UGEARS U-9 Grand Prix Car

A great product to build

This was my first gears model, and it has provided many hours of construction pleasure. The parts are all clearly numbered and the instruction book comprehensive. Care has to be taken when removing the pieces from the sheets of plywood but none got damaged during the build. I would note that the small piece of wax supplied to lubricate parts was a bit ineffective but I used an alternative. Patience is necessary to assemble this model and a sharp craft knife is a must. My only criticism is that the drive mechanism, rubber band power, cannot be tested until the model id complete, and then it is too late to add addition lubrication to the gears. This is a very well designed model and I would recommend it to others.

I haven’t built a model of any kind since I was eight years old. So, fifty years ago. But I’m mechanically minded, and have a fair idea how to put stuff together. I really enjoyed the build. I took my time, and examined the process sheet closely before I began. The instructions are really superb, especially as there are no written words. It’s all done with diagrams, which are super easy to follow. I was never once left scratching my head and wondering what the heck I was to do next. With fifty five pages of large diagrams to follow, it really is pretty well idiot-proof. The whole thing took me twenty hours to complete. The only additional tool you need is a sharp knife, to trim the excess dowels. Which brings me to my first gripe. The model either clips together, or is held together by wooden dowels. These are, in fact, toothpicks. Which is fine. However, I found four toothpicks were unusable due to flaws in them. So I was super economical during the construction. I used offcuts instead of fresh dowels where possible. Hunting thru my pile of dowel pieces like I was panning for gold. And it’s a good job I did. At the finish, I was left with THREE toothpicks spare. If I’d used a fresh pick every time, as the instructions showed, I woulda run out. I can’t help feeling that UGears could easily afford to include ten or twenty extra toothpicks. It’s not as though they’re expensive. Issue number two. The engine has 16valves. These are fiddly to insert, as they vary in size and the valve stem must go on the correct side of the cam. But once you fit the engine (very early in the build) to the chassis, every time you turn the car upside down, the valves fall out ! Eventually, I covered the top end with cellotape. Problem solved. Some stages of the build were very frustrating. Such as fitting the second side of the car to the rest. You need six pairs of hands. I had to get inventive, and secure the rear section with an elastic band. Much dratting and blasting later, it all went together. Which starts off being really annoying, but once completed, is oddly satisfying and triumphal. The main issue I have with the kit, though, is in its function. It doesn’t function. It is functionless. Function, it has none. This is not down to my building it wrong. It’s down to the fact that despite the parts being very accurately laser cut, the tolerances are WAAAAAAAY out. It’s a function of modelling in wood. Had the cogs and gears been made of metal, they would have meshed properly. But being wood, cut to a very wide tolerance, they oftentimes do not mesh. They even jam up. Now, if I were a skilled and experienced modeleer, I might have been able to ‘fettle’ things to fit better. But I’m not. I slavishly followed the plans, and hoped for the best. So now I have a car that doesn’t work as it should. In that sense, the kit is overly complex. If there had never seriously been a possibility of working as it was intended, then it could have been a lot simpler in its design. Just enough detail to look authentic. But not so complicated. To sum up….. What I have now is a lovely ornament. It takes pride of place on board my classic wooden yacht, and is much admired by everyone who sees it. It was a lot of fun to build. I’m even considering buying another one the same, to see if I can build a working version, now I understand how it fits together, and where it falls short. I might buy the ‘drift racing’ cobra, and see if I can get that to work instead. However, I’d baulk at the idea of buying one of the clocks UGears sell, as a non-functioning clock is useless. All in all a lovely ornament, and great fun to build. And a sense of accomplishment. Just don’t expect it to work(!)

This is my first UGEARS model and very pleased with the design and end product. It does require patience and a certain amount of dexterity with your hands/fingers especially when it comes to the “power” i.e. rubber bands. These i found very difficult to fit into the groves cut into the discs and in the end only managed to get two of the three (each side) fitted, breaking the grooves in the process (fortunately there are spares!). Needless to say my end model did not drive but then in my ignorance the gears were not lubrigated (waxed) enough and therefore to tight. Steering works and model does move forward and backward. The instructions are all pictorial and some require understanding so patience is definitelya virtue with this product. I have now purchased the UGEARS Truck as my next model build project and aim to ensure this one moves under its own steam.. Highly recommend this company and products.

Highly recommend but then I’m a little biased, just a little bit😂big big fan of building these models, can be a bit fiddly and tricky in parts but that’s the enjoyment. This model is a fantastic build, just take you’re time and at the end you have a great looking model that works.👌

This is my second Ugears model I've done after the motorbike. Fantastic models and great fun to pass the time. All parts are well made and nice and clear instructions and you get a nice working model at the end. All the tools you need are provided, I would have some superglue on standby because a couple of pieces might get broken but that’s not a issue really. Just bought the boat, after that will tackle the big boy truck !

This is an absolutely superb wooden model. Very high quality lazer cut boards that are well marked. Easy pressure will push out the precut pieces but definately take your time here to avoid any accidents. Instructions are clear and the model design is accurate for assembly without any problems, designers even have marked areas of caution in the plans. Of course age ranges vary greatly as an experienced model maker or 12 could do this one rated as 15. But it is an advanced model and not quick toy. Allow quite a few hours for construction as the pressing out of parts and a little sanding smooth will give a great result. I'll definately get another. Tip ..... take time with the pieces and press together carefully. I had no breaks but rushing wouldnt be smart.

Ich habe es geschafft. Das Modell ist top. Es hat zwar einige Nerven gekostet und bei manchen Bauabschnitt hätte man vier Hände gebraucht, aber das Ergebnis überzeugt. Das Auto ist sehr anspruchsvoll und aufwendig gestaltet. Man kann alle Funktionen eines Autos sehen und bestaunen. Selbst die sich bewegenden Zylinder samt Ventile funktionieren. Der Gummimotor treibt das Auto sicher an und das selbst im Rückwärtsgang. Ja auch den gibt es. Ein Tipp, alles wachsen was sich irgendwie dreht oder an Flächen gleitet. Das nächste Projekt ist schon in Vorbereitung.

It's made of quality materials. Extremely well engineered and the instructions are very good and very well illustrated. It's one of those things that once you start, it's hard to put down. Grandfathers, fathers, take note, this is model your grandkids and kids would love to receive. If you try it, you won't regret it.

You get very engrossed while making it and feel satisfied after you finally see it actually work. Wood doing the work of metals! Excellent product

Habitué aux maquettes en plastique ou en photodécoupe métal, cet article a de quoi ravir un modéliste. Bois de bonne qualité, découpes parfaites, notice claire. elle roule moins bien que dans la video de You Tube, mais ce n'est pas le but recherché. L'inversion de sens de marche est ingénieux. Les pièces se détachent sans cutter. Et au pire, si une est cassées, c'est du bois, ça se recolle. Les engranages les plus sollicités sont fournis en double. Je conseille juste de poncer légèrement les plaques au 400 avant de commencer. Un peu cher, mais ne demande aucun outillage ou produit supplémentaire

Maqueta completa que incluye todo lo necesario para ensamblar un bonito coche clásico de carreras (Grand Prix U-9) de madera, sin usar tornillos o cola, simplemente machihembrando unas piezas en otras. El kit de montaje está compuesto de 348 piezas, con unos planos/instrucciones fáciles de seguir (incluso hay videos en internet con las instrucciones paso a paso), y aunque para un adulto no entraña demasiada dificultad, yo diría que para niños es apto de los 13 años en adelante, o si es de menor edad siempre con la ayuda de un adulto, ya que aunque pueda parecer un Lego, las piezas son de madera y se ensamblan con las manos, y para los niños no es sencillo (de hecho en la caja está recomendado a partir de los 14 años). Las piezas están perfectamente pre-cortadas y su encaje es excelente para este tipo de productos. Según la habilidad y la experiencia del que lo monte, llevará entre las 5 y las 8 horas de montaje, así que da para estar entretenido un buen rato. Además de la gracia de ensamblar todas las piezas, me parece bastante interesante que se puede observar cómo se configura y cómo funcionan los engranajes con los que cuenta. Está plagado de detalles, con marchas, volante operativo y hasta las válvulas del motor se mueven… El coche una vez montado tiene unas medidas aproximadas de 35x10x13 cm. Está fabricado en Ucrania, y aunque actualmente existen multitud de imitaciones más o menos logradas, lo cierto, es que Ugears fue probablemente la marca pionera en este tipo de kits cuando surgió en 2015 en una campaña Kickstarter.