Model-y things - any ideas?

[Pigletpoglet]

Dd15 really loves these wooden model making kits. (On phone, will try and link in a min). They are thin sheets of wood where you press out the pieces and fit them together into a 3d model. But they cost £20 each, at least, and only take her a couple of hours to build.
Can anyone think of something similar, but less expensive? DD is autistic - it's the following a long set of not too complex instructions bit that I think she finds really calming and enjoyable (maybe she'll have a career as an IKEA furniture putter togetherer).

This kind of thing: www.amazon.co.uk/UGears-Globe-Wooden-Puzzles-Self-Assembly/dp/B088LRD7BL/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&crid=2PSUB1F6A92SO&keywords=wooden+model+kits+for+adults&sprefix=wooden+mode&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1630128922&sr=8-5

God, only a couple of hours?! I have had a couple of the Rokr marble run sets which took a while, although I suppose I’m doing them with minutes stolen from other things. I have then done them again as they need a bit of glue to keep them together & working.
Would she consider designing & making her own out of thin ply?

Would something like meccano work for her? That can be taken apart and rebuilt? Or would she consider designing & making her own things, or perhaps a piece of furniture? That does rather depend on having the space for a bench etc (altho I’ve made a couple of satisfactory things on the kitchen floor).

Whittling?

Lego? If she went on gumtree & bought bundles of Lego she could sort kits out of them & sell them on, maybe make a profit. (I sw someone suggesting this on another thread).

And actually, getting good at building IKEA furniture might not be a bad money earner in future.

Sorry, I’ve veered off instructions a bit there,. I’m thinking of things that I enjoy, when I also enjoy precisely that type of thing (following stepwise instructions to make a thing).

Kit car? I realise it doesn’t fulfil the ‘cheaper than a wooden toy’ bit…

What about k'nex where you can build the giant Ferris wheel or what have you. More expensive but can be taken apart and built into something else Over and over,

Lego set building can work out basically free apart from the admin of buying them second hand and reselling them. Looks much more expensive than the wooden sets initially but the wooden are worthless once opened.

Hmm, Lego sets might work. She doesn't seem interested in designing/making things from scratch (I'm a crafter, so it hurts my heart!). I love the idea of a kit car, but I think she likes the 'couple of hours of focussed activity and then it's finished' kind of aspect.
We've never had knex - I'll have a look...

Eugy 3D animals
Quay woodcraft construction kits
Metal Earth

Airfix models?
Warhammer painting?

Warhammer? It’s where my similarly crafty building boy has ended up. You get sheets of little plastic pieces, cut them separate with a craft knife and stick them together with plastic glue into models - there are instructions but you can be a bit creative with a few things.

Oh yes and as above, then you meticulously paint them with tiny brushes.