Every collector has the story: the slammed door, the enthusiastic dog, the shelf wobble — and a model you spent twenty hours painting face-down on the floor with a snapped banner pole. It's why 'my minis lock in place' is the single most-praised feature in display stand reviews. Here's how magnetic miniature display actually works, the polarity detail most setups get wrong, and an honest view of when magnets earn their money.
Why Magnetise a Display at All?
A displayed miniature is a top-heavy object with a tiny footprint standing on a hard surface — physics is not on its side. Magnetising solves three problems at once: models can't topple into each other like dominoes when the shelf gets knocked; the display can be carried — stand, army and all — from desk to cabinet without a re-set; and slightly uneven or textured surfaces stop mattering, because the model is held, not balanced.
The Quick Answer
Magnetic display works one of two ways: magnets in the model's base gripping a steel (ferrous) surface, or magnets gripping magnets. Steel surfaces are the right answer for display stands — they hold any magnetised base regardless of which way round its magnets were glued. If you already magnetise for transport, a magnetic display stand means your models are secure from carry case to shelf without touching a base.
The Polarity Problem (and Why Steel Beats Magnets)
Here's the detail that catches people out. Hobbyists glue magnets into bases with no standard convention — north-up for some armies, south-up for others, and mixed within the same squad more often than anyone admits. A display surface fitted with actual magnets will attract half those bases and physically repel the other half. That's why well-designed magnetic display uses a plain ferrous steel surface instead: steel doesn't care about polarity. Any magnetised base, glued any way round, by any hobbyist, on any day — it holds. It's the approach we build into the WarSplay Pro magnetic display rack, and it's what you should look for in any magnetic display product.
Magnetising Your Miniatures: The Short Version
- Use N52 neodymium disc magnets — typically 2–3mm thick, sized to your base. One centred magnet suits 25–32mm bases; larger bases take two or three.
- Superglue into the base recess, flush or a hair below the rim so the base still sits flat on non-magnetic surfaces.
- Keep polarity consistent within a squad if you can — but if your collection is already mixed, a steel-surface display forgives everything.
- Already magnetised for transport? You're done — the same bases that grip your carry case grip a steel-topped display. One system, painting desk to game night to shelf. More on safe transport in our army transport guide.
An Honest View: When Magnets Aren't Worth It
If your display lives behind glass on a stable shelf and never moves, gravity honestly does the job — a standard tiered riser with snug base slots keeps models upright without a single magnet. Magnets earn their money when models move (rearranging, transporting, rotating the display), when children or pets share the house, when the display sits somewhere it can be knocked, or when you're staging heavier models on 40mm+ bases — which is exactly the territory the WarSplay Pro was designed for, compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures and other systems on standard bases up to 40mm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What magnets should I use for miniature bases?
N52 neodymium disc magnets, usually 2–3mm thick. Size to the base recess — bigger isn't better if the model becomes hard to lift off.
Why does my magnetised model repel some surfaces?
The display surface uses magnets rather than steel, and your base's polarity is the wrong way round for it. Steel-surface displays avoid the problem entirely — steel attracts either pole.
Will magnets damage painted miniatures?
No — the hold is at the base, nowhere near paintwork. If anything, magnets protect paint by preventing the topples and handling that cause chips in the first place.
Do I need to magnetise my whole army to use a magnetic stand?
No. A good magnetic stand holds unmagnetised models the ordinary way — the steel surface simply adds security for the bases that are magnetised. Magnetise the wobbliest models first and expand from there.
Trademark note: 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.
Disclaimer: WarSplay® products are independently manufactured by Blubbercove Ltd. We are not affiliated with, authorised by, endorsed by, or licensed by Games Workshop Group PLC or Inter IKEA Systems B.V. All WarSplay® designs are the intellectual property of Blubbercove Ltd.