Metalkitor Giant Mantis Review: The Most Ambitious Kit

The Metalkitor Giant Mantis is the kind of build that gets displayed prominently in studio apartments and photographed for Instagram. At 1,200+ pieces with fully articulated legs, raptorial forearms, wings, and head, it is the most complex build available in mainstream retail hobby. It is also, when finished, one of the most extraordinary objects you can make with your hands.

What you are building

The Giant Mantis is a praying mantis rendered at approximately 40-45 cm in length with legs fully extended — large enough to require a dedicated display space rather than a shelf corner. The six legs are each individually articulated with multiple working joints. The raptorial forearms (the signature feature of the praying mantis) have an articulated “elbow” joint that allows the iconic strike pose. The wings fold flat along the abdomen or can be extended to a dramatic spread.

Based on the manufacturer’s images, the level of surface detail is exceptional even by the standards of this hobby. The compound eyes are rendered as multi-faceted domed structures. The leg spines are individual etched protrusions. The wing panels show visible venation — the vein network of an actual mantis wing, translated into laser-etched steel.

Who should attempt this build

This is not a build for anyone without a solid history of Advanced builds. Minimum prerequisites:

• At least 3-5 Advanced builds completed
• Previous experience with articulated joints (scorpion, cheetah, dragon, or similar)
• A comfortable workspace and extended time commitment
• Access to tweezers and a magnifying glass for the smallest leg-spine components

The build requires sustained concentration across many sessions. Tired hands and eyes make mistakes; mistakes in a 1,200-part build are costly to backtrack.

The build structure

Across approximately 8-10 sheets, the build breaks into large sub-assemblies:

The thorax and abdomen form the central spine of the model. Build these completely before attaching legs — the core structure needs to be rigid before the articulated limbs create leverage.

The six legs are each a sub-assembly of 6-8 segments with working joints at the coxa (hip), femur-tibia joint (knee), and tarsal (ankle) connections. Expect each leg to take roughly 45-90 minutes. Budget a full session for the three legs on each side.

The raptorial forearms are the most mechanically complex element — each has three segments with articulated joints and the signature barbed grip surface. Work slowly here and test joint movement after each segment is added.

The head includes the compound eyes (their own sub-assembly), large mandibles, and the neck connection that allows the head to rotate and tilt. The compound eye sub-assembly alone could take roughly 30-45 minutes.

The wings fold onto the abdomen in the resting position or can be extended. Wing membrane pre-shaping is critical — follow the instructions precisely on this element.

Managing a multi-week build

A few practices that help with expert-scale builds:

Always stop at a completed sub-assembly, not mid-step. The legs, head, and wings are natural stopping points. This means you can pick up the build cleanly next session without trying to remember where you were.

Photograph your work-in-progress at the end of each session. If you have a question about orientation when you return, the photo answers it.

Keep freed parts organized by session or sub-assembly. A muffin tin or a set of small labeled dishes prevents the loose-part chaos that plagues long builds.

Finished model quality

The completed Giant Mantis is designed to be extraordinary. In a spread-wing, forearms-raised pose it is built to command any space it is placed in. The articulation means you can adjust the display pose over time — different poses suit different display contexts, from the raptorial “strike” to the serene “hunting” stance with forearms folded.

It is the kind of model likely to draw questions from non-hobbyist visitors. The scale, detail, and metal construction give it the look of a professional sculpture rather than a hobby kit.

Verdict

The Giant Mantis is the pinnacle of the metal model kit hobby. If you have the skill and patience, it is absolutely worth the investment of time and money. There is nothing else quite like it on the market.

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