Hobby Guide
Build better, paint smarter, and avoid turning your beautiful resin kit into an expensive lesson in regret. These guides cover safety, tools, assembly, painting, troubleshooting, and beginner-friendly hobby advice.
Read The Safety Guide First
Resin dust, sharp tools, solvents, fragile parts, and lacquers are not things to freestyle. Read this before sanding, cutting, priming, or painting.
Need More Help?
If a topic is not covered here or something needs more clarification, email us at info@dmminisus.com.
Read Before Continuing: Safety
Wear gloves when handling unpainted parts if you’re sensitive or want to avoid skin oils transferring to the surface.
If you notice wet resin or leaking liquid inside a package, notify us immediately. Do not open the pouch containing the leaking part.
Ventilate your workspace when sanding, priming, painting, or airbrushing.
Do not sand resin without proper protection. Always use a mask or respirator, eye protection, and gloves. Wet sanding is strongly recommended.
Sharp Tools
Hobby knives and scalpels are extremely sharp. Replace dull blades often and always cut away from your hands.
Fragile Parts
Small parts are fragile by nature. Use tweezers or clamps when possible and keep parts away from heat sources.
Lacquer, Enamel & Solvents
Lacquer paints, enamel paints, thinners, and solvents should not be inhaled. Use ventilation, gloves, and a properly fitted organic vapor respirator.
A dust mask or P100 particulate filter alone is not sufficient protection against solvent fumes.
Recommended Hobby Tools
Starter Setup
- Hobby knife
- Super glue
- Sanding sticks
- Flush cutters
- Cheap nail files
- Disposable gloves
Budget Upgrades
- Sanding sponges
- Needle files
- Pin vise / hand drill
- Brass rod or paper clips
- Poster putty / blue tack
- CA glue activator
Mid-Tier Tools
- Rotary tool or nail drill on low speed
- Milliput or epoxy putty
- UV putty or UV resin
- Hair dryer on low heat
- Magnification lamp or head visor
Hobby Goblin Setup
- Airbrush setup
- Spray booth
- Ultrasonic cleaner
- Mini belt sander
- Ultrasonic knife
Dry fit everything, wet sand when possible, and remember: less glue is usually better.
Common Mistakes
Gluing Before Dry-Fitting
Dry-fit everything first. If it does not sit right without glue, it will not magically fix itself with glue.
Using Too Much Glue
More glue does not mean stronger. It usually means squeeze-out, frosting, lost detail, and regret.
Forcing Parts Together
If something does not fit, stop. Check alignment and remove material slowly.
Thick Paint Straight From The Bottle
Thin your paints. Multiple thin layers beat one thick layer every time.
Heavy Primer
Use light passes and build coverage slowly. Primer is foundation, not frosting.
Sanding Without Protection
Wet sand when possible and wear protection. Resin dust does not belong in your lungs.
Painting Fully Assembled Kits
Large capes, weapons, shields, torsos, and bases are usually easier to paint separately.
Final Reminder
If something looks wrong out of the box, stop and ask before permanently altering it.
Check Your Parts Before You Start
Before sanding, gluing, priming, or convincing yourself you will finish the whole thing in one weekend, inspect everything first.
Check Everything
- Every individual bag
- Bubble wrap bundles
- Small accessory bags
- The bottom of the shipping box
Separate Parts From Supports
Small weapons, fingers, horns, jewelry, and effects can look like supports at first glance. Check before throwing anything away.
Compare Listing Photos
Lay all parts out and compare them to the product photos. This helps identify optional pieces, alternate parts, and accessories.
Normal Characteristics
- Small support marks
- Minor layer lines
- Light sanding requirements
- Separated pegs or attachment points
- Minor warping on long or thin pieces
Contact Us If You Find
- Missing parts
- Incorrect parts
- Severely damaged components
- Uncured or leaking resin
- Major print failures
Missing or Broken Items
Before reaching out, please review our Return & Replacement Policy.
If Something Is Missing or Damaged
Please provide clear photos of the affected part, full parts layout, and shipping box.
Keep Packaging
Keep the shipping box, bubble wrap, padding, and individual bags until the issue is resolved.
Report Within 30 Days
Please contact us within 30 days of delivery. Gift orders should still be inspected when delivered.
Separated Glue Joints
Detached but intact parts are often normal for resin kits and are usually fixed with hobby-grade CA glue.
Before Contacting Us
- Check every bag and package layer
- Compare the kit to listing photos
- Take clear photos
- Keep all shipping materials
Assembly Tips
Safety First
If sanding resin, wear eye protection, gloves, and a P100 respirator. Wet sanding is strongly recommended.
Dry-Fit First
Before glue touches the model, dry-fit everything. Some kits have specific assembly orders.
Prep Before Assembly
- Remove support marks
- Sand imperfections
- Fill small pits or craters
- Test fit constantly
Connection Points
Lightly sand contact points before gluing. Roughened surfaces create stronger glue bonds.
Gap Filling
- Large gaps: epoxy clay or Milliput
- Small holes: super glue, then sand smooth
- Small seams: UV putty or UV clay
Stronger Joints
Use a pin vise and metal pin for heavy parts. Pinning provides strength glue alone cannot.
Painting Basics
Paints & Supplies
For paints, brushes, airbrushes, tools, and hobby supplies, we recommend Gnomish Bazaar. We do not receive affiliate commissions or sponsorships.
Paint Types
Acrylic hobby paints are the easiest starting point for most hobbyists.
- Pro Acryl
- Vallejo
- AK Interactive
- Army Painter
- Golden
Lacquers & Enamels
These can produce excellent results but require stronger safety precautions, ventilation, and an organic vapor respirator.
Thin Your Paint
Thick paint hides detail. Multiple thin coats are better than one heavy coat.
Brushes
Sable brushes are best for detail work. Synthetic brushes are better for basecoats, metallics, oils, and enamels.
Workflow
Basecoat → Shade → Highlight. Make sure your basecoat is fully opaque before moving on.
Final Reminder
Mistakes are normal. Paint is forgiving. Panic is optional.
Recommended Hobby Videos
These are tutorials we have found helpful. We do not receive sponsorships, affiliate commissions, free products, or compensation for recommending them.