Storing and Transporting Painted 28mm Miniatures Safely

Quick answer

For storing painted miniatures, use a rigid box with a magnetic sheet base and steel washers under each figure, or pluck foam that fits the model's silhouette. For transporting 28mm miniatures, keep the box upright, avoid stacking weight on top, and seal transfers with a varnish coat. The goal is to stop movement and abrasion, not to add more padding.

Symptom: paint rubs off on foam and fine details snap

You open a carry case after a game and find paint worn off a shoulder or a bayonet bent. This is not bad luck. Foam that touches a painted surface creates friction every time the box moves. A figure that can slide even a few millimetres will grind against its neighbours. The fix is to stop movement at the base, not to wrap the figure in more foam. A magnetic sheet with a steel washer under each base holds the figure in one position. If you prefer foam, cut the cavity so the figure cannot shift. Test by closing the case and shaking it gently. If you hear a rattle, the figure is loose.

Symptom: transfers peel or silver after transport

Transfers sit on the surface of a painted figure. They are the first thing to lift when a figure rubs against foam or another model. A varnish coat over the transfer locks it down. Apply a gloss varnish first for a strong bond, then a matte varnish if you want a flat finish. Let each coat cure fully before packing. If a transfer has already started to peel, do not press it back down with your finger. Lift the edge with a damp brush, apply a tiny amount of decal setting solution, and press it flat. Then varnish the area again. For un-cut transfers, cut close to the design before soaking so the carrier film does not catch on foam.

Symptom: bases warp or snap off in storage

A figure that wobbles on its base will eventually break at the ankles. This often happens when bases are stored flat against a hard surface without support. If you use magnetic storage, make sure the washer is centred and the base sits flush. If a base has already warped, warm it gently with a hairdryer and press it flat between two books. For metal figures, pin the base to the feet with a short piece of paperclip wire and epoxy. For plastic figures, use a plastic solvent cement. Once repaired, store the figure upright with no weight on top. Never stack storage boxes more than two high.

When to switch from foam to magnets

Foam works for odd-shaped figures and large monsters. Magnets work for ranked infantry and cavalry. If you play with units of 20 or more similar figures, magnetic storage is faster to load and unload. If you have a mix of poses and fragile parts, pluck foam gives more custom support. You can combine both: a magnetic tray for the main unit and a small foam tray for command figures. The decision point is how often you transport. If you pack and unpack weekly, magnets save time and reduce handling. If you store long-term and rarely move the collection, foam is fine as long as cavities are snug.

Diagnosis: match the damage to the cause

• Paint worn on raised edges: Foam or another figure is rubbing the same spot every time the box moves. The figure is not held firmly at the base. Switch to magnetic basing or cut a tighter foam cavity. Stop using loose foam.
• Transfer lifting at the edge: The carrier film was not sealed with varnish, or the transfer was not cut close enough to the design. Cut close, apply setting solution, and varnish over the transfer. Do not handle the figure until the varnish cures.
• Figure snapped at the ankles: The base was not supported and the figure could rock or fall inside the case. Pin or glue the figure to its base. Store upright with no weight on top. If the break is clean, repair; if the ankle is crushed, replace the figure.

Transfer products that need extra care in storage

• SASS(A&A)1: All transfers come un-cut. Un-cut transfers have more carrier film around the design. Cut close to the motif before soaking, and varnish over the transfer once applied so the edge does not catch on foam.
• LIRC(M)2: This transfer sheet features Late Roman Cavalry designs created to fit Footsore Miniatures Late Roman figures. All transfers are supplied un-cut for flexible placement. Cavalry figures have more exposed surfaces and longer thin parts. Store them upright with the base secured, and avoid foam pressing directly on the transfer area.