Make:

Step 2: Making the legs

Making the legs is not too difficult, but there are 4 of them to make. Take your time and it isn't a problem. Make sure to allow time for the glue to dry. I switched between the parts to allow one to dry while I worked on another. In some areas it helped to have a small screw driver to help push the paper down while the glue dries.

All 4 legs are done and I am going to let them dry over night.

Step 3: Making the gearbox

Once again, this is really easy and the directions are very clear. All you have to do is insert the gears as pictured and snap it together.

Step 4: Building the body

Again, follow the instructions. Cut, glue, cut, glue...etc.

A few more pieces and the head is done!

Step 5: Bending the drive wire

Make sure to hold the wire with (2) pairs of pliers. The directions show you exactly how to bend the wire. When you are done, just slip on a pair of legs on each side.

Step 6: Adding the power

The kit comes with a (1) AA batter pack, but I wanted more power. I decided to go through my parts bin and I found a nice little battery case that holds (2) AA batteries. This should make the horse really gallop! Also, the battery case has an on/off switch, which is a nice addition. I mounted it all to the bottom of the horse with double-sided tape so it is less visible.

Step 7: Testing

Make sure everything is turning smoothly. If it is hanging up anywhere, just push, pull, or bend it into shape. I had very little problems with mine, just a small adjustment here and there.

Extra: What, no tail?
The horse didn't have a tail, so I added one. If you got this far, it shouldn't be a problem to cut one out and attach it to the back-end of the horse.

This was a fun project, and I really like the results. You can buy one on the Clockwork Robot website.

• Make Projects - Volume 07
• Send GPS data to your computer without a microcontroller
• Homebrew iPod remote allows for easy control for the visually impaired
• Eglantine lamp
• Multitool keys
• HOW TO - Mod a VGA screen into a Chumby

I love the tail. With a little more modification you could probably get it to swish about too. :)

Purchase kit, build from supplied parts?
Make is going down the drain.

If you published the sheets, then it would be a DIY project. What you show is "Some assembly required" project.

i agree about make going down the drain. most of the magazine now covers stuff on the blog which is taken from other blogs... etc. not much in the way of original content. buy the kit, buy the kit, blah blah. the podcasts suck now too - shoulda left olde dirty kip kay at that trashy site they found him on. they are super uninformative, have no energy, and a lot of the time dont work correctly. not to mention radio shack commercials in the middle and the ultra lame intro/editing.... biff.

btw... this horse appears to be cantering as opposed to galloping.

If you adjust the crank shaft so it at 12 and 3 o'clock as opposed to 12 and 6 you can get more of a gallop. I like the canter though.

The last clockworkrobot kit Make did a Build blog on (solar theremin) actually did have all the information you need to make the thing. Full labeled schematics.

Also several people have managed to make kinetic horses just by watching the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrm9nOUACTc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kllh2yV4i0

Posted by: Marc de Vinck on July 9, 2008 at 7:19 AM

@s.

Yep, this is an "assembly project" but it is made by a "Maker" in the UK (Thanks Jim) and I like his kits. We try to mix up kit builds with original builds. Our audience ranges from people afraid of scissors, to hard-core builders of DIY stuff that is way over most peoples heads.

I have a few builds coming up that will be 100%, OK, maybe 85%, original...hopefully you like them more.

Posted by: Marc de Vinck on July 9, 2008 at 7:20 AM

@Jim

Sounds like you have V 2.0 to work on....."Now with swishing tail!"

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