Why Are My Wargame Miniatures Breaking? Fixes
By Wargames Atlantic | Published: 2026-10-30
Category: Tips & Care
Learn why your wargame miniatures break and how to fix them. This guide covers common causes like weak joints and material stress, plus practical repair steps.
Quick answer
Most breaks happen at glue joints, thin limbs, or during storage. Identify the symptom first, then apply the right fix—and know when to stop and replace instead of repair.
Why miniatures break: weak joints vs. material stress
Plastic and resin miniatures have different breaking points. Plastic kits often snap at contact points like ankles or weapon hands, especially if you used super glue without pinning. Resin miniatures can shatter on impact due to brittleness.
Storage and transport are the biggest external causes. Loose rattling in a box, pressure from stacked miniatures, or temperature changes can stress already thin parts.
When to repair vs. replace
Clean breaks across a flat surface glue well. Crushed or missing pieces are harder to fix—consider buying a replacement sprue or using the damaged miniature as terrain debris.
If the break is at a joint that will bear weight (like an ankle or spear hand), pinning is strongly recommended. Super glue alone may fail again.
Break diagnosis and fix guide
- Symptom: Part snapped clean off: Likely cause: Weak glue joint or thin plastic. Corrective action: Sand both surfaces flat, apply cyanoacrylate glue, hold for 30 seconds. For weight-bearing parts, drill and insert a paperclip pin. If the part won't stay aligned, use a temporary tack (blue tack) to hold it while glue dries.
- Symptom: Crack or stress mark near a joint: Likely cause: Repeated flexing or pressure during storage. Corrective action: Apply thin liquid glue into the crack, clamp gently with a rubber band, and let cure 24 hours. Reinforce the area with a small strip of plasticard. Do not force the part into position while glue is wet—this can worsen the crack.
- Symptom: Miniature is shattered or crushed: Likely cause: Dropped or heavy object fell on it. Corrective action: Collect all pieces. If more than 3 fragments are missing, stop—replacement is faster. If mostly intact, use gap-filling super glue and sand excess after curing. Stop and replace if more than 30% of the miniature is missing or if the main body is crushed.
Product to consider
- 40mm Dual Use Bases: These bases have a 1mm indented recess on one side for figures with integral puddle bases, and a flat side for figures glued directly. Switching to a base with a recess can reduce stress on a miniature's feet and ankles, preventing one common break point.
40mm Dual Use Bases
