Core Material
How We Create the Core Material for Our Models
At Metal Time, every model begins long before the first steel sheet enters production. What you hold in your hands as a beautifully engineered mechanical kit is the result of creativity, precision engineering, and strict quality control at every stage.
Here’s a closer look at how our main material — the stainless steel plates — is developed and manufactured.
1. Design & Engineering: Where Precision Begins
Behind every Metal Time model stands a highly creative team of designers and engineers. Developing a production-ready file is a serious and time-intensive process.
Preparing a model for manufacturing takes at least 6 months, and in some cases up to 2 years. During this time:
- Multiple design iterations are created
- Dozens of prototypes are produced
- Assembly processes are tested and refined
- Mechanical movements are adjusted and optimized
- Structural strength and durability are verified
Only after extensive testing and approval does a design move to production. This long development cycle ensures that our models are not only visually impressive but mechanically reliable and enjoyable to assemble.
2. Selecting the Right Steel: AISI 304
The foundation of every Metal Time kit is high-quality AISI 304 stainless steel.
We carefully research and source premium-grade steel sheets with a thickness ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.
To put this into perspective:
- Our steel is almost three times thicker than that used by many other metal model kit manufacturers.
- Thicker steel provides:
- Greater structural rigidity
- Better durability
- More satisfying assembly
- Higher-quality final appearance
This choice reflects our commitment to producing long-lasting mechanical art, not disposable souvenirs.
3. Trial Etching: Precision Before Mass Production
Before mass production begins for each order, the factory performs a single-plate test run on the photo-etching machine.
During this process:
- Only one plate is etched — no other plates are processed at the same time.
- The etching cycle takes approximately 20 minutes.
- After etching, the protective blue coating is chemically washed off.
- The plate is carefully dried.
At this stage, the production leader:
- Measures critical dimensions
- Checks compliance with design tolerances
- Inspects half-etched areas
- Performs a visual quality review
If necessary, the machine’s etching speed and parameters are adjusted to bring the dimensions closer to the required specifications.
This careful preparation ensures stability before full production begins.
4. Mass Etching with Continuous Quality Control
Once the test plate meets requirements, mass etching begins.
Quality control does not stop here.
- Workers measure dimensions frequently as part of standard operating procedures.
- If necessary, machine speed is adjusted during production.
- Measurements are taken repeatedly to ensure consistency.
During on-site supervision, we observed something interesting:
Different operators may record slightly different measurement ranges. A steady, experienced worker tends to produce more consistent and averaged data, while independent measurements may show a wider range.
What matters most is that all dimensions remain within the required tolerance range.
For designs without measuring squares, the factory sets:
- Frame width: 3–4 mm
- Acceptable tolerance: +0.05 mm
5. Surface Finishing & Coloring
After etching is completed, the plates move to finishing.
Some of our models include colored elements to make the final assembled product more visually dynamic and expressive.
We use processes such as:
- Electropolishing — an electrochemical treatment that smooths and brightens the metal surface at a microscopic level. It:
- Improves corrosion resistance
- Removes micro-burrs
- Creates a clean, refined metallic finish
- Selective coloring treatments applied to specific parts to enhance design contrast and visual depth.
After finishing:
- Plates are washed and dried
- Each sheet is immediately wrapped in clean white paper
- Items are transferred to the packaging department
6. Final Quality Control
Our factory operates under strict standard procedures for photo-etching and production control.
We maintain:
- A complete QC team
- Professional inspection equipment
- Precision measuring tools for small and complex components
During packing:
- Random checks are performed
- Defect rates are monitored
- If the rate remains within the acceptable standard, the batch passes QC
Only after passing all inspections do the plates move to final packaging.
Precision Is Our Standard
At Metal Time, manufacturing is not just a technical process — it is a disciplined craft.
From long-term design development to steel selection, trial etching, constant dimensional monitoring, surface finishing, and final QC inspection, every step is carefully controlled.
This is why our models:
- Feel solid in your hands
- Assemble with mechanical precision
- Deliver long-term durability
- Stand apart in quality
When you build a Metal Time model, you are not just assembling steel — you are experiencing months (and sometimes years) of engineering refinement.
And it all begins with a single sheet of stainless steel.