Every collection starts as one box and turns into shelves of sprues, half-painted squads and finished models scattered around the house. A simple organising system saves time, stops damage and makes it obvious what to paint next.
The short answer: sort first by painting stage (unbuilt, built, in progress, finished), then by army, then by unit. Store the first three stages compactly and give finished models a display spot.
A simple organising system
| Stage | Where it lives | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Unbuilt (on the sprue) | Flat boxes, labelled by army | Compact, protects small parts |
| Built, unpainted | Lidded boxes or trays | Keeps dust off before priming |
| In progress | On a tray by your desk | Easy to pick up and paint |
| Finished | Display stand or cabinet | Protected and on show |
Should I organise by army or by painting stage?
Painting stage first, then army. Grouping by stage keeps your desk focused on what you're painting and stops finished models getting mixed in with grey plastic.
How do I store models that are still on the sprue?
Keep them in their boxes or in flat, labelled storage boxes by army. Bag up small bits and instructions together. Our post on storing unpainted miniatures has more ideas.
Where should models I'm painting live?
On a tray or board next to your painting space, so you can carry a whole squad at once. Our guide to setting up a hobby desk covers layout.
How should I organise finished models?
By army and unit, on tiered stands so every model is visible. A WarSplay Classic holds a whole squad of infantry in five tiers, and our stands are compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures and other games on standard bases. Characters and monsters can go on a WarSplay Hero.
How do I label my collection?
Label box ends with army and unit, and keep a simple list on your phone of what's built, painted and still in boxes. It makes buying decisions much easier too.
How do I keep track of what to paint next?
Keep only one or two units in the "in progress" stage at a time. Seeing a finished squad on a display stand is the best motivation to clear the next one – see how to clear your painting backlog.
Give finished squads a home
WarSplay Classic – £18.95 · Classic Mini – £11.95 · Hero – £18.95 · pre-assembled, modular, made in the UK
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Warhammer 40,000® is a trademark of Games Workshop Group PLC. WarSplay® and Blubbercove Ltd are not affiliated with, authorised by, endorsed by, or licensed by Games Workshop Group PLC. The name is used solely to indicate product compatibility.