Smithsonian Motor-Works Blue, 15.0x11.0x2.0

This is a great model for teaching how a four stroke engine works. It is great for showing the concepts of engine timing between the crankshaft and the camshaft, as well as how the ignition timing comes into play. I have built this model twice — once with my older son when he was young, and now again with my 12 year old son. It is a great model and is relatively easy to assemble. The only complaint I have is that the instructions & image for assembling the cam shaft could be improved, as the orientation of the cams is a little unclear in the image for a couple of the cams. Other than that minor difficulty, I recommend this to anyone who wants to gain a basic understanding of a simple internal combustion engine.

fun for kids. She loved it and she has stuck with the whole assembly.

I'm very disappointed in the quality of this item. The plastic feels cheap and brittle, the holes for the screws are not pre-tapped so it's very difficult for the kids to turn the screws in during assembly. The camshaft lobes rattle around and do not fit snugly on the metal rod that holds them together. The timing belt is loose and jumps time after a few revolutions of the engine and that's just when turning the crank by hand. I'm not sure if there's even much point in finishing the assembly, since it won't run without that timing belt in place. The valves come apart easily if you don't glue them together. And before you ask - yes, I'm speaking as someone with a background as a professional auto technician so I know what these parts do and how they're supposed to work, and honestly I'm not sure how someone who doesn't have any knowledge of engines can get through the assembly. The instructions are not very good at all and I had to fall back on my own experience to cover the gaps. I can't tell you how well it runs, because we haven't finished building it and I'm not sure there's much reason to bother. Taking the timing cover to put the timing belt back on is almost as big a hassle as doing it on a real car, and I've already had to do it twice. The "tensioner" is just another pulley that can't be adjusted, and the timing belt itself is just too springy to stay tightly on the cam and crankshaft sprockets. Overall very, very disappointing.

For the price this is a great kit. Very attractive and well designed. I build exhibits for a living and my general thoughts are that even though this is just a consumer model kit, that it does have some details and color choices that present elements of both scientific and artistic merit. These are some of the details I look for in exhibit production in creative and scientific terms. I like that fact that even though this is a consumer model kit that it has the creative choices of a more expensive device. I think that the end result of assembly is attractive enough to give this substantial review. I frankly like it enough to place it for viewing on a shelf or table so I consider its merits to be both educational and artistically relevant.

Kids will like watching this "operate". Adults who drive should have some understanding of a car and this is a fun and very clear way of educating them on what an engine is. Assembling the model is not difficult but not for very young or very impatient kids. The camshaft assembly is the toughest part, the instructions are not clear and in fact the text conflicts with the illustrations, but it's not critical (hey, it's only a model) and it can be figured out. We were missing one part, emailed the manufacturer and got the part after some confusion (if you need to do the same, state the part name and from the instruction sheet the part's reference number, they are nice and cooperative but don't seem to read well). I had the "Visible V8" model when I was a kid, but from customer reviews the current version of it been cheapened via China and not as good, and I noticed that it has been changed (hand crank instead of electric motor to spin it), so was not going to try it given its price. This model (Smithsonian) is every bit as good in all respects, less expensive, works well.

Wow, way exceeded my expectations. The instructions were awesome, as was the "theory" tutorial. The thing actually works and has survived a dozen demos (the timing belt has skipped a bit, but it doesn't interfere with anything other than the spark plug light display being a bit off). Just the right level for my 12 y/o daughter. I wish I could find a manual transmission model of the same quality!

Assembled this with my Grandson over Christmas and found the instructions to be easy to follow and an interesting project for both of us. I do have a couple of suggestions for the makers of this model. It is held together with small Philips screws which make it much harder to assemble due to tight screw placement and the screws falling off the screw diver. Change the screw heads to a small star and it should take 20% off assembly time. Include spare belts as both belts that came with broke (one is a notched drive belt) and it does not appear that they can be replaced.

My daughter (7) was ABSOLUTELY absorbed with this engine! She worked for hrs excitedly completing it and then explained to me the working components. Such a great hands on activity for that mechanical/ engineering mind. I really appreciate the poster from the Smithsonian for added learning. Highly recommend.

Se lo regale a mi mejor amigo que es mecánico de automóviles y me dijo que es la cosa más difícil que ha hecho en su vida. Jajaja que si fuera un motor de verdad hasta con los ojos cerrados lo armaría. No es que sea difícil. Es que el nunca había armado algo así. Lo tuve que pedir dos veces porque en la primera vez le faltó una pieza.

説明書が英語ですが、十分組み立てられます。 プラスチックなだけでしっかりエンジンです。

ممتعه لكن تحتاج الى تركيز وبعض التعليمات غير واضحه وحجمها اصغر من المتوقع اسغرق ٥ ساعات للتجميع لكن تعطي الاحساس بالانجاز

the pictures in the instructions were poor

I ordered it on 7/11/2019 delivered to me afte a weeks time. When we sat for assembling we found one major part was missing. So be aware and be alert!