While this charming laser cut pirate ship isn’t technically a puzzle, it still provides enough of a challenge for puzzle lovers. Those 3D foam puzzles of famous landmarks have nothing on this Black Pearl model. First of all, I love that it doesn’t require any glue or tools like some other toy models do, although I found it much easier to bend the little tabs that hold everything together with a pair of jewelry pliers. Secondly, the end result is a metal pirate ship that is beautiful. The glistening sails and beautifully etched details make for a phenomenal home-made pirate ship without the builder needing to have painting skills, which I certainly don’t. A little bit of artistry is needed to get the right curve to the body and sails, but even a novice like me can handle it.
At first, I thought the metal pieces were going to be too fragile for my shaky, inexperienced hands, but they held up beautifully and were easy enough to put together that I only broke two pieces (by not reading the instructions and having to back track, bending them the wrong way too many times. Totally my fault). The package even comes with extras of the little tiny pieces in case they get lost during construction, which is rather thoughtful on the part of the manufacturer. My two broken pieces are hardly noticeable, and had I glued them back on, the model would have been perfect. I didn’t glue them, though, because it didn’t seem necessary – I’ll bet you can’t even see my mistakes unless someone points them out to you.
The detail and quality on this model is breathtaking. Just look at all those little windows, and the figurehead at the front of the ship! There’s even a little Black Pearl display stand (which I put together inside-out, then left it that way since I didn’t want to bend it too much) for holding the ship upright. All said and done, I’m incredibly pleased with both the building experience, which was just challenging enough to hold my interest without being frustrating, and the end result, which is now my favorite bookshelf adornment. I look forward to trying more Metal Earth models in the future!
– Kitty Lusby
Metal Earth 3D Laser Cut Model: Black Pearl Ship
by Fascinations
Ages 14 and up, no solder or glue needed