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Ugears 3D Wooden Mechanical Model Marble Run Stepped Hoist
Introducing the mechanical Marble Run Stepped Hoist, the second in a series of Ugears modular marble runs. This fun and fascinating wooden marble run features an ingenious 3-stepped alternating lift mechanism and a set of new features to hold your attention as you watch the marbles make their cyclical journey. Multiple tracks and elements are packed into a compact space in this DIY marble run.
The wooden marble track has a 3-stage alternating lift that hands the marbles back and forth as they climb to the top to embark on their amusement park adventures. Which marble will take which track, and which will make it down first? The wood Marble Run Stepped Hoist features a 3-marble accumulator in which the third ball opens the gates for the trapped first and second marbles, sending all three along their divergent paths. There are three tracks: the first consists of a 2-marble accumulator and serpentine run, the second is a hammer swing inside a C-shaped cradle, and the third has a whirlpool or funnel. All marbles eventually pass through the collection tray and into the seesaw lift. A rocker switch mechanism either sends the marbles back along the return track to the 3-stepped lift or (and this is where it gets really exciting!) into another attached Ugears marble run.
Fully-functional mechanical models from nothing but laser-cut plywood? It sounds sketchy, and perhaps even fragile, but there's nothing amateur about these high-quality kits. Each box contains several sturdy wooden sheets of laser-cut pieces, with each piece numbered according to its chronological use in the instruction booklet. The booklet itself is the veritable pice de resistance of the kits, utilizing full-color 3D illustrations, "magnified" steps for small pieces, a straightforward labeling system, and helpful symbols for tricky steps. Once completed, the scale model operates just like the real thing, mimicking behavior as closely as 1/8th-inch plywood (and a few extra bits) can. Safes have combination locks, engines push pistons, and vehicles feature functioning transmission and rubber-band powered motors. All components are natural and sustainably-sourced. Oh, and did we mention the holy grail of model construction? No glue required.
The kits provide a range of complexity (between 1-12 hours), with 14 being the youngest recommended age for completing all models solo. With limited adult supervision or model-making experience, most kits can be completed by those as young as 11 or 12 and are durable enough for extended use. All models are beautifully designed and just about the right size for pretend play, and they can even be painted using watercolors or other thin paints! And of course, at the forefront of each and every lovingly crafted kit is a dedication to mechanics: you're not just putting it together; you're learning how it functions.
Product Format: | Other |
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Brand: | UGears |
Grades: | 9-AD |
EAN/UPC: | 4820184121287 |
Length in Inches: | 6.75 |
Width in Inches: | 14.875 |
Height in Inches: | 1.375 |
Weight in Pounds: | 2.35 |