Safety & Handling

Welcome to Safety & Handling. The Safety Officer provides basic precautions for safely handling, storing, displaying, and working with Tabletop Flights miniatures.Tabletop Flights models are hobby and gaming products rather than toys. Like most scale miniatures, they may contain small parts, fine details, and materials that should be handled with reasonable care.

Age Recommendation

CAUTION: Tabletop Flights miniatures are hobby and gaming products and are not toys. They are intended for hobbyists age 12 and older.Models may contain small parts or components that can present a choking hazard and should be kept away from young children and pets.Younger hobbyists should only handle, assemble, or paint miniatures with appropriate adult supervision.

Handling Your Models

Tabletop Flights models are designed to be used on the gaming table, and normal handling during play should not be a problem.However, scale aircraft often include thin or projecting details such as wings, propellers, landing gear, struts, antennas, weapons, and other small components. Avoid placing unnecessary pressure on these areas when picking up or moving a model.Whenever practical, handle the model by its larger and stronger sections rather than by a propeller, wingtip, weapon, landing gear, or another fine detail.Do not intentionally bend or force resin components while they are cold. If a part needs to be straightened, visit Workshop & Maintenance and see the Chief Mechanic for the proper procedure.

Small Parts

Some Tabletop Flights models are produced as one-piece miniatures whenever practical, but the design of certain aircraft may require separate components.Accessories and other products may also contain small pieces.Small parts can present a choking hazard. Keep all models, loose components, packaging containing small parts, and hobby materials away from young children and pets.Check your work area before and after assembly to make sure small components have not fallen onto the floor or been left where they can be accidentally swallowed.

Resin Models

Most Tabletop Flights aircraft are produced using cured 3D-printing resin.Finished models are intended for normal hobby handling, painting, display, and tabletop gaming.As with other hobby miniatures, avoid intentionally cutting, grinding, sanding, or drilling resin without using appropriate precautions. These activities can create fine dust.If sanding or other material removal is necessary, work in a well-ventilated area, avoid breathing the dust, and clean the work area afterward. Wet sanding can also help reduce airborne dust.Wash your hands after extensive hobby work and before eating or drinking.For information about preparing a model for painting or making a repair, visit Workshop & Maintenance and see the Chief Mechanic.

Glue, Paint & Hobby Tools

Assembly, repair, or painting may require hobby knives, files, drills, adhesives, primers, paints, or other hobby products.Always follow the safety instructions provided by the manufacturer of those products.Use cutting tools carefully and cut away from yourself. Adhesives, paints, primers, and solvents should be used with appropriate ventilation and kept away from children, pets, flames, and other ignition sources as directed by their manufacturers.Tabletop Flights does not include glue, paint, or hobby tools with its models unless specifically stated in a product description.

Heat

Resin can soften when exposed to excessive heat.Do not leave resin models for extended periods inside a hot vehicle, against a heater, or in another location where they may be subjected to unusually high temperatures.Heat can allow thin components such as wings, struts, or landing gear to bend or deform.If a model does become warped from heat, do not force the affected part back into position while it is cold. Visit Workshop & Maintenance and see the Chief Mechanic for instructions on safely straightening resin components.

UV Light & Long-Term Display

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light can cause unprotected resin to become increasingly brittle over time.Direct sunlight is the most significant everyday source of UV exposure, although some artificial lighting can also produce UV radiation.Avoid storing or displaying unpainted resin models for extended periods in direct sunlight or other areas where they receive significant UV exposure.Priming and painting a resin model provides an additional protective barrier and is recommended for models intended for long-term use or display.For additional information about resin care and preparing your model for painting, visit Workshop & Maintenance and see the Chief Mechanic.

Storage & Transportation

Models should be stored where they are protected from excessive heat, prolonged UV exposure, crushing, and accidental falls.For transporting miniatures to games or conventions, foam trays, padded containers, compartmented cases, or other protective storage systems are recommended.Make sure models cannot move freely enough inside the container to strike one another during transportation.Avoid placing heavy objects on top of stored miniatures or packing delicate aircraft tightly enough that pressure is placed on wings, propellers, landing gear, or other projecting details.

Damaged Models

A damaged model is normally a maintenance issue rather than a safety concern.Small components that have become detached can often be reattached with a small amount of CA (super glue), and slightly warped resin components can usually be straightened.For instructions on model care and simple repairs, visit Workshop & Maintenance and see the Chief Mechanic.If your model arrived damaged during shipping, keep the model and its packaging and visit Dispatch & Shipping and see the Postmaster.

Common Safety Questions

Are Tabletop Flights models toys?

No. They are hobby and gaming miniatures intended for hobbyists age 12 and older.

Can children use the models?

Models may contain small parts and fine components. Younger hobbyists should only use them with appropriate adult supervision.

Can I leave my models in the car?

It is not recommended. The interior of a vehicle can become hot enough to soften resin and potentially deform thin components.

Can I display an unpainted model in a sunny window?

Long-term direct sunlight is not recommended. Prolonged UV exposure can eventually make unprotected resin more brittle.

Are normal room lights a problem?

Normal indoor lighting generally presents much less UV exposure than direct sunlight, although the amount of UV produced varies by the type of lighting. Priming and painting provides additional protection for models intended for long-term display.

Is it safe to sand a resin model?

Minor cleanup can be performed using normal hobby precautions. Avoid breathing resin dust, use appropriate ventilation, and clean the work area afterward. Wet sanding can help reduce airborne dust.

My model is bent or broken. What should I do?

Visit Workshop & Maintenance and see the Chief Mechanic for straightening and simple repair instructions.

Need Another Department?

Questions about available models, alternate scales, general policies, or Special Requests?

Visit Stores & Requisitions and see the Quartermaster.Need help finding a model, placing an order, using a discount code, or completing payment?

Visit Orders & Payments and see the Paymaster.Questions about printing, production, model preparation, care, or repairs?

Visit Workshop & Maintenance and see the Chief Mechanic.Questions about packing, shipping, tracking, delivery, or shipping damage?

Visit Dispatch & Shipping and see the Postmaster.