Scenery Planet's Infinity Demo Board Crates

[Savant]

So for those of you that were at Gencon one of the main attractions at Corvus Belli's booth were the two diorama tables made by scenery planet. One of the things that really jumped out to be was the unique and stylish storage/transport solution they came up with in the form of their crates. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNomivOJLHs#t=324

Unfortunately I don't speak Spanish and google translate only does so much with the CC transcript provided on the youtube video but I've been chewing an idea to do something similar in terms of the crates/demo boards to have an impactful display we can take to different stores around the area for demo days. My biggest problem so far is understanding how the crates prevent the table from being jostled vertically. In the video I can see the posts beneath the board that prevent lateral movement but I'm not seeing any precautions against them lifting off the pegs besides the foam lined interior. Thoughts on a workable solution? Let's hear your ideas.

[jherazob]

The board slots in to the bottom of the box, that's what keeps it fixed in there and immobile. Apart from that, the sides of the board are snug with the sides of the box top thing. Nothing on the board is loose, everything is fixed to the scenery. Yet still, they lined all the top thing of the box with foam.

I know another board made by them (main board on my closest FLGS) and it's practically furniture, they make things with the mentality that this thing must be OK even after a couple of decades of use.

Now, how does that translate for you? I imagine that you could do something similar, but it'd be easier to put screws or something like that on it to fix it to the crate, and keep anything loose somewhere safe.

[Mob of Blondes]

You could fix the bottom of the box to the table, making them one part that is only disassembled for repairs. Or build blocks like in the video but acting as locks, requiring slide motion to separate from the bottom (half dovetail, |bottom//table|, "slide out of the screen"). Or use some kind of spring system that locks to the blocks. Also you could put rods or struts of some kind in the lid (maybe with some rubber ends), so they press against the edges of the table. Something like this one I have seen multiple times to transport things, locking the items in the box via "ribs" or "walls".

I need a workshop...

[Savant]

Lots of great ideas there Mob, thanks for the input. Ideally looking to avoid permanently attaching it to the bottom of the box with screws so good to see some other thoughts.

[MacAttack001]

I would advise against the board part of the box per say. Accidental hard knocks to the box/crate get directly transferred to the board.

The solution I have used in the past for static demo boards is that my crate will have four holes in the bottom corners, this corresponds to four nuts (recessed and glued) into the bottom corners of the board. The board sits inside the crate atop of three inches of polyethylene foam, lags bolts with washers and grommets (keep out moisture and bugs) go in through the bottom of the crate. Screw down just enough to have pressure on the board pulling it into the foam. This does require that the crate be up on tall enough skids to allow a hand and a ratchet wrench to get access to those bolts.

Kind of surprised that you would want a static board though. A modular board would give you a lot more flexibility and be far easier to build a crate for.

[Mob of Blondes]

This is what I mean with struts or walls holding the item inside. Just make sure the contact zone has enough foam. Or make all from foam.

[Savant]

The more I look at the Scenery Planet board the more I'm convinced there is no mechanism to prevent vertical shift. Based on a design with this look as mentioned by MacAttack001the best route would seem to be to sink some heavy bolts through the upper crate into the actual display board surface and protect it from the elements with the grommet. I'm thinking a Single large bolt on each side of the long axis, to provide stability while prevent it from being a huge to do when it comes to unpack it.

The woodworker in me though also really likes the idea of using a loose dovetail system as well though even though it would take considerably more work to fit.

[MacAttack001]

You could possibly go with 4 larger rare earth magnets glued to posts corresponding to steel (washers) on the bottom side of the terrain board...maybe some foam to help cushion a bit around the sides.

As you are a woodworker, I would certainly encourage you to get creative.

What type of board are you envisioning?

[Mob of Blondes]

The board in the video doesn't seem to have locks, other than the lid, or any other way to hold parts together. They must have extreme hope "This way up" and "Fragile" are not seen as a challenge. A bumpy ride could even raise the table out of the blocks, and then it would move arround as they clearly mention there is free space around it.

Magnets can become lose, for maximum attraction need minium distance or better real contact (so they would transfer the start of the shock) and don't like hits themselves. Combine them with some shock absorbing system if going that path.

I was expecting to see the struts I mentioned, but I don't see anything, even with full screen video, replay after replay. And that's what I would do, couple of walls or struts, with foam, and clamp the table between the two box parts. No bolts needed, no holes to the outside. You know, just because they are being a hit does it mean they got the perfect system. Get ideas, but don't follow blindly.

[Savant]

"This side up," "Fragile?" Challenge accepted!