Practically Perfect Planos 2000
by Brien Martin

When Julie Andrews’ character in the film Mary Poppins withdraws her tape measure from her carpetbag and measures herself, the tape reads, in part, “… practically perfect in every way.”

When trying to devise a counter storage system, ASL players are constantly striving for the “practically perfect” way to do so. Counter storage systems must contain elements that:

1) Make it easy to find the counters you need

2) Take up the least amount of space to do so

3) Are as portable as you can make them for use away from home

For my counter storage system, I have chosen to utilize Plano boxes.

What are Plano boxes? Well, Plano is a company that makes modular fishing tackle systems. One of their products, their model number 3701, is known throughout the ASL world as one means of counter storage. There are others, such as Raaco (available mainly in Europe), but I have chosen Plano as my system of choice.

Here’s how the Planos are arranged:

1.0 model 3701 box for all Support Weapons 5.0 model 3701 boxes for Infantry counters 1.5 model 3701 boxes for Guns, which are arranged by caliber and not sorted by nationality 4.5 model 3701 boxes for Vehicles, which are arranged by armament caliber and sorted by nationality

Thats’ 12.0 boxes for the TO&E for all of the existing nationalities in the ASL system.

In addition, I have the following boxes for the storage of informational counters:

1.5 model 3701 boxes for artificial terrain, OBA, Desert counters, FB, Gliders, Climbing, etc. 1.0 model 3448 box (six-compartment) for Acqusition counters 1.0 model 3213 box (two-sided, thirteen compartments) for basic info (Pin, DM, Berserk, Prep, etc.) and dice 1.0 model 3213 box for armor-related counters (Motion, BU/CE, Smoke, Malf, etc.)

In total, the entire ASL system can be confined to a total of 14 model 3701 boxes and three palm-sixed boxes.

Total estimated weight of these boxes: 25 pounds