Hallelujah! I’ve finally completed the Music Dreamer: Sunset Carnival kit!
A little while ago, I posted asking for advice because I was having trouble getting the belt mechanism to run smoothly. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share tips and suggestions. Thanks to your help, I was able to make some improvements and finish the build.
For reference, I’m sharing two clips: the first test run and the later run where the issue became noticeable.
This is the initial test run.
The second video shows how it’s not running as smoothly anymore.
Anyway, following the recommendations, I sanded some of the wooden parts to reduce the tension on the belt and applied additional wax to help everything move more freely. The mechanism still isn’t perfectly smooth, and there’s still some grinding and creaking noise when it runs. However, the sound has definitely been reduced, and the biggest improvement is that it no longer stops moving altogether.
At this point, I think some amount of creaking is probably unavoidable. After all, this is a wooden mechanical kit, including the gears themselves, so a little bit of noise comes with the charm of the design.
Even though it isn’t absolutely perfect, I’m very pleased with the final result. The finished model looks fantastic (apart from that sign that turned sideways after I added the walls and closed it off), and the building experience was both challenging and rewarding. As expected, the completed Sunset Carnival is a beautiful display piece, and I’m glad I stuck with it and worked through the issues.
Thanks again to everyone who offered advice and encouragement along the way. Your suggestions made a real difference and helped me bring this project to the finish line!
It is! If it weren’t for the little trouble I had while building it, I’d say it’s perfect. I just love how it works like those old TV’s. Turn the knobs and voila! It moves and plays music
Thanks, @Pola. I’m pretty sure it won’t be long 'til you’ll be ‘brave enough’ to do something like this. You just need to get started. I’ll look forward to seeing your completed projects.
Thanks @Nita_Davis. I knew I had to do something about it. These kits are worth seeing through 'til it’s finished. I mean, it’s different when you see someone else’s vs one you’ve done yourself. Satisfaction guaranteed
