5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fun Craft Project for Those Who Enjoy Miniatures
Reviewed in the United States on 19 August 2021
Island Adventures
The first thing you need to know, is that this is a kit that gives you the supplies and instructions for how to make the product shown. It’s up to you to assemble it. This will take quite a bit of time (for me, about 10 hours, spread across 5 days), effort, patience, and concentration, but it can be done. I have pretty much no experience in miniatures, but I was able to assemble it without too much trouble. When I did, I felt very accomplished, and I ended up with a cute and unique product that was an excellent price value.
Are Miniature Kits For Me?
I, personally, love these miniature kits. I find them super cute and imaginative. They’re easy to store or display. They don’t take up much room. You can give them away as gifts to kids or adults. I enjoy assembling them. The kits are challenging, but fun, and they give me something to do when I’m bored. I’ve learned new skills, like wiring. I feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment when I finish. And, at around $10 bucks, the price can’t be beat. (I mean, have you seen how much miniatures cost? You buy one tiny fairy, and it will set you back $8, easily.)
That said, miniature kits are rather niche, so it might not be for you.
These kits may be good for you if:
* You like to be challenged
* You don’t mind putting in extra time and effort to get a good value
* You’re good at cutting, pasting, and following directions
* You feel a sense of accomplishment when you make something cute.
* You have no experience with assembling miniatures, but you want to try it out, without investing too much of your time an money.
These kits may not be good for you if:
* You have bad eyesight
* You don’t like cutting, pasting, or following directions
* You get impatient or frustrated easily
* You don’t find the process of crafting fun and you just want a cute toy
* You’re too young (this might be too challenging for kids under 12—if they want to do it, they will definitely need supervision)
This Specific Kit
This kit contained glue, batteries, and tweezers, which made it a good value. The precise glue and batteries used for these miniatures can be hard to find and expensive. Several different companies offer the same kits, and my advice is to spend a couple extra bucks on the ones that include glue and batteries. It’s cheaper and easier in the long run.
“Island Adventures” is a fun design that sparks the imagination. I gave the tin box theatre to my nephew, after I’d assembled it, for his 8th birthday, and he seemed to like it. In addition, this design is one of the easier ones to assemble, as it has less of the fine-detailed furniture pieces. You spend less time fiddling with tiny chairs and tiny books and more time cutting foam, pouring sand, and arranging seaweed. The hardest part was getting the boat to float on the waves.
One drawback of this design is that the electronic switch is inside the “Island Adventure” placard, so to turn it on and off, you need to fish out the switch with tweezers, exposing you to the wires. This may not be ideal for kids. If it’s really a concern, you can just skip the electronic part altogether. The lights are cute and provide a “Wow” factor, but you can enjoy it without it.
Tips for Assembly
* Find a YouTube video that shows someone assembling this particular piece and save the video. (The one I found is called: “Island Adventures- Cute Room- Assembly- DIY- Dollhouse miniature-Tin Box” by Sandrartes.) That way, if you get stuck or confused, you can just watch them.
* Before you start on the kit, make sure you have all the tools you’ll need for assembly: tweezers (included), scissors (a good sharp pair, not nail scissors), an exacto knife (for cutting foam), a ruler that shows centimeters, a sharpie or pen that can write on foam, some small clips (for holding the template to the paper), and GLUE.
* If there is one thing you need, it’s good glue. I used 3: the glue that came in the kit (good for the house, the boat, and the bunnies), Elmers Glue-All (for foam, sand, plants, and decorations), and tacky glue (for cloth). For the Glue-All and Tacky glue, I found it easier to paint it on with a brush. The Glue All took forever to dry, but it was very sturdy and clear, once it did.
* Have a dedicated space to keep the small pieces while you are assembling it. I used a tray an a T.V. table. You do not want the pieces to get lost.
* The supplies they give you are just enough to make the piece, with almost no spares, so be very, very careful with them. I don’t open all the bags at once, for fear of losing something.
* 90% of the times I follow directions, but when something is too frustrating—or when it comes to decorating with flowers—I just go, “Forget it!” and do things my way. And that’s part of the fun, too. You’re ways of problem-solving and your artistic vision make the piece your own unique creation.
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