Technical Revolutions Set

Apart from the robot line and along with Oeco Power, this is the most exciting box I've seen for a while from fischertechnik. It reminds me of the EC and EM boxes I used to play with 35 years ago.

The fields covered by this box are impressive with 12 different models:

• the safety elevator
  
• the electric motor
  
• the generator
  
• the helicopter
  
• the windshield wiper (3 models)
  
• the centrifugal governor
  
• the Morse telegraph
  
• the cardan shaft
  
• the perpetual mobile
  
• the hair hygrometer
  

Each model is exemplary and works for real.

Pros and Cons and Wrap-Up

Pros

• Very didactic
  
• Excellent booklets, one for building instructions, the other for technical reference
  

Cons

• Some small parts
  
• Problem with the perpetual mobile
  

Wrap-Up

• Highly recommended set
  
• “Play and learn” approach
  
• Parents and kids could play together
  

The "Play and Learn" Approach

The entire box is based on the strong "play and learn" approach. 

Two booklets are included:

• the first details the building instructions, very clear and easy to follow, to be found at www.fischertechnik.de then Products / Shop > Profi > 508776 Technical Revolutions > Product Details > Bill of Material
  
• the second provides more in-depth information about the science behind the models, to be found at www.fischertechnik.de/didactic
  

As an introduction, the fact that inventions may be the result of more than one inventor is clearly stated. Inventors from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, UK are mentioned.

The Models

Let's have a look at the different models.

• the safety elevator
  

The first model starts in great fanfare with the safety mechanism for elevators. It really works!

• the electric motor
  
• the generator
  

The introduction to the electric motor is well done, although the small detail of the isolation on the coil would deserve a greater emphasis. Going from the electric motor up to the supplied mini-motor is easy. However, if the mini-motor could be reversed and used as a generator, why not proposing also a generator with the coil and the magnet?

• the helicopter
  

This is the model I like the most. I had a general knowledge on how it works, but rather from a theorical point-of-view. Building my own system helped me to go from theory to reality and to understand why such mechanism needs frequent maintenance due to wear-and-tear.

• the wind-shield wiper (3 models)
  

The 3 wipers models are interesting more because of the different way of synchronising two blades than the mere fact of wipers. Sometimes, mechanics provide an elegant solution to a problem and no computer is required.

• the centrifugal governor
  

This statement is also true for the centrifugal regulator: this is a clear example of feed-back loop.

• the Morse telegraph
  

The example provided in Morse doesn’t include the silences, thus making it meanless.
The code printed • • • – – – • • • should be read • • •   – – –   • • • instead.

• the cardan shaft
  
• the perpetual mobile
  

I had some difficulties with the perpetual movement.

• the hair hygrometer
  

It works with very dry and very wet atmospheres.

Conclusion

As usual, all the parts are finely manufactured. Some are very small and may require special attention or the help of a grown-up, as for preparing the electric cable. That’s perfect opportunity for parents and kids playing together!

Although fischertechnik recommends two boxes 500 to store the parts –and provides the adequate templates– I manage to get the whole kit and all the parts fit in a single box 500.

The only comment I'd like to make is about some typos. For example, on the French translation, "Best achievement" is translated by "Performance hors pair" which means "Record" in French, while the expected translation should be "Principale réalisation" or “Réalisation majeure”.