Metal Earth Star Wars Darth Vader's TIE Advanced X1 3D Metal Model Kit Fascinations

This was the second Metal Earth kit I constructed, after the Imperial Star Destroyer. I found this kit to be a lot harder to build, but the end result was extremely satisfying.Like the Star Destroyer, the pieces come in two sheets, along with a very clear and concise set of instructions. There are a lot more curves to be formed in this kit, which always seem to provide the greatest challenge and most frustration. However, the kit was of superb quality, and the stainless steel pieces never felt too fragile and I carefully manipulated them into position each time. With a lot of patience, I managed to overcome each of the most challenging stages, and it left me with an end result that I was delighted with. The total build took me about two hours. and I ended up with a very sturdy and visually pleasing model.This definitely comes recommended, and I'll be buying more in the future. One note of caution, I have had disappointment with another model in a different Metal Earth range - the Normandy SR2 from the Mass Effect line. I found a significant contrast in design and quality compared to the Star Wars models I have constructed so far. Whether that exists across the range is something I will have to wait and see.

Love all the Star Wars Metal Earth models. I buy it for myself as a gift to me. If you know anyone who loves Star Wars and building/puzzles, this would be a perfect gift. Metal finish is beautiful once completed. Would buy other models after completing this one.

I love these models, but you do need about 2 hours, patience, steady hands that can cope with a lot of fiddly bits, decent tweezers to bend the parts and very good near eyesight. I've made three of these models, but this one is the first where I reached a point where I couldn't work out how to reach my tweezers inside a part I'd made to bend tabs to secure a different part. Possibly I attached two parts in the wrong order slightly. The rounded bits need a lot of coaxing into place too. If you're frustrated easily, steer clear as you'll end up breaking it in annoyance, but they do look nice when they're done.

This is a delightful model to make - but make sure that you are VERY careful when bending the metal, especially along the dotted lines - a couple of bends and the metal will break apart. It's very fragile.I'd also say that I'm lucky that I have small hands - I'd truly admire someone with big chunky hands putting this together as the pieces are pretty tiny!

I've done a couple of these before with no major issues. Fiddly, yes, but that is expected from this type of model. With this one, the perforations that you have to bend pieces along become flimsy far too easily to the point that they just break off. The nature of it is that smaller parts can require a fair amount of manipulation to get them in place. One adjustment too many and the piece you're trying to bend comes away. Not something I've had with similar models in the past, but happened with 4 or 5 separate pieces on this one. Managed to get the thing roughly together despite broken parts, but the finished model just looked a mess and wouldn't even stand up straight so it went in the bin. Really disappointing.

Clever concept, but the size and detail, plus the way you’re supposed to manually ‘shape’ some pieces to fit by curling the metal etc makes for a really disappointing end product.Pieces broke, certain pieces just don’t fit together if following the instructions. Ended up with a stack of unconnected pieces of sheet metal, and with no means of finishing it.If you have the daintiest of hands, and a LOT of patience, it’s a clever idea. Beyond that, you’ll just get enormously frustrated. Going to buy LEGO instead in future….

Very cool project to make

My third in this collection. As always assembly is totally accurate using the extremely well detailed pieces. Care and patience has the reward of a lovely model. I really enjoy assembling these models. They are challenging for someone with a long history of model making but highly enjoyable. Excellent delivery and a good price. Youtube has videos if you are unsure although some are better than others. I took about 8 hours for assembly. Brilliant.