Nytrunner
Pop lugs, not drugs
Ill have to keep my eye out for that one in hobby lobby
Metal Earth
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Nytrunner
Pop lugs, not drugs
This thread's been quiet for awhile. We're working our way through my apt moving stuff to my wife's (now our) place.
My tanks can now face off against her at-at. Now we need a couple more star wars figures to balance it out.
My tanks can now face off against her at-at. Now we need a couple more star wars figures to balance it out.
*Finally* finished my C-3PO:
There were a couple of steps in that one (involving the head) that almost defeated me. As it is, I got the arms and hands at the wrong angles (although not too bad) and in a couple of choice spots I gave up and simply folded some tabs rather than slot them all through. Fortunately, as display pieces, these don't need to be rock-solid, so he'll be fine just sitting on the shelf keeping R2D2 company.
If that was the first one I did, it would have been the last.
Next up, Space Shuttle Orbiter.
There were a couple of steps in that one (involving the head) that almost defeated me. As it is, I got the arms and hands at the wrong angles (although not too bad) and in a couple of choice spots I gave up and simply folded some tabs rather than slot them all through. Fortunately, as display pieces, these don't need to be rock-solid, so he'll be fine just sitting on the shelf keeping R2D2 company.
If that was the first one I did, it would have been the last.
Next up, Space Shuttle Orbiter.
I've built one of these too, but it's been a long time. Looking at your picture I don't see anything that doesn't look correct so whatever shortcuts or mistakes you made you did a great job with them! It looks great to me!
Hmm, looking at it now, maybe it's only the left hand I got wrong (180 degrees off)... my spatial reasoning failed me when trying to interpret the instructions there. Most pieces can only go in one way, but not all, as I discovered.
I also feel like the right arm is hanging at the wrong angle, but I'm not sure what happened there (I was unaware of any mistakes when I built that arm.)
Fortunately, arm position is an area where it is a bit forgiving. Which is good because there's no way to undo and redo on these things.
Nytrunner
Pop lugs, not drugs
That's a nice one.
Tip: Something hard and round with thin diameter for rolling the nozzles
My youngest has TONS of Metal Earths.......a couple of battleships that are amazing, the lunar lander, buildings, aircraft, and he just finished a Kawasaki sport bike that is impressive. Neat models, and occupies his brain while on "learning from home". The learning doesn't take him long, so........
My mandrels work pretty well for that.
vcp
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My wife has beading tools - should'a thought of that.
Brian Ditmer
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nice! I have one that I still haven't started
I keep meaning to build some of these. I've done some PaperNano paper kits, which are similar but different.
Makes me glad I still had my old EtchMate bending jig from when I did more photoetch work on scale models. Sounds like it would be super useful for a metal earth kit.
Makes me glad I still had my old EtchMate bending jig from when I did more photoetch work on scale models. Sounds like it would be super useful for a metal earth kit.
They're very satisfying to build! Careful, before you know it you'll have built a dozen of these and have a dozen unbuilt kits waiting on you. Sort of like your other hobby.
It varies.
I would recommend starting with an easier one, if you can identify it as such. Also, I found this video extremely helpful getting started:
I didn't purchase the exact set of tools she recommended, but definitely some of them, and I'm very glad I did. Things I would definitely get:
1) Precision pliers: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Beads-Je...elry-Making-Tools/Precision-Pliers/p/80785065
2) Ring mandrels: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Beads-Je...welry-Making-Tools/Jump-Ring-Mandrels/p/12045
3) Flush cutters: https://www.hobbylobby.com/Beads-Je...Tools/Red-Flush-Cutter-Jewelry-Pliers/p/99421
4) magnetic mat (unfortunately C3PO was not magnetic)
5) A lit magnifier
I got the cheapo varieties of all these linked above, which were more than adequate for this use (which is all I use them for, generally).
Funkworks
Low Earth Orbit, obstructing Earth's view of Venus
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I think a good strategy for me would be to build up the tool collection first. I see these when I stroll into local hobby shops and can't help but admire the packagings each time.
Someone sent me one with a purchase some years back.
I just received my order from Model Expo I think it was, with an air brush and jewelry pliers set and something else.
Had to get the price up a little to get free shipping.
I have to try and make the one that was sent me. I think (if I remember correctly) it was an SR-71.
It's floating around here somewhere close as I never had a place for it, being different than anything else I do.
Right now in the process of still setting up things from when the Wife let me move in 2 more benches for removing clutter.
Cutter being...Boxes of unbuilt rocket kits and boxes of my knife collection.
Unbuilt rockets and boxes of knives to sell all went to storage.
Knife collection found closet space, while other things in that closet went to storage.
I'm repairing a big cabinet a friend gave me, putting up multiple shelves and general organization to make work efficient.
After watching the posted video, I see I will need a few more things before attempting the build.
But I can see a Metal Earth thing being addicting once getting involved.
GREAT, just what I need. Another addiction! More time, money, and tools required.
They need to come up with a cure for....what ever it is I have.
I think it could be called...Build Addiction Syndrome.
I just received my order from Model Expo I think it was, with an air brush and jewelry pliers set and something else.
Had to get the price up a little to get free shipping.
I have to try and make the one that was sent me. I think (if I remember correctly) it was an SR-71.
It's floating around here somewhere close as I never had a place for it, being different than anything else I do.
Right now in the process of still setting up things from when the Wife let me move in 2 more benches for removing clutter.
Cutter being...Boxes of unbuilt rocket kits and boxes of my knife collection.
Unbuilt rockets and boxes of knives to sell all went to storage.
Knife collection found closet space, while other things in that closet went to storage.
I'm repairing a big cabinet a friend gave me, putting up multiple shelves and general organization to make work efficient.
After watching the posted video, I see I will need a few more things before attempting the build.
But I can see a Metal Earth thing being addicting once getting involved.
GREAT, just what I need. Another addiction! More time, money, and tools required.
They need to come up with a cure for....what ever it is I have.
I think it could be called...Build Addiction Syndrome.
The nice thing is they're small when finished, so don't take up much space. And in the package, they're small and completely flat, so they don't take up any space at all.
I cracked open the Space Shuttle Atlantis today and was amused to see a total of 16 mostly large-ish parts, compared to 56 often tiny parts in the C-3PO. There really is a wide variation in difficulty levels for these; I wish they would label them more clearly in that regard, because I would highly recommend starting with one of the easier ones. My guess is the SR-71 falls into that catetory, overall.
I'm on my third one of these now, and still haven't decided if I actually *enjoy* the build, particularly when you come to one of those infuriatingly difficult steps. But much like building a Lego set, I always appreciate the design and engineering that goes into them, and I definitely find them *satisfying*.
I cracked open the Space Shuttle Atlantis today and was amused to see a total of 16 mostly large-ish parts, compared to 56 often tiny parts in the C-3PO. There really is a wide variation in difficulty levels for these; I wish they would label them more clearly in that regard, because I would highly recommend starting with one of the easier ones. My guess is the SR-71 falls into that catetory, overall.
I'm on my third one of these now, and still haven't decided if I actually *enjoy* the build, particularly when you come to one of those infuriatingly difficult steps. But much like building a Lego set, I always appreciate the design and engineering that goes into them, and I definitely find them *satisfying*.
Yup, that was a quickie.
Though they are at times maddening, I like that they take some effort, come out really nice, and take very little room to store/display. I’ll definitely be building more.
Though they are at times maddening, I like that they take some effort, come out really nice, and take very little room to store/display. I’ll definitely be building more.
Well...because of this thread, I just went on over to HL Friday after work to check these out. Decided on the Apollo CSM and LM kit. Let me tell you, it was no walk in the park!
Especially the lunar lander. I strongly recommend that you skip attaching the tiny reaction nozzles to both the LM and CSM until the very end. It is impossible to not bend and break them if you attach them like the instructions say and then continue building and forming the rest. This was challenging BUT I did enjoy it I must say! The attached images show the almost completed kit with the CSM just needing the tiny reaction control nozzles attached.
Especially the lunar lander. I strongly recommend that you skip attaching the tiny reaction nozzles to both the LM and CSM until the very end. It is impossible to not bend and break them if you attach them like the instructions say and then continue building and forming the rest. This was challenging BUT I did enjoy it I must say! The attached images show the almost completed kit with the CSM just needing the tiny reaction control nozzles attached.
Now I'm itching to do another kit. They certainly get you hooked after you build your first one.
Nytrunner
Pop lugs, not drugs
Right?
Yeah, no kidding! I'm already planning on stopping by HL after work today.
Oooh yessss...It will certainly test your patience and perseverance.
dpower
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This one was probably my favorite - it helped that I previously built the standalone LM, got most of my mistakes out of the way!
dpower
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There is a new Metal Earth Shuttle Atlantis kit out now that looks more detailed, it’s a full 2 sheets. Haven’t opened it yet...
...and now I just received it as a Chanukah gift. Looks like it will keep me busy for a while. Rated on the package 8/10 difficulty; two sheets, about 55 pieces. Will be interested to see how it compares to C-3PO.
I was hoping to get one of these.
[edit: I see on their website that this one is rated "challenging", whereas C-3PO is rated "expert". That makes me feel better.]
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I just made the mistake of looking at their website. Wowsers.
This one is "coming soon": https://fascinations.com/premium/the-terminator-t-800. Looks incredible; I'm not sure I could do it.
This one is "coming soon": https://fascinations.com/premium/the-terminator-t-800. Looks incredible; I'm not sure I could do it.
SecondRow
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I did too, thanks to you. Looks like they’ve got a new space one, the Mars lander. I’ll have to look out for that one next time I’m in the hobby store. Also, the shuttles are now white and black like the real thing. That’s pretty cool. Not sure I’ll get one of those, though. I have one and they are kind of easy.
edit: And an Iconx ISS. Gotta pick up that one, too.
Looks like they’ve got a new space one, the Mars lander. I’ll have to look out for that one next time I’m in the hobby store. Also, the shuttles are now white and black like the real thing. That’s pretty cool. Not sure I’ll get one of those, though. I have one and they are kind of easy.edit: And an Iconx ISS. Gotta pick up that one, too.
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