Fascinations Metal Earth Mars Rover Perseverance & Ingenuity Helicopter 3D Metal Model Kit

It’s definitely very challenging and requires a lot of patience, but absolutely worth it! The details are incredible and I’m really happy with the result.Hint: when working with the tiny pieces, have something under your hands to catch them if they fall or be prepared for a long search (a shallow tupperware or baking sheet works great).

Great model

Really enjoyed making this puzzle. Very challenging. I really loved the detail, color and texture on some parts. It took me several weekends to build it and loved every bit of it. The instructions are very detailed. There are many delicate parts. Would be great if they put some spares for some very small and delicate parts.

First off, let me state that I worked for years in a custom jewelry shop (fabricating gold rings, broaches, pendants, etc), have a metalworking undergrad major in college (Michigan – Go Blue!), and build my own furniture (often 100% by hand), so I am accustomed to crafting things.So the idea of a tiny metal model appealed to me (I bought the Apollo kit as well). Sadly, I have found that building this kit was more stressful than fun. I knew it would require magnifying lenses and tools that could handle tiny work, but the basic concept of tiny metal models has a lot of flaws:– the biggest problem is that when constructing the various parts, when you go to bend tabs or assemble the components, you invariably bend and warp the parts due to the soft nature of the metal.– some of the assembly procedures are impossible to achieve without bending the tabs sideways (90º to the way they're designed to bend) to fit the slots – this again leads to warping other elements.– the instructions are tiny, have errors and omissions, and are all picture-based. The company provides online views of the construction, but I don't want to constantly be looking up components online to see what they should look like – that's not my idea of fun. They could certainly add some text and notes on the order of steps to make assembly easier... at least point out tricky areas and the best way to approach them.– when assembling the various components, you will loosen the tabs on some of them. The tabs are often non-accessible at this point, so the result is a loose or warped larger component, leading to a loose and warped final outcome – drooping armatures, wheels and elements out of line, etc. You will spend a great deal of time fixing and and adjusting things, but with every adjustment you will loosen what you've done. This is more stressful than fun – you can try to be as delicate as possible, but the force required to hold a piece to bend the tabs inevitably leads to warped or bent pieces that have to be straightened.– some tabs are nearly impossible (or at least extremely difficult) to access when assembling the sub-components. The result again is a loose and shaky assembly.– the design leads to a few tabs blocking the slots to other tabs. The only solution is to clip the length of a tab (weakening the structure) or bending the tab sideways (requiring a great deal of force that will again warp or bend other elements).– in the end, this tiny model will be something you will likely set on a shelf and not allow anyone (or even yourself) to touch, due to it's fragility. Heaven forbid it falls to the floor – I'd hate to see the resulting damage.So the lengthy process of building this model (it will likely take you over 70 hours) is mostly filled with anxiety and disappointment – even with your greatest care, parts will loosen and warp. On a positive note, the detail is extensive and the concept, design, and execution is ingenious in many ways. But it is simply not a fun model to build unless you enjoy high levels of stress, frustration, and peering through magnifying lenses for hours (the lenses I used are 2.5x magnificaton).All that said, if you choose to forge ahead with this, here are some tools that I found essential:• heavy-duty toenail clippers to clip the parts from the sheets. These are far better than regular snips, and lead to very clean edges (and nice-looking toenails!). They are also better and more precise than the clips the company sells in its toolkits:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075WDK2SF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1• magnifying headset with light. These are essential, and you need the light – many tabs will be located inside other tiny elements, and you'll need the directional light to see them. They are also useful for reading the ridiculously small instructions:https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Magnifying-Magnifier-Hands-Free-Illuminated/dp/B0C59DLJ7W/ref=sr_1_24?crid=11FB2F94R9OSH&keywords=illuminated+magnifying+headset&qid=1696616324&sprefix=illuminated+magnifying+headset%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-24• fine tweezers. These are essential to grasp the tabs and bend the parts. I used the curved tip – the tip is great for the tabs, and the black area is great for bending long elements. I also used a nylon set of tweezers (from computer work) for painted areas but these were often too flexible. The metal tweezers can scrape the paint if you're not careful, so be careful! The toolset they sell contains some very useful tweezers and a long-edge bending tool that is only okay (too wide of a slot, and no handle for leverage).https://www.amazon.com/iFixit-Precision-Tweezers-Set-Angled/dp/B079K874CQ/ref=sr_1_8?crid=P8U6L2PT2W0C&keywords=fine+tweezers+electronics&qid=1696616579&sprefix=fine+tweezers+electronics%2Caps%2C111&sr=8-8• an assortment of fine rods to bend the tubular elements... I just scrounged around for these, and ended up using a the shaft of Dremel bit (often far too big!) and a centerpoint (tapered, so it may warp the tube, but this can be straightened. There are a lot of tiny tubular parts in this model – they are a PITA. Some are so small that even the string from a string trimmer (aka weed whacker) is too large. A round toothpick would probably be useful? The company's tool set contains rods of various diameters with one rounded end... these are pretty much essential, but I still found them too large for some of the tiny pieces (again, there are many). I often used the tip of the tweezers I linked to – when closed, they provide a range of radii, but graduated so you have to work with it a bit to keep from making a cone rather than a tube.As mentioned, the company sells tool kits that should provide most of these capabilities if you don’t already own something that works. Check their “store” here on Amazon… there are two kits to choose from. I bought the smaller kit, mainly for the various-sized metal rods they provide.Final notes: I bought two of these models to challenge my brain and dexterity after suffering from severe, chronic insomnia for nearly a decade – if you're not familiar, this type of insomnia affects your brain and diminishes many abilities like memory, coordination, balance, focus, dexterity (it leads to shaky hands) and other things (increased rate of cancer and heart disease). This model, and the solutions it made my mind come up with have been good therapy for me in that regard. I'm happy about that – the focus, steady hands, and tiny muscle movements required were perfect for me.This model is not for 14-year-olds, and I've built models all my life. Honestly, it's not even for 99.999% of the population. If you go for this model, approach it with gentle hands, patience and be prepared for a challenge![EDIT] I've uploaded the completed model... I included the soda can (I use it for old blade storage) for reference. I haven't made final adjustments, and will likely need super glue to keep the warped and tilted things straight). In the end, I'll probably do more of these, so I added a star to the review... I found that I got better at gently handling the part while bending tabs, and the immense focus required really does help my brain. The first image of the tools are the ones I found essential (a combination of my own (nail clippers and precise tweezers) combined with the set found here:https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Cylinder-Bending-Puzzles-Assembly/dp/B08SPXK5WC/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=OLUgH&content-id=amzn1.sym.5f7e0a27-49c0-47d3-80b2-fd9271d863ca%3Aamzn1.symc.e5c80209-769f-4ade-a325-2eaec14b8e0e&pf_rd_p=5f7e0a27-49c0-47d3-80b2-fd9271d863ca&pf_rd_r=TQSSEYPD72CWJN04WXXX&pd_rd_wg=W83bE&pd_rd_r=21a06ba0-3e39-4440-bcc7-497acd7328ba&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_mThe other tools are referenced in my original review. The lighted magnifying lenses are also essential.*** Final edit: I think twisting the tabs in some areas is proper. FWIW, I saw numerous hints online about this, though it was never mentioned plainly (or I missed it).My brain didn't reach this level when building this, and I'm frankly ashamed. When you twist (and don't fold) a tab, you do a better job of "locking" it. I think this must help, but of course it is a one-way path/decision. Metal fatigue won’t allow for much other than a simple twist… if you push it, the tab will break off. And honestly, this twisting idea is not a cure-all by any means – you will still be struggling to keep the shapes as they need to be.

By the time you finish this, Perseverance will be gone…patience and some very, very good tweezers and electrical wire cutters are necessary to assemble this. It took me about 2 weeks to complete. And it’s not for children at all.

Well it’s certainly not easy, but then isn’t that the point? The instructions could use a LOT of work because often times the critical bends aren’t obvious or even suspected! Pays to study ahead to see where the assembly or part goes before bending anything… two or three bends is the limit before fails but…still satisfying!NOT for a 14 year old…well, unless they are exceptionally patient . This one has a LOT of sub- assemblies and difficult fits! But worth every frustration!

I doubt this kit is for ages 14+. The assembly requires good hands and eyes: the graphic instructions are very small and some of the connection locations are very ... confusing. I had to use some gadgets of mine to make cylindrical curvatures and/or 360 bends. C'mon guys, are you kidding? It has being already 3 weeks of intensive and careful work done and so far only 3 chassis are done. This kit is NOT for anyone and I am 65+ years old with a lot patience and....PERSEVERANCE!

This one was by far the most satisfying to build out of all the "Space" themed ones. I thought the ISS was the most intricate right up until I started working on this one. Super well detailed, a great look, and a must-have for any collection.