*AD – the item in this review was gifted to our household for this post. All opinions, as always, are our own.
Earlier this week I built a moving 4-Cylinder Engine, part of the Machine Works range with my eldest son. It’s a fascinating kit, perfect for those who are mechanically minded, or who really enjoy building models. There are a lot of different people out there, and as such there’s a lot of different hobbies out there. I’m not actually very mechanically minded; I struggle with instruction booklets and normally ‘process of elimination’ my way through troubleshooting things. However, I’m really like seeing how things work, from microchips through electronics to machines. The 4-Cylinder Engine kit is a safe, accessible way to learn the core of how an engine works, and comes complete with a manual full of extra information, as well as an AR-based App.
The kit features just over 100 pieces, although many of these are fixings, that fit together through about 50 different steps to create a series of moving pistons, a fan, belt and more. You end up with a creation that resembles a 4-cylinder engine but built transparent so that you can peek inside and see the moving parts. This is built on massively with the AR app. This shows the engine working, and can also have it appear in exploded view which shows greater detail.
For the most part the instructions were really intuitive, some pieces were even marked with their part number. However, you are best to leave all of the pieces on their part sheets until required – even though few of the pieces look similar. Although, that said, there are few tricky parts when assembling. I did put a row of pieces onto a bar wrong at first, but this was easily remedied. As a matter of fact, there was only one point where I needed to double back and adjust things (tightening screws that I’d been instructed to keep loose) in order to get it all to work.
What you end up with is a very cool, moving-part assembly which includes quite a few connected pieces. It’s actually a really, really nice display piece, and it looks really good alongside other models. In our case, it’s next to some completed Lego models in Kai’s room now. We actually built the model together, and Kai found it at least as cool as I found it. I certainly wouldn’t have expected him to have read through the instructions on his own though, even though the model’s instructions booklet contains a glossary. As a little to work on together though, it was absolutely perfect.
This looks like something my 12 year old would really enjoy making with her Dad! I’ll have to check it out.
It’s a really nice kit!
This looks like it was a lot of fun to put together, I think this is something my daughter would enjoy.
It’s a really fun kit!
Wow! I’ve never seen something like this before. In my time getting access to something this sophisticated was incredibly expensive, but now I will seriously look into it for when my daughter is older. Thanks for sharing! Enginiering looks like a lot of fun from here.
It’s a really clever kit with so much to learn.
What a great product for inspiring young minds. I love reading about this type of activity .
It really is!
Oh wow these sets look amazing! My neice is getting into science and engineering, this would bea wonderful gift for her. Thanks for sharing.
I hope she enjoys it!
This looks great fun to make, I love things like this that are fun and also educational. My boys used to love things like this when they were younger
It’s a really lovely model!
This looks like such a good set to really understand how an engine works and something to work on. I don’t know if I’d have the patience for something like this though haha x
It did take about two days for us to make!
That sounds like a fun project that the whole family could enjoy. I am always on the lookout for things like this to do, what a fun idea.
It could be a big group project!
Oh wow what a fantastic and exciting project! It’s great to get the younger ones involved and interested in technology like this. Very cool!
It’s such a nice model.
That sounds like a project my husband might enjoy doing with my son. It’s nice to have activities they will enjoy doing and find interesting.
It is a really lovely model!
This looks like it would be suitable for my eldest. It would be a great way to give them an idea of how things fit together to make something like an engine work.
Yeah, Kai really loved watching it move too.
This is a cool activity. I like connecting pieces.
There is a lot to build and connect.
wow, this would make a great summer project to entertain the whole family! I’l have to look into this
It’s a really fun project!
This sounds like a fantastic kit and I love that you built it together with your son. I could see my son enjoying creating something like this too!
I am sure he would enjoy it.
This is something my nephew and my husband would love for sure 😍 I am like totally like you! I’ll have to check out this kit and gift it to my nephew on his birthday🙂
Ohh I hope he enjoys it!
What a neat idea for a kit. I like that it is for older kids as well. Such a great way to learn about electronics.
Yeah – more complex then default lego kits, etc!
Oh wow what a fantastic kit that looks both educational and fun! I think my son who is 11 would love something like this, especially seeing it working after his hard work putting it together!
Kai is 11 and he quite enjoyed it.
I love that you are doing stuff like this. What a fabulous learning experience. It looks so fun!
It is so lovely to play and learn.
This sounds like an amazing creative idea for kids. I bet it is incredible seeing how it all comes together.
It was really fun to watch come together!
This is something my nephew and I will definitely enjoy doing! Looks so much fun!
It’s such a great kit!
What a fab kit! Jack loves putting stuff together and seeing them work so I could definitely see him liking this!
It’s a really lovely kit!
How cool is this. A great way for kids to learn while they play. Such a good idea x
It’s such a neat project!