NASA Space Shuttle Model on Launch Pad - Detailed Collectible Rocket Ship Display for Space Enthusiasts & Kids | Perfect for Home Decor, STEM Education & Gift Giving

Yes, that's true: if you visit NASA (Johnson Space Center) in Texas, you'll find this exactly same rocket being sold for a few bucks more. Not a super detailed miniature, but a cool gift.The shuttle is diecast and just under 2 inches (5 cm) long. The fuel tank and boosters are plastic and the fasteners between the tank and the shuttle are fragile. But it looks good and keeps on a shelf well.While it might be on the small side it sure is mighty for what it represents, and I had to have it when my much older larger one broke I recommend this for all Space Shuttle/NASA fans out thereI bought this to exhibit beside some Atlantis Shuttle medallions in a display case. I must say that despite accurate specifications (listed at 4 ½” tall) and a picture of the toy in hand, it was still smaller than I expected. The metal shuttle itself is about the size and build quality of a Hot Wheels car—no issue there. The plastic tank with solid rocket boosters and the crawler-transporter platform are cleanly molded, though of less quality and detail than I expected at this price—but, acceptable. The one lacking feature, as many other reviewers have noted, is that the pins that hold the shuttle to the orange tank obviously won’t last long. Since I’m displaying rather than playing, that was no issue for me, but these are delicate enough that I felt I had to exercise extreme care in removing and replacing the shuttle for sticker installation. Which brings me to one small high point of this toy: I thought I was buying a generic shuttle, but instead tiny stickers are included that let you customize it as the specific shuttle of your choice. Since I bought this to showcase some Atlantis Shuttle medallions, I was pleased as punch to put that tiny sticker in place! The sticker sheet is the size of an aspirin tablet, so make sure you don’t lose it when you open the packaging. Overall, this is a somewhat cheaply built toy for the cost but the most reasonably priced shuttle I found in this size and price range, and I’m content with it as a small display item that you can actually customize.I should have listened to the other reviewers. This item looks great in the box when everything is zip tied in place. Everything is fragile and breaks. The doors on the shuttle are on tiny hinges that cannot be fixed once they snap, which will happen within 5 uses. The fuel tank nubs break off so the orbiter no longer attaches. The satellite is a bunch of tiny parts that also break and do not fit inside the payload doors. The astronauts are just there for show. If you are buying this to sit on a shelf and never touch, it might work for you. If you plan on touching it in any way, expect for something to break immediately. Don't waste your money.I liked the look of this, but it broke within giving it to my son. Product packaging states that it is for ages 3+ - however, I would not recommend this for kids under 6 years old. The prices are fragile and small. The parts that clip to hold the shuttle and orange fuel tank together broke off easily after one time by my 3-year old. He is gentle with his toys and does not bang them together like I have seen other boys his age. It only works great as a display piece or cake topper, but not for playing with.My 5 year old son is obsessed with outer space and the space shuttle. After I gave this to him he told me it was the best present I ever gave him. He barely puts it down. I told him that many reviews said that the booster connection points broke easily, so it was best that me or his father took the boosters off and put them back on for him. He is so scared of breaking it that he only asks me to remove them(he thinks Daddy will be too rough and break it). We have had it now for over 3 days and even though it can get tiring have to take off and put back on the boosters about 50 times a day it hasn't broken yet. The key is to very gently remove them. I can see how a child who might have a hard time being gentle could easily break them. It is very small, and can fit in the palm of your hand, but that is what my son prefers. He is VERY happy with his new space shuttle!!!A little smaller than I expected and I accidentally broke one of the prongs holding the shuttle to the solid rocket boosters, but my toddler (and meeee too) loves it.I am not a kid, so won't be playing with this model, it is part of my collection of space models and it will stay in one piece if not used as a toy. I have it on display on a bookcase in my tv room at home and it looks good. If you are going to use it as a toy I would advise against it because it is both plastic and metal, the plastic being the boosters and fuel tank so are more brittle.buen regalo