What we want for Christmas: Haynes Build Your Own Engine kit
The opportunity to piece together an internal combustion engine is not something one stumbles upon too often, since access to an auto shop class or garage with the necessary tools is unavailable to most people. Also, the expensive consequences of a bad engine build frequently prevent curious newbies from making an attempt on their own. On the other hand, some folks just don't want to get dirty. That's why Haynes, the publisher of many automotive service manuals, has introduced the internal combustion engine kit. Marketed towards kids, or just the kid in you, they offer a plastic model kit to piece together a realistic, working engine. It apparently even features sounds, light-producing spark plugs and moving pistons. The engine has a completed footprint of 7.1 inches in height by 10.6 inches in width and 5.5 inches in depth -- not too big and more educational than the animated .gifs on HowStuffWorks.com. The Haynes UK site shows that popular demand has currently put the kits out of stock. Sadly, we must wait until 2008 for our next coffee table centerpiece project.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dan Roth 10:07AM (12/12/2007)
Alternatively:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=6015435
I think it's a 1950s Ford Y Block
You could go with the Mustang SVO's motor if you wanted something closer to what's under the hood of modern cars (not that the Pinto 4 is terribly modern anymore...) - I can't seem to find a link for that one, but check this out:
http://www.towerhobbies.com/plastic/listings/plastic_engine_model.html
I want that Visible Rotary!
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evlmnky 2:02PM (12/12/2007)
Im w/ you! I'll take the 12A rotary replica..
H2oVento 1:45PM (12/12/2007)
Cool I want one. I built something like that like 20 years ago in auto shop.. No lights but all moving parts
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dave0mary 10:10PM (12/12/2007)
I built the "Visible V-8" from Revell back in the 60's. The early versions such as what I built were actually motorized with 4 'd' cells. The later ones were run by a crank. Much more complicated that this one.
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Trencher 1:59PM (12/12/2007)
This models have been around for years. I remember my dad getting me the 2.3L turbo ford when I was a kid. Here's a link to a place that carries a variety.
http://www.discoverthis.com/engine-kits.html
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s12Dave 2:01PM (12/12/2007)
They built one of these on american chopper and it didn't work.
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Dan Roth 2:08PM (12/12/2007)
Why am I not surprised?
I built the Ford 2.3L turbo four and it worked fine - used to spin the bejeezus out of it with a cordless drill.
s12Dave 2:11PM (12/12/2007)
It was funny because they were obviously trying to advertise for the Discovery Store, where they bought the kit, but then it didn't work. "So it was like hey look at thise cool thing from the Discovery store, oh wait it suck."
m 2:10PM (12/12/2007)
You could buy a trashed lawnmower for that price and rebuild a real engine that has a chance of running. I just don't see the point of using a fake engine to learn when real engines are so accessible.
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why not the LS2/LS7? 2:12PM (12/12/2007)
I had a visible Wankel when I was young. I wanted the V8 so badly. Apparently the Wankel was the better kit but I didn't care, V8 meant power to me.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~erix7/rx7kits/rev913.html
It was funny. It used the starter motor to turn the engine so you could see it move. The start motor wasn't terribly powerful and in my case I wasn't good enough with glue, so it didn't spin well if at all.
I eventually had to trash the kit when the apex seals went. I couldn't afford an overhaul.
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Dan Roth 2:24PM (12/12/2007)
hahahaha, burned a bit too much mineral oil?
Dan from Delaware 2:50PM (12/12/2007)
I had a Visible V8 kit when I was a kid. Was very disappointed when I figured out that it didn't actually run. Also, that X-ray glasses just made things blurry and sea monkeys were just tiny shrimp.
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Dan Roth 3:28PM (12/12/2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFf3EsToXog
4 minutes in :)
Jay 3:23PM (12/12/2007)
Thats kind of funny, I got one of these for Christmas LAST year. It worked fine and it's pretty cool. I have it in my room next to my 1/3rd scale visibile working Rotary engine. I think Wal-Mart was carrying it last year.
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Jay Evans 3:49PM (12/12/2007)
http://www.discoverthis.com/motorworks.html
The 4cyl kit is available from the Smithsonian and for the hardcore.
Visible Hemi Dodge 426 V-8 Engine
http://www.discoverthis.com/dodge-hemi-visible-v8.html
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Benfolio 4:22PM (12/12/2007)
I'd rather a V8: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7PeWq6oqeZI&feature=related
Or one of THESE bad mofos: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-Ef3GnP9wTI&feature=related
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Richard Warren 5:02PM (12/12/2007)
"I built the "Visible V-8" from Revell back in the 60's. The early versions such as what I built were actually motorized with 4 'd' cells. The later ones were run by a crank. Much more complicated that this one."
I did also, however, a little trivia, the Visible V8 was originally made by Monogram, Revell the two merged. Revell actually made a competing engine the Slant Six. Yes you are correct, the early model of this model had a battery pack that ran the engine.
My dad worked for Revell from 1955 and continued to do all the instruction sheets until the early 80's along with some of the box art.
Nice trip down memory lane.
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Jay Evans 12:19AM (12/13/2007)
Actually I believe it was Renwal that introduced the Visable V8. Renwal was bought out by Revell and they re-released the kit in several version over the years.
http://greenfieldgallery.net/images/oooo/ooo1074.jpg
elprogramer 7:00PM (12/12/2007)
I build the 3800 every day. :D
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NotASenator 7:37PM (12/12/2007)
Seriously, only 18 inches tall?
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