(Part 2) Top products from r/metalearth

Thanks! Yeah sure, if you like a challenge I would for sure try the AT-ST. The legs are a little tough but it comes out looking awesome. If not the Iconx Millenium Falcon is my favorite and is $20 on Amazon right now. It is so much bigger than the original Metal Earth Falcon and looks great.

AT-ST:
https://www.amazon.com/FascinationsMMS261-Metal-Earth-Star-AT-ST/dp/B016ADE7TK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503461966&sr=8-1&keywords=at-st+metal+earth

Falcon:
https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Earth-Millennium-Falcon-Premium/dp/B017DWV6OQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503461814&sr=8-1&keywords=iconx+millenium+falcon

I enjoyed it. I'm pretty much due for 1 mess up on each build. Sometimes it requires glue to fix. This one is glue free!!

I had the first piece (yes, #1) on upside down when I did 2 and 3. Fortunately, it was something I caught pretty quickly and was able to fix without further incident. I use gauge needles to form the cones so it went pretty well.

I have seen some builders use model scissors to cut pieces out with great success. I use wire cutters and try to cut as close to the part as possible. This has worked well for me but the finer the cutters the better. The only problem with going fine on cutters is that they will misshape if too fine so you have to find a good balance. hope this helps :)

I have included a couple links to some good small magnets on Amazon. The rare earth magnets are very strong for their size.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LQNEYMO/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_os64ybSE1WZFG
Then there us a cheaper option that i also bought that work good.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004AKS06W/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_5v64ybDMGZBW0

I got [these lights] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF65MC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) with [this power adapter] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DKSI0S8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) from Amazon. The lights are sticky on the back. What I did was run it up the front corner on the left, across the top, and down the front corner on the right. It does a pretty decent job of lighting everything up. I can take a picture when I get home if you like.

Advice I got from this thread, pick up one of these when you can, great little twister.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GXGNMV2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_t1_4VNvCbM29TDAC

Personal advice, always twist 90° and always twist clockwise. That way you know which way and how far when you need to untwist it.

Also (learned from other resident experts) an exacto knife (something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KRSWM6/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_t1_PZNvCbZ40WD5) is great for getting under those tabs when you need to pry them up. You can dull the edge a little, or live dangerously.

Good Luck! I am also using Crab Spoon and metal Madler.
(https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Lobster-Japanese-Stainless-8-Inches/dp/B0041HRJVQ/)

I have this (or something very similar to it). I've enjoyed it very much.

https://www.amazon.com/Magnifying-PHIVE-Magnifier-Adjustable-Workbench/dp/B07MYXSW5V/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=desk+adjustable+magnifying+lamp&qid=1567711345&s=gateway&sr=8-11

But I also used these for quite a long time and for 10 bucks its worth a try.
https://www.amazon.com/SE-Illuminated-Dual-Flip-Magnifier/dp/B003UCODIA/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3VAS1BS7X2RI7&keywords=jewelers+magnifying+glass&qid=1567711408&s=gateway&sprefix=jewelers+m%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-5

I use mandrels. Here is a mini one and here is a larger one that I use. I have used wooden dowels in the past to help achieve a certain roundness.

do you mean these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00340T4IM/ref=asc_df_B00340T4IM5373269/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B00340T4IM&linkCode=df0&hvadid=216503370645&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2643335347203857780&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008148&hvtargid=pla-350338810685

I've seen some at AC Moore, and thought about getting some but didn't know what I would need them for. If you mean the ones without the three stages on them like the link, I think it is the same sort of thing, its for "looping" wires or something in jewelry making. searching for "jewelry looping/looper pliers" should get you quite a few kinds of results.

Michael's has coupons for one item at 50% off from time to time so I was able to get the cases for $30 each.

Here is the light strip that I got:
https://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Non-waterproof-Christmas-Decoration-Daylight/dp/B00HSF65MC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1500094562&sr=8-5&keywords=led+light+strip

This is enough to do both cases. For the power since I do not have them hung up where I would like them to be yet I just got a battery pack. This is the one that I am using now:

https://www.amazon.com/Octopak-2-s-Tm-Battery-Supply/dp/B00LH31OC2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1500094692&sr=8-3&keywords=led+light+strip+battery+pack

I then bought the a Y adapter so that I could power both strips at the same time.
https://www.amazon.com/ESUMIC-Power-Female-Splitter-Adapter/dp/B00G6G5DJ0/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1500094769&sr=8-2-fkmr3&keywords=led+light+strip+battery+pack+splitter

It might be worth noting that I am in the US, and idk if that might affect who else is able to see it. Link to the product here.

Yeah my last build I did with flush cut and tweezer nose pliers https://www.amazon.com/Xuron-Tweezer-Nose-Plier/dp/B007D6Q814

These qualify as my primary tool.

I use flush cutters to snip the parts out of the sheets for the most part. Here is an example.

For bending tabs I use a precision plier set and sometimes small tweezers.

I got it on Amazon.com, as a roll of magnetic tape. I had to cut it up into appropriate length pieces, then lay it out flat and put some heavy books on it to get it to stop trying to roll back up. And then it still tried to, so I keep the sheets stored face-down when I'm not using them, and that's gotten it to flatten out better.

Here's the link to the specific magnetic tape I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HYDC68

What about a small magnifying stand? With or without the helping hands. I don't think I'd include this in a tool kit, but sold separately.

http://www.amazon.com/Carson-MagniLamp-Magnifier-Inspection-GN-55/dp/B0001X09FM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452877518&sr=8-1&keywords=magnifying+stand

http://www.amazon.com/SE-MZ101B-Helping-Magnifying-Glass/dp/B000RB38X8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452877518&sr=8-2&keywords=magnifying+stand

They've leveraged their brand to sell tapes and other adhesives, but this is actual gorilla glue https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Original-Waterproof-Polyurethane-Bottle/dp/B0001GAYRC

That stuff expands into a foam and hardens. It would destroy your model.