I did it!! My first ROKR mechanical build. And I’m really happy with it.
Standing at about 8.5 inches (22cm) tall, it is much smaller than I expected. The toys inside are all 2D. The board is solid and care needs to be taken when removing pieces to avoid a small amount of splintering. As I was painting the edges, I was able to cover most of these issues.
I had a bit of a slip up when putting in the cat (I out it in back to front ) but luckily realised my mistake before I had gone too far ahead. Also, it’s not mentioned in the instructions but I later waxed inside the chimney to ensure smooth movement of the cat.
I had a moment where I didn’t read the instructions too well and put two of the roof pieces in the wrong place making it hard to place the chimney. I was able to remove the pieces and reassemble them in the correct order. If I had followed the instructions, it would have been easier as there is no glue in the instructions, however, I found that the pieces on the roof fitted better with a bit of glue.
Overall, this was a pretty straightforward build as long as you follow the instructions ha ha
Pros:
The instructions are clear with many measurement illustrations labelled 1:1. This made it much easier when choosing the small metal rod pieces used in the gear assemblies
The build is largely snap together
The wood is solid
It is a compact build meaning it doesn’t take up a lot of room
It is perfect as a build for those not confident enough to tackle the larger gear based factories yet as it builds confidence
Wax and other tools are supplied
It is pretty cute
Cons:
It is powered by USB-C (I prefer batteries so that for display purposes, I don’t have to be near an outlet)
Many of the pieces on the lower part required sanding and waxing to fit into the tabs
The walls of the build are held together by other parts of the structure and feel loose. I used a little bit of glue to hold them steadier
Really, the cons are easily overcome during the build process, apart from the power issue. I had a lot of fun making this. It was more detailed than I expected and I would rate it a 9/10.
@Suzanne_Jones thats a great reaview hun as you this would be my first mechanical kit … you explained everything you done this helps me thank you it looks so nice .. the train is so cute and the toys in the window are lovley !
Thanks so much for sharing your build experience! You did such a great job with all the little details, and I love how many photos you included. It’s also really helpful that you pointed out a few things to watch out for along the way. I’m sure this will help a lot of people when they build theirs!
That would look pretty cool. I know I’ve seen this shared in the last week customised into a creepy store with broken windows and a really creepy bunny.
) but luckily realised my mistake before I had gone too far ahead. Also, it’s not mentioned in the instructions but I later waxed inside the chimney to ensure smooth movement of the cat.
