Constructing a wood kit
A box of mysterious parts arrives in the post

With cams, spindles, pulleys and glue

And a sheet of laser-cut plywood

Clearly some preparation was required. Proper safety gear, engineering tools and other essentials.

This toothpaste tastes terrible. Paints and brushes for a fiver.

Using a library book as reference, a magnificent painting plan was devised.

And this is the satisfying result. It was quite enjoyable. I haven't painted like this for 45 years, and I wasn't any good then.

Construction begins from the front.

These sheets roll about on eccentric cams.

Ta da! Turn the handle and everything moves surprisingly smoothly. The eel and shark dive in circles.

This was new territory for me. The best bit was painting as that was a single session of concentration. The trouble with the construction was it had to be done a bit at a time then left for the glue to dry. The instructions were clear, but I used a bit of engineering knowhow to make better glued joints and shave off points where there were a couple of snagging risks. During construction you need a well lit workbench, some experience of DIY with simple tools, attention to detail and a fair bit of patience.