Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

As a couple members expressed interest, thought I would share a bit more about the kit.
  I have seen this model advertised as low as $22 BUT you must spend $75 or more to get "free shipping" with this vendor. I purchased on Amazon for $29.99. Shipped to my home.
  Amazon reviews range from "absolutely unbuildable" to "Loved it!"... Lol
  I have built several wood kits like this and here are my thoughts so far. The wood sheets are thinner than many more stout kits and some reviews say " to cheap"...I disagree, if this small Ferris Wheel had been cut from 3/16" thick material it would have given the wheel a "blockey" look...sure, aircraft plywood would be a Nice choice but not in this price range.
  The critical thing on THIS kit is to 100% cut all tabs holding the part in the web, they are perhaps only .010 inch long and often not even visible from the "top side" you must flip the sheet over and cut the tabs from back side working with a THIN knife, even a #11 Exacto will get wedged in the thin Laser kurf, only the point will fit.
  The next thing is you will likely break a couple parts despite best effort, rather that view this as "disaster" I like to think of it as "opportunity" to beef up a weak part, super glue is your friend, and I keep thick and runny varieties on my bench. Save all the little wood "slivers" and fit to gather like a puzzle. You can dry fit and wick runny super glue into the repair or if just joining a clean break than a thicker super glue works well. I am 6 foot 6 inches with hands the size of a Tundra Wookie(Artic Bigfoot) so as I can not see around them, I often position broken (small) parts with just the point of my knife....also there are some spare parts in the kit as well.
  I am told that joining the 2 large wheels is extra "exciting" but I am not that far yet....to be continued!

The photo is the tabs needing cutting, I put pencil marks by a few, on larger kits you can get away with just punching these out, not this kit.

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