Make This Roman Fort (Usborne Cut-out Models) Game – 31 July 2009

The model was made for some children that I tutor in Year 3. I made it myself and it took a solid day and a half to make. It is very time consuming but the end result is very rewarding. I started off with glue but resorted to double sided tape - quick and clean. The next model, I will use a combination of both - less expensive.As for building them with children, patience will DEFINITELY be needed. A Stanley knife or scalpel and steel rule is needed for neat, straight edges; also something to make the creases. When building, only cut out what you need to complete one section. Don't cut it all out at once; you will get in a muddle as the numbers are not printed on the pieces you cut out but on the waste.My first little one loved it and it was a good talking point as he spotted different things. I also used it for positional work (i.e. in front of, behind the) and it brought in comprehension and spelling. I intend taking a photo and label up the buildings on a copy so that they have to work out positions that way as well.I checked out on the WEB for accuracy of the model and was pleasantly surprised to see the entrance gates of the model are exactly like a fort still standing in Germany. The building layout was also confirmed as accurate on other WEB sites. I plan to build other models as they come up on the curriculum. My verdict, forget the kids and have fun youself - I did.

My grandson chose this to make, after a day at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre learning about knights and castles, rather than a medieval castle, as he has a fascination with the Romans, since learning about them at school, and visiting some Roman sites near us that were part of the Antonine Wall. I have to say I am impressed with the printing, and quality of the material, as well as the detail of the structures. The instructions are clear and simple, and the cutting lines well defined, so there is no doubt about where the scissors go! We spent a couple of wet spring days at the table working on this, and it was a great piece of teamwork that got our fort completed in that wet weekend! Our next task is going to be to populate it with Airfix Roman figures, which will take a bit longer! He is very proud of our work on it, and is now looking for another project. Maybe a Gaulish village, unconquered by the Romans...?N.B. My grandson mention the fort to his teacher, and has been asked to take it in for his class to see, but it will have to be without the Airfix Romans, with the summer holidays looming!

I bought this for my sons school project about Roman building .I kind of thought this would be the “ cheat “ option , to spare myself from endless hours spent with cardboard and haphazard internet printouts...Boy was I wrong .The end result is nice ( see attached pics ) but this is definitely not the cheat options .It took us about 3-4 days in smaller doses , perhaps 8 hours or so in total.There are tiny cutouts that require a Stanley blade or similar that need parental input , but even without it , it’s an extremely involved and fiddly art project.Precise cutting , and gluing in involved in this .We ended up using a lot of sello tape ( clear tape ) because Pritt Stick didn’t work. You’d need some sort of super glue otherwise nothing will hold the buildings in place instantaneously.Our isn’t perfect because a nine year old did a lot of it but we’Re pleased with the result .I reinforced the bottom with extra cardboard because transporting it would’ve been difficult otherwise .

This is a lovely set out fort. A bit too old for my grandson to do by himself. You have to be patient. Great colour though.

This model is huge and will take days to complete, so if you're looking for a quick project, this may not be suitable. Me and my nine-year-old son are having lots of fun building the fort. So far, we've spent about 6 hours spread over three days putting it together and it's only half finished. It already looks very impressive. We're using a foam board as a base, which allows for the model to be portable. My son can't wait to take it to school with him and share it with his class. Great advice from one of the reviewers here who suggested using double-sided tape to stick the parts together. If using liquid glue, make sure it's a quick drying, high-tack glue - I think you would struggle with just regular white glue. I'm very impressed with this product. Great value for just £5 from Amazon!

Brought for my daughters school project was a little disappointed not easy for a child to cut out or follow the instructions and very fiddly to glue together.

Ideal for amusing the grandchildren. Good strong card, well designed and printed

A big beautiful kit, requiring care at each stage to build. I placed mine on a cheap cork notice board with a frame, used for a school Roman project.metal 15mm figures were added to enhance the model, along with a name plate. Younger modellers will need help with carful cutting of internal parts.