Toy Fair US 2015 Coverage - Transformers G1 Metal Earth 3D Models Unveiled

Okay, so are these things articulated? Transformable? Or are they just static and you see what you get?

Small statues basically.

Madeus Prime wrote:Okay, so are these things articulated? Transformable? Or are they just static and you see what you get?

I'm guessing some articulation, but definitely not transformable.

I like the look of these guys

They're metal panel model kits

I did a Titanic model from this or some other similar company. It was an interesting, time-consuming experience. I wouldn't mind getting Soundwave at some point, both because he's the coolest and seemingly easiest of the lot.

SW's SilverHammer wrote:They're metal panel model kits

Do they just clip together?

ooh shiny!

Um, those are cool kits and for 11.99 for a neat display piece? yeah, I'll bite.

Burn wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:They're metal panel model kits

Do they just clip together?

They bend, fold and tab together. I've wanted to get one, but they kinda look scary in that i could screw up horrifically with even a minor misstep.

Non articulated. Designs shown here we were told are 'not final'. The display cases are also being offered for sale as kits and are quite neat!

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

Burn wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:They're metal panel model kits

Do they just clip together?

They bend, fold and tab together. I've wanted to get one, but they kinda look scary in that i could screw up horrifically with even a minor misstep.

So close to biting the bullet just to see what they're like. Definitely different and not something I've seen before.
*goes to check bank balance*

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

Burn wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:They're metal panel model kits

Do they just clip together?

They bend, fold and tab together. I've wanted to get one, but they kinda look scary in that i could screw up horrifically with even a minor misstep.

Yeah, don't buy these things. I purchased the r2d2 kit and I think the millennium falcon ones a couple of months ago, and the tabs broke IMMEDIATELY halfway through like the second step. Definitely not worth buying.

ThatOneMoose wrote:Yeah, don't buy these things. I purchased the r2d2 kit and I think the millennium falcon ones a couple of months ago, and the tabs broke IMMEDIATELY halfway through like the second step. Definitely not worth buying.

hmmmm that's one negative. Anyone else have experience with these things?

Given the dollar conversion and postage I don't want to be shelling out nearly $40 (rough guess) on something that might break easily.

Do some Beast Wars guys or something and maybe I'll think about it. Until then, easy pass.

I don't recall anything breaking on me when I was building the Titanic kit, but they are very involved with lots of teeny bits you have to carefully fiddle with.

Nemesis Primal wrote:Do some Beast Wars guys or something and maybe I'll think about it. Until then, easy pass.

Given you have to bend and twist metal, I think it best they stick with very blocky forms.

ive always seen these things in the store and thought to my self "when are they going to do some transformers?" my wish has been granted and ill be buying these as long as they keep making them.

My friend has a couple of kits like these. They seem like a perfect recipe for finger cuts.

YES!!! I'm snatching up this entire line. So stoked that Metal Earth is attempting this.

All right, for you nay-sayers and those who are insanely curious:
These are NOT for the following - 1) Small children. Aw hell, I wouldn't give something like these to anyone under 15 to be honest 2)People with no patience. If you have no patience, you WILL screw these up. 3) Folks with no hand/eye coordination or a delicate touch. See point # 2 for the end result of such circumstances. And 4) which goes along with #3 actually, people with no grasp whatsoever of basic metal work. This **** is not paper, it does not react like paper or cardboard so if you are expecting it to then all previous points will come into play and your hopes for completion will come crashing down on you and you will screw this up.

Since I happen to meet or exceed all requirements and love these little mini statues and have all appropriate tools to work them (which I suppose should have been Point #5), I'll be snatching this stuff up!

Noideaforaname wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:Do some Beast Wars guys or something and maybe I'll think about it. Until then, easy pass.

Given you have to bend and twist metal, I think it best they stick with very blocky forms.

A fair point (though Optimal Optimus might be blocky enough to work), but let me rephrase: It'd be nice if they did some of these for those of us who have an attachment to something else rather than G1. I'm sure there's a handful that would work. Tankor comes to mind. RiD (2001) Ultra Magnus might work too, but that's probably irrelevant because he's not the "real" Magnus.

Nemesis Primal wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:Do some Beast Wars guys or something and maybe I'll think about it. Until then, easy pass.

Given you have to bend and twist metal, I think it best they stick with very blocky forms.

A fair point (though Optimal Optimus might be blocky enough to work), but let me rephrase: It'd be nice if they did some of these for those of us who have an attachment to something else rather than G1. I'm sure there's a handful that would work. Tankor comes to mind. RiD (2001) Ultra Magnus might work too, but that's probably irrelevant because he's not the "real" Magnus.

As long as it's something OTHER than Beast Wars. The show was good, but I HATED the entire toy line. RID, Unicron Trilogy, Animated, Prime? Fine by me. Beast Wars / Beast Machines? BLECCHHH.

CrankyOldTruck wrote:YES!!! I'm snatching up this entire line. So stoked that Metal Earth is attempting this.

All right, for you nay-sayers and those who are insanely curious:
These are NOT for the following - 1) Small children. Aw hell, I wouldn't give something like these to anyone under 15 to be honest 2)People with no patience. If you have no patience, you WILL screw these up. 3) Folks with no hand/eye coordination or a delicate touch. See point # 2 for the end result of such circumstances. And 4) which goes along with #3 actually, people with no grasp whatsoever of basic metal work. This **** is not paper, it does not react like paper or cardboard so if you are expecting it to then all previous points will come into play and your hopes for completion will come crashing down on you and you will screw this up.

Since I happen to meet or exceed all requirements and love these little mini statues and have all appropriate tools to work them (which I suppose should have been Point #5), I'll be snatching this stuff up!

1 - Definitely over 15
2 - I think I'd have enough patience for it.
3 - OKay this might be a bit questionable for me.
4 - I don't know if I could say I have the basics or not
5 - I work for an engineering company, I'll just go steal some tools from the Fitters.

Nemesis Primal wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:Do some Beast Wars guys or something and maybe I'll think about it. Until then, easy pass.

Given you have to bend and twist metal, I think it best they stick with very blocky forms.

A fair point (though Optimal Optimus might be blocky enough to work), but let me rephrase: It'd be nice if they did some of these for those of us who have an attachment to something else rather than G1. I'm sure there's a handful that would work. Tankor comes to mind. RiD (2001) Ultra Magnus might work too, but that's probably irrelevant because he's not the "real" Magnus.

Found Taranulas for you!

I've put the R2D2 one together. It was a long an tedious process, but enjoyable. Probably only if you enjoy model kits. I never broke a piece or cut myself and I had to unbend a few tabs when I skipped a step or two. I used two different needle nose pliers. One very thin and the other a little more beefy for some of the harder bend/folds.

I haven't made the time for the Millennium Falcon yet. I got them both on clearance at bed bath and beyond.

Is is just me or do they resemble the MP line? Is that a possible MP Megatron reveal?

carytheone wrote:Is is just me or do they resemble the MP line? Is that a possible MP Megatron reveal?

Bumblebee doesn't really look like the MP version. It's just a greebly version of the G1 character model. Megatron looks like a beefier MP-05 Megs. I think they just had orders from Hasbro to make "G1 characters" and MP10 and MP05 just happened to be the most easily available reference materials.

You know what this reminds me of?

Valandar wrote:As long as it's something OTHER than Beast Wars. The show was good, but I HATED the entire toy line. RID, Unicron Trilogy, Animated, Prime? Fine by me. Beast Wars / Beast Machines? BLECCHHH.

You and I are destined for conflict.

Burn wrote:Found Taranulas for you!

Well done, Burn.

These look great, I think they will man my desk at work! I have seen the metal earth series and Barnes and Noble and thought they were were kind of kewl but only ever saw architectural kits...haven't seen the star wars stuff yet.

But I haven't looked, will def be looking for these guys though.

carytheone wrote:I've put the R2D2 one together. It was a long an tedious process, but enjoyable. Probably only if you enjoy model kits. I never broke a piece or cut myself and I had to unbend a few tabs when I skipped a step or two. I used two different needle nose pliers. One very thin and the other a little more beefy for some of the harder bend/folds.

I haven't made the time for the Millennium Falcon yet. I got them both on clearance at bed bath and beyond.

Is is just me or do they resemble the MP line? Is that a possible MP Megatron reveal?

Interesting. I have done Gundam Model Kits and a couple of years ago did an Empire State Building model out of thin wood. Perhaps I'm just not used to working with metal as a material. I might give the transformers a try, maybe I'll be able to build them easier given my prior "experience." I may not buy them though, given the awesomeness that is combiner wars.

If anyone us by interested here is my finished R2D2.



The hardest parts are when you have to round out pieces. I found the back of the needle nose to work well.

The tools I used.



I used the smaller pair the most and the tappered back really helped round out bits. I used the larger pair for more torque on some folds and when the tabs had to be twisted.

Yikes far too much work for my tastes but they do look good.

Those kits are also SUPER sharp. I tried to make one of them, and ended up with more cuts in my fingers than if I had been petting a porcupine.

These look awesome. I've been wanting the Star Wars ones, but never dropped the cash for them.

The Fascinations website has been updated with their upcoming Transformers Metal Earth 3D Model Kits, which were first seen at the 2015 US Toy Fair.

You can now go to the Transformer page at http://www.fascinations.com/transformers for more information. Make sure you click on the image of each model to see its 360 degree product view.

These Metal Earth kits are detailed DIY models that start as 4" square steel sheets and finish as 3D models. Use the instructions to pop out the pieces, bend the tabs and connect them at attachment points. The upcoming characters released are Megatron, Optimus, Soundwave, and Bumblebee and their images can be found below.

Definitely getting SW. I'm liking the look of OP as well. I have a couple of these and I enjoy putting them together.

Hahaha, Bee has skates!

Would ya look at that. A toy of Bumblebee's grave marker.

Glad master piece bumble bee feet don't look like that

Sabrblade wrote:Would ya look at that. A toy of Bumblebee's grave marker.

I was just thinking that these would be great in a display of fallen autobots or decepticons

I liked their Star Wars stuff. I'm eager to show how they tackle figures

I finished my first model today: Megatron.

Its wasnt easy but it was pleasant once I got the right tools. I made a few mistakes here and there but overall it wa a fun experience and the end result is not bad. Here are a few pictures of my progress:

What was your trick for the rounded parts? I didn't do so hot at those.

Ironhidensh wrote:What was your trick for the rounded parts? I didn't do so hot at those.

I used the a headphone jack. It had 3 diamateres so one usually worked and if not it gave a rounded shape that I could widen or make smaller after.

I finished Soundwave which I am very proud of. I kicked ass on him and all his tiny ass parts, like Lazerbeak. Here is a breakdown of this model:



Here is Lazrbeak









He is so TINY!

Biting the bullet and getting Prime. Not sure how I'll go with it, but hey, may as well have a go!

Burn wrote:Biting the bullet and getting Prime. Not sure how I'll go with it, but hey, may as well have a go!

Please let us know how it goes. And remember to get tweasers instead of the long nose pliers they indicate.

Tweezers are your friend.

Well that settles that, Soundwave it is! That tiny metal Laserbeak is sweet.

I might just mount him on my face!

Ironhidensh's Wife wrote:Tweezers are your friend.

She speaks from experience. *snickers*
I'm so fucking immature at times.

Burn wrote:

Ironhidensh's Wife wrote:Tweezers are your friend.

She speaks from experience. *snickers*
I'm so **** immature at times.

If you brought nicer gifts when you visit, she wouldn't say that.

carytheone wrote:Well that settles that, Soundwave it is! That tiny metal Laserbeak is sweet.

I might just mount him on my face!

He is so small, he could be worn as an earring.