A growing collection is exciting, until you’re hunting for one tiny figure and find a chipped shoulder, a bent arm, and three accessories that have vanished into the workbench abyss. Good storage protects your miniatures and makes them easier to use when a new diorama or photo idea strikes.
Whether you collect painted figures, customize resin, or do both, a simple system can keep your 1:64 scale miniatures safe, findable, and ready to bring a scene to life.
Why storage matters for 1:64 figures
At this scale, little details are easy to damage. Painted diecast figures can chip when they knock against one another. Delicate limbs may bend or break under pressure. Small props can slip away in a cluttered drawer. And unpainted resin figures shouldn’t sit in direct heat or sunlight, where warmth may contribute to warping.
Storage doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to prevent three things: contact, pressure, and getting lost.
Protect painted figures from chips and scuffs
Give each painted figure its own space. A divided bead organizer, compartment box, or foam-lined tray keeps figures from bumping together when you move the box.
For extra protection:
- Use individual small zip bags for figures that don’t fit neatly in compartments. Keep the bag loose; don’t force delicate details against its sides.
- Choose egg-crate foam or fitted foam with enough clearance that the lid won’t press down on heads, arms, or props.
- Separate figures into their own compartments rather than letting them share a space.
- Let fresh paint and varnish cure fully before packing figures away. If you’re painting your collection, see our guide to painting 1:64 resin figures.
Quick tip: Test new foam with a less delicate figure first. If it grips a painted surface too tightly, choose a smoother liner or a roomier compartment.
Store unpainted resin with care
Keep unpainted resin away from direct heat and sunlight. A hot windowsill, attic, or spot beside a heater isn’t a good home for delicate miniatures.
Store figures flat, and don’t put weight on top of thin limbs or accessories. If figures are still attached to sprues, keep them supported rather than bending pieces to make them fit. Otherwise, use a padded tray or divided box with enough room to avoid pressure.
Keep unpainted and finished figures separate, too. That way, you won’t accidentally grab a piece that still needs prep when you’re building a scene.
Pick a sorting system you’ll actually use
There’s no single right way to organize 1/64 people. The best system is the one that helps you find the figure you want without turning every project into a scavenger hunt.
| Sort by | Works well when… | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Theme or scene | You build settings like garages, shops, or street scenes | A figure that fits several scenes may be harder to place |
| Era | You create historical or period-specific dioramas | You’ll need to decide where mixed-era figures belong |
| Job or role | You’re staging workplaces, service scenes, or events | Some roles overlap across themes |
| Paint status | You paint in batches and want to track progress | You may need a second category for theme or era |
| Scale variant | Your collection includes different scales or figure sizes | It doesn’t tell you what scene a figure suits |
A practical approach is to combine just two labels. For example: “Garage / Painted” or “1950s / To Prime.” Too many categories can make storage harder, not easier.
DoubleG Diecast figure sets can give you a natural starting point for a themed sort. If your figures arrive in labeled sets, keep the label with the group as you move it into storage. You can also browse the 1:64 miniature figures collection for more scene-building inspiration.
Label boxes, props, and your active rotation
Put written labels on the compartment lids or box fronts, where you can see them without unpacking everything. A simple spreadsheet or phone note is enough for an inventory. Track:
- Set name
- Figure count
- Storage box and compartment
- Paint status: unpainted, in progress, or finished
Store tiny props in small-parts organizers, tackle boxes, or labeled bags sorted by scene type, such as garage tools, street furniture, or market accessories. Keep especially tiny pieces in their own compartments so they don’t disappear under a crowd of figures.
Make a separate “ready to use” box for figures you’re currently rotating into builds and photos. Keep the rest in deep storage. You’ll spend less time opening every box, and your main collection stays protected.
You can store diecast cars alongside your figure collection without letting them crowd the miniatures. Use a separate car tray, shelf, or case in the same labeled area. Pairing the car storage with a scene’s figure box makes it faster to assemble a full setup.
Keep display shelves clean and your workbench manageable
Open shelves look great, but they collect dust and expose figures to room light. A glass- or acrylic-fronted case helps shield displayed 1:64 scale figures from dust. Leave enough space between figures and shelves so they don’t touch, and keep the display away from direct sunlight.
A small workbench system helps, too:
- In progress: a shallow tray for the figures you’re painting or modifying now.
- To prime: a dedicated bin for prepared figures waiting for primer.
- Done: a clean, protected bin for finished miniatures ready to join a scene.
That simple separation helps prevent an almost-finished figure from getting mixed back into deep storage.
Pack figures safely for shows or photo shoots
Taking miniatures on the road? Use a hard-sided case so bags or equipment can’t crush the contents. Add foam or dividers, and leave clearance around fragile details. Wrap especially delicate figures individually, then secure the wrap so it can’t shift during travel.
Before you close the case, check that no figure or accessory can slide into another compartment. A quick test: gently tip the closed case from side to side. If anything rattles, add support.
Starter storage shopping list
You can build a useful setup without buying a specialty cabinet. Start with:
- One lidded bead or compartment organizer
- A small foam-lined tray for fragile painted figures
- Individual small zip bags for odd-shaped pieces
- A small-parts organizer for accessories
- Removable labels and a marker
- A simple spreadsheet or phone note for inventory
- A shallow “ready to use” tray
Add more boxes only when you need them. Room to grow is better than overcrowded compartments.
How to sort 200 figures in an afternoon
Set a timer, clear a work surface, and work in batches. Don’t try to perfect the entire catalog at once.
- Gather everything in one place, along with boxes, labels, and your inventory note.
- Separate by condition: painted, unpainted, in progress, and needs repair.
- Choose one primary sorting method, such as theme or era. Add paint status as a second label if useful.
- Assign storage locations and give each group a clear box or compartment.
- Count and label each set as you pack it. Note the box and compartment in your inventory.
- Make a ready-to-use box for the figures you expect to use soon.
- Do a final check for loose props, crowded compartments, and anything exposed to heat or sunlight.
You don’t need a perfect museum catalog. You need a system that lets you find the right people, props, and car for the story you want to tell.
Closing checklist
- Painted figures have space of their own.
- Unpainted resin is flat, supported, and away from heat and direct sun.
- Accessories are bagged or sorted into labeled compartments.
- Boxes show the set name, count, and paint status.
- Current project figures are separate from deep storage.
- Display pieces are protected from dust and direct sunlight.
- Travel cases have foam, dividers, and no rattling parts.
A little organization now saves time later, and helps keep your 1:64 scale miniatures ready to add character to every scene.
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