Build: R.O.G. Mechanical Eye

I was fortunate enough to obtain this highly difficult-to-get-your-hands-on unique model because of a fantastic person. It is the R.O.G. Mechanical Eye Sculpture model, in case you are unfamiliar with it. In order to promote Asus' Republic of Gamers brand, this model was created. It was distributed at a number of electronics and gaming events worldwide. When you buy particular gamer laptops, you can also get them as a bonus item (see here for all the details). Additionally, if you are fortunate enough to attend a college with a TESPA chapter, you may be allowed to join one of your chapter organizes a ROG-sponsored event.

In any case, the Republic of Gamers emblem is depicted in this single-sheet model along with numerous more "mechanical" elements. Admittedly, it also has a really great appearance. Naturally, if I were unaware of the promotion, I wouldn't know what it was, but it still looks fantastic. Being able to cross this model off my list of completed Metal3dpuzzles models makes me happy and grateful to that special person (you know who you are!). I've returned to my white whales of exclusives, the Shanghai Disneyland Exclusives.

Although it isn't the most challenging model to construct, it is undoubtedly complex. It has a few curved surfaces, but the majority are gentle, leisurely bends with only one or two tight ones. A number of issues with this model arise, many of them are related to the metal strips that give the model depth. These components join the "face" and "back" pieces on the majority of each model section's sides.

In order to allow the strips to follow the outline of the logo segments, each of these strips has numerous folds, the majority of which are not 90-degree folds. Additionally, there are multiple tiny protrusions and shifts along these borders because they chose to create this mechanically inspired rendition of the logo, which makes for an unpredictable line to follow. The helpful side-view illustrations of how to fold the sections are fortunately included in the instructions, but it's still challenging to get it right, and you have to spend a lot of time perfecting the forms as you assemble the side pieces, which leads us to...

Floppy side portions are the second issue you will face. Now, this will only have an impact on you if, like me, you are adamant about the model's outside not having twisted tabs. Many of these edge sections are pretty straight, so if you attempt to fold the tabs over, the one you just attached will topple over when you attach the next side section. Since the tabs are all around the edge, folding them inward is the most aesthetically pleasing alternative, though you can fold them in alternate orientations. It turns into a balancing act.

The tiniest portions of this project are the final task on my list. Alright, a little exaggeration on my part. However, some of these side sections are so brief that they could be considered nonexistent. I am referring to a width of less than half a millimetre. It's wild. The pictures below show one of the resulting folds. There is no video proof of this madness because I mistakenly believed I had hit a record when creating this model.