On your side of the Atlantic, do you have publishers providing goodies like this......
Solar system

Stage 1....The Sun & Mercury

VERY COOL
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY LIKE THAT OTHER THAN AN ANTIQUE FROM ABOUT 1900 AND IT WAS ONLY THE EARTH AND MOON.
PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE PICS AS IT PROGRESSES. I'M INTERESTED NOW.

Thanks Zappdog. I picked up the 1st issue some time ago to see what it's like. There is no plastic whatsoever(asises from several washers) - it's all brass. I have it on subscription & received parts 4 & 5 this morning. Part 4 finished stage 1. Part 5 added 2 more gear wheels.

Stage 2 (phase 1) will be complete with issues 5 to 7, which will arrive in 2 weeks. After that, the delivery switches to monthly with 4 issues per month. It will be complete in 52 parts & I'm looking forward to the final parts as it will be an electric motor. Once aligned with the engraved gear, it will show the exact alignment of our solar system at any time.

I only had one problem assembling it & that was that I have every size of Allen Key except the one really needed - 1.5mm, so had to buy another set of keys. It was worth it!

When the 1st phase of Stage 2 complete, will post photo. It will have Venus, engraved gear & moon gears/arm.

Stage 2 (Phase 1) Venus & engraved gear plate.


Engraved Plate

Stage 2 has 10 phases, each one adding further gears & arms.
Next issue will have the gear wheel, support arm, Earth & the Moon.

Stage 2 (Phase 2)


Earth,Moon, Earth gear arm, Mars gears.

Got 1st monthly delivery this morning, completing this stage. Just worked it out. All the gears & Planets should be complete by Xmas, with the motor parts starting in the new year.

VERY COOL
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS.
IS THERE A GOOD DEMO OF HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS OR A PAGE IN THE MANUAL ?
I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW IT KEEPS TRACK. DO THE PLANETS CIRCLE THE SUN IN REAL TIME ?
I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING IN THE WEBSITE OTHER THAN THE TV COMMERCIAL.

No, not yet. There is a good photo of it complete, but it's spread across 2 pages. If you look on the shot of the engraved plate above, you should be able to see calibration marks. When complete, you align the planets to those marks & set the speed on the motor, & it will rotate showing the actual solar system as it is at that time.

Am very busy this week, but will try & scan in some photos at the weekend that may give you an idea as to how it will work. After looking on the website & purchasing issue 1, I wasn't to sure on whether or not to continue. After getting issus 2 & 3, decided to subscribe, I'm glad I did, as it looks a serious & quality piece of kit.

Edit - Lately, I seem to find that my hands are no longer steady enough for photos, so will try & hunt down where I put all my photographic equipment. I have a teriffic tripod, & will use that in future.

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE SHAKY HANDS. MY MODEL CARS ARE GETTING A LOT HARDER TO DO LATELY.
AND FOR PHOTOS I USUALLY TAKE A FEW THEN CHOOSE THE BEST. THANK GOD FOR DIGITAL CAMERAS.
I'M NOT SURE IF ITS OLD AGE SETTING IN OR A WORN OUT BODY. OR IS THAT THE SAME THING ?
MY HAND WRITING IS ALSO SUFFERING. I DON'T ACTUALLY WRITE ANYMORE JUST PRINT IN CAPS FOR ALL MY NOTE TAKING
AND ITS BEEN GETTING PRETTY SLOPPY. MY HAND WRITING IS LIKE A 5th GRADER. THATS ONE REASON WHY I HAVE A PRINTER.

BACK TO THE ORRERY, DOES THAT MEAN IT WOULD TAKE 90465 DAYS FOR PLUTO TO ORBIT AND 365 DAYS FOR EARTH ?
OR IS IT VARIABLE SPEED ? I SHOWED THEIR WEBSITE TO A BUDDY WHO WAS REAL INTERESTED. BUT HE HAS A UNIMAT
LATHE / MILLING MACHINE SUCH AS USED FOR MAKING WATCH MOVEMENT PARTS. HE IS THINKING OF BUILDING IT FROM SCRATCH.
HE HAS THE TALENT TO EASILY PULL IT OFF JUST FROM PHOTOS. I CAUGHT HIM COUNTING GEAR TEETH ON THE WEBSITE.
OH DARN, BABBLE BABBLE.
LATER
DR.Z

I'm a left hander, so thank God for computers & printers.

The motor will be variable speed. For your friend, I could scan in the relevant pages & e-mail them. PM me for e-mail address if you wish to forward the scans to him.

LOL
NOT MANY OF US LEFTIES, IS THERE ??? NOT ENOUGH ANYWAY.
DON'T YOU JUST HATE SOME SCISSORS ???

My sister in law is left handed and when she cuts bread with a carving knife I cringe lol, it justs looks odd

Zappdog, this is what it will look like when it's finished...

Stage 2 Phase 3.........

Mars & Moons with gear wheels...

Stage 2 (Phase 4).......Halfway, if you include the Sun. Should have another delivery by the end of the month as it's every 28 days, this one should have arrived on Monday, but came today instead. It should be complete before Xmas, with the remaining 9 issues containing the motor parts starting in Jan 09.

We gotta get you a digital camera, Pat!

That looks like it will be quite the conversation piece when it's done.

Thanks Pawly, already beat you to it
Already bought a new one. Vivitar 7mp.

When it's finished, I'm hoping a friend of mine will make a perspex case for it, so that I can have it as a centrepiece in the lounge. With that & the purpose built chess cabinet to take all 64 pieces of the "Lord of the Rings" chess sets, I don't think many visitors will be watching TV.

Stage 2 (Phase 5) Jupiter & moons



Slight problem with this phase which came this morning. Postman rammed package in letterbox rather than ringing the doorbell. On opening it, even though all pieces are in protective plastic wraps, one of the 4 moons was broken. Contacted publishers, & hopefully they'll sent a replacement.

It looks like I'll have to rtfm again! Already taken close to a 100 shots with the new camera & all ok. However, for the past couple of days, they have been really grainy. I must have inadvertently changed settings.

LOTR Chess Sets
Set 1 - The Fellowship of the Ring

White...



Black...



Full Board...



Set 2 - The Two Towers & Return of the King Combined still has 11 pieces to be sent.

All pieces are finely detailed & painted lead figures.

I'm pretty good working with wood & have all the necessary tools. Not sure whether to attempt to build cabinet myself or have one made. It will have a lipped internal all round bracket so that the board can slot in on top & 4 drawers with special inserts for each individual piece with the bases lined with felt.

Edit: - It must have been clumsy me!!! Reset camera to factory defaults & pics now ok.

Love the chess set Sirius B, we should play sometime.

You're on! Take note though, I'm not an expert in the game - just like a good game every now & then. After 40 years, still haven't got used to the notation they use to describe moves

I don't know the notations for a series of moves either.

Hey Sirius B

I found this chess site and you can take up to 14 days per move, create an account and we can give it a try:

http://www.88chess.com/

If anybody else is interested, we could set up a tournament.

Thanks Grizz

Have registered with site. User Name: - Sirius B. Will spent a couple of days checking out the help/settings pages. When done, let me know when you want to start a game.

Regards

Pat

@ Sirius
I sent you a challenge, just go to the site and accept. Then press play.

Since I created my account I have been challenged twice.

Accepted & waiting to start..............your move 1st, I believe..