to Raaco as seen above. Question: Is there a dolly of sorts that the Raaco boxes sit on so in the above example (or with the 4x boxes), I could wheel ‘em all around and take the boxes off one at a time, load ‘em into/out of the car, and dolly ‘em to the destination? I think I’ve seen folks with various dollies at tournaments, but I have not spent time investigating and am trying to surf the web without much luck in this regard. Thoughts?

Costco has foldable wagons (four wheels and pull handle) - lots of people use them around here at outdoor concerts to transport their coolers, food, and accessories. They fold up for storage in your trunk.

I don’t own Raaco, but perhaps this could work. Maybe it’s overkill?

 

[olli]

Awful waste of space keeping your 5/8 counters like people do either 3D printed trays , better stacking them on one side in RAACO A-75’s and putting in Ch H order with dividers to separate

 

[Sparafucil3]

Awful waste of space keeping your 5/8 counters like people do either 3D printed trays , better stacking them on one side in RAACO A-75’s and putting in Ch H order with dividers to separate

If that works for you, great. I have tried it and I hated it. As fiddly as the 3D trays are (I use them exclusively), they are way less fiddly than on-edge counters IMO. I store all of my AFV/Guns in note order too that isn't a differentiator. -- jim

 

[Vinnie]

In main storage I use RAACO trays for infantry and counters I'm likely to need more than 6of in an average scenario. 3d printed trays for AFV and guns. That way I can see what is where more easily.

 

[phlegm027]

What about The chap Who drove out of Huint Vlley with his counters on hoist car roof?
God does have a sense of humor.

 

[wolskyr]

I store all of my AFV/Guns in note order too that isn't a differentiator. -- jim

I'm curious about this as a noob. If you store in Chapter H order does that not mean you need to have your rulebook handy to find anything? I've sorted by type, main armament, and movement points and it seems pretty quick to find what I need. Unless there is a better way ...

 

[clubby]

I'm curious about this as a noob. If you store in Chapter H order does that not mean you need to have your rulebook handy to find anything? I've sorted by type, main armament, and movement points and it seems pretty quick to find what I need. Unless there is a better way ...

After you've played enough the Chapter H order becomes somewhat second nature.

 

[Ric of The LBC]

Those GIANT Plano are just simple wasting space.
As Don points out 3701 et al that are about 1" tall are Far superior in Plano storage and the cost is far less....JOANN's has plenty of coupons for these.

Storage Bliss

Joann's went BK

 

[Ric of The LBC]

I'm like Plano 3701 for Nationalies and BoxBox for Information (clearly labeled using Avery labels).

My motto is - if you can grab any counter in about 10 seconds and have any potential scenario required counter available and easily grabbed - you got a good system no matter what the type used.

get your box box while you can. The Container Store closed all their physical locations.

 

[aiabx]

My nested ziploc system was designed so that I could carry enough counters, maps and rules for a scenario in a backpack on the back of a bicycle. It has issues, but you can drop it out of a third story window and not misplace a counter.
Only punching the counters I need also lowers the amount of gear I carry with me.

 

[Sparafucil3]

I'm curious about this as a noob. If you store in Chapter H order does that not mean you need to have your rulebook handy to find anything? I've sorted by type, main armament, and movement points and it seems pretty quick to find what I need. Unless there is a better way ...

All of my counters are stored flat in their own individual slots. So if you're using an official card, it isn't hard to find them. If you're not using a card with artwork, and you don't just intuitively know Chapter H, you may have to pull that then too.

All storage is a trade-off. Ease of retrieval (I don't have to paw through extraneous counters like you do) vs ease of placing into storage (you don't have to locate the EXACT place and fiddle it into the little hole it goes into like I do). Excess packed air (wasted space) vs "fiddliness". You don't need tweezers. You reach in and grab it. But you also pack air that counters could occupy. I don't pack any air, but you need tools to retrieve my counters from storage. All of my ASL kit (minus the maps which are in a separate box) fits into one RAACO handybox.

There is no perfect storage solution. There is just what works for you and all the crappy things everyone else does. -- jim

 

[wolskyr]

I'm doing the same thing with 3D printed organizers/RAACO. Individual slots for everything. I don't have the logic to Chapter H anywhere near memorized so it seemed an unnecessary step. I'd imagine it makes a lot more sense once Chapter H is internalized.

All of my counters are stored flat in their own individual slots. So if you're using an official card, it isn't hard to find them. If you're not using a card with artwork, and you don't just intuitively know Chapter H, you may have to pull that then too.

All storage is a trade-off. Ease of retrieval (I don't have to paw through extraneous counters like you do) vs ease of placing into storage (you don't have to locate the EXACT place and fiddle it into the little hole it goes into like I do). Excess packed air (wasted space) vs "fiddliness". You don't need tweezers. You reach in and grab it. But you also pack air that counters could occupy. I don't pack any air, but you need tools to retrieve my counters from storage. All of my ASL kit (minus the maps which are in a separate box) fits into one RAACO handybox.

There is no perfect storage solution. There is just what works for you and all the crappy things everyone else does. -- jim