Wood Steam Engine

[ezdays]

Don't know if anyone here has assembled one of these, but it's a challenge. There is a step-by-step with parts identified, but no tips on how to keep some sub-assemblies together while waiting to use them in a further step. Looking at the Internet, there are many makers, some look like an hour's assembly time for a five-year old, to hours and hours like with the one I have. This one had 290 parts all wood except for the motor spring, some rods and a bell. No glue, just one suggestion, "if part broke, bring glue". So far I've only broken one part, did not bring glue, just made a new one out of scraps.

This is a sketch of the finished engine, I'm assuming that the wheel on one side of the cab allows you to wind the motor, not sure if there's an on/off switch or what, but I'll find out sooner or later. So far I think I've got about six hours into it, that includes about three hours repeating step 1 about 42 times because there's no way to hold 11 tiny pieces of wood together until you figure out a place for a rubber band that won't get in the way.   No estimate time to get it finished, if one part goes in wrong, it has to be disassembled back down to that part . I'm just hoping I get it finished in time to put under the Christmas tree this year....

   

Here are shots of a typical sheet of laser-cut plywood. Some sheets are thicker than others. I found that out when I made the new part.

   

Here I am at step 9, only 38 to go. some steps require at least four hands to complete, others, four hands and two feet, like step 10 where I need to mate the two sides, both sides attach to each other with gears and rods.

   

Also, a pile left to put together steps 10-47