How to Store and Transport Malifaux Miniatures Safely
By Wyrd Games Official Store | Tabletop Games & Miniatures | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: Consigli e cura
A practical, step-by-step routine for storing and transporting Malifaux miniatures so paint, glue joints, and thin parts survive the trip.
Quick answer
The safest routine is to stabilize each model first, then match the container to the model's shape: foam for spindly, irregular figures and magnetized bases for compact, sturdy crews. Transport models upright, fill empty space so nothing slides, and never stack weight on top of a painted figure. Check the whole load by lifting the case a few inches and shaking gently before it goes in the car.
Why Malifaux models fail in transit
Most transport damage is not caused by a single drop. It comes from small movements repeated over a car ride: a model shifts a few millimeters, a thin weapon catches on a neighbor, and the glue joint at the ankle or wrist takes the strain. Painted surfaces fail the same way, through friction against whatever is touching them.
Malifaux crews make this harder because they mix shapes in one box. A wide-based monster, a slim duellist, and a cluster of small figures rarely share the same safe packing method. Treating a crew as one lump is the mistake that breaks models.
Choose the right container for the crew
Foam trays work best for models with protruding parts, because the foam surrounds the silhouette instead of pressing on one point. Pick a tray depth that clears the tallest part of the model, and choose pluck-foam or pre-cut slots that hold the figure without squeezing it. If a model rattles when you close the lid, the slot is too loose.
Magnetized bases suit compact, well-balanced models and crews you unpack often. A steel-lined box or a magnetic sheet in a hard case lets you place models by footprint rather than by slot size, which is faster at a tournament. The tradeoff is that tall or top-heavy models can tip and slide unless the magnet is strong enough and the base is flat.
Prepare models before they go in the case
Let paint and varnish cure fully before packing. A finish that feels dry to the touch can still be soft enough to take a fabric imprint overnight. If you use a matte varnish, give it the full cure time on the bottle rather than guessing.
Check every glue joint you can reach, especially ankles, wrists, and weapon hands. A joint that flexes slightly at the table will fail in a case. Repair it before the trip rather than after. For models with long, thin parts, consider a removable transport base or a small foam cradle so the part is supported rather than cantilevered.
Pack the case so nothing can move
Fill every gap. Empty space is where sliding starts, so use foam offcuts, a folded cloth, or a spare tray to take up the slack. Place heavier models on the bottom layer and lighter ones above, and keep the tallest figures away from the lid so closing the case does not press on them.
Do not stack cases with painted models on top of each other if the lower case can flex. A hard-sided case protects better than a soft bag when cases are stacked, because the shell takes the load instead of the models.
Handle the trip and the unpack
Set the case flat in the car rather than on a seat where it can slide or tip. Avoid leaving it in a hot vehicle, since heat softens resin and can distort thin parts. At the destination, open the case on a stable table and lift models out by the base, not by a weapon or arm.
After the game, repack the same way you unpacked. Models that go back in loose are the ones that break on the next trip, and a two-minute repack is cheaper than a repair.
Step-by-step transport routine
- Step 1: Cure the finish: Let paint and varnish cure fully before a model goes in a case. Common mistake: packing a model the same evening it was varnished, when the finish can still take a fabric imprint. Checkpoint: the surface should feel hard and dry, not tacky.
- Step 2: Inspect and repair joints: Flex every ankle, wrist, and weapon hand gently. If a joint moves, repair it before the trip. Common mistake: assuming a slightly loose joint will hold until after the event. Checkpoint: no visible gap or movement at any glued connection.
- Step 3: Match the container to the crew: Use foam for spindly or irregular models and magnetized bases for compact, sturdy ones. Common mistake: forcing a wide monster into a slot cut for a human-sized figure. Checkpoint: the model sits without pressure and without rattling.
- Step 4: Fill every gap: Add foam offcuts or cloth so nothing can slide, and keep tall models away from the lid. Common mistake: leaving a corner of the case empty, which lets models shift into it. Checkpoint: shake the closed case gently and listen for movement.
- Step 5: Load and drive flat: Place the case flat in the car and keep it out of direct heat. Common mistake: standing a soft bag upright on a seat where it can tip. Checkpoint: the case cannot slide or fall during normal driving.
- Step 6: Unpack and repack the same way: Lift models by the base, then return them to the same slots after the game. Common mistake: tossing models back in loose because the next trip feels far away. Checkpoint: the case is ready to travel again as soon as it is closed.
Crews that need different packing plans
- Malifaux Third Edition: One Flew Over: Malifaux Third Edition: One Flew Over contains Dr. Grimwell, Nurse Heartsbane, and two Orderlies for the Guild, in 32mm heroic scale, supplied unpainted in plastic and requiring preparation and assembly. This is a compact, mostly human-sized crew, so magnetized bases or shallow foam slots can hold it well without a deep tray.
- Malifaux Third Edition: Primal Fury: Malifaux Third Edition: Primal Fury contains Cojo, Paul Crockett, and two Sabertooth Cerberus for the Arcanists, in 32mm heroic scale and supplied unpainted in plastic. The two Sabertooth Cerberus are the widest, most irregular shapes here, so foam with generous slots protects their silhouettes better than a flat magnetic sheet.
- Malifaux Third Edition: Deliverance: Malifaux Third Edition: Deliverance contains a Spit Hog and four Bayou Gremlins for the Bayou, in 32mm heroic scale and supplied unpainted in plastic. One large model plus four small ones is a mixed load, so pack the Spit Hog on the lower layer and keep the Gremlins in their own tray or slot group.
