Action Figure Storage Tips

One problem collectors of 3 ¾ inch action figures often face is storing and organizing loose figures. Carrying cases are most useful for this purpose for several reasons...

• They help organize a collection.

• They help keep accessories from being lost.

• They prevent accidental breakage that occurs when figures are heaped on top of each other or in plastic baggies.

Most action figure storage cases I've seen are too expensive to house a large collection, and they're not always very good at preserving the figures either. Then I discovered a fantastic alternative to conventional storage cases: tackle boxes!

Specifically, multi-compartment tackle box cases, normally used for fishing lures, or other odds and ends around the house, happen to be a perfect size for 3¾" action figures. They are relatively inexpensive ($3-$5 each). They are transparent, which allows you to see the figures inside, and they can usually accommodate most accessories. They snap shut and come with 18 dividers (you only need 8 of them to break your case up into 12 action figure compartments) to make for a perfect action figure case!

The cases have a plastic ring at the top to allow them to hang on a peg which allows you to hang a row of cases on the wall. Since they're transparent, you can still see the figures inside!

Tackle Boxes

There are 2 brands of tackle boxes which I can recommend...

Flambeau's "Tuff Tainers" (5004)		Plano's "Stow Away" (3700)

I have come across similar storage containers made by companies like "Shimano" and "American Eagle," but beware of tackle boxes that have non-adjustable compartments, or else you may end up with some compartments that cannot be used.

Each of these cases can fit 12 figures, though they can be divided into up to 24 compartments of different sizes, which comes in handy for figures that are not all the same height, particularly useful for Star Wars figure collectors.

Where can you find them?

Plano "Stow away" cases are currently the easiest to come by. I have found them at Lowes Home Improvement store, Joanne's Fabrics, and even Walmart. You can look in hardware stores, stores that sell fishing equipment, and art & craft stores.

Once you have them...

...the really fun part is deciding how to organize your collection. Should you group figures by the year they were released? Or will you collect all of a certain character's variations in one case? Or should you organize by military specialty? Decisions, decisions...

You can often fit 2 or 3 figures in one compartment, but the cases are cheap enough that you should be able to have enough a spot for all of your figures.

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Label Cards

I always thought that it would be neat to include the file cards with my figures. While file cards are too big to fit, they did inspire me to come up with a different solution... custom labels. I have had a hobby of creating custom labels which contain file card information about the figure.

For example, for G.I. Joe figures, I list information for each character, such as their Code name, File name, birthplace, Military Specialty, version of the figure, series, and year released. This information is readily found on Yojoe.com if you don’t have another reference.

I use Quark Xpress to prepare my cards, but you can use Microsoft Word or PageMaker or any number of layout programs to create your cards. All you need to do is make a table and make each cell of the table the size of one container slot. Then you can type the information in and print out. I print on heavy weight paper so that the cards aren't flimsy. Then I cut them out and stick them under the figure. It really makes for an exciting display!

I’ve taken to making custom background graphics for the card to identify the different teams. Feel free to download some of these graphics below and use them yourself.Just click on the small version of the graphic below to view a larger version and download and use for your own figure backing cards.

This method of storing action figures has really made the hobby more enjoyable, tidy, and fun! Now your figures can be organized and stacked on each other without danger of breaking! Never again will you misplace accessories or search through heaps of baggies for a certain figure. Now you know how to organize your figure collection, and knowing is half the battle!