Transporting painted miniatures to gaming events, tournaments, or a friend’s house is one of the most stressful parts of the hobby. A single tumble in a bag can chip paint across an entire army. The right transport case protects your models and gives you confidence moving them regularly. This guide covers every type of miniature transport solution — foam cases, magnetic systems, and hard cases — to help you choose the right one for your collection.
Quick Pick: Best Miniature Transport Cases
| Pick | Case | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best All-Round | Battle Foam PACK 352 | Custom foam, hard shell | Check price → |
| Best Value Foam | CASEMATIX Hard Shell | Pluck foam, hard shell | Check price → |
| Best Budget | Plano 3600 Tackle Box | Adjustable compartments | Check price → |
| Best for Large Armies | ENHANCE Tabletop Case | Foam + hard shell, large | Check price → |
Types of Miniature Transport Case
Foam Cases
Foam cases are the traditional choice for transporting miniatures. Individual models sit in custom-cut or pluck foam cells that hold them firmly and prevent contact between models. Two types of foam are used:
- Pre-cut foam: Slots sized for standard infantry, cavalry, and character models. Most generic cases use pre-cut foam. The downside is that unusual model shapes (large bases, tall models, complex conversions) may not fit standard cells.
- Pluck foam: A grid of small foam blocks that you pull out individually to create custom-sized spaces for each model. More flexible than pre-cut, but requires some effort to customise properly.
- Custom laser-cut foam (Battle Foam, KR Multicase): Foam cut to the exact dimensions of specific GW unit kits. The most expensive option but provides the best fit for models in their original configurations.
Magnetic Cases
Magnetic transport uses metal sheets or boxes as the base, with ferrous (magnetic-attracting) material or small magnets attached to the underside of model bases. Models stick to the metal surface and are held in place during transport. Advantages: very fast to load and unload, models are always visible and accessible, no foam cells to misfit awkward models. Disadvantages: requires magnetising or basing with ferrous material, models can slide during rough transport if not secured in a case.
Hard Cases with Compartments
Hard-shell cases with adjustable dividers — like fishing tackle boxes — are a budget-friendly alternative. The Plano 3600 has become popular in the miniature hobby as a very cheap transport option for based infantry. Models sit in adjustable compartments separated by thin plastic dividers. Not as protective as foam for delicate conversions or large models with extended parts, but extremely affordable and practical for standard infantry.
What Size Case Do You Need?
- Single Kill Team or small warband (5–15 models): A single small foam tray in a basic hard case, or a small magnetic tin. The Plano 3600 is more than sufficient at this scale.
- Combat Patrol force (15–30 models): A medium foam case with 2–3 trays. CASEMATIX with pluck foam handles this comfortably.
- Full 2,000-point army (40–100+ models): A large dedicated miniature case (Battle Foam PACK 352 or ENHANCE large case). A full infantry army with 80+ infantry models requires at least 4–6 foam trays.
- Multiple armies or tournament travel: A dedicated miniature luggage bag or wheeled case (Battle Foam Alpha series) is worth the investment if you regularly attend tournaments with multiple armies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best miniature transport case?
For most painters, the CASEMATIX hard case with pluck foam is the best value option — hard shell protection, customisable foam, and a reasonable price. For competitive players attending tournaments regularly, Battle Foam’s custom laser-cut foam cases offer the best protection for specific army collections. For casual transport of a single Kill Team or small warband, a Plano 3600 tackle box is perfectly adequate.
Can I use a regular bag or backpack to transport miniatures?
With sufficient padding, yes — but it carries significant risk. Models transported without dedicated foam or magnetic protection will contact each other during movement, chipping paint and potentially breaking fragile parts. For any models you have spent significant time painting, a dedicated transport case is worthwhile.
Do I need to magnetise models for magnetic transport?
Yes — or base them on metal washers. Most magnetic transport systems work by attaching a steel sheet to the case bottom and using small rare-earth magnets or ferrous material in the model’s base to create adhesion. Metal washers (available from hardware stores) glued inside the base before basing is the cheapest approach. Purpose-made ferrous basing material is available from several miniature accessory manufacturers.