"GW packaging" Topic

Does anyone have any of the GW blister packaging to hand (UK and US) and can tell me what wording they are putting on them now? I'm particularly interested in the way they describe the metal and age limitations.

Geoff

"metal and age limitations."

At first glance, I read this as "mental age limitations"!

…very similar…

In the end, may be the same.

I have around one blister, with the text from 2004. Text goes:

"Not recommended for children under 36 months due to small parts and essential pointed components. Citadel models are fine scale models designed for gamers and collectors. retain packacing for future reference."

Plus same in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Dutch and Japanese.

Are they still using a lead component [in the US] or is it an entirely lead-free product now?

AFAIK they dropped lead (worldwide) already back in the 1997 or so.

Yes, they made a big deal of it many years ago – 97 or 98 sounds right, because I remember picking up tons in the clearance sales while I was at university….

Ah, found it…

"White Dwarf, February 1997: What we've come up with is a new "white metal" alloy that is totally lead free! The new material casts well, produces sharper, crisper detail and results in fewer miscasts, and thus fewer defective miniatures. In addition it can be cut, drilled, bent and filed and so will continue to allow modellers to convert and customise their miniatures." link

I wonder if that is still the case, as most casting metals do still have a [small] percentage of lead.

Anyway, back to my packaging question…

From the Lord of the Rings "Fellowship of the Rings" package:

Not suitable for children under 3 years due to small parts and essential pointed components. Citadel miniatures are fine scale models designed for gamers and collectors. Retain packaging for future reference. Games Workshop recommends this product for ages 12 and over but if you're still putting small bits of metal in your mouth and licking your paintbrush, you're a mouth-breathing git but you can still have a rewarding career in Nottingham as an IP lawyer."

Excellent, just what I was looking for (especially the last part). Is the wording the same in the UK?

As far as I can tell, GW's "advisement" is the same on their packaging no matter where it is sold as the same thing is repeated in multiple languages. It is also significantly more wordy than what appears on Reaper's packaging (in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese):

"This is not a toy! Not for children under 14 years of age. This product contains small components and should be considered a choking hazard."

Crocodile Games' packaging is even more taciturn (only has the following in English):

"Miniatures hand-crafted in lead free pewter CAUTION: contains small sharp parts. Ages 14 and up. Not suitable for small children."

Hope this helps.

Wyatt

Very useful, thank you

Any day now you will be receiving Copyright infringement notices, as quoting a whole of a piece of writing is not considered acceptable in international copyright.

Alternative Armies pack from the 1990s (the only blister pack I had lying around) -

"Warning! This product is not a toy. These miniatures contain lead and may be harmful if chewed or swallowed. Always wash your hands after handling unpainted metal miniatures. Alternative Armies metal miniatures are not recommended for children under 14 years of age."

Also in French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Disclaimer: these are old packs – their current miniatures may not contain lead – etc.

Geoff,

I believe that GW use (and have used since the big New York Lead scare in the mid-90s) lead free pewter which is the same as pewter-92 from Geo W Neale's..

Mike

Any day now you will be receiving Copyright infringement notices, as quoting a whole of a piece of writing is not considered acceptable in international copyright.

…they can try… :-)