Fascinations Metal Earth Star Wars R2D2 3D Metal Model Kit

I've read the other reviews and I'm not sure why a lot of people are having a hard time with this. The difficulty level is listed as moderate, which I would agree with. There are a few folds that are complicated, like for parts 21 and 24 in the feet, but it's just a matter of being creative in finding things that help such as various thicknesses of thin plywood or even playing cards stacked that help support sections while other sections are folded. As for the cylindrical parts, these are typical of Metal Earth and Iconx models. I usually use various small screw driver shanks or drill bits that are about the right size. One invaluable tool I bought was a lighted magnifying glass that mounts to your bench top or whatever you construct these one.Two other invaluable tools are these:Beadalon Slim Bent Chain Nose Pliers for Jewelry Makingand:Hakko CHP-170 Micro Soft Wire Cutter, 1.5mm Stand-off, Flush Cut, 2.5mm Hardened Carbon Steel Construction, 21-Degree Angled Jaw, 8mm Jaw Length, 16 Gauge Maximum Cutting CapacityThe wire cutters are ideal for clipping the parts from the metal sheets and the needle nose pliers are just about the perfect size to do most of the twists on the tabs. I also use a small 1/4" thick piece of plywood cut into a right triangle. That helps me with tabs that need bent as it sort of grabs onto the tabs and helps get them bending in the right direction. Also if it slips while trying to push the tabs it won't scratch the surface of parts like something metal would.If anyone wants to know how I do anything else on these models just please ask.

This is the 3rd of the Star Wars series of models I've build from Metal Earth.These Star Wars models are a new evolution of kits beyond the early planes and buildings, and it shows in the details. If you compare any of the Star Wars kits to the likes of the P51 Mustang or F22 Raptor, you will see a noticeable increase in kit complexity. This translates into a more enjoyable and involved kit to build.The detail on R2D2 is superb. The raised areas and lenses you expect to see on his dome-top are all there. The recessed ports and vents are also there in detail. The resulting model is impressive.The difficulty of this model on a scale of 1-5 is about a 4. There is a fair amount of rounding of the metal and the construction is pretty involved, but not quite as challenging as the TIE fighter was. None-the-less, I would Not recommend this as a starter kit for those new to building Metal Earth kits. As always, I would point to the P51 Mustang as a starter.Standard disclaimer I put on all my reviews of Metal Earth kits:Be careful when reading the bad reviews posted by some. Some people blame their inability to complete this style kit on the kit itself. Don't be fooled, the kit itself is very high quality. The detail is superb, and the metal pieces are sturdy if you don't bend them repetitively (as you would if you made a mistake). Hence, I continue to recommend these kits to experienced builders with good manual dexterity, but not for children.

Instructions aren't very easy to understand. You seriously need to buy a kit of tools to help shape this. You need a lot of light and additionally a great magnifying lens. It takes 6 to 7 hours to make.

Another awesome Metal Earth model. I previously did the Millennium Falcon from their Star Wars collection (also really cool), so I thought I'd give this one a try. This one was a challenge, about as hard as the Millennium Falcon, and the finished model is stunning. There are some really challenging parts to the R2D2, as there are a lot of curved parts that need shaping, and some complex pieces on his tracks that have a lot of bends. You'll want to be careful to get these right the first time to avoid having to unbend and re-bend and risk breaking them. I wouldn't chose this as your first Metal Earth model, but it is one you will want in your collection.