So, crazy thing happened recently. I think it was the day after I posted about building the silver Targaryen Sigil. Another builder posted about finding the Barnes & Noble exclusive Game of Thrones pack with the colored version for sale at 50% off on their website. So I checked it out, and found that the nearest B&N had one in stock, no less. So my wonderful wife picked one up for me the next day, and I built it that very night.
Of course, life happens, and it also gets busy. So there’s usually a little bit of a delay between when I build a model, and when I post about it. It also takes a bit of time to gather my thoughts and write them all out, and/or create any graphics. Oh, and do a glamour shot session with the model. So, that’s why it’s taken me so long to get around to posting this. And also why there was another post in-between (I had also recently finished the lightsaber build before posting the Targaryen Sigil). So yeah, there’s a glimpse into my process, if you’ve ever wanted one. Overlapping efforts and stuff.
So… unsurprisingly, I don’t really have a lot to add about this model, since I just wrote up a review of the build process of the silver model, and this one is identical. Of course, that doesn’t mean I didn’t make any mistakes. I second-guessed myself on one of the folds (after folding it), and reversed it. Then realized I had it right the first time. After folding it back, even super slow and carefully, I could tell it was about to break off…
And so it was time to pull out the glue and some spare metal and add some reinforcement strips. Which actually gives me an opportunity to suggest a new enhancement to that technique that I realized this time: scratching up the metal… on purpose. I’ve started to use 5-second fix more often, and wanted to use it this time. But as AnimateOrange has pointed out, it’s not super-sticky. It will stick, just not as well as super glue. But if you scratch up the surfaces you are about to bind with something like a hobby knife, and do it at an angle, that can give something for the resin to grip on. Then when it cures, it’s hardened inside the scratches, and sticks better. I think I’ll update my When Things Go Wrong post with this additional detail.
On another note, I realized something about the painted Metal Earth models… figuring out what paint to use must have been a challenge. Because they had to figure out a paint that was resilient against scratches and chipping, but also could stretch a little bit when the metal underneath is curved or folded. I hadn’t really thought about that before, but that’s a rather unique challenge, don’t you think? Which makes me also think that, maybe that’s why the paint quality seems a little different / better recently. Maybe they’ve changed the particular type / makeup of the paint as they go, ever refining it, making it better and better. Just an interesting thought.
Ebay currently has several of the game of thrones models for $5.99 and $6.99 with free shipping. I just picked up Silence for 6.99.
Holy carp! Thank you for sharing! Now I just need to check my budget and see how many of them I can pick up…
I splurged and bought all the ones I didn’t have. Thank you a billion for sharing this with me!
That’s awesome, and no problem at all. Was wondering if you would see the comment in time. Is odd that Hobbytown had those that cheap and everything else higher than typical Ebay rates.
I can’t wait to build Silence. Love that Black and Gold.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned this to you before. Bondic on amazon, its a plastic welding thing, you can move it around and only sets when being exposed to UV light, that comes with it. I like it much better than any of the other glues ive tried and dries mostly clear, ive found it doesn’t take but a very small dab to lock something in. I also use some tiny swabs I found at Hobby Lobby to help apply exactly where I want it. Works great to shore up an otherwise weak connection point.
I guess I should read more, looks like 5 second fix is likely the same product.
I had no idea it was totally painted. I thought it was just a few splashes of paint on the shield. That looks awesome. While I share your lack of interest in the GOT my sister has a wall of GOT collectibles and has conscripted me to build one each of the silver Sigils without bases to hang on her wall. You seem to like the 5 sec fix. What is that? Have you ever tried 5 min epoxy? Aside from the smell and 60X time span difference it’s good stuff. I like that it actually has a volume to it.
5-Second-Fix is basically a UV-cured resin. It comes bundled with a little UV-flashlight that you can use to quick-cure it. When applied, it’s a liquid, and you can spread it, move it, reposition things, etc. You can even wipe it off. It doesn’t “stick” until you use the UV light on it for about 5-10 seconds (well, technically it will cure if you leave it out for 24+ hours). The 5-second-fix thing is a brand name that’s generalized to describe them all. You can also find it as UV cured resin, or several other names. It’s pretty expensive if you buy it in stores, but you can find the liquid in “bulk” for cheaper after getting the first one that comes with the light. Also, I got my first one via AliExpress, so it was pretty cheap that way. I tried to get a second, though, and it got squished in transit and arrived with the resin leaked out everywhere inside it’s package.
As for consistency, I would say the resin isn’t watery, nor is it a gel. It’s somewhere in-between.