Books and kit for young engineers
A short, sensible list. A pencil, some card and a syringe will get you a long way.
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Books
- Books on steam engines (affiliate link)The big picture, from Newcomen’s beam to the turbine.
- Steam train books for children (affiliate link)Lots of pictures, plenty of puff.
- Railway history books (affiliate link)For anyone who wants Rainhill in proper detail.
- Books on the inventors (affiliate link)Watt, Boulton, the Stephensons and friends.
Build it
- Wooden mechanical model kits (affiliate link)Build your own cranks, gears and pistons, then watch them go.
- Gear construction sets (affiliate link)Sun-and-planet gears, made from plastic and patience.
- Model stationary steam engines (affiliate link)The real thing in miniature, with a grown-up in charge of the heat.
- Technical drawing sets (affiliate link)Compass, set squares and a ruler for drawing your own engines.
Experiments
- Plastic syringes (no needles) (affiliate link)For squeezing trapped air the way Robert Boyle did.
- Balloons and bendy straws (affiliate link)Fuel for the balloon spinner, Hero-style.
- A stopwatch (affiliate link)For timing your stair-climb horsepower.
- A tape measure (affiliate link)How high are your stairs? Find out properly.
Puzzles
- Steam locomotive jigsaws (affiliate link)A thousand pieces of smoke, brass and green paint.