So yeah, time for another “all the news I’ve failed to share as it actually happened” news post. I’m probably not sharing anything you didn’t already know about. But I feel like if I ignored it and just posted the next news items without these, it would be wrong. So… yeah. Not-so-new news coming at you! But… it’s just the first step of getting out of my funk and back into building and posting, so bear with me.
Thanks to the latest two Metal Earth newsletters, we now have confirmation that the Lord of the Rings models (that were teased ages ago) are officially still in the works! Also, there’s a small, relatively unknown IP known as Marvel, and they’ve got a figure based on one of their smaller characters… someone called Spider-Man? [end sarcasm] I don’t know about you guys, but both of these announcements have me excited. Oh… and I heard some mumblings at the hole in the wall I listen to that we might be surprised by the LoTR models. Whatever that means.
Moving on to the world of Piececool, we’ve got a LOT of models to cover. They’ve been busy! We’ve got a six more of the basic paper crane models (each made from 2 of the 1/4-size sheets), with this group being loosely described with the term Vitality. I’m not sure of the details, and haven’t taken a close enough look to verify. Too much news to cover!
Sources: Gaosheng, Jinxiu, Liangyuan, Linglong, Ruyi, Xiangrui
Next up from Piececool, let’s take a look at some laterns (I think) inspired by the seasons! Each of these models are build from 2 full-size sheets, and come with the acrylic stands to hang the models from.
Sources: Spring Rise, Summer Noon, Autumn Set, Winter Night
And now for something adorable, or more accurately, six things that are adorable (though I don’t think they would appreciate me saying so…). I’m not sure what the backstory is here, but Piececool has released a series of models under the umbrella of the Panda Guard! But that’s not all, each one of them is riding a different kind of vehicle (assuming you can call a hobby-horse a vehicle) and sporting their own stylized masks! Yeah, I really don’t know the backstory. But they are quite adorable, and quite colorful. And I want them all!
Sources: Explorer, Hobbyhorse, Knight, Racer, Ranger, Surfer
Now that we’ve finished the newly released “sets” of models, let’s hit on a model that is both a continuation of a “set” as well as the beginning of it’s own sort of set. I’m talking about the release of another Cristian Marianciuc collaboration on metal paper cranes of a more intricate nature. However, this one is named after the constellation Aquarius, and the marketing materials suggest that it is just the first of a full set of Zodiac-inspired models.
Source: Piececool
Aaaaand… I’m still not done, because Piececool also dropped the HMS Hood, another naval vessel sometime recently. And, showing that I’m no history buff, I was intrigued to see the marketing materials tie this model in with two other models and “brand” the collection the Battle of the Danish Channel.
Source: Piececool
Still going strong, though with less context, I’ll present to you the Qing Shan Dai model. It has “Matching Products Design,” whatever that means. Seriously, I don’t know what that is supposed to mean, but it’s part of the marketing material.
And finally, we come to the last bit of news… the Lovers Pavilion, also by Piececool. This one looks a bit whimsical, and quite detailed. Also kinda impressive that they made the whole architectural thing hang from a single point.
Source: Piececool
Thanks for the update. I’m usually behind the times, so everything is new to me. I haven’t been building very much either since my mom passed away in October, but I’m trying to get re-inspired to work on some models. It’s good to see that even though you’ve taken a break, you’re still passionate about this awesome hobby. đŸ™‚
My condolences! That’s rough, and I totally understand taking a break to process that. I found that part of my struggle was that building was a way I processed stress and anxiety, but my mental exhaustion made it hard to do anything, and thus a spiral was formed. And it’s hard to break free. I hope that you get re-inspired at the right moment and can enjoy the mental-health benefits of this hobby when you are ready!
Hoping the LOTR “surprise” is revamped color models and/or additional models than the 4 silver announced forever ago. If it’s just those 4 they’re going to be a bit underwhelming compared to the advances metal models have made since they were announced.
And thanks for keeping up with the updates! A catchup post is as good as multiple quicker posts for me.
I’m still crossing my fingers for a Helm’s Deep model. Because that would be epic!
The teaser models they posted pictures of ages ago looked to be made from paper, rather than metal, so I think that was really early on in the process. If I were a betting man, I would wager that these will mostly be full or partial color, and definitely will be ICONX-sized. I’ve got no inside information on that, I just can’t see doing these any smaller. Except maybe a “One Ring” model – that one wouldn’t have to be big. lol.