How to Display a Miniature Safely with the Character Clamp

A clamp, a clear cover, and a magnetic base

The Character Clamp from Ultra PRO is a compact display for a single miniature. A spring-loaded clamp grips the figure's base, a clear acrylic cover surrounds the figure from all sides and above, and a strong magnetic closure secures the cover to the base. The base is recessed so multiple units can stack.

That combination suits two jobs at once: keeping a painted mini protected between games and giving you a stable handle while you paint. The steps below focus on seating the figure correctly, using the clamp as a painting aid, and storing or stacking the display without putting pressure on the miniature.

What the Character Clamp is sized for

• Character Clamp - Secure 1 Inch Miniature Display: Sized to store many 28mm scale / 22mm base miniature figures. Check your figure's base diameter against this before buying; the clamp is built around that common tabletop scale rather than oversized display pieces.

  

• Character Clamp - Secure 1 Inch Miniature Display: External dimensions are 1.9 in. x 1.9 in. x 3.25 in. tall. The footprint is small enough for a shelf edge or desk, but the 3.25 in. height sets a practical ceiling for how tall a figure and its pose can be.
• Character Clamp - Secure 1 Inch Miniature Display: The proprietary base clamp holds many different styles and shapes of base. You are not limited to one base style, but the clamp still holds a single figure at a time.

Seating a miniature in the clamp

Work on a clean, flat surface and keep the clear cover off until the figure is seated. The clamp is spring-loaded, so treat the seating step as a two-handed job.

1. Check the base first: Confirm the figure is on a 22mm base or a base style the clamp can grip. The clamp is sized for many 28mm scale figures, but a very wide or irregular base may not sit as securely.
2. Open the spring-loaded clamp: Press the clamp open and lower the figure's base into the jaws. Let the spring close onto the base rather than forcing the figure down.
3. Check for wobble: Give the base a gentle nudge. If it shifts, reseat it so the clamp grips a flat section of the base rather than a tapered edge.
4. Fit the clear cover: Lower the acrylic cover over the figure and let the magnetic closure pull it into place on the base. The cover surrounds the figure from all sides and above.
5. Lift by the base, not the cover: Carry the display from underneath. The magnetic closure keeps the cover attached, but supporting the base avoids putting strain on the cover or the figure.

Using the clamp as a painting handle

The base doubles as a stable painting base, which gives you more control whether the figure is on the table or in your hand. Seat the miniature in the clamp, leave the clear cover off, and hold the base rather than the figure. That keeps your fingers away from wet paint and gives you a consistent grip while you work around the model.

When a painting session ends, let the paint cure before refitting the cover. The supplied information does not specify a cure time or clearance between the figure and the cover, so check that protruding parts such as weapons, banners, or capes are not touching the acrylic before you close it.

Protection and handling details

• Character Clamp - Secure 1 Inch Miniature Display: The acrylic display is made with UV-blocking additives for added protection from the sun's harmful rays. This adds a layer of defense for painted figures on a shelf, but Ultra PRO notes it never recommends displaying collectibles in direct sunlight.
• Character Clamp - Secure 1 Inch Miniature Display: The display is secured to the base with a strong magnetic closure. The cover stays put during storage but lifts off when you are ready to play, so you are not prying at the acrylic.
• Character Clamp - Secure 1 Inch Miniature Display: The base is recessed for easy and secure stacking. Several Character Clamps can sit on top of one another without sliding, which helps when shelf space is tight.

Miniature clamp display tips that prevent damage

• Keep the display out of direct sun: UV-blocking additives help, but they are not a substitute for sensible placement. A shelf away from a bright window is the safer spot for painted minis.
• Stack base to base: Use the recessed base to align stacked units. Do not rest one display on the clear cover of another, because the cover is not described as a load-bearing surface.
• Remove the figure for heavy handling: For transport or repainting, take the miniature out of the clamp rather than carrying the whole display by the cover.
• Keep the acrylic clean and dry: The supplied information does not include a cleaning procedure, so avoid abrasive cloths or solvents and dust the cover gently.

When the Character Clamp fits, and when it does not

The clamp is a single-figure display, not a case for a whole warband. It works best when you want one prized mini protected and ready to play.

• Good fit: A 28mm scale figure on a 22mm base that you want to protect between games, paint on a stable base, or display on a shelf.
• Good fit for stacking: A small collection of individually clamped figures that you want to stack in a compact footprint.
• Less suitable: Large monsters, vehicles, or figures on bases much wider than 22mm. The supplied information does not confirm fit for those sizes.
• Less suitable for full armies: The clamp holds one figure at a time. For a whole army, you would need one clamp per figure.

What to confirm before you buy

Measure your figure's base and its overall height, including any raised weapons or banners. The clamp is sized for many 28mm scale figures on 22mm bases, and the external height is 3.25 in., but the supplied information does not state an internal clearance figure. If your model has a tall, fragile pose, check that it fits before relying on the cover.

The Character Clamp is listed at USD 4.95 against a catalog comparison price of USD 7.99, so it is a low-cost way to give a single miniature its own protected display. If you need to store several figures, budget for one clamp per figure rather than expecting one unit to hold a squad.