Review: Metal Earth Vor'cha class

Newly available from Fascinations are the four Star Trek starships in their Metal Earth range of laser etched steel model kits. I've got all four to play with, and am going to take a close look at each.

Hoping the angular design might be easier than the curvy forms of the other ships in the range, I've opted to start with the Klingon Vor'cha class.

The kits are delivered on two square sheets of steel, which come packaged with extensive instructions in a flat packet which is about the size of a mass market paperback book cover.

The instructions recommend the use of needle-nose pliers to help build the model, and I also found a craft knife very handy to separate out the components from the metal sheets, where they are held on with small tabs.

The Vor'cha class is built from thirty-nine separate components, ranging from miniscule details, through to the two large pieces that make up much of the basic shape of the ship. These are all held together with little tabs which slot into small holes, and are secured by making a twist in the tab so it doesn't slide out again.

It's quite fiddly work, but very satisfying too, as small oddly shaped bits of metal suddenly turn into satisfying clusters of details. For this ship you basically build it up in two sections, forming the top and bottom, before the most fiddly bit of the job, lining up all the tabs to connect those two halves together. The head is then added on, and you're done, with the base having already been attached in the process of making the underside of the ship.

The final result feels surprisingly solid! Although I wouldn't want to test that rigidity too much! What's most impressive though, is all the detail; almost every surface is coated edge-to-edge in laser etched lines, building up the panels and other details all over the ship. Combined with all the 3D detailing from the built up sections, and the end result is quite spectacular. Plus, it's literally shiny - The steel finish looks great!

I thought these models looked pretty good in the preview images, but the result in hand is even better. With enough care, you can build a very solid and neat model, and that build is pretty fun too; it took me the better part of two hours to build the eleven centimeter long model - I'll be interested to see if I speed up with the other models, now I'm familiar with following the instructions and the building technique.

Continue after the jump for lots more images of the final model:

Star Trek Metal Earth model kits

Due out in the coming weeks is the new series of Metal Earth Star Trek model kits from Fascinations. There are four designs in this initial wave, each delivered on two laser etched and cut steel sheets, ready to be assembled into impressively detailed metal models. Fascinations have now updated their website with preview galleries of all four designs, including three-hundred-and-sixty degree views of the models. Continue below for a good look at all four designs.

The most impressive model of this assortment, to my eyes, is the Klingon Bird of Prey, which seems to have translated very successfully into this format of model making:

Star Trek toys and models updates

Here are a few toy and model updates. First up, a rather dramatic trailer for Fascinations new Star Trek Metal Earth model kits. There are four laser-etched steel model kits coming in the next month or two (see previous report for photos):



There's also a video preview from Entertainment Earth, for the latest Wrath of Khan bobble-heads from Bif Bang Pow - Following the release of Kirk, Spock, and Khan, earlier in the year, the rest of the Enterprise crew will be coming along from November.



Continue after the jump for updates on ships, props and more from Diamond Select Toys:

Metal models from Fascinations

Fascinations, makers of novelty gifts, including metal models of various buildings and vehicles (including Star Wars ships and droids), is soon to add Star Trek to their range, with a collection of four metal starship model kits. Intricate models of the USS Enterprise, USS Enterprise-D, Klingon Bird of prey, and Vor'cha class will be available. They are delivered as flat sheets of laser etched steel, which need to be folded together, and held together using lots of tabs, to make the 3D form - The finished models range from three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half inches long/wide. StarTrek.com have previewed all four models:

These will be out later this year; StarTrek.com state later this month, while Fascinations have told me October, and their Facebook page says November! The Facebook page also posted another images which so shows alternate views of the models, including the Enterprise with correct nacelle orientation: