ABOUT
MERLIN MODELS | COLLECTIBLES | TEXAS
Our advanced materials and methods ensure not only sharp consistent detail, but also durability.
Merlin Models is a passion project. That passion comes from building and collecting models just like you do. As we built and collected models from other companies over the years, it became clear that something was always missing.
We realized that there is a big opportunity in the modeling space. A chance for someone to step in and do things the right way. And that’s our goal with Merlin Models. Our products are designed by professional artisans from industries such as film, video games, graphic novels, architecture, model making, and scenic design.
It begins with researching original material and then creating the stories that we want to tell through 3 dimensional artworks. Each subject is studied thoroughly using as many documents and reference materials as possible. The result is that we are able to produce accurate and detailed concepts.
Our production methods are cutting edge. We use the most advanced technologies for the production of each piece of art. These include CNC metal machining, laser and chemical etching, rapid prototyping, wax masters, premium True Plastic castings, die casting, injection molding, and more. This results in assembled collectibles that are then masterfully produced by professional painters and artists with vast years of knowledge and experience.
All of this means that we can proudly say that our model kits are beyond comparison! Our advanced materials and methods ensure not only sharp and consistent detail, but also durability. Gone are the days of brittle resin castings. You no longer need to waste weeks of your time on cleanup, sanding, and carving before you can begin building your model. Each of our castings is made of durable polyurethane of the highest quality. And all traces of production are removed at the factory, leaving behind only beautiful individual pieces that are ready for assembly.
We believe that taking the extra step is paramount to our success as creators. With that in mind, we make sure that each collectible or kit comes with every element that is needed for the best presentation. These elements include premium display bases, decals, vinyl masking templates, laminated instruction guides, bolts, screws, machined metal parts, electroplated materials, crystal clear materials, video instructions, and of course only the best customer service!
"This thing is large, and like the AT-AT the castings are clean, crisp, and very strong. Looks amazing!"
~ DAVID E. | Discord ~
Frequently Asked Questions
An accurate replica of a model or maquette used by a studio in a motion picture film or television series that was made with physical materials. Both size and parts makeup must be considered and if research is available, they must be used to their full potential. If full color painting reference is available then paint matching must be attempted if applicable. Studio Scale collectibles are based with the original piece as a reference point in terms of size. In contrast, our Paragon Scale collectibles are sized independently of any existing piece and are intentionally scaled to fit most presentation situations.
Layaway allows you to reserve a product for yourself and then pay it off over a short period of time. This is especially useful for products that have limited inventory available! With Layaway, you can spread out your purchase across 4 equal payments, and you can choose how often to pay! With most products, a 5% fee will be added to your purchase to cover the costs associated with storing your purchase during your enrollment period.
Within the model industry, it is not uncommon for a model owner to commission a paint-job by someone with special skill. We choose to sell unpainted models as our default on Merlin Models. With that said, we also want to offer you the option of commissioning a paint-job at the same time that you purchase your kit. This is an optional service, and you are more than welcome to either paint the model yourself or to commission your own artist independently. If you do choose to commission a paint-job through Merlin Models, we will personally assemble and paint your model. It will be packed in a custom laser cut box that we design in our studio. We use Archive X paints and other professional materials to give you the highest grade paint-job that we can. This is not a factory paint job, and we use specific references to the movie props to match our paint work as closely as we can to the original. We are available for ANY painting commission. Our panting services are not limited to only Merlin Models collectibles, but are available for any model. Please note that if you choose to have your model painted by Merlin Models, it will add time to the overall production process. The painting process begins after the initial production is complete. The time that it takes to paint your model and ship it to you will vary based on the size of the model and the overall number of commissions that were ordered.
Layaway and Payment Plans are both ways to spread out a purchase over a period of time. Payment Plans are used for orders that are still in the production process and are typically only offered for pre-orders. Payment Plans can also vary in the amount of time that they are offered for, and may or may not have an interest fee. Layaway is offered for select products that are in stock and ready to ship. Layaway allows you to spread out a purchase across 4 easy payments with a 5% fee added to cover the cost of storage.
A hallmark of precision and uncompromising quality, Rigidyne material is meticulously engineered to complement and enhance our exclusive line of model kits. Crafted for its superior attributes, Rigidyne Polyurethane represents the pinnacle of material excellence.
Layaway is intended for products that are in stock and ready to ship. Not all products will be eligible. Please refer to the product description for more information. If Layaway is offered for a given product, then this will be outlined in the product description.
Shipping may or may not be included in the overall amount of your Layaway plan. This will vary on a product-by-product basis. Please refer to the product's description page for more information. This description will outline whether shipping is paid for at the time of purchase, or paid for once your purchase is complete. If shipping is not included in your purchase, then you will be invoiced once your Layaway plan is complete. You must pay this shipping invoice in order to receive your product. The shipping invoice will be sent to the email that you provided when you make your purchase.
An exclusively crafted collection that embodies the pinnacle of quality, elegance, and precision. This series is designed to be a true masterpiece, representing the ideal balance of form, detail, and size. Just as a paragon signifies the highest standard of excellence, "Paragon Scale" models stand as shining examples of top-tier craftsmanship, carefully curated to offer a perfect fit for display while captivating enthusiasts with the same level of detail as a Studio Scale model. Elevate your collection with our "Paragon Scale" models and experience the epitome of collectible artistry. In contrast, our Studio Scale pieces are specifically referenced against an existing model and then scaled appropriately with that model as a reference point. Paragon Scale collectibles are instead intentionally scaled independently with common presentation situations in mind.
If you order a product that is in-stock, then your product will ship shortly after you place your order. Shipping for in-stock items takes place every Monday and Thursday. If you order a product that is still in a pre-order status, then you will not be billed for shipping at the time of purchase. When your product is ready to ship, you will receive an invoice to pay for shipping. This invoice will be sent to the email address that you provided when you placed your order. Your shipping invoice must be paid before your order will be shipped.
If you begin a Layaway plan, you are welcome to cancel at anytime. If you cancel before your plan is complete, then you will not be charged for any future unpaid payments, and you will not receive your product. Any paid funds will not be returned if you cancel your plan before completion. If you need to cancel your Layaway plan, please open a support ticket on our website.
Your Layaway plan allows you to spread out your purchase across 4 easy payments. These payments will be scheduled when you sign up for your Layaway plan. You must complete all 4 payments as scheduled in order to receive your purchase. If you do not complete your plan as scheduled, then any paid funds are forfeit and you will not receive your purchase.
The amount of time that it takes for an order to ship depends on the type of order that you place. If an item is in-stock and available to ship, then new orders will ship out every Monday and Thursday. So for example, if you place an order on Friday, then it will ship out the following Monday. And if you place an order on Tuesday, then it will ship out on Thursday.
If you place an order for a pre-order product, then this means that it is not currently in stock and is going through development and production. Development and production take up to a year on average, but can take longer in some cases. Situations in the world such as logistics and tariffs can affect the time that it takes to produce a product. All of our products are built-to-order and painted products are painted by hand by our professional artisans. These processes all take time. We recommend joining us on Discord and keeping an eye on our website for production and shipping updates.
Shipping Rates change on a daily basis. We typically begin the pre-ordering process about a year before a product actually ships. Because of the fluid nature of logistics pricing, we cannot 100% accurately estimate shipping costs in advance. However, we can say that historically shipping prices average around $200 plus or minus depending on the size/weight of the item and where you are located. This does not include import fees and VAT for international customers. And we want to be up front that import fees and VAT can add to that amount. We do not inflate or add anything to shipping. You will pay the actual literal cost of what it takes to ship from our Factory in Asia to your location.
When you place an order and choose to use Layaway, a 5% fee is added to your order to cover the cost of storing your product for you while you complete your plan. This is derived from the total order price.
When you purchase a pre-order through Merlin Models, you will not be charged the cost of shipping up-front (unless specified in the item description). We do this because production timeframes can take a year on average, and shipping prices rise and fall frequently. When your pre-order is ready to ship, you will be emailed an invoice to pay for shipping (by default this will be sent to the email that you provided when making your purchase). Your shipping invoice must be paid in order for you to receive your purchase. The shipping invoice will include a timeframe for the payment to be made. If you do not pay within the specified timeframe, then your order will be redirected to our Studio in Texas through Ocean Freight. This process can add 1-2 months on average to your delivery timeframe. If your purchase is redirected due to non-payment of your shipping invoice, then you will be financially responsible for paying for both the cost of the Ocean Freight from our manufacturer to our Studio, and then additionally you will need to pay for the cost of shipping from our Studio to your address. Once your purchase reaches our Studio, we will hold it for up to 90 days. If you have not made arrangements pay to have your purchase shipped to you within these 90 days, then we will return the item to our general inventory and it becomes the property of Merlin Models.
Our models exceed industry standards in almost every way imaginable. As a result, the cost of a given model can be high. We don’t want price to prevent you from getting the model of your dreams. When you purchase one of our models, you can choose to make the complete payment up front. Or you can choose to go on a payment plan. The terms of the payment plan can vary based on the complexity and cost of the project. Payment plans do not require a credit check and include an interest fee of 9% to support the ongoing cost of maintaining the plan on your behalf. Payment Plans also require a deposit of 15% up front in lieu of a credit check. We try to line up your payment plan with our estimated shipping time, but you may finish your payment plan before a project has been fully produced. You will receive an email when the project is ready, and you can keep track of the project through our Discord channel and on the Status Page of our website. Shipping is invoiced separately at the time of shipping and must be paid in full.
Unlike most companies, we do not use a 3rd Party to handle our Payment Plan system. This allows us to uniquely offer No-Credit-Check financing. However, there is still a cost involved in offering and maintaining each plan for you. The software that we use to host the plan costs us monthly. We also have to pay an employee to maintain the plan for you. It may seem like the Payment Plan system is fully automated, but in reality our staff frequently answers questions, makes adjustments, and works on the structure of each plan. These are expensive services and the interest that we charge helps to offset a portion of that expense.
In some cases, you will pay for an item, and then pay for shipping later when the item is ready to be shipped. In these cases, you will receive a shipping invoice to pay for shipping once the item is ready. We do provide a reasonable window of time to pay for this shipping invoice. If you do not pay for shipping, then Merlin Models will hold your item for up to 90 days. If you still do not pay for shipping within this 90 day period, then your item will be forfeit, and Merlin Models will reclaim it. Shipping invoices will be sent to the email address that you provide when you purchase your item. If your contact information changes, it is your responsibility to either update your account, or contact Merlin Models with your updated information.
It is our goal to never have this situation happen. We do not want to reclaim an item that you have purchased. However, it is a liability for us to hold on to your property for an indefinite amount of time. So we provide a generous amount of time for you to make arrangements to receive your property.
You will be invited to make an account after you complete your first purchase or start a payment plan. NOTE: If you are an existing customer that had an account in our original system, you will still need to wait until you've made a purchase in our current system to make a modern account.
Kickstarter allows you to help fund an upcoming project from a company or institution. As part of the funding process, you (the backer) will receive a product at a discounted rate in exchange for helping to fund a product before production begins. You also will typically receive bonus items such as gifts or extras as reward for backing a project.
When you choose to support a project by backing it, you make a "pledge". A pledge is an amount that you are paying towards the production of the overall project. In exchange for making a pledge, you will receive a reward (typically the product itself). Your pledge is not collected unless the project fully funds. Only after funding completes will your pledge be collected. Be sure to read the Kickstarter page carefully. In most cases your pledge is not the full amount needed to purchase the product. It is often a deposit or a down payment. Further payment may be needed once the Kickstarter campaign completes. This will be outlined on the Kickstarter page for your product.
No, when you make your pledge, the amount that you put down goes towards the overall cost of purchasing your product.
Buying through Kickstarter involves 2-3 steps depending on the product that you are purchasing:
Decide to support a project and make a Pledge towards the project. Your pledge counts as a deposit towards the overall order and reserves a unit for you. The Pledge is not collected unless the project reaches it's funding goal.
Once a campaign is funded and complete, then the Pledge will be collected. After this is complete, you will receive an email that provides you with options to complete the remainder of your purchase payment. In most cases you will have the option of paying your remainder in full or through a payment plan.
This last step is a variable. In many cases the cost of shipping is included in the overall price of your purchase. In some cases you may be required to pay for shipping separately at the time of shipping. This will be outlined on the Kickstarter page for the product that you are purchasing.
It's very important to make sure that you are keeping an eye out for emails from Merlin Models. Your link to complete your purchase will be provided through email. We also use email to communicate with you throughout the campaign and purchasing process.
Your initial pledge is essentially a deposit or down payment towards your overall purchase. You will need to complete your final purchase payment in order to receive your product. If you ultimately do not make the payment(s) needed to finish your purchase, then your pledge will be forfeit. To avoid this, make sure that you can receive emails from Merlin Models. Check your spam folders and keep an eye on your emails. We will send you a link to complete your final payment through email when that time comes.
When you pre-order a product through Kickstarter, you are supporting the production of that product. Meaning that it's not a product that is sitting on a shelf ready to be sent to you. The amount of time that it takes to ship a product varies based on the product itself. Production can take up to a year from the time that a campaign ends (although this can be less depending on the product's complexity). Merlin Models has a "Production Updates" section on our website to keep you up to date on the status of production for each of our products. We also encourage our customers to follow us on social media for additional updates.
At Merlin Models, we do our best to release products that we believe will resonate with a large audience. However if a product does not perform as expected and the funding needed is not reached through a Kickstarter Campaign, then that campaign will close. Your pledge is not collected unless a campaign successfully funds. So no further action is needed from you. We do out best to ensure that our campaigns are successful, but this is how it would work if one is not.
In many cases we do offer payment plans for Kickstarter products. Your initial pledge must be paid in full, but you will often have the option of starting a payment plan to complete the remaining purchase amount. Our payment plans do not require a credit check. Check the specific Kickstarter page for the product that you're interested in to confirm whether Payment Plans are offered.
Models+ is a yearly membership that grants you exclusive discounts on upcoming model kits along with additional perks and benefits. For 2024, Models+ includes three upcoming model kits. Our members also receive exclusive bonuses such as voting rights, loot boxes, and more.
You are welcome to cancel your membership at any time. Any funds paid up to that point will not be refunded. Our products are made-to-order, and the funds from your payments go towards the production of your order. Cancelling will prevent any future payments if you are on a payment plan. If you do cancel, then you will not receive any remaining items that have not yet been delivered.
Yes! You can divide the cost of your membership across 12 payments. The first payment is due when you sign up. And then you'll make 11 additional monthly payments to complete your membership fee.
No! The cost of your payment plan is exactly the same as what you would pay in full. As a benefit of being a member, no interest or additional fees are added to your payments.
Digital items such as 3D files, discounts, and media will be delivered throughout 2025 through our Discord Server. Physical items such as model kits and loot boxes will be delivered at the end of the year. We are currently estimating that these physical products will ship in January of 2026.
Some items such as our Model Kits will be offered as standalone products through our Store. However, those that buy them outside of the Models+ membership will pay the full price of each item. Some of our Models+ perks are exclusive to the membership (such as bases, coins, plaques, voting rights, etc). These perks will not be offered to those that purchase separately.