3D Metal Model: Mickey’s Fun Wheel

To say that I love Metal Earth metal models would be an understatement. I’ve built some of them before (Millennium Falcon, AT-AT) as intended gifts, but they were so awesome that I kept them for myself. They’re detailed, shiny, take up very little space, and they’re super fun to build. Do them right, and they transform from flat sheets of metal into glimmering works of art.

The Metal Earth models, created by Fascinations, already had a large library of themes, including Marvel and Star Wars properties. But, now they’ve partnered with Disney Parks to create models of many iconic attractions. Most of the designs are based on Walt Disney World with a few representing Disneyland Resort. Being a native Southern Californian, I opted to go with a local icon. I could have chosen Sleeping Beauty Castle (although Cinderella Castle was very tempting), but I’m kinda burned out on castles for a while. So, I went with Mickey’s Fun Wheel (no, it doesn’t spin).

The models are packaged in flat, stiff envelopes. To open them, they have to be torn; typically, a few shakes will shift the contents to the bottom of the packaging. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work this time around, and I tore the instruction sheet. It was only the very edge, so nothing important was destroyed.

The parts come on three 3.5-inch-square sheets that have been laser cut and etched with great detail. Because they are made of thin (but sturdy) metal, they can have sharp points and edges. And, they’re fingerprint magnets!

To keep the fingerprints to a minimum, I tried wearing white cotton gloves. But, I couldn’t use my smartphone’s touch screen to take pictures. So, I tried a pair of thin winter gloves designed to work with touch screens. Great! Now, I couldn’t handle the metal pieces with the delicate touch and finesse that they require. In the end, I settled on the tried and true washing of the hands. Clean hands leave no fingerprints. It’s a good reminder to keep things simple.

The packaging says to simply “pop out” the parts, but that isn’t the case with metal. You actually need a pair of flush cutters (also known as side cutters), which have a flat side. They’re the same type that I use for cutting plastic model parts, although it’s recommended keep dedicated cutters for both metal and plastic.

Tweezers are also required. Narrow needle-nose pliers can also be used, but tweezers are gentler on the metal parts.

Sometimes, parts will need to be bent into a curve. This is where some creativity comes into play. For Mickey’s Fun Wheel, I only had to use a ball-point pen to wrap the pieces around.

The parts all fasten together with tabs and slots, bending or twisting the tabs to lock the pieces together. This keeps the model looking clean.

Of all of the Metal Earth models that I’ve assembled, Mickey’s Fun Wheel is probably one of the more challenging ones. Building the 21 miniature gondolas and fitting them into their slots between the rails is time consuming. But, the end result is definitely worth it.

Tons of patience is required. Normally, extra parts are not supplied unless there is extra room on the sheets. For this model, there were enough extra parts to assemble four gondolas. Any other mistakes are not very forgiving. With the sharp metal, delicate parts that can bend and break, and the ton of patience required, it’s no wonder that they are recommended for ages 14+. But, boy, do they look awesome!

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