I see that another of those "build a model in 5,000 weekly parts" magazines has just been released - this time the objective is to build a fine mechanical model, or orrory, of our solar system. I had a glance at the first issue and as usual there is a magazine and a few bits - the next issue will have more bits and so on.

The finished model itself is quite intricate and beautiful to look at - lots of complicated brass gears and cranks. The visual effect is similar to that of looking at a fine 18th century timepiece.

I was just wondering if anybody here has bothered to start collecting all of the magazines and bits. There are a couple of issues with this sort of thing - I've never seen the final issue of one of these magazines stocked anywhere. There is also the fact that if you miss a week you can get a back issue of the magazine but it will come without the small but vital bits needed to finish your Solar System / Titanic / Spitfire / Bismark etc.

Thoughts?

Don't bother is my advice. Buy an Orory...orrarroy....whatjamicallit if you want one.

I'm a newsagent and these things are the bane of our lives. Only the first 6 issues of these so called partworks are sale or return. After that few shops will order stock of these for the shelves but just have copies on order for customers. Most shops have even stopped doing that and no longer stock these types of magazines at all. You lose as much on the copies you are stuck with when customers disappear than you make in profit on the rest.

Not many people know that the word “Orrery” comes from Irish Gaelic.

Robert Boyle’s full title was the “Earl of Cork and Orrery”.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Boyle

The town of Kildorrery in north Cork still contains the word “orrery”.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kildorrery

P.S
I once wrote to Cork County Council suggesting that a public Orrery would make a fine monument somewhere in Co. Cork (In Kildorrery in particular) because of the historical connections between Cork and the Orrery.
Waste of time.
They hadn't a blithering notion of what I was talking about!

Don't bother is my advice. Buy an Orory...orrarroy....whatjamicallit if you want one.

I'm a newsagent and these things are the bane of our lives. Only the first 6 issues of these so called partworks are sale or return. After that few shops will order stock of these for the shelves but just have copies on order for customers. Most shops have even stopped doing that and no longer stock these types of magazines at all. You lose as much on the copies you are stuck with when customers disappear than you make in profit on the rest.

Hmmm...I kind of thought that. You can subscibe online and have it delivered but if I wanted one that badly I'd have a hunt on E-bay. The total cost works out at something like €300...

Anyway, what is the name of the magazine?

When I seen he original thread, I thought "Oh my God" first they build thier own Dobson telescopes - then they build solar systems? I have so much to aspire too :shock:

anyway I agree with the view that this could become a futile exercise. My son collected a magazine to build a robot once, and lost interest. Im sure you could buy something of equal interest to put to your collection of astronomy bits and bobs for less money - and have it on your mantepiece a lot quicker...and probably cheaper

Declan

I would class an Orrery as being more Art than Science nowadays.

I have had a copy of Joseph Wright's painting "The Philosopher Contemplates the Orrery" ( upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d...by%2C_The_Orrery.jpg )

for a while, and I've had my eye out for a "real" Orrery.

I'm impressed by this orrery, it looks great, as for the build quality, who knows?
If you go for it, order it off their website and not from a shop as the shop will inevitably drop it before its finished.
Its 52 issues at 10e each, so the question is will you get an orrery like it elsewhere for 520e?? After having a look on the web, the answer seems to be no.

I'd want the orrery, I'd have little interest in the mag, and the fact you'd be looking at it for 52 weeks waiting for it to be finished....well, IF you can put up with that then go for it.
The big thing for me is that thing is motorized, it will spin away on its own, very nice!

I was thinking of buying this set myself. Has anyone else purchased the first issue and can comment on the quality of the pieces it comes with (plastic, brass, etc)?

Seanie.

Go ahead Seanie....If you get stuck I could give you a hand. Back at the end of the last century I was trained as a watchmaker - no seriously I was (strange but true) - I might as well have trained as a flint knapper....might have more kudos now :cry:

declan

btw I think its brass...or some metal looking like brass

I think its brass...or some metal looking like brass

That's the thing, it is metal looking on the TV ad. I want to know before I spend my money on 284-weekly parts what I am getting in the end!

284 weekly parts? thats nearly.....umm lots of years. The thing would be out of date by then.......pluto will be a planet again and the sun will have gone supernova

btw. does it show pluto.....or??

what the hell, I'm going for it, its 52 weeks and its made of brass, it looks the biz on TV, as for pluto ?? I dont know....

its made of brass

For certain?

Definitely metal, its hardly solid brass, just a brass coating I'd say.

They claim in the ad it's brass, was considering it myself but didn't think it would last too long with my three year old !!

I'm getting it off their website and not from a shop as the shop will not last the 12 months, I dont want to be there with it half finished.

I bought the first issue.

I must admit I am VERY impressed.

It even has Pluto AND Charon AND little Eris.

Forgot to include the link to the website:
www.build-solar-system.com/solar_system.html

Sounds good, maybe I will buy into it. How many parts does it come in again? (I know it's not 284 Declan!).

Seanie.

OK.....it is only 52 weeks, Seanie....but Pluto?.... suppose you could remove that piece if you wanted to

I subscribed online cuz all the shops i went to for it were sold out.

I didn't bother. It works out at a lot of Euros and the price would buy a GOTO upgrade for my mount.

I didn't bother. It works out at a lot of Euros and the price would buy a GOTO upgrade for my mount.

Now that's good thinking. Considering the overall price of the weekly parts, buying a complete one of good quality orerey could be cheaper alright.