Ugears Monowheel

If you admire the creativity and resourcefulness of early 20th-century transportation prototypes, the UGears Monowheel package will make a terrific addition to your model collection. Based upon early designs that were either unmanned or that accommodated single driver-passengers, this all-wood model shows the elaborate working designs of the originals. You can proudly show off this model to your family and friends and impress them with your understanding of bygone modes of transportation. You may even motivate them to construct one of their own. 

Monowheel automobiles were invented in the late 19th century, and though they showed too cumbersome for everyday transportation, they still captured the imaginations of inventors, engineers, and mechanics. Some were run by an individual sitting inside the wheel, while others were managed by somebody outside the lorry or by a motor. All of them integrated a moving exterior aspect and stationary interior element. One early model was an armored model planned for military use. That monowheel had an external shell to secure the inner functions from battlefield dangers and ran without a human driver.

You can still discover monowheels today, however they are primarily used for home entertainment and carry with them some safety issues. For those who would rather not risk the lateral instability or the terrifyingly named “gerbiling” impact, this mini model is an outstanding alternative. This steampunk monowheel was motivated in part by the military model and the driver-passenger model. In developing it, we stripped away the outer armor to let you observe the gears in motion. The exposed interior lets you quickly manage the rubber band motor and change the bands and other parts as needed.

The finished model looks great on any collector's rack, however it does not need to stay there. The durable design permits it to roll over semi-difficult and hard surfaces, suggesting you can enjoy this model inside and outdoors. It has two working modes that allow you to see the monowheel in action. One mode leaves the feet unlocked, letting the monowheel travel up to 5 meters or up until it comes across an obstacle. The other mode keeps the feet locked, letting it roll up to 2 meters before turning and stopping.

The UGears Monowheel package is an interesting and challenging model to put together, with 300 laser-cut wooden parts. We have actually thoughtfully included 19 extra parts in case something gets lost or breaks. The pieces come still attached to the plywood and need to be carefully removed before assembly. Full-color directions in 11 languages (English, Japanese, German, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Chinese, Korean, Ukrainian, Italian, and French) will assist both knowledgeable and newbie enthusiasts complete this project effectively. You do not need any special tools or adhesives to assemble this model. Merely get rid of the pieces, follow the directions, and you are ready to roll.

Model Size: 7.3 x 3.7 x 6.3 in
Plan size: 14.6 x 6.7 x 1.3 in
Number of parts: 300
Level: Intermediate
Assembly Time: 3 hours
Suggested Age: 14+
Package weight: 1.69 pounds
Case Pack Quantity: 5
Producer: UGears