ASL First FireThursday, January 22, 2004
Storage Solutions
Someone who starts with the new ASL Starter Kits scheduled to be released in the near future may not see counter storage as a major problem. However, someone who starts out in the more traditional route with Beyond Valor will quickly realize that organizing the counters will be of great importance, especially as you add more and more modules. Storage is not much of a problem. Heck, just dump them in zip-loc bags, and indeed some ASL players have done fine using just such a system. However, for most players, a better system is needed in order to allow for finding specific counters in a timely fashion. You’ll find this out quickly the first time you need a particular halftrack, found on only four counters, only one of which has the optional AAMG. Hard to dig this out of a plastic bag in a hurry.
Many, many storage systems have been devised. The most popular revolve around fishing tackle boxes made by Plano, the most popular of which is the model 3701 box with 34 compartments. Others swear by Raaco, which appears to be mainly available in Europe but hard to find in the U.S. Others use coin envelopes for Vehicles and Ordnance, organized by the Vehicle/Ordnance number in the Chapter H listings, with various other means used to organized the infantry counters. One person has described gluing matchboxes together to organize the Vehicles and Ordnance. ASLers are very imaginative people, and I’m sure this brief listing only scratches the surface, but the tackle box approach seems to be the most popular.
I use Plano 3701s. There are several different schemes for organizing these. One is given on Tom Repetti’s site as Counter Storage for Dummies. I originally used this but then recently found a better solution. This is a Microsoft Excel file with sheets already made up to fit the Plano 3701s and is by Tom Lynch. The system uses two boxes each for the Russians, Germans, Americans and British (one for infantry, one for ordnance and vehicles) and one each for the remaining nationalities. The Axis Minors and Finns are combined in one box, awaiting publication of their respective vehicles. The system and information counters take up three more, thus giving me a total of 17 boxes currently (I think). I like this system a lot, although I’ve slightly modified some of the counter placement.
Basically, you’ll have to find whatever works for you. This works great for me but may not be for everyone. Try whatever you like. For many of us, counter organization is an obsession almost matching our obsession for ASL itself.
And don’t even ask about counter clipping.
Many, many storage systems have been devised. The most popular revolve around fishing tackle boxes made by Plano, the most popular of which is the model 3701 box with 34 compartments. Others swear by Raaco, which appears to be mainly available in Europe but hard to find in the U.S. Others use coin envelopes for Vehicles and Ordnance, organized by the Vehicle/Ordnance number in the Chapter H listings, with various other means used to organized the infantry counters. One person has described gluing matchboxes together to organize the Vehicles and Ordnance. ASLers are very imaginative people, and I’m sure this brief listing only scratches the surface, but the tackle box approach seems to be the most popular.
I use Plano 3701s. There are several different schemes for organizing these. One is given on Tom Repetti’s site as Counter Storage for Dummies. I originally used this but then recently found a better solution. This is a Microsoft Excel file with sheets already made up to fit the Plano 3701s and is by Tom Lynch. The system uses two boxes each for the Russians, Germans, Americans and British (one for infantry, one for ordnance and vehicles) and one each for the remaining nationalities. The Axis Minors and Finns are combined in one box, awaiting publication of their respective vehicles. The system and information counters take up three more, thus giving me a total of 17 boxes currently (I think). I like this system a lot, although I’ve slightly modified some of the counter placement.
Basically, you’ll have to find whatever works for you. This works great for me but may not be for everyone. Try whatever you like. For many of us, counter organization is an obsession almost matching our obsession for ASL itself.
And don’t even ask about counter clipping.
