Great little project to give the kids an insight on how an engine works.
Discover how an engine works, by building your own fully working model of a 4-cylinder petrol car engine
This kit contains all the tools you require for assembly (100+ pieces)
Reflector Telescope - National Geographic 76/700 EQ $199.00 $119.00 (Price correction thanks to sane )
So you dont need any mechanics anymore?
So the only reason to learn about something is to get a job?
I'm sure cars will be around for many years to come…
Came here for jv and wasn't disappointed.
Transferable skills. Making kids think about how things around them work helps develop their minds and their ability to analyse things logically. Toys like this can kickstart a passion in engineering or physics or science in general. Kids that like lego won't necessarily grow up to be construction workers.
That's interesting, the telescope is $119 in the paper catalogue, which is more like it for a 3" telescope.
Does that mean it is designed for kids as well?
The telescope is really tiny for a reflecting telescope. The mirror is 76mm, 3". A half-decent pair of binoculars will be far better.
I cannot agree more. Spend the same amount of money on some decent binos.
So cool.
That model would be useful if you want your kid to learn about cars grandpa used to drive - and then they need to unlearn all the stuff about carburettors, 4-blade belt driven fans and why there's only one camshaft
Aldi need to get with the times and have a Tesla electric motor model…
pfft…. they already have, weren't they having a power tool sale, pretty sure they all have electric motors in them, and rechargeable batteries
come to think of it - that engine IS a hybrid of sorts, it IS coupled with an electric motor, AND to keep with the times, it does generate artificial engine sounds that some new cars now feature
points, lol, I introduced my app-munchin eldest to distributer points a few months ago, he was incredulous, reckoned it wouldn't work cause there wasn't a chip on it…lol…
I agree, it's very disappointing that Aldi has not incorporated variable cam timing and active fuel management into the model.
It's because they don't want to be accused of cheating emissions tests using clever engine management software, like other German automotive manufacturers.
Nor have they explained nitrous oxide systems. Fast and furious guys!!! And standalone fuel management systems
Duh, danger to manifold!
Don't want to make your car's floor fall out!
I found them useless with injection systems, the whipped cream played havoc with the mixture.
Disagree
The basic principles of modern engines are the same as this model
Keeping it simple
An excellent learning resource
This! Absolutely this! Learning to do something with a computer isn't learning to do something. You learn the principles first and once you've mastered them, then you do it the easy no-brainer way!
Exactly
There is no substitute for actually seeing something working or getting hands on
My son and I build drones, model aircraft, electronic circuits, fix stuff
Learn. Open your mind. develop
With this telescope you'll be able to see the rings on Saturn… just. You'll also make out some banding on Jupiter and Mars will be a tiny pink featureless dot. The phases of Venus can be seen quite easily. Almost everything will be monochrome.
My advice would be to save up and buy something better. Reflector telescopes need to be collimated to line up all the mirrors. This process isn't a whole lot of fun if you can't get it just right. Useful telescopes start from 8 inches.
My wife often says things only get useful from 8 inches.
That's what she tells me as well…
She didn't mention that to me.
So I take it people won't be able to see Uranus with it?
You could ask George about that
Use a handheld mirror.
Depends on where you place the telescope, adjust and use adaptor you can see brownie coming too…
oh I mean asteroid.
Here we go….
Appreciate the constructive advice - have an upvote!
You'd probably do better than that with Mars at the moment.
The problem is when you go to the nebula etc. which you will find it difficult to see. Plus I'm not sure why all the eyepieces, you will be pushed to go much beyond 120x magnification.
The rule of thumb has been that a 6 inch is a good starting point, with a good equatorial mount. 8+ inches on a Dob with decent magnification becomes a pain.
There is a bigger 5 inch version of this telescope from NatGeo - which might be a better bet.
Wife jokes aside
Whats this telescope like to perve at people and buildings?
Don't forget some of the moons of Jupiter!
To be able to see those things for $120 ain't bad imo - you could do a whole lot worse than this scope. That said if the tripod is wobbly it'll be a nightmare - but if thats the case just take it back!
Interesting how Aldi describe both engines as "Working Models". A true "working model" actually runs ie fuel in, power out.
See all the working models of Stirling engines available..
That's a narrow-minded approach to learning. Think of this a the gateway drug to mechatronic engineering and robotics.
Wait what? You think that aerospace and mechanical engineers are degenerates some how? What would you suggest is more civilised? That doesn't make sense at all.
So, no physics, chemistry, mathematics, mechanical/electrical/materials engineering, accounting, and understanding of how things work?
Aspiring to be politicians?
No, don't correct him!!
My kids will need cashed up idiots in the future to rip off on simple jobs when things break and they don't understand how easy it is to fix.
yeah, but that's what the other guy is thinking too…
My kids aim a little higher in life than wasting time with this.
Like a home chemistry kit? How's that meth lab working out?
Please park your ego madam. If reaction time was an indicator of intelligence then your participation is this thread is completely out of your league (& Class). Time to move on just as everyone else has.
lol still NaCl about being negged into oblivion? yeah, better move on…for your sake tinyviolin.gif
Looks like a copy of this, which seems to retail for $70. So looks like a decent deal.