Fascinations metal models

[Skii]

Hi all

Has anyone else been messing with these ?

http://www.fascinations.com/metalearth

Basically small kits comprised of 2 small sheets of etched stainless steel that you fold into a model, lots of designs available, my better half bought me these 3 to have a tinker with as small xmas gift, fiddly and fun with quite a nice showpiece as an end result.













Next up is the Apollo Lunar Module

[Skii]

The Tie fighter cockpit is a bugger isn't it

re pricing - There is a seller on ebay doing these for £3.39 with free p&p

[Skii]

AmiableChimp said:

Because of this thread, I have just ordered 5 of these from Ebay!

Falcon, X-Wing, 2 types of Tie-fighter and a free AT-AT thrown in.

Mrs Chimp has some crafting scissors/tweezers/pliers and magnifying glass so might be borrowing those!

Thanks for the heads-up.

You're going to be busy

I also highly recommend a tube of superglue on hand to help anchor some parts and stop them wobbling, there are 2 ways of securing the metal tabs, twisting and folding - twisting is always a much firmer join but looks less tidy, in any case a tiny blob of glue on the underside applied with a cocktail stick keeps things much much firmer and less prone to wobble.

My Apollo LEM should be arriving tomorrow, can't wait to get stuck into this one as it looks fantastic from the built up shots

Edited by Skii on Wednesday 31st August 16:21

[Skii]

The eagle has landed, here we go..

[Skii]

/\ Those are great, the Iron Man looks fantastic.

[Skii]

Here's the finished Lunar Module.

This has been the most enjoyable one yet, not particularly difficult apart from the RCS thrusters which are a bugger to bend into the tiny conical rocket nozzles , there are 3 spare ones on the sprue for a reason..

Definately my favorite so far.

[Skii]

Yep, that tool looks great, would do the job nicely.

In absence of that the easiest way to do curves is to roll the metal around a household object, drum kits for example you can just wrap the metal around a pen or small piece of copper pipe tightly and only minor adjustment is needed thereafter.

Conical shapes like rocket exhaust nozzles are easily done by again wrapping the metal around a similar shaped object like the tip of a sharpened pencil or similar.

A good technique I find when seperating the parts from the metal sprue is to use a stanley knife on a hard surface like an old dinner plate until there are enough tabs cut through to allow the part to be gently rocked back and forth to snap the remaining ones off - enures the part comes off as cleanly as possible.

[Skii]

Nightmare said:

Thanks to this I bought and made the falcon and just starting in the lunar module - these are fabulous! Thank you v v much OP. Will also be perfect xmas presents for a few people

To poster who asked re: time, the falcon prob took about 4 hours I guess, though I made it while watching telly so could def do quicker

A Swiss Army knife with scissors and pliers is all that's needed for me. I just snip one join and then twist/rock the bit to break the others which as OP said leaves cleanest removal. Not needing glue etc is a total bonus.....makes it perfect 'keeping idle hands busy' material

Great stuff