Mettle Shell Shipping Container: Storage and Scatter Terrain
By The Broken Token | Board Game Organizers & Accessories | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: 商品レビュー
Use the Mettle Shell Shipping Container as both a storage box for its crates and a piece of scatter terrain. Here is a step-by-step build and play process.
Quick answer
Build the Mettle Shell Shipping Container as a dual-purpose piece: assemble it with working doors so it can store your Mettle Shell Crates between games, then place it on the table as scatter terrain that blocks line of sight. The key is to keep the interior accessible and the exterior durable enough for handling.
Why the container works as both storage and scatter
The Mettle Shell Shipping Container is designed to hold the Mettle Shell Crates (4) (SFT009), so it already has a practical storage role. Its 5.5" x 4.33" x 3.14" footprint makes it large enough to be meaningful cover on a 28mm battlefield without dominating the table. The functioning doors let you open it during play to reveal cargo or close it for a solid line-of-sight blocker.
When to choose a different terrain piece
If you need scatter terrain that is lighter or easier to store flat, a smaller crate or wall section may suit you better. The container's box shape takes up more shelf space than flat pieces, and its primary storage function means you may not want to glue it shut. Also, because it is unpainted MDF, it will need finishing before it matches a painted army.
Step-by-step: build and use the container
- Dry-fit before gluing: Test-fit all MDF parts, especially the door hinges, before applying glue. Check that the doors swing freely and the crates slide in and out without forcing. If the doors bind, sand the hinge edges lightly before gluing.
- Assemble the shell without sealing the interior: Glue the main box together but leave the roof or one side removable if you want easy access to the crates. Do not glue the doors shut if you plan to use them for storage. Keep the interior accessible; a fully sealed box defeats the storage purpose.
- Reinforce the corners: Add a thin bead of glue along internal corners and let it cure fully. This prevents the container from flexing when you open and close the doors repeatedly. A flexing container will eventually crack at the hinges.
- Finish the exterior for durability: Seal or prime the MDF before painting, especially around the doors and edges. This reduces moisture absorption and wear from handling. Unsealed MDF can swell if it gets damp during storage or play.
- Use it on the table as scatter terrain: Place the container to block line of sight or create a chokepoint. Open the doors to show cargo or close them for a solid wall. Treat it as cover for infantry. Agree with your opponent before the game on whether the doors count as open or closed for line of sight.
- Store crates inside between games: After play, place the Mettle Shell Crates (4) inside the container and close the doors. Store the container on a flat surface to avoid warping. Label the container if you have multiple terrain pieces to speed up setup.
Product facts
- Mettle Shell - Shipping Container: The container is intended to store the Mettle Shell Crates (4) (SFT009). This means you can keep your crates organized inside it and still use the container as a terrain piece during games.
Mettle Shell - Shipping Container - Mettle Shell - Shipping Container: It has functioning doors and measures 5.5" x 4.33" x 3.14" (140mm x 110mm x 80mm). The doors allow you to open or close the container for storage access or to change line of sight on the table.
