Fall River Press Gizmos Paper Machines That Really Work!

I knew that I wasn't getting the boxed version of this when I ordered, but that didn't matter so much to me. This kit was fun to build the first time I did it, and I was so happy to get it back after my previous one was subject to mold from a move. These will be fun to build once more.

I love paper automata and Rob Ives is my favorite. The different mechanisms are printed on good paper. The paper is on good heavyweight paper that gives the different projects some weight and durability. All the tabs or edges are clearly labeled so when it says to glue A to B you know exactly where to put you glue and what to attach it to. I think this makes it a great craft project to do with kids, and because you make the gears and cranks that make the movement possible the projects have an educational element to it. I'm blown away that you start with a few sheets of paper and a little glue and end up with an object that you can turn a crank and that makes it move! The images are bright and fun. There are 2 copies of the projects: 1 has perforated edges you can just pop out, the others you will need to cut out with scissors, but this gives you 2 goes at each item. It also comes with one completed frog.

Instructions are very vague and leave many important intermediate steps out, leaving the builder to guess how the paper was to be folded or which parts glue to where.Mfg age recommendation is 6 and up. No 6 year old would be able to do this without the grownup scratching their head trying to figure out how it goes together.