Do NOT make the mistake of believing that all good intentions of abiding by the rules will be rewarded with leniency should you inadvertently and unintentionally do something wrong with a model. Full scale pilots are very aware of how the FAA can come down on them like a ton of bricks for even the slightest transgression when it wants to make a statement/set an example/halt a perceived trend/etc. More than one pilot (or mechanic) has found himself in front of an FAA firing squad for something that deserves nothing more than a slap on the wrist. The threat of FAA "overpunishment" is such a reality that AOPA and other full-scale advocacy groups offer legal plans (and sometimes representation in cases that have far-reaching negative possibilities).
My point is that while following the AMA's Safety Code will likely keep a modeler out of the FAA's crosshairs, it isn't guaranteed and we (as well as the AMA) need to always remember this.
Harvey