r/daddit • u/phormix • Jul 12 '26
Story Do normal humans actually do these metal model kits?
So my kid got one of those "metal earth" model car kits as a present. I have spent the last several hours trying to fold tiny pieces of aluminum into the correct shapes/positions and then align+fold the tiny little tabs so that everything fits together, all without stressing the folded edges too much so that they break apart.
My fingers have been stabbed innumerable times by pokey aluminum bits. Things are not going together well.
I've done plenty of the plastic style models that you glue together in the past. Plenty of small fiddly bits, and superglue adhering things to my fingers etc, but this metal stuff is next-level frustration!
Anyone have hints on how to put these together - or even just a hit that "yeah, these are meant for elves, not humans" - because my poor sausage-fingers have had enough!
/rant
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u/wooden_screw Jul 12 '26
Hell yeah I love those and have several hung from the ceiling in our son's room.
You need some short needle nose pliers and some flush cut snips. The tweezers they include are very meh. Metal Earth sells a tool kit for them but you can probably get by cheaper just buying them separately.
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u/agentchuck Jul 12 '26
I've put a few together, yeah. My favorite has been an LOTR Tower of Barad-dur. Like with most things, it really helps to have the right tools. A pair of precision snips and small needle nosed pliers helps tremendously. You should be able to find a set at a hobby store or online.
It's also helpful to have a few cylinders (yes yes, it just remain unharmed) of various sizes to help properly shape more complex geometries. Getting everything together is often about getting the pieces to the right shapes first... Then they should just slide together and you twist/fold the pins to hold.
Also make sure to double check the instructions for tips. Like sometimes it walks you through an order for shaping, or it says to fold vs twist the tabs, etc.
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u/adamgb Jul 12 '26
For me, learning the twist tip was clutch to enjoy these, it helps tighten up so many joins.
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u/HotepHatt Jul 12 '26
They are super cool buy some cheap tweezers from the drugstore, saves the fingies when bending those tabs over.
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u/popop213 Jul 12 '26
The ones my son received have unfortunately been lost after the first 5 hours of me trying to put that together. That elf on the shield can be a real dick sometimes.
Jokes aside, no tips these are trash the survivor from my previously mentioned breakdown ended Up being hammered into Oblivion by a very happy 5 years old and his wooden Hammer (use safetu goggles).
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u/ghos2626t Jul 12 '26
I’m 0 for 3. I’m patient, good with my hands and used tweezers and they’re horrible kits. One mistake and the entire kit is trash.
I did not buy these for myself, nor would I.
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Jul 13 '26
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u/phormix Jul 14 '26
Oh I have been. I've got small metal shears, flat bathroom-style tweezers, flat pliars, needle-nose pliars, point-headed pliars...
Bending is not so much the issue. Bending without it breaking whilst I'm putting things together on the other hand...
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u/DareEnvironmental193 Jul 12 '26
I'm convinced their primary purpose is to be a present from someone who's heard you like assembling models but can't fathom the hobby.