Mechanical Tellurion

I've been trying to find something like this for a while and while there are some nice-looking alternatives, this one seems to have everything I wanted in terms of size, complexity, and accuracy. And then I saw the company is Ukrainian, so of course I had to buy this one. :)(It ships from the UK, not Kyiv in case you're worried !)Construction is a very satisfying process. The model comes in flat-pack, you push the pieces out of their wooden surrounds and snap them together. No gluing or cutting is needed, just a bit of sanding and waxing using the supplied sandpaper and wax stick. The design is efficient and elegant. The parts snap together very securely and seem surprisingly sturdy - I managed to avoid breaking any, though there are some spares provided just in case. Plus you can contact the company if anything does go badly wrong.Construction took me a bit longer than the estimated 5 hours because I made a few mistakes and had to backtrack a couple of times. This is not too difficult, but some parts can be harder to undo than others. My advice is just to be slow and careful and make absolutely sure you have all the parts the right way around before finally attaching them. The instructions (clear and easy to follow) do highlight particular points where getting the positioning wrong would be worse than others, but it pays to be a bit paranoid. Anyway I found the process quite therapeutic, so taking a bit longer is no bad thing.The final constructed model is about 30 cm tall and 40 cm in diameter at maximum extent. I was impressed to learn that the rotational speed ratio is accurate : one turn of the handle causes one complete rotation of the Earth, but ~28 are needed for one rotation of the Earth around the Moon, and yes, this means you need a full 365.25 rotations for the Earth-Moon system to orbit the Sun. There's also a dial showing the phase of the Moon given its position, which is a useful education aid. But it's also designed with aesthetics in mind, so it makes a great display piece.Overall, an easy 5 stars from me. One day I'll be able to afford a brass version, but until then, this'll do nicely. I hope UGEARS will release an astrolabe in the future... :)

My partner does them as recreation prefers roker more substantial and work

It's great fun to make, but not for the impatient. If you want it to work you really will have to file/sand and wax/lubricate every cog. It says this clearly in the instructions.(I also bought the Lego version, less elegant but it works really well.)

This is a good little kit and can be slightly challenging (you have to get all the gears to intermesh correctly) so not for the younger hobbyist.Customer service is excellent, especially given the problems in the Ukraine where this is made, and I got replacement parts when some broke.Tip: read the instructions carefully and use lots of wax.

Gave this to a friend who likes putting kits together and he's amazed by the quality of design and manufacture. The instructions are good too. Perfect gift for people who like puzzles and models.

Bought as a Christmas gift for my husband.He thoroughly enjoyed building it and has it proudly on display.

Great surprise for my husband he loved it he has had a few of these from UGEARS NOW TAKES A LOT OF PAITENCE but worth it to get a fantastic result at the end

A very good model for the experienced model maker - not suitable for beginners. A satisfying build if you follow the instructions VERY carefully.