Review: Charon Productions Storage Cases

Scoutpack

The Scoutpack is one of the range of purpose made figure carrying cases from Charon Productions, a Canadian based company. The Scoutpack looks very much like an normal piece of luggage. It is made from a black fabric similar to a laptop case, with two external pockets, a carrying handle and a detachable shoulder strap. The interior is accessed by unzipping one size of the case. On the inside are a zipped mesh pocket, a foam cover sheet and five 'Slotafoam' trays. The Scoutpack is 370mm long by 300mm high by 180mm deep and weighs 1.2kg unladen.

Each Slotafoam tray is 355 x 265 x 28mm overall and has 32 slots, each 48 x 27 x 20mm. It is formed from a single piece of foam. This gives the Scoutpack the capacity to carry 160 25mm figures.

The Scoutpack is well constructed with reinforcement in all four sides to maintain the shape of the case. It is about the same height and width as a laptop case but is slightly deeper. Fully laden with 160 25mm figures it weighs in at 2.9kgs and so is lighter than some laptops to carry.

For a recent game the case was fully packed and taken by car, train and on foot without a single figure being displaced from its slot.

Only minor quibbles. The elastic mesh on the outside seems rather more decorative than useful and the outside pockets are simple slots and not zipped. The interior mesh pocket is not sufficiently large to take an A4 booklet and zip closed.

All in all the Scoutpack is well made and very functional. Unfortunately, Charon don't currently seem to have a UK distributor and consequently the shipping costs add significantly to the overall cost of this case.

Gamer's Satchel (and Satchel Inserts)

The Gamer's Satchel (and inserts) are other products from the range of purpose made figure carrying cases from Charon Productions. The satchel is supplied with a single satchel insert and a small basic calculator. The Gamer's Satchel is made from a black nylon type material and opens via a large top flap which covers the top and the front and is secured by a velcro strip. The flap contains a zipped pocket. The rear of the satchel contains a plastic reinforcing sheet. On the inside are two spaces to fit the satchel inserts, a full depth pocket secured by velcro tab, a smaller zipped pocket, two pen holders and a small mesh pocket. The centre section for the inserts (or books) is secured by a strap and plastic clip.

The inserts are self contained pouches with the Charon logo in which on the same black material. They are secured by a zip and contain a single slotafoam tray with a foam covering sheet and two plastic reinforcing sheets to maintain the insert's shape.

The Gamer's Satchel is 400mm long by 320mm high by 140mm deep (when full). The inserts are 385mm x 300mm x 50mm.

The Slotafoam tray is 355 x 265 x 28mm overall and has 32 slots, each 48 x 27 x 20mm. Unlike other similar trays the Slotfoam tray is a single piece of foam. This gives the Gamer's Satchel the capacity to carry 32 25mm figures with a single insert or 64 25mm figures with two.

The satchel can be a problem to close when it contains two inserts and care has to be taken with the inserts as they have no side reinforcement and can be squashed.

The satchel is primarily aimed at role players and so the balance between a single insert and space for rule books etc. works well. For wargamers the addition of a second insert allows figures for a sizable skirmish game to be accommodated.

Deluxe Skirmishpack

The Deluxe Skirmishpack is yet another of the range of purpose made figure carrying cases from Charon. Like the Scoutpack, the Deluxe Skirmishpack looks very much like an normal piece of luggage. It is made from a black fabric similar to a laptop case, with a single external zipped pocket, a carrying handle and a detachable shoulder strap. Unlike the Scoutpack all the varieties of the Deluxe Skirmishpack come with a large logo emblazoned on the front (in this case the "Northern Wasters" club logo - a result of them over ordering and Charon disposing of the surplus at a significant discount - we are in the process of disguising the logo as you can see from the pictures). The interior is accessed by unzipping one size of the case. On the inside are a zipped mesh pocket, a foam cover sheet, a divider and ten 'Slotafoam' trays. The Deluxe Skirmishpack is 580mm long by 400mm high by 200-240mm deep (depending on whether the external pocket is full).

Again each Slotafoam tray is a single piece of foam measuring 355 x 265 x 28mm overall and has 32 slots, each 48 x 27 x 20mm. This gives the Deluxe Skirmishpack the capacity to carry 320 25mm figures.

Like the Scoutpack the Deluxe Skirmishpack is well constructed with a frame which reinforces the case and makes it very robust. Fully laden with 320 25mm figures it obviously weighs in substantially heavier than the Scoutpack but is still easy to carry with the handle or shoulder strap as with ordinary luggage.

The Deluxe Skirmishpack does not close quite as tightly as the Scoutpack and occasionally figures can be displaced if it is handled roughly.

Again there are only minor quibbles. The exterior pocket looks light a bit of an afterthought, it doesn't seem to fit with the rather pleasant aesthetics of the remainder of the case (logos aside). It is on the underside when the case is opened and, whilst the sides are pretty rigid the front and back reinforcement deflects so the trays can be deformed slightly.

All in all the Deluxe Skirmishpack is another well made and functional product.

Charon Productions Storage Cases