This Metal Earth 3D laser-cut steel model kit recreates the Sultana steamboat from precision-cut stainless steel sheet metal. Parts punch free of the fret and assemble by hand using tab-and-slot construction — no glue, solder, or paint needed, though tweezers help with the smaller pieces. It's rated an entry-level (skill level 2) build, approachable for first-time metal-kit builders, and finishes as a compact display model a few inches long.
The Sultana was a Mississippi River steamboat that exploded on April 27, 1865, near Memphis, Tennessee, after one of its boilers failed. Grossly overloaded with Union soldiers just released from Confederate prison camps, the disaster killed an estimated 1,168 people, making it the deadliest maritime disaster in United States history — deadlier than the Titanic. The tragedy was largely overshadowed in the press because it occurred just weeks after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
🔧 NOT YET TESTED — TinkerTown hasn’t run this one through the shop.
We haven’t bought and roasted this one yet, so we’re pointing you to the best price we found. Want it on the bench? Enough interest and it jumps the queue.
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Shipping
Free standard shipping on US orders over $99. Orders under $99 ship at the carrier rate shown at checkout.
Processing time is 1-3 business days. Most items arrive within 7-15 business days. Some items ship directly from our supplier partners and can take up to 3 weeks — when that's the case, it's noted on the product page.
You'll receive a tracking number by email as soon as your order ships. We currently ship to US addresses only.
Returns
You have 30 days from delivery to request a return on anything sold by TinkerTown. The item needs to be in the same condition you received it, unused, with tags and original packaging, and you'll need proof of purchase.
To start a return, email questions@shoptinkertown.com. Once the return is approved we'll send you a prepaid return label and instructions. There is no restocking fee. Items sent back without requesting a return first can't be accepted.
Sale items and gift cards are final sale. Custom, perishable and personal care goods, along with hazardous materials, flammable liquids and gases, can't be returned.
Refunds are issued to the original payment method within 10 business days of us receiving and inspecting the return. Your bank may take a few extra days to post it.
Affiliate items
Items marked Sold by Affiliate are not shipped or fulfilled by TinkerTown. Those orders are placed with Amazon or eBay, and shipping, returns and support follow that retailer's own policies. TinkerTown earns a commission on those purchases at no extra cost to you.
Damages and issues
Inspect your order when it arrives and contact us right away if anything is defective, damaged or wrong, so we can make it right.
Orders shipped into the European Union may be cancelled or returned within 14 days for any reason, under the same condition requirements above.
FAQs
Is this a real store or just a collection of affiliate links?
It’s both. TinkerTown features gear I actually use, love, and sometimes sell. Some links are affiliate links — if you click them, I might earn a few pennies. It helps me buy more stuff to break.
How do you decide what to feature?
Easy. I tinker with it. If it survives my abuse, earns its keep, or solves a real problem — it goes on the site. If not, it goes in The Duds (yes, that’s a thing).
Do you offer customer support?
If it’s for something I sell directly — yes, you’ll get a real reply from a real human (me or someone I trust). If it’s an affiliate product, you’ll need to deal with the store you bought it from. I just point to the good stuff.
Can I suggest a product or tool?
Absolutely! Got something you swear by (or swore at)? Hit the Contact page and share it. If I like it, I might test it and add it — credit included (unless it explodes).
Are your reviews paid or sponsored?
Nope. No brand pays me to say nice things. Everything you see is tested and written with full creative freedom — including my right to roast terrible tools.