AstroMedia Steam Engine Kit

The capacity for telling us how nature works, as we interact with it, can ably, if humbly, be demonstrated by the principle of applied thermodynamics as they are embodied in the steam engine. And it goes without saying that the enthusiasm which derives from assembling a steam engine in the small is unbroken today!

It may seem contradictory to build a steam engine from cardboard, but it works – we checked it: our in-house engineer took ten hours for assembly and start-up (according to the manufacturer it takes from 9 to 15 hours).

It is highly advisable to use a large table to spread out the parts during assembly, and a burnishing bone. In addition you should use two component adhesive, aluminum foil and eight 1-Eurocent pieces, as well as four tea candles placed under the boiler for firing up the engine. If you work conscientiously the machine will run "like a clock ", perhaps with a little fine-tuning of the cylinder and valve stem.