Metal Earth vs Metalkitor: Small Licensed Kits or Big Mechanical Creatures?
Updated
Short answer: Metal Earth makes small, quick, mostly licensed kits with a real beginner tier. Metalkitor makes a few large mechanical creatures that take an afternoon at the low end and several weekends at the top. If you have never built a metal kit, start with Metal Earth. If you already have a few builds behind you and want one big, poseable showpiece, Metalkitor is the step up.
We track 61 Metal Earth kits and 3 Metalkitor kits, and every figure below comes from those listings. We have not built the Metalkitor kits ourselves.
Metal Earth vs Metalkitor at a glance
Metal Earth and Metalkitor compared, by the listings of the kits we track
| Metal Earth | Metalkitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Kits we track | 61 | 3 |
| Typical subjects | Landmarks, aircraft, cars, ships, Star Wars, Marvel, Harry Potter | Mechanical scorpion, spider and mantis |
| Listed piece counts | 21 to 305 | About 250 to 1,200+ |
| Listed build times | 1–2 hours (Eiffel Tower) to 3–5 hours (Bald Eagle) | 4–6 hours to 16–20 hours |
| Typical finished size | About 2 to 12 in | About 16 cm (Scorpion) to 15.5 in long (Giant Mantis) |
| First kit we’d suggest | Eiffel Tower: 28 pieces, Beginner | Scorpion: 454 pieces, Advanced |
| Hardest kit | Hogwarts Castle in Snow: 305 pieces, Expert | Giant Mantis: 1,200+ pieces, Expert |
| Moving parts | None listed on the kits we track | Poseable legs and tail (Scorpion), poseable joints (Mantis) |
| Lights | None listed | Spider and Giant Mantis |
| Assembly | Tab-and-slot steel, no glue or solder | Not stated on the listings |
| Listed minimum age | 14+ where stated | 14+ (Scorpion, Spider), 16+ (Giant Mantis) |
| Where it’s sold | Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble | metalkitor.com, the METALKITOR Amazon store, Walmart |
Difficulty and build time
This is the biggest difference. Metal Earth has a true entry point: the Eiffel Tower lists 28 pieces from two steel sheets and a 1–2 hour build. Most Metal Earth kits we track that publish a piece count sit between 45 and 150 pieces, listed as moderate or challenging. Even the Expert-rated Hogwarts Castle in Snow tops out at 305 pieces.
None of the Metalkitor kits we track is a beginner kit. The smallest by part count, the Steampunk Spider, lists about 250 parts and 4–6 hours. The Metalkitor Scorpion lists 454 pieces, and the Giant Mantis lists 1,200+ pieces and 16–20 hours. That is about four times the parts of Metal Earth’s hardest kit in our catalog.
Size and shelf presence
Metal Earth kits are desk pieces. The Eiffel Tower stands about 4.3 in tall, the classic cars are around 4.5 in long, and the longest ship we track, the Premium Series USS Missouri, is about 12 in. Metalkitor kits are bigger: the Scorpion is roughly 16 × 14 × 14 cm, and the Giant Mantis is about 15.5 × 6.9 × 9 in, the largest kit we track.
For a row of models on a tight shelf, pick Metal Earth. For one centerpiece, pick Metalkitor.
Subjects, color and features
Metal Earth’s strength is range and licensing: Star Wars ships, Marvel heroes, Harry Potter, Kawasaki and Chevy vehicles, spacecraft from Apollo to the James Webb telescope. Standard kits are bare silver steel. Premium Series kits such as the Millennium Falcon (Color) and the Bald Eagle are color-printed.
Metalkitor makes original mechanical creatures, not licensed models. Its draw is what the kits do: the Scorpion’s legs and tail pose, and the Spider and Giant Mantis have built-in lights. Color comes from the finish: on Amazon the Scorpion is sold in Golden, Blue, Green and Red Black versions, and the Mantis in Purple and Grass Green.
Not ready for Metalkitor but like creatures? Metal Earth’s Steampunk Dragonfly lists 69 pieces and moderate difficulty.
Buying from each brand
Metal Earth is widely stocked. With Metalkitor, check the seller: buy from metalkitor.com or the METALKITOR brand store on Amazon, and avoid the copycat domain metalkitor-ca.com. Our Metalkitor review and buying guide covers the return policy, missing-parts promise and look-alike kits.
Which should you buy?
Choose Metal Earth if:
- This is your first metal kit, or you have built only one or two
- You want a licensed subject, from Star Wars to a 1967 Chevy Impala
- You want to finish in one evening
- You are buying a gift for someone whose experience you don’t know
Choose Metalkitor if:
- You have finished several metal kits and want a long project
- You want a creature that poses or lights up rather than a static model
- You want one large centerpiece
- You are comfortable with 454 to 1,200+ parts
A sensible path: start with a Metal Earth kit, then move to the Scorpion, and save the Giant Mantis for last. If you are also weighing Piececool, see our Metal Earth vs Piececool comparison. For more choice within one brand, browse our best Metal Earth models.
Frequently asked questions
Is Metalkitor harder than Metal Earth?
Yes, by every listed measure. The Metalkitor kits we track start at about 250 parts and 4–6 hours; Metal Earth’s hardest kit lists 305 pieces.
Can a beginner start with a Metalkitor kit?
It is possible, but we wouldn’t. Metalkitor describes its own Colorful Scorpion as suited to first-time builders, but the 454-piece Scorpion sold on Amazon is rated Advanced. One or two Metal Earth kits first will teach you how to handle small steel parts.
Do Metal Earth or Metalkitor kits need glue?
Metal Earth listings describe tab-and-slot steel kits with no glue or solder. The Metalkitor listings we track don’t state their assembly method, so check the listing or instructions before you buy.
Are Metalkitor kits bigger than Metal Earth kits?
Generally, yes. The Giant Mantis is about 15.5 in long and the Scorpion about 16 cm across. Most Metal Earth kits we track finish at about 2 to 7 in, and the largest Premium Series kits reach about 10 to 12 in.