- GET HANDS ON with Playz V8 engine model kit that works for adults and kids alike. Engage young minds into STEM with a working replica of a classic 8-cylinder internal combustion car engine, while adults enjoy the rewarding experience of building their own mini V8 engine kit that runs like a dream.
- REALISTIC MODEL THAT WORKS: Deliver the action of a classic car engine with powerful pistons and interactive cables! Watch the motor fans turn on with real engine sounds from your visible V8 engine model kit, making it a perfect STEM toy for curious minds seeking a fun blend of education and entertainment.
- FUEL THE FUN: Our complete toy V8 engine assembly kit provides hours of fun as you tinker with cranks, pulleys, belts, and exhaust valves, bringing this miniature engine kit to life before your very eyes! Conquer long boring days with a small V8 engine kit that runs. (Requires 3x AA Batteries not included)
- CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: Supercharge your critical thinking skills with our mini engine build kit! Expand your creativity, think logically, and refine your motor skills as you build a model V8 engine kit all while having fun. Get ready for a brain-boosting build challenge that works wonders!
- POPULAR GIFT THAT INSPIRES: Make the world of STEM amazing with our DIY engine kits for adults, teens, young boys and girls! Whether it’s for birthdays, holidays, or any special occasion, Playz V8 model engine kit will keep them captivated as they build and operate their own engine from start to finish.
Product Description
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Realistic Mini Replica of a Classic Car Engine
The perfect hobby toy for kids and elderly alike! Experience the joy of building a working engine.
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Flashing LED Lights
Brace yourself for an exhilarating experience as the lights power up, adding an extra layer of fun.
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High Quality Material
This meticulously crafted product feature sturdy belts and gears that operate without pressure.
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Conversation Starter
Spark conversations with guests by displaying your finished build as a cool art.
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DIY Guide & Realistic Parts
Fun-filled tinkering as you follow the detailed 26-page manual & assemble 250+ quality parts.
Aubrey Greenlee –
Super cool replica – a bit expensive for what it is but it’s cool
had one of these growing up that i built with my dad, this one is not quite as sturdy and for the price is a bit more expensive than I’d like, but is cheaper than some others that are out there. It’s a cool build to get the idea of the engine for the kids
2 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Educational!
This item is extremely educational!! This would be great for a homeschool project or a mechanics class for a homeschool group!
Traci –
Great for beginners
Instructions were clear, fairly easy to put together and he had fun doing it. Great beginner diy mini-engine.
slinthi –
Gift for a friend
I was more than happy as I thought it would be much smaller.Giving as Gift so do not know what they will think of it
Amazon Customer –
Educational and fun
This is the best product for a younger person interested in mechanical workings. Our 8-year-old grandson, with a little help from pops, was able to complete building the engine within a couple of days from receiving it. Awesome to see the engine work.
Dave the Iconoclast –
Its plastic and kind of cheap–but 8-year old grandson enjoyed assembling and learning about engines
Bought for my 8-year old grandson. He was assembling it with modest help from his dad and found that there were two of one major part and none of the complementary one. So he was frustrated by not being able to finish.I tried contacting PlayZ using the warranty URL in the package — but that took me to a page to make an Amazon review [which wasn’t as many stars as this one], and then no warranty info at the end. So tried contacting the e-mail address listed at the warranty site. And no response after a couple of days. Read more reviews on Amazon and learned the trick:Contacted PlayZ through the Amazon website and got a very helpful reply within 24 hours. They even did something about the misleading warranty website [they seemed to appreciate that having their warranty link take customers to the Amazon review site probably wasn’t the way to get the most positive reviews].My grandson had more confidence in the outcome than I did, and was already checking the mail everyday to see if the replacement had come! PlayZ used expedited shipping so that he didn’t have to wait long. My grandson was able to finish the model assembly. When his dad had him call me he was able to tell me about the four strokes of the engine. And seemed quite happy with everything.I did explain to him that this was a model of an internal combustion engine that was about to become obsolete around the time he got his license. It was being replaced by electric motors and batteries — which was ironically how the model he assembled actually operated. But — as I should have known — irony is lost on 8-year olds.Nonetheless, though a bit pricey, the model was fine and is as educational as I hoped. Maybe he will save it so he can someday show his kids/grandkids how automobiles were powered when he was young [to which they will probably just ask: why didn’t you just look it up on Wikipedia? — but by then he will understand irony].
10 people found this helpful
Bernadette Widmer –
Grandchilds gift
Bought this for my grandson and he really enjoyed building it part by part. His parents enjoyed the great learning opportunity that information in the booklet provided. There was a simple mistake with motor gears that we needed ro shift to get it to operate properly but it was an additional learning opportunity and and fairly simple fix. Works great now and the boys love seeing their hard work in action. Great overall product and experience. Would love more products like this
One person found this helpful
Joy Drayton –
Great Product
We really enjoyed this product and my son enjoyed building it together
George –
Almost
My granddaughter the mechanic put several engine models together. This was the best almost. Everything worked except the fan belt. Fortunately I had rubber bands of varying widths and lengths. She got it working! It has an off switch which others don’t. I feel this was worthwhile because what mechanic doesn’t like a challenge? Butif it’s supposed to work out of the box? Not exactly.
David –
everything fit
All parts matched perfectly. no glue required. Instructions were clear. Fun to build
Larry Sanford –
It was fun
I enjoyed putting it together
surohito –
V8!
Great gift for my 9 year old.
Mark O’Connor –
Great gift for child age 9!
Best gift for Grandpa to give his 9 year old grandson. He loved it!
Susan –
V8 Engine Model
Great model, my son loves it.
Amazon Customer –
Good learning tool
Fun product to work with kids on.
Kevin McQuade –
good value, nice overall product
a little noisier than i thought it would be, spins a little rough
KKG –
V8 working motor
My 10 year old son wanted a working motor and this was in our price range. He was able to put it together mostly by himself. He loves it.
Elizabeth Shepherd –
Great product
My grandson really enjoyed putting this together the instructions were easy to use and comprehend.
Lori Warson –
Plays V8 Model Engine
This is a great product for hands-on kids! My grandson and son worked on it together. Creating memories that will last!
Not going to lie I was worried about it but it worked wonderfully fast easy definitely recommend this to everyone –
Works
Pain in my butt. Fun though
One person found this helpful
Maxim Dadon –
The outside gear enhancement.
The overall product is good.I’ll start with the belt – should be made from soft rubber that easy to put it on. My son couldn’t make on all by himself, so I had to help him.All those teeth wheels are just mounted on their shaft with no friction to hold them tight. Some improvement should be made.
Megan & Edison Lengsfeld –
Missing a peice
The engine was a good size and was great. The only thing that was disappointing was that it was missing a peice which was one of the ending peices. Hopefully costumer service will replace it quickly so that we can finish the engine and get working. I was excited to see the finished product but due to poor packaging we are going to have to wait to see to it.
Ashgeo –
Wonderful
Amazing product
Millie –
Educational
Very educational and fun. The pistons valves and rockers and belts all move. It’s pretty cool.
One person found this helpful
Ashli –
Fun project
My child enjoyed putting this together with his dad. Took about 2.5 hours total. One piece was broken but my husband was able to rig that part together so it wasn’t am issue.
Ken the Rathman –
Easy snap together and screws for assembly
Easy snap together and screws for assembly. No glue required.
Russell –
Great leaning tool!
I loved the leaning experience for my grandson. He and I assembled the V8 together as he always wondered what went on inside of a V8 engine. This was a great value for the price! I do not regret the purchase, and I will always remember the great times we had assembling the engine.
One person found this helpful
MR CAZALA –
Great to Build with Kids
Product is fun to build with kids. Takes a few hours to assemble and one learns about components of an engine. Makes Engine sound and my son loves it.
One person found this helpful
Chris Evans –
Fun Project
Instructions are easy to follow. Works fine.
thistlelark –
Great project to work on with mechanical-minded kid
Used as part of a homeschool curriculum on Car Mechanics
One person found this helpful
NoleCatClark –
Great model
We really had fun putting the engine together. My son and I learned a lot about all the V8 parts. And it works!! So many models are flimsy and fall apart. This one was sturdy. You do need some fine motor skills for some of the screws. Also great customer support. I was missing some minor parts and they immediately sent me replacements.
P. C. Schwartz –
My grandson enjoyed building it
Arrived on time. Excellent gift for a 10 year old mechanically inclined grandson.
Larry Sanford –
It was fun
I enjoyed putting it together
Diamond –
Good product
Worked well mechanically but the electronics stopped working.
One person found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Fun and learning!
Excited for my sons to build this together
John A –
Nice kit. Great project with my curious 8 year old
Demonstrates basis engine operation. As long as instructions and diagrams are carefully followed, the kit goes together and operates great. I assisted my 8 year old grandson, mostly clarifying the instructions/diagrams. He was able to manage the screws and snapping the parts. Probably took around 3 hours. Size of the model seemed about right. Price seemed comparable to similar products.
Todd MinnisTodd Minnis –
I had to take it apart a few times, but the final product turned out perfect, I learned so much.
I had to take it apart a few times, but the final thing was just as I had hoped, I learned so much and I got to spend a lot of time with my dad. It comes with a coupon and the instructions give you some things about the v8. I couldn’t ask for a better present, if you are a car snob like me.
Travis D Partin –
Pretty good model
Put together with my 4 year old son mostly for him to see how things go together the firing order is not correct but it illustrates the function
SharonC –
We haven’t put it together yet so can’t answer the other questions.
We haven’t put it together yet. It looks good out of the box.
Lucas –
Great model
Overall it was a good product.
2 people found this helpful
Marlon Chaves –
Excelente producto 👌🏼
Me gustó mucho… Un poco agotador armarlo, pero vale la pena.
LaQuiesha Coleman –
FUN TO BUILD
The media could not be loaded.
Highly recommended if your a boy mom
One person found this helpful
Joy Drayton –
Great Product
We really enjoyed this product and my son enjoyed building it together
Richard Crandall –
Great quality
Bought this for my kid. Works great. Very useful for learning the basics of an engine
Bobby Podagra –
Great project with kids!
Easy to assemble, but it is a bit loud.
Jacki –
Amazing product!
I bought this for our 12 year old who is really interested in cars, and he’s sooo excited! It’s very educational and great quality!
BL Reviewer –
You better be a real engineer to finish it
My husband has an engineering degree and it’s a good thing. Otherwise our son would have been super disappointed in his present. He asked for an engine for Christmas. Couldn’t wait to put it together. We expected it to take several hours but my husband had to do a lot of adjustments and drill extra holes and smooth out areas to get it to all fit together. It finally works but wow. How this could be done by a “regular” person I have no idea!
Kim –
Good teaching gift
I got this for my daughter, who wants to become an auto technician. This is a good first step for her to learn more about engines. She was very excited to get it!
P.H. –
Great customer service
Very responsive customer service after two small parts broke.
Amazon Customer –
Educational and fun
This is the best product for a younger person interested in mechanical workings. Our 8-year-old grandson, with a little help from pops, was able to complete building the engine within a couple of days from receiving it. Awesome to see the engine work.
Doug Benge –
Great gift for grandson
Gift to grandson. He loved it!
Osay G. –
Excelente
Excelente producto
BV –
Awesome kit
One of our kids (10) got this for Christmas. They loved it, well made and put together kit.
Pony191 –
Bought as gift
I thought it would be bigger. But it’s still cool. I bought it for my great nephew for Christmas. His Grandfather is going to work with him
DEEEE –
V-8 engine
Product good for people with good eyesight
Hurst –
Fun and Educational
It gave our son something to build beside LEGO. It was a good, hands on project, and he really enjoyed it coming to life when it was complete.
Z. Wei –
defect product
Spent a few hours to put together the engine with my daughter. The assembling process is easy and fun. However, it was disappointed the engine does not work. The instruction manual should instruct to test the stand first to determine if it is in good condition before assembling.Another issue was that the diagram for the polarity of battery in the manual is different with the polarity shown in the stand (spring side is +, this is odd).I have asked Amazon to ship me a replacement package. I will update the results later.Updates: received the replacement today, tested the stand, motor, and LED lights before assembling. They all work. Now the engine works. One minor issue is that the cooling fan and pully are little flimsy and wobbly. Otherwise, I would give a 5 start.I would recommend the mfg. to update its instruction manual asking customer test stand, motor and LED first before assembling to avoid wasting their time to assemble the engine and then find the parts are defects.
Paul M –
Needs Sanding Tool
Precision fit of pieces requires that when parts are first disconnected from where they are removed from their attachment points, extra plastic sometimes needs to be shaved or sanded away to allow proper fit to other parts.
One person found this helpful
Robert Hatcher –
Nice for all the basics of a motor
Have patience. Product works for its purpose.
Stephanee Merino –
It’s great
I bought this as a Christmas present for my teenage son, he immediately opened it and spend the better half of a day putting it together. He really enjoyed it.
Llego incompleto, faltaron los topes de las valvulas –
Todo esta bien
The media could not be loaded.
Llego bien en la reseña. Anterior me. Equivoque, pido disculpa
Tracy W. –
Educational
Great STEM activity for my child’s school activity.
Dobbie12 –
That my grandson will learn the basics of an automobile motor
A birthday gift for my 13 year old son. He received it a week late and put it together in one day! I thought it would take him at least a week. He’s smarter than I thought. His mom said he liked it very much and did learn about how an engine works. So it did what I wanted it to do in the process of putting it together. I do thanks Amazon for helping me get the gift to him. Good company!
Joe’s WaterTech, LLC –
Really cool model, but noisy
This is a really cool model, most parts were very realistic, except for the camshafts. I’ve never seen a camshaft where lobes were slid onto a keyed shaft, But the crankshaft was very realistic. The “sparkplug” lights indicate combustion, & the valves are spring-loaded & do actually move. It makes an annoying revving sound that’s really loud. Its actually kinda distracting when trying to watch the timing of the pistons with valves, & lights, which also could rotate at a slightly slower pace.
Teresa –
neat idea
the belts need to be stronger and easier to work with overall it is a good learning experience for young teens but mine was disappointed in the engine sound was hoping for a more powerful sound
Stephanie –
Playz V8 Combustion Engine Model Building Kit
Perfect Gift for an eight year old who loves building things, vehicles and engines. This was a great parent with child project that was thoughtful and engaging.
Amazon Customer –
Great product
Looks very realistic! Can’t wait to get started.
AB –
works good
Fun to build
dwaine latimer –
Bought for 6 year grandson
Bought for my 6 year old grandson. He is very into motors. With the help of his dad they completed the project in a little less than 3 hours. He was very impressed with the product.
andy katafiaszandy katafiasz –
Nice engine
Lots of parts included. Directions could probably be more concise. Nice feature to get any missing or broken part replacement.
One person found this helpful
Desirea Holmes –
Great project to get kids off screens
My husband and son really enjoyed having this engine to build together. Great way for my son to learn about the way an engine works and kept him off his video games. We love it!
Byoung Choe –
Bargain
Very nice model
Craig Agapie –
Very cool build process
Gift for 12 year old new to modeling. All went well but it seems like you may need to be careful with the timing belt. The instructions, which are great in every other way, don’t mention anything about timing marks or needing to have pullies in a certain position. It seems like our model is binding at a specific point in the rotation and the AA batteries, only barely powerful enough to turn the model, aren’t enough to get past this sticking point. A major selling feature is the motorized action but it doesn’t really work. Not quite motivated enough to take it back apart and check timing.
Amazon Customer –
Great product
Looks very realistic! Can’t wait to get started.
spartanEMT –
Cool product with OUTSTANDING customer service
My oldest is all about taking things apart and putting them back together, so this seemed like the perfect gift. He is 9 and I gave him free reign to build it on his own. He did well, only had a few areas where he had to backtrack and redo some parts, but I think that was mostly due to him rushing through the instructions and not paying attention. He hit an area where there were two parts missing. Included in the box is a card with an email for contacting in regards to issues/missing parts. I have to say, I couldn’t be happier with the process. The person I dealt with was very kind and prompt. They requested the Amazon order along with a picture of the UPC code from the box. I was kept up-to-date of the process and was notified when the parts were being sent. I expected the missing parts to arrive in a box and was pleasantly surprised to find a new kit had been sent.If you have a very technically minded child who loves to build stuff, then this would be the perfect gift. And the excellent customer service is very refreshing. I am currently dealing with horrible customer service in regards to a 3D printer (rhymes with Mash-George) and regret every buying from them. So this was a pleasant surprise.
3 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Kept them busy for hours!
I bought the gift for a boy in his early teens, but the project was so enticing his dad joined in! It was quite the scene from a distance, but will no doubt be one of those memories kids keep forever. I wasn’t expecting it to go this way, the project was done in about six hours though I anticipated at least a few days, but what a sweet scene it was. If you’re looking for a gift that entertains and brings people together for a very memorable time, this is it. It’s also a fully working engine, so there’s that!
Chad E. –
Great to build with whole family.
We enjoyed putting the engine together as a family project. My father got a kick of remembering the names of the actual engine parts.
Llego incompleto, faltaron los topes de las valvulas –
Todo esta bien
The media could not be loaded.
Llego bien en la reseña. Anterior me. Equivoque, pido disculpa
Beth L –
My 5 year old loves STEM activities
This was an excellent child/caregiver project and the process is a lifelong learning journey. The quality that makes the product functional is excellent, with little frustration assembling.
NYCbaby –
Great
My 11 year old was able to put I together in an afternoon and loved it.
vector59 –
A mechanical engineers suggestions
Ok remember it’s a toy so build quality is pretty good . Here are a few things to assure success:1 use a little vasoline on allmoving parts /points of contact. This will reduce friction and help things move easier2 use a razor to debur all small moving parts… especially in valve train. Even the smallest stray bumps will cause knocks while the engine tries to turn3 the instructions are pictures only. Pay carefull attention to the orientation of all parts…..otherwise you will be taking things apart and reworking. Especially with kids- as they are over anxious4 very small screws ! The screw driver is magnetic, let the magnet work for you in placing screw5 take your time . Assure everything is moving freely before you continue assembly. Be glad into not a V 12!
17 people found this helpful
N. Sims –
Not bad.
Pretty good present for an 8 year old. Lots of tiny screws so eye/hand coordination is a must.
One person found this helpful
Kindle Customer –
Christmas Gift
I ordered this for my 14 year old autistic grandson. Haven’t been able to assess yet. But it came on time and looks good from the outside of the box.
Kindle Customer –
Easy and fun to do with my son
Instructions were detailed and easy enough for my 10 year old to do with little help.
Bobby Podagra –
Great project with kids!
Easy to assemble, but it is a bit loud.
Catie Hill –
Great product!
We are missing one piece and are hoping to get a replacement! Other than that, my son loves it! EDITED TO ADD: I reached out to Playz customer service and they were wonderful. Happy to report that they sent us a new set and we were able to get the missing piece to finish the model. Changing my review from 4 stars to 5 stars!!
Kurt –
It’s great for kids, and adults can learn what happens when their timing chain/belt fails
Great fun kit for kids and adults to assemble. I felt it went together pretty easily and my 5 year old was able to help with a lot of it, but I got plenty of “You do it’s”. Like other reviewers have said the timing system is garbage, and there is constant binding (popping sounds) of the valve train and pistons as they collide. It would have been easy for the manufacturer to fix this and if you have a 3d printer or some excellent carving skills to replace the gearset you might be able to fix it too.
TonawandaTexan –
Never too old for it.
I bought this as Christmas gift for my husband who is a car man and loves to build models. At first I was worried it was too much of a kid’s toy. He built it right away. He absolutely loves it!
Lori Warson –
Plays V8 Model Engine
This is a great product for hands-on kids! My grandson and son worked on it together. Creating memories that will last!
Devang Patel –
Great STEM model for kids, real feel of assembling an engine
Really awesome hands on model of an engine. I lost the springs required to assemble the piston, I reached out to seller and they responded very quickly and send me the replacement with priority mail.Great product and support!
One person found this helpful
Propeller –
My 14 yr old grandson, thumbs up!
Gift for my grandson. He had it done in one afternoon. He enjoyed it though and better understands how engines work now.
Emmie –
Good product
I got this for my 13 year old son for Christmas. He loves it and enjoyed putting it together.
malcolm whitakermalcolm whitaker –
Review of v8 assembly
The assembly definitely challenged my 8yr old because it required attention, focus and concentration. The instructions were a little confusing my child got through it with a little assistance here and there. I’ll get another one and better tools for small assemblies as such. Overall, I am impressed with the product! Even more so, with my childs ability to use hand and eye coordination, follow direction, and focus.
One person found this helpful
JaW –
Fun for STEM Class
This is a great little project kit for middle school and high school kids who want to learn some fundamentals about how engines work and the parts that make them run.
Krystal & Jamie –
Direction issue
It is an overall nice item but the labeling of what the parts are could be better. It took about 4 – 5 hours to put together.
One person found this helpful
W. Bonkosky –
An impressive gadget
This is an excellent teaching tool that can give a novice good instruction on how a 4-stroke internal-combustion engine works. OK, it is a little complicated to put together, but the “Playz” website is VERY helpful with any problems you may have. So: good product; good company.
Propeller –
My 14 yr old grandson, thumbs up!
Gift for my grandson. He had it done in one afternoon. He enjoyed it though and better understands how engines work now.
Mike Webb –
Great customer service
The kit is fantastic! During assembly, to no fault of Playz, I needed additional parts. They were very kind, patient, responsive, and accommodating! We look forward to playing with this for years to come.
james wooten –
Fun to put together… great customer service
(Great customer service … read at end)I bought this for my 8 year old son who LOVES anything mechanical. He needed a little help with a couple things but it was the perfect level to hold his interest but not be completely overwhelming. We really enjoyed building it and I loved that at the beginning of the book it told all the real names for the parts (I’m his mom and I have no idea about engines so this was very helpful) only critique I would have is I wished the part names were on each page of the directions too so I didn’t have to keep flipping to the front to look lol but it wasn’t a big deal.We had a problem with one of the parts and I messaged them to get it replaced and I thought since it was 4th of July weekend they wouldn’t answer for a few days but I was surprised they got back to us the same day and shipped the part to us the next business day! It was super fast! A+ for customer service 🙂
One person found this helpful
c. saladino –
Great customer service
One of the pieces broke while being put together. I contacted customer service and received a reply from Janne. She was excellent in replacing the part. Her professionalism and enthusiasm for this company is outstanding. I will definitely be purchasing from this company for any future needs!
3 people found this helpful
John A –
Nice kit. Great project with my curious 8 year old
Demonstrates basis engine operation. As long as instructions and diagrams are carefully followed, the kit goes together and operates great. I assisted my 8 year old grandson, mostly clarifying the instructions/diagrams. He was able to manage the screws and snapping the parts. Probably took around 3 hours. Size of the model seemed about right. Price seemed comparable to similar products.
LoriB –
My nephew loved building this!
I gave this to my nephew for Christmas and he absolutely loved it. He built it in one day because he didn’t want to stop
Sarah EshpeterSarah Eshpeter –
Loud and educational
Fun challenge, but adult needed to help at different parts. Is a little loud when working.
One person found this helpful
Patrick B Smith –
Great customer service
Our V-8 engine arrived but, as sometimes happens with molded parts a piece wasn’t quite right. Contacted them and in short order a replacement arrived and now it’s perfect. Great people ( Janne in customer service ) and a great display
Scott Brookfield –
Fun toy, not an accurate model
My daughter and I had fun putting this together. Note, there are lots of small screws, and it comes with a low quality screwdriver, so it could be challenging for under 12 year olds, and the instructions are pictures only and not fantastic. Ours had all the parts and worked. Lots of comments here from gearheads saying it isn’t really a teaching model of an engine, which is correct. It’s a first time learning experience to see how pistons go on a crankshaft and fit in a block, and how a camshaft, rockers, and valves work, and for that it’s great. It’s a simple model: the cam timing isn’t realistic, there’s no intake system, no fuel system, no water passages or pump, no oil passages or pump, etc. And it’s a weird engine design: flat plane crank with big counterweights, 16V, DOHC. I don’t know if there’s a real engine like that. But it’s not an interference engine so it won’t break from the timing, and it’s a toy for goodness sake, not a miniature engine. It could definitely be better, but it’s quite fun for someone who doesn’t already have a lot of experience with engines.
Brad –
Very satisfied with product and manufacturer
I bought this for my grandson for Christmas. He loves it.One of the parts was missing when he assembled it; we contacted the manufacturer, who responded to our inquiry within 24 hours; was extremely helpful; and within a week we had a replacement part at our front door. Excellent customer service.
Ken Schaden –
This is definitely a learning set for young and yes old
I love to put together Legos, wood houses, erector sets (my age shows) and just about anything. I learn through building projects like the V8 model engine. Your quality was great and I would like to do more of your Playz items. I do have one problem, the wheel below the fan that the belt goes around did not fit in straight therefore the fan does not move at a steady speed because of this lower wheel. I removed screw c several times so maybe I was the problem. I do not know how to repair this other than just putting up with a fan that moves very slowly and kind of stops and starts. Your items are very educational. Thanks!
Kathy JohnsonKathy Johnson –
Great fun building
I throughly enjoyed building this visible engine kit. Assembly went smoothly as long as you pay attention to the photos. There are 16 springs for the valves to go up and down. Make sure you have separated them from each other or you may be taking it apart when you find out you put two together on the same valve. This comes from my experience. Being a modeler of all types I could not resist adding sone detail. The pistons and crankshaft were painted and detailed so it appears they have rings on them and all the bolts and screw heads were painted as well as the intake on top. Most of it is hidden unless you look close but it add3d to my enjoyment of the build. My young grandkids get it running almost constantly when they are over. I highly recommend this product. Younger builders will probably need some supervision and help to get very thing in the right place. It’s a great project for parents and kids to do together. Maybe you could use it as a science fair project. Well done Playz.
6 people found this helpful
Desirea Holmes –
Great project to get kids off screens
My husband and son really enjoyed having this engine to build together. Great way for my son to learn about the way an engine works and kept him off his video games. We love it!
P.H. –
Great customer service
Very responsive customer service after two small parts broke.
Fish –
they work
The engine runs fast then slow then fast again. Maybe design the crankshaft/ connecting rods to lessen the friction.
Ivana –
Great gift
Purchased for an 11yr old who loves engines and how things work. It did take a couple days to assemble. Lots of pieces, too many for completing at just one sit down, but it was great for him to have something to come back to. If you have an inquisitive child this is a great choice!
eholcomb –
Fun for Older Kids
This was bought as a gift for my son. He got this on Christmas and has already started to assemble it. He does need the help of his father. There are lots of small pieces. It is in progress still, but we look forward to the finished product.
Richard LeeRichard Lee –
Engine
Joe –
So far so good
So far so good. only about an hour into the build and it is important to have the kids be hands on with this – the screws are tiny and some of the pieces are small. Overall though this is pretty cool. We are about 7 steps in and my son can see the pistons moving and is asking questions about engines. He is 9, going on 10, but has been pretty interested in robotics and the like, so the 12+ age might be a little high – Maybe as a definite do it yourself. But if your kid (boy or girl – daughter has shown interest, kinda wishing I got her one) is over 6 and shown interest this would be a good father/kid or mother/kid together project.
Amazon Customer –
Best company ever
Product shows every moving part of an engine I worked on this with my grandson , explaining every part as we built the motor. Then went into my shop and he related to a real engine pointing out the parts. A fabulous education There was a broken part and I contacted the company with no hesitation they not just sent a new part but the entire package. Absolutely the best company to deal with. We will always first look for PLAYZ toys and models
4 people found this helpful
Mark O’Connor –
Great gift for child age 9!
Best gift for Grandpa to give his 9 year old grandson. He loved it!
crazyredj –
Great father-son project
My son and I enjoyed this project immensely. However, disaster almost struck when my son dropped on of the teeny tiny parts and it vanished seemingly into nowhere. The part was essential so the project was on hold until we could find it. Turns out it had bounced off the table and into a fold of the engine block. They should include extras of the tiny parts and hardware. Would cost them maybe a quarter of a cent per kit. They could make up for it with thinner plastic on the unused frame of the parts sheets.
Claude Vandevert –
Misalignment of 4 holes prevents completion.
Two critical parts cannot be completely attached to the block because two holes in each part are out of alignment by 1/2”.Without these parts the model will not work.I suppose they sent the wrong parts.The “PLAYZ” website is supposedly down for maintenance so they are not available to help. As a project to do with my grandson on our vacation, this is extremely frustrating. I don’t expect to ever use this company again.UPDATE: PLAYZ has contacted me twice since my earlier review. Both times they have been very supportive. I have been very surprised by the warmth of their response. They are offering a full refund (in 7-10 days) and an opportunity for our grandson to receive another model “at no cost.” Yes, the original model was a problem, but the company has been a pleasure.
12 people found this helpful
harry’s hobbies. –
Pretty lifelike
Intricate to put together. Looking forward to how it works when complete.
Beckers –
The playz manufacture does not respond.
I ordered this for my great grandson for his birthday. It was missing a spring and I have contacted the Playz manufacture twice about this problem and hoping to get a spring and I have not heard a word from them. Very disappointed. What good is it with no spring?? I have no problems with the seller, its just the manufacturing company does not care!
2 people found this helpful
Mom of 4 –
Good Engine Model
Good learning tool for how an engine works. My 11 year old enjoyed putting it together. It works, but it does have a drag to it.
William –
Great project with the kids
Enjoyed building and teaching the kids.
Natersdad –
Great Learning Model
This is a great model that teaches the basics of a four stroke engine. My 12 year old son was able to put it together himself. I only needed to show him how to clean the flashing off of the parts prior to assembly. He struggled a bit with the valvetrain because there are so many parts that need to simultaneously be engaged. This in itself is a lesson in patience and perseverance. He had one of the cams clocked off, and I was able to spot it because both the intake and exhaust valve for that cylinder operated at the same time. This was a great opportunity to us to have a discussion about the four cycles. Overall, a great model that mixes fun and learning.
One person found this helpful
Crustyco –
Good educational value
My granddaughter and I fiddled with the small screws, and a couple of times four hands were better than two. As is required with any construction project I undertake, we had to “take that part off and switch it around, I think.” I know she enjoyed the build. She now knows the functions of each of the four strokes of the V8 engine.
One person found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
Best company ever
Product shows every moving part of an engine I worked on this with my grandson , explaining every part as we built the motor. Then went into my shop and he related to a real engine pointing out the parts. A fabulous education There was a broken part and I contacted the company with no hesitation they not just sent a new part but the entire package. Absolutely the best company to deal with. We will always first look for PLAYZ toys and models
4 people found this helpful
Crystal –
Great customer service
My son loved building this play engine. However some of the coils were damaged which really upset my son because it put his building to a halt. I messaged the company Playz and told them what happened and they ended up mailing me more at no charge. My son was able to finish and he was very happy. However, part of it doesn’t move like it is supposed to so that was a bummer but my son still thoroughly enjoyed this toy!
One person found this helpful
Llego incompleto, faltaron los topes de las valvulas –
Todo esta bien
The media could not be loaded.
Llego bien en la reseña. Anterior me. Equivoque, pido disculpa
Adam Aguiar –
Cool
Really nice I recommend
Amazon Customer –
Andrew
This is the 3rd one of these model engines that I purchased for the purpose of teaching my Grandson, and two nephews about auto mechanics.
One person found this helpful
BKV –
Instructions vague on valve springs. Pay attention
Instructions pretty good, valve springs were vague. Pay attention when putting valves together
Audrey T.Audrey T. –
Good hobby
I liked spending time putting this product together. Had all the pieces and came out great. Understanding that this is a toy and plastic is something to keep in mind after trying it out finished. Will buy other times like this one.
Amazon Customer –
Air!
Liked building it with my parents and loved the fan!
Kindle Customer –
Educational
The fun of a puzzle combined with learning about internal combustion engines
Scott Gaucher –
Awesome build
My 8 yr old did the majority of the build with me only adding a spare set of hands and helping interpret the instructions. We had a great time over several weekends and both learned a ton.
Savannah Gentry –
Excellent Learning Tool
My son got this to learn about real engine parts. Overall, it has been great. I dislike that everything is plastic and he did not like the very small screws because they were difficult to get to thread into the plastic. Other than that it has kept him busy for short bits of time each weekend for a couple weeks now. Can’t wait to see it finished!
Christopher mespelt –
Great learning tool
Great learning tool
Crustyco –
Good educational value
My granddaughter and I fiddled with the small screws, and a couple of times four hands were better than two. As is required with any construction project I undertake, we had to “take that part off and switch it around, I think.” I know she enjoyed the build. She now knows the functions of each of the four strokes of the V8 engine.
One person found this helpful
Josh wheatley –
Challenging
My 10 yr old loved it
Hurst –
Fun and Educational
It gave our son something to build beside LEGO. It was a good, hands on project, and he really enjoyed it coming to life when it was complete.
Osay G. –
Excelente
Excelente producto
Amazon Customer –
careful with plastic parts, must follow directions precisely
Plastic parts must be aligned properly. the directions/pictures were a little hard to follow at spots. Good product and model to work on, best bet is get a real one and rip it apart with a hobbyist and the learning will be valued for a lifetime
Jerry Smith –
Easy to build, Kiddos love it!!
This was super easy for my Kiddos to build. They love to watch move mental of the engine.
Brianna –
Simple
Picture directions are simple but will cool look on my shelf
TP –
Summer time build
This product is an awesome way to keep your child busy especially during summer. My 13 year old son made this during summer break. He loves cars and anything car related so this was a perfect gift for him. It was very educational and he managed to figure how things work and where things go.
Carl M Schonhardt –
No special tools
I was able to spend time with my grandson building this model. It really mimics a real engine.
Paulette –
So fun!
Looks great!
Scott Gaucher –
Awesome build
My 8 yr old did the majority of the build with me only adding a spare set of hands and helping interpret the instructions. We had a great time over several weekends and both learned a ton.
Willie Wheeler –
Nice way for older kids to learn about engines
My college-age son and I built this together and had a good time with it. It took us a couple of hours. Originally I was planning to build this with my 11 year old but it was a bit too intricate for him, with tiny screws and a fair deal of manual dexterity required. I am a mildly skeptical about the advertised 12+ age range.The quality was alright but not excellent. One of the pegs busted during the build when my son applied a bit too much pressure trying to line things up. But I was able to superglue that back in place. Then later one of the screws stripped some of the plastic and I ended up having to use a power drill to right things. I think a mechanically-inclined person would likely avoid these issues, but others might not, especially kids.At any rate, when it was done, it was pretty cool. It has moving pistons and valves, spark plugs that light up, and a moving fan.
4 people found this helpful
Cathy B. –
Fun project
Great project for 14 year old boy interested in cars!
Mike –
Top notch customer service.
Changed my review all because of Janne. I had a problem with my kit. But was to late to do anything about it because we finished building it. Well Janne went out the way to make it right. Yes it is plastic and things might come broken but customer service is outta this world. Get a hold of them and they will take care of your problem right away. You’ll get responses same day.
Mary L. Ackley –
Nice kit.
I bought one of these recently and am quite pleased. All the parts fit together very well. No glue required so no mess, clamping and waiting for the glue to dry. The parts had hardly any casting flash and the finished assembly because of the screws has a solid feel and not nearly as fragile as glued kits. The valve timing was off a tooth when assembled by the book so the exhaust valves were being lightly hit by the pistons, but is easily fixed. Unfortunately I got clumsy and broke one of the distributors (through no fault but mine). I tried the contact info in the manual to get a replacement but have had no luck.
One person found this helpful
Bobbie Jo Wilt –
Great for gear head 11 year old
Good instruction book with very good info on how the V8 engine functions.According to the 11 year old that did the assembly the belt was misshapen and tricky to get on.
3 people found this helpful
Natersdad –
Great Learning Model
This is a great model that teaches the basics of a four stroke engine. My 12 year old son was able to put it together himself. I only needed to show him how to clean the flashing off of the parts prior to assembly. He struggled a bit with the valvetrain because there are so many parts that need to simultaneously be engaged. This in itself is a lesson in patience and perseverance. He had one of the cams clocked off, and I was able to spot it because both the intake and exhaust valve for that cylinder operated at the same time. This was a great opportunity to us to have a discussion about the four cycles. Overall, a great model that mixes fun and learning.
One person found this helpful
K. Hildebrand –
Great model!
Great model for kids interested in mechanics. Some screws were difficult for our 10 year old to tighten, but he assembled most of it by himself and loved seeing the intricate parts of the motor.
Danyal Watkins –
Awesome Father’s Day gift
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Got this for my dad and I to build on Father’s Day. We had a blast. I got a lesson is how engines work and he got to boast he built an engine in three hours with just a screwdriver 😂. The only issue is the cover for the electric motor the screws they provide weren’t long enough. But other than that. Perfect!
JENNIFER Costa –
Fun
Husband and two sons had a blast building the engine. Helped teach oldest son about engine parts. Now to build the real one!
Carrie –
very good quality
good quality
Stephanee Merino –
It’s great
I bought this as a Christmas present for my teenage son, he immediately opened it and spend the better half of a day putting it together. He really enjoyed it.
Ivana –
Great gift
Purchased for an 11yr old who loves engines and how things work. It did take a couple days to assemble. Lots of pieces, too many for completing at just one sit down, but it was great for him to have something to come back to. If you have an inquisitive child this is a great choice!
Bryan L. Davenport –
Playz V8 model engine
Easy to assemble.
Bernadette Widmer –
Grandchilds gift
Bought this for my grandson and he really enjoyed building it part by part. His parents enjoyed the great learning opportunity that information in the booklet provided. There was a simple mistake with motor gears that we needed ro shift to get it to operate properly but it was an additional learning opportunity and and fairly simple fix. Works great now and the boys love seeing their hard work in action. Great overall product and experience. Would love more products like this
One person found this helpful
Jenny McGinnis –
As advertised
The product came quickly & was as advertised
Lori Warson –
Plays V8 Model Engine
This is a great product for hands-on kids! My grandson and son worked on it together. Creating memories that will last!
Scott –
It’s a tad pricey but actuallly pretty cool once it’s together
Put this together a few days ago took around 2.5 hours from start to finish for me anyway. I did not like that it has 2 bags of screws that are apparently different but not labeled as such so use your judgement I think out of a 50/50 guess I feel I had the right ones going to the right places. It is fun to build not too hard their is a few spots where you want to pull your hair out but once you figure out the parts are actually labeled with very tiny print it’s not too bad this would be the cam lobes by the way 1 set I think is labeled a-h the other set is 1-8 also the rocker assembly is a bit tricky I found if you start with them off to the side of the head and slide them up they go in easier other than that nothing too hard about building this model has an engine sound and everything works great
6 people found this helpful
Chris Burt –
Loved it
Uncle loved it. He’s a car guy.
Adam Aguiar –
Cool
Really nice I recommend
G Hensley –
It works! (a complete review!)
This was about a 3-hour build, and a lot of fun, even for an old guy. No parts were missing. There were even extra screws. Instructions were clear. Everything fit. Everything works. Only one minor imperfection: the fan belt. It’s a little stiff, so it doesn’t really sit well against the pulleys, thus making the fan turn somewhat irregularly, but a well-fitted rubber band would cure this. I will find one. The timing belt is made of much higher quality material and thus works the O/H cams and valves just fine. The crankshaft and pistons are just loose enough tolerance to make them easy for the power supply to move them and thus the whole system. The little LED lights are somehow timed just right, creating the distinct impression of plugs firing, which is a great visual effect. Overall I’d rate this device as near flawless, and a great value for a budget-friendly teaching tool. Highly recommended.
9 people found this helpful
NYCbaby –
Great
My 11 year old was able to put I together in an afternoon and loved it.
Todd MinnisTodd Minnis –
I had to take it apart a few times, but the final product turned out perfect, I learned so much.
I had to take it apart a few times, but the final thing was just as I had hoped, I learned so much and I got to spend a lot of time with my dad. It comes with a coupon and the instructions give you some things about the v8. I couldn’t ask for a better present, if you are a car snob like me.
Kaitlyn BowlingKaitlyn Bowling –
great christmas gift
I got this for my younger cousin who loves working on his truck and he had a great time putting it together!
Marlon Chaves –
Excelente producto 👌🏼
Me gustó mucho… Un poco agotador armarlo, pero vale la pena.
Peggy –
Model Motor
Bought for my husband for Christmas. Took him many hours to put together; which is what I was hoping for. He loves that it runs also. Very cool!!
One person found this helpful
Checkered Flag –
Great gift for curious kids
This is a reasonably easy build for any parent who is handy with tools. The instructions were easy to follow. It is a great educational tool to teach kids how an engine works.
Jase Earl –
Father and son bonding
Perfect to get the my son and I some time together! We are both motor heads! He is 8 & loved this!
olivia coteolivia cote –
Great gift
This was a great gift for our 9 year old who has a love for cars. Only thing was the belt was almost too tight to fit so we had to let it loosen up a bit in hot water. But over all he loved it. Will definitely buy more products.
MR CAZALA –
Great to Build with Kids
Product is fun to build with kids. Takes a few hours to assemble and one learns about components of an engine. Makes Engine sound and my son loves it.
One person found this helpful
Lexy –
Really fun to build
My daughter is starting to find interest in cars and we thought it would be a great way for her to see how it works. She had a blast putting it together and it also helped her understand the components of an engine.
LESLIE SITZES –
Parts missing. Cannot complete assembly. Contacted manufacturer and they have yet to respond.
Missing parts in the box. Manufacturer cannot be reached.
2 people found this helpful
JacobJacob –
Some improvements can be made, overall good product
I’m a homeschooling mama of 5, and This seemed like a cool product for a shop project when the kids didn’t want to work in the real shop since it’s still so hot out. I had my older 2 boys start to put it together. They are 14 and 16 and love to work with real tools in a real shop. They thought it looked nerdy, but I thought it would be a great way for them to learn the inner workings of an engine. Besides the fact that it’s not a combustion engine(obviously, cause it’s plastic!) it seems to operate like a real engine. I loved that they give a quick overview of how the engine will work and a few pictures of how the intake works (pictured). As they started to put it together they got aggravated because it doesn’t have any written instructions. I THOUGHT this would be great since my 14 yo is dyslexic and hates to read, but he pointed out that since no pieces are marked, you have to search through everything to find a specific piece instead of just grabbing the appropriate piece and putting it in place. (Included pictures of instructions and pieces laid out as they come.) After they laid out all the pieces separated from the plastic sheet they were attached to, they could see all the pieces easier, but it would have been better if the pieces or bags were marked in some way for identification purposes. There were a couple instances where they had to figure out which screw to use because it didn’t say which one, and they all look very similar (picture of 2 types of screws included). The main problem with this set is that there are little nubs where you detach the small pieces from the plastic sheet they come on. (Close up picture included) Those little nubs get in the way of putting the tiny pieces in tiny holes. You need to file the nub off to make them fit. After filing the nubs off some of the small dowels still don’t fit quite perfectly into the place they are supposed to, and you have to really jam them in. My boys got board with it and I am now working on finishing it with my 11 and 8 year olds. Overall, I think when it is complete it will be a neat project. I like that the body is translucent so you can see the inner workings as it runs. It is expensive, but if you look at all the other plastic toys around it is comparable in price.
95 people found this helpful
Gordo –
Easy for elderly
Bought this for my dad he loved it
pam –
Instructions are easy
Putting together was easy to follow and fun!
Virginia Taylor –
Good quality
My son is enjoying putting this together now. It seems week made, and like a quality product.
Bailey Lloyd –
Good gift
My girlfriend loved this gift. Gives her basic knowledge of an engine that she’s been asking about without the stress of breaking a real one.
kyle –
Great model
Had a great time building this with my son. Very detailed engine model, and a great way to get your kid involved in some mechanical fun.
Duane Spears –
Fun Product wish it had more speed
I had a good time building this with my 7 and 8 y/o. The whole process was a fun and learning experience. The only issue that I had is that the rotation speed and function speed of the device is very slow. Based on the promotional video, I expected a much faster rotation speed. I’m not sure if ours had a malfunction and that’s why it doesn’t spin as fast as the one in the promotional video. I will ask the seller and see what they say. All in all, a very fun and educational simulation of an engine and understanding combustion engines.
Jerry Smith –
Easy to build, Kiddos love it!!
This was super easy for my Kiddos to build. They love to watch move mental of the engine.
kyle –
Great model
Had a great time building this with my son. Very detailed engine model, and a great way to get your kid involved in some mechanical fun.
TEBASS –
best gift from me to me je je je
this was an auto-gift but absolutely lovely the family time assembling this engine perfect to induce my kids to my mechanical engineering environment
Msb –
Easy to assemble
Went together easy. Did have to trim some plastic off a couple parts for proper fit. Bur overall good experience.
Charles E. Holland –
Works great but has some small pieces
Works fine and enjoyed building it, but definitely required a little patience. There are some small parts which can be a bit challenging. However, it did all come together and works great.
RH12345 –
Fun teachable toy
Great concept in a fun and teachable toy model. Little hands get tired with all of the screwing involved, but having them complete all steps results in a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Obviously with this being a toy, the tolerances aren’t super tight, but in the end it works well enough for them to understand the concept.
2 people found this helpful
Kenneth –
Have glasses, magnifying glass and bright light.
Almost a neat model engine for a learning experience. However, the instructions are not clear without decent mechanical knowledge. Also part numbers on the lobes are impossible to read. They are 1/16 ” tall and had rounded edges. On the flip side we had fun putting it together and explaining the parts and how the relate to one another.
Steph –
Haven’t put together yet
Looks high quality for a kids toy.
T. Drouillard –
Teaches kids engine concepts
Gives kids (and parents) intuition about how an internal combustion engine works.
Francis Grenga –
Getting it put together
Not done
rivva –
Good simple engine model
Accurate young a 12 year old conception of an engine
Matt Harvey –
Enjoyable project with my son
I remember having one of these as a kid and thought it would be a great project to do with my son. To be perfectly honest, he is a sports kid with little mechanical aptitude. I was pleasantly surprised how much he enjoyed building it and it was a great project that we could do together.
One person found this helpful
Krystal KnutsonKrystal Knutson –
Tedious but worth it
The media could not be loaded.
Lots of small screws but it is very neat once it is together. Would have liked to see the engine speed up a bit to match sound but overall really cool product.
5 people found this helpful
Merilynn Keracher –
So excited
I bought this to learn how the v8 engine works.
Lexy –
Really fun to build
My daughter is starting to find interest in cars and we thought it would be a great way for her to see how it works. She had a blast putting it together and it also helped her understand the components of an engine.
Erin L. Hills –
Adult help necessary
Really cool little motor. Our very technical 9-year-old still needed adult help for assembly. Some plastic pieces need to be filed, but that’s no big deal.
Don Oscar –
Ok Value
Overall this was fun to assemble with my 6 year old, since he wanted to know how “engines” work. The final product is a little “flimsy”, but for the price, it’s more about the experience putting it together with your child.
Jase Earl –
Father and son bonding
Perfect to get the my son and I some time together! We are both motor heads! He is 8 & loved this!
Stephanie –
Playz V8 Combustion Engine Model Building Kit
Perfect Gift for an eight year old who loves building things, vehicles and engines. This was a great parent with child project that was thoughtful and engaging.
Dave Hoff –
I like how it’s built
So far, putting it together is easy. But, I’m missing a rocker.
Dan Geyer –
Solid model
My son enjoyed it so nice bought it twice
Banks Family –
Great product
Love the quality and simplicity of the instruction.
Emmie –
Good product
I got this for my 13 year old son for Christmas. He loves it and enjoyed putting it together.
Ken the Rathman –
Easy snap together and screws for assembly
Easy snap together and screws for assembly. No glue required.
D. Rusher –
Great introduction to the world of mechanics
My 10 year old is very interested in mechanics and tinkering and how things work. This engine provided a full day of excitement and he stayed engaged building and reading about each part he added. At times he did need some gentle support from dad, but for the most part he was able to complete this build on his own. He probably took about 8-10 hours total to build it. He’s the kind of kid who likes to display his models and builds, so he was perfectly happy to have a completed engine to set on his shelf. I could see some kids being disappointed that beyond pushing the button to see how your completed build works, there is not a lot more that it does- but for model lovers, this was perfect.
Erin –
Great model!
My 13 yr old loved this! I gave it to his as a Christmas gift. He enjoyed learning while building.
Kim –
I received this item, but none of the rest of my purchases!!
For some reason, we got only this item with our order, but this was a good item!
Bryan –
Great gift for a kit – loving kid
Got this for my 13yo brother in law. Hasn’t found a de to build it yet so I guess it will take up a bit of space until built
wollwerth –
Great Hands on Activity
The directions were easy to follow.
Dave Hoff –
I like how it’s built
So far, putting it together is easy. But, I’m missing a rocker.
Swetha Krishnan –
Fun and exciting
Enjoyed building this! Works as intended and will be on display for sure!
TEBASS –
best gift from me to me je je je
this was an auto-gift but absolutely lovely the family time assembling this engine perfect to induce my kids to my mechanical engineering environment
Checkered Flag –
Great gift for curious kids
This is a reasonably easy build for any parent who is handy with tools. The instructions were easy to follow. It is a great educational tool to teach kids how an engine works.
Kindle Customer –
Easy and fun to do with my son
Instructions were detailed and easy enough for my 10 year old to do with little help.
Was great for the price! Fun to build Was great for the price! Fun to build –
Great for the price!
Was fun to build and decent price! It is plastic.
2 people found this helpful
Omar –
Skill building
Very niceHelping my son
dwaine latimer –
Bought for 6 year grandson
Bought for my 6 year old grandson. He is very into motors. With the help of his dad they completed the project in a little less than 3 hours. He was very impressed with the product.
Handyman –
Build quality
The crank shaft not having an accurate look made explanations difficult. You saved plastic but sacrificed realism. To be clear a crankshaft should look like a crankshaft.
3 people found this helpful
Irene Muniz –
Motor model
Easy to assemble.
Carl M Schonhardt –
No special tools
I was able to spend time with my grandson building this model. It really mimics a real engine.
KLL –
Great project for kids that like to build!
I have a 10 year old who loves to build. This set comes with excellent instructions and clear diagrams. It took my child about 8 hours to build. The manual has pages describing the different parts of the engine and the 4-stroke phases in combustion. The best part is the lights going off showing the actual combustion caused by the spark plugs.You do need to pay close attention to the details in the pictures to be sure to get things exactly right. My child put it together (mostly alone), but we did need to re-do three small things that were attached backwards. Those details were in the diagrams, but a 10-year old missed it.I removed one star for two reasons.1. The plastic is very high quality, but none of it is threaded for screws. You have to put in 50+ screws during the build. They hold the engine together very well, but they were too hard for my 10-year old to do alone. Adult help was needed. I wish it could be a child-only toy.2. The only other thing we didn’t love was that this engine only runs for about 20 seconds before it shuts itself off. A plus, that it won’t run forever, but it’s not long enough to really watch all the pistons doing their thing. With the engine noise it makes, you wouldn’t ever forget to turn it off.All in all, a really great experience that we would highly recommend for kids that love to build. Great project!!!
35 people found this helpful
Jerry Edwards –
Great product! Fun to build!
Lots of parts but great instructions made it easy to put together!
N.S.Adams –
Very easy to assemble when you read instructions.
If I had checked the parts list before starting, I would have done better, but I am only about 1/3 finished and need replacement screws. I mixed them. All in all, I like the product and have even ordered a train engine to assemble. This time I will read everything before starting. I am thinking about even ordering another engine to build, as I have really enjoyed this project. I am 75 years old, so I should have known better, but goofed up. It really has been fun, if I had done things correctly. The only thing I would suggest is to make sure the screw packages are marked to match the directions.
One person found this helpful
harry’s hobbies. –
Pretty lifelike
Intricate to put together. Looking forward to how it works when complete.
Amber –
V8 Motor
This motor was exactly what I intended to purchase and more. It was the perfect bonding experience for my husband and our son. I recommend this!!
c. saladino –
Great customer service
One of the pieces broke while being put together. I contacted customer service and received a reply from Janne. She was excellent in replacing the part. Her professionalism and enthusiasm for this company is outstanding. I will definitely be purchasing from this company for any future needs!
3 people found this helpful
Jesus vega –
Great and fun
Love it my son and my self have been working on it little by little its simple but very educational did have a small issue with some missing parts but seller was very attentive made sure I got replacement parts asap went beyond expectations to ensure I as the costumer had a pleasant experience and got to say I did and have I highly recommend this toy and seller 100% A++++ in my book 😊
One person found this helpful
NYCbaby –
Great
My 11 year old was able to put I together in an afternoon and loved it.
Craig –
Turned pretty good
This was challenging but in a fun way. It took my nephew amd I about 2.5 hours to put together. We are novice model builders
Ken the Rathman –
Easy snap together and screws for assembly
Easy snap together and screws for assembly. No glue required.
Nate & Katie –
So much Fun!
My boys, 10 and 7 put this together with their grandpa in about 3 hours. It was very educational, fun and a great tool for bonding. We love it. I only wish it had the ability to turn off the sound while still turning the engine on because my sons love to watch the engine work, but the sound is very loud. Great purchase!
Barb –
Fun project for my husband!
My husband got put on a temporary layoff while they are retooling the engine plant he works at. Also during this time he had a shoulder surgery, which meant he couldn’t do his other hobbies, like golf or going to the gym. This being said, he was starting to drive me nuts because he was bored! Started to scroll Amazon for adult projects, and this popped up… thank goodness! Now I will say, because he is mechanically inclined, it didn’t take as long as I hoped it would, but he was totally into it as he put it together and even explained to me what was going on with the moving parts after it was put together and running… because I love him, I listened and asked questions ☺️He didn’t not have any broken or missing parts, so I would totally recommend this as a fun project!
4 people found this helpful
Kim –
Good teaching gift
I got this for my daughter, who wants to become an auto technician. This is a good first step for her to learn more about engines. She was very excited to get it!
Russell –
Great leaning tool!
I loved the leaning experience for my grandson. He and I assembled the V8 together as he always wondered what went on inside of a V8 engine. This was a great value for the price! I do not regret the purchase, and I will always remember the great times we had assembling the engine.
One person found this helpful
Will –
Educational
Was great to do this with my 6 year old son. We both learned a lot. Would recommend
Sean Bogan –
V8 Engine build
My son and I had lots of fun with this build. Perfect challenge for our combined abilities. Seeing it roar to life at the end was awesome!
Jeff Witt –
Neat Design
Fun to put together. Function is a little clunky. Disassembled and reassembled with no avail. Still neat and educational.
Josh wheatley –
Challenging
My 10 yr old loved it
P. C. Schwartz –
My grandson enjoyed building it
Arrived on time. Excellent gift for a 10 year old mechanically inclined grandson.
C. Kovscek –
decent intro model of an engine.
this was a good purchase for showing my children how an engine moves and works. Not easy to assemble for a younger (<10yr old).
Stan –
Educational
Some of the parts broke, but more my fault than theirs.
TonawandaTexan –
Never too old for it.
I bought this as Christmas gift for my husband who is a car man and loves to build models. At first I was worried it was too much of a kid’s toy. He built it right away. He absolutely loves it!
Banks Family –
Great product
Love the quality and simplicity of the instruction.
Yuukes –
A lot of small screws
Lots of screws for 10years old and not labeled the type of screw on screw packages
One person found this helpful
deb –
Toy motor
Fun gift
Patrick –
Great
Was fun to build z
Melissa –
Nice little model
Works great so far, fun to build
Amazon Customer –
Just putting it together but pretty cool!
We just now opened it and putting it together! Pretty neat gift!
Danyal Watkins –
Awesome Father’s Day gift
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Got this for my dad and I to build on Father’s Day. We had a blast. I got a lesson is how engines work and he got to boast he built an engine in three hours with just a screwdriver 😂. The only issue is the cover for the electric motor the screws they provide weren’t long enough. But other than that. Perfect!
Peggy –
Model Motor
Bought for my husband for Christmas. Took him many hours to put together; which is what I was hoping for. He loves that it runs also. Very cool!!
One person found this helpful
Devang Patel –
Great STEM model for kids, real feel of assembling an engine
Really awesome hands on model of an engine. I lost the springs required to assemble the piston, I reached out to seller and they responded very quickly and send me the replacement with priority mail.Great product and support!
One person found this helpful
Willy Montoya –
Pretty Cool Build
Fun to build, but IKEA like instructions made it a bit of a hassle to build. Had to improvise Rocker parts of the engine, and inserting the motor mechanism that moves the parts to simulate the movement was difficult to insert. Otherwise, it was fun to build for a first timer.
Eva –
Great gift
Our son was exited to build his own engine. I would definitely recommend this product.
Emmie –
Good product
I got this for my 13 year old son for Christmas. He loves it and enjoyed putting it together.
Barb –
Fun project for my husband!
My husband got put on a temporary layoff while they are retooling the engine plant he works at. Also during this time he had a shoulder surgery, which meant he couldn’t do his other hobbies, like golf or going to the gym. This being said, he was starting to drive me nuts because he was bored! Started to scroll Amazon for adult projects, and this popped up… thank goodness! Now I will say, because he is mechanically inclined, it didn’t take as long as I hoped it would, but he was totally into it as he put it together and even explained to me what was going on with the moving parts after it was put together and running… because I love him, I listened and asked questions ☺️He didn’t not have any broken or missing parts, so I would totally recommend this as a fun project!
4 people found this helpful
Vanessa –
Excellent customer service
I’ve never had better customer support directly from a manufacturer for an Amazon purchase. When we had issues with our kit, I wrote to the company, only half expecting a reply. However, customer support responded promptly. Throughout the process, the customer support remained professional, courteous, empathetic, and helpful, offering hassle-free and satisfactory resolution to our issue. While this particular kit seemed to need an improvement, it was well-designed overall, made out of solid materials, and the instructions were very clear. The specified age for the kit also seemed accurate. It was the perfect level of difficulty for my 12 year old. I would not hesitate to recommend PlayZ to others for the phenomenal customer support alone, and we will be trying more kits in the future.
Sarah Perkins –
Excited to built!
Bought as a gift for my 15 year old son. When I saw the box, I thought he might be disappointed but he’s excited to build it! He loves cars so building an engine seems pretty cool!
Clifford Aspinall –
Really nice model, pretty good instructions, ran out of screws
I had to buy some screws to finish it. I went through instructions multiple times and used the correct screws but still ran out. It is well engineered and would have given 5 stars except fir the screw issue. I did have to use a little oil on one of the rockers as it wasn’t coming back up but hey – it is an engine, a little oil works wonders.
Mike Webb –
Great customer service
The kit is fantastic! During assembly, to no fault of Playz, I needed additional parts. They were very kind, patient, responsive, and accommodating! We look forward to playing with this for years to come.
Chad E. –
Great to build with whole family.
We enjoyed putting the engine together as a family project. My father got a kick of remembering the names of the actual engine parts.
Vasudevan H. –
Building it requires patience
The V8 combustible Engine Model requires patience to built. It is not easy, however is amazing to build.
wollwerth –
Great Hands on Activity
The directions were easy to follow.
Amazon Customer –
Timing of the engine
The lack of instructions to time the engine and marks to keep it time.
2 people found this helpful
CK –
Such a cool model
This model is awesome. All of the internal parts really represent an internal combustion engine. I guess I am just surprised because I assumed that it would not be as detailed. My 7 year old had a great time putting it together and watching it “run.” We broke up the construction over two separate times because it does take a while but he really enjoyed it.The only issue and the reason why I didn’t feel like I could give the model 5 stars is due to the instructions lacking some helpful information and direction. There were a few points where very similarly shaped pieces can be installed in either of a couple ways and it is quite challenging to to make sure that you have the orientation correct. We had to backtrack a couple times to fix a few problems. Still tons of fun.
2 people found this helpful
S. Kashou –
My son enjoyed assembling it
It is larger than I expected when assembled. Good learning experience to see the internals of an engine. There could have been more detail added such as fuel lines and exhaust lines.
Jenny McGinnis –
As advertised
The product came quickly & was as advertised
Jenna Hillegas –
Great gift for a growing engineer
Gave this to my 11 year old son for his birthday. He loved it! This is the kind of thing he is into. Took him an afternoon to put it together. He’s very proud of it!
Virginia Taylor –
Good quality
My son is enjoying putting this together now. It seems week made, and like a quality product.
Patrick –
Great
Was fun to build z
Cassandra K –
Tricky Engine Timing
Bought this as a gift for my husband… he likes it but says it’s difficult to get the timing belt and cam shaft properly aligned so valves do not hit piston heads. Otherwise fun to put together and pretty cool.
Millie –
Educational
Very educational and fun. The pistons valves and rockers and belts all move. It’s pretty cool.
One person found this helpful
N.S.Adams –
Very easy to assemble when you read instructions.
If I had checked the parts list before starting, I would have done better, but I am only about 1/3 finished and need replacement screws. I mixed them. All in all, I like the product and have even ordered a train engine to assemble. This time I will read everything before starting. I am thinking about even ordering another engine to build, as I have really enjoyed this project. I am 75 years old, so I should have known better, but goofed up. It really has been fun, if I had done things correctly. The only thing I would suggest is to make sure the screw packages are marked to match the directions.
One person found this helpful
Sean Bogan –
V8 Engine build
My son and I had lots of fun with this build. Perfect challenge for our combined abilities. Seeing it roar to life at the end was awesome!
Kelly423 –
It Actually Works!
Exciting and fun to assemble for both young and old. However, assembly would have been easier if instructions had included words and not just diagrams. Another drawback was that if you make a mistake with the screws, they cannot be removed and used a second time.
Irene Muniz –
Motor model
Easy to assemble.
Kaitlyn BowlingKaitlyn Bowling –
great christmas gift
I got this for my younger cousin who loves working on his truck and he had a great time putting it together!
Cowgirl –
Great gift!
My son saw a similar engine at a retail store. This brand looked better made and higher quality. He was thrilled to receive it and really enjoyed putting it together! He had a great time discussing the parts and functions as he was building it!
AB –
works good
Fun to build
Omar –
Skill building
Very niceHelping my son
Amazon Customer –
Son loved it
My son loved building this engine!
Brad –
Very satisfied with product and manufacturer
I bought this for my grandson for Christmas. He loves it.One of the parts was missing when he assembled it; we contacted the manufacturer, who responded to our inquiry within 24 hours; was extremely helpful; and within a week we had a replacement part at our front door. Excellent customer service.
Joe’s WaterTech, LLC –
Really cool model, but noisy
This is a really cool model, most parts were very realistic, except for the camshafts. I’ve never seen a camshaft where lobes were slid onto a keyed shaft, But the crankshaft was very realistic. The “sparkplug” lights indicate combustion, & the valves are spring-loaded & do actually move. It makes an annoying revving sound that’s really loud. Its actually kinda distracting when trying to watch the timing of the pistons with valves, & lights, which also could rotate at a slightly slower pace.
Kim –
I received this item, but none of the rest of my purchases!!
For some reason, we got only this item with our order, but this was a good item!
Random person –
Seems cool
The kids were very excited to see it. All of the components come free easily. One of them broke because I messed up, and there were no extras, but the company provided a way to get new parts, so hoping they will cork quickly.
jjk –
Comprehensive
Lots of parts, well packaged. Good explanation
Larry Sanford –
It was fun
I enjoyed putting it together
Robert Hatcher –
Nice for all the basics of a motor
Have patience. Product works for its purpose.
Amazon Customer –
Andrew
This is the 3rd one of these model engines that I purchased for the purpose of teaching my Grandson, and two nephews about auto mechanics.
One person found this helpful
MP –
Lots of fun for kids and the BEST customer service ever
My nephew was so excited to be able to build this engine but some of the springs were stretched out so he wasn’t able to complete it. I reached out to customer service and they delivered!!! They gave us plenty of springs. I got them to my nephew and he was able to complete his project. He lived it so much that he FaceTimed me to show me how it works. It was great to see his face light up. Customer service was amazing. I would definitely buy from them again.
John W Lindstrom –
Assemble Tips
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Nice kit. Top tips: 1. Magnetize all the screws before using. It will help immensely. 2. Once the cam shafts and rocker arm shafts are installed, tape the ends so they can’t fall out.
4 people found this helpful
William Morgan –
Lots of small screws
Grandson (12 years old) put the engine together with help.Once together it operated, lights flashed and sound effects are fun.He ia proud of his work assembling it.
Cowgirl –
Great gift!
My son saw a similar engine at a retail store. This brand looked better made and higher quality. He was thrilled to receive it and really enjoyed putting it together! He had a great time discussing the parts and functions as he was building it!
KKG –
V8 working motor
My 10 year old son wanted a working motor and this was in our price range. He was able to put it together mostly by himself. He loves it.
slinthi –
Gift for a friend
I was more than happy as I thought it would be much smaller.Giving as Gift so do not know what they will think of it
Anonymous –
Good for kids
Simple instructions
Erin –
Great model!
My 13 yr old loved this! I gave it to his as a Christmas gift. He enjoyed learning while building.
Merilynn Keracher –
So excited
I bought this to learn how the v8 engine works.
Doug Benge –
Great gift for grandson
Gift to grandson. He loved it!
Krista –
Fun to do with kid
Got this to do with out five year old and he loves it
Tiana –
Shhhh!!! He is busy!
My son got this as an early gift. Being that I work from home and it is now Christmas break I whole heartedly that you all for the peace of mind you brought my house today while keeping him busy with this amazing toy.
One person found this helpful
paula fontenot –
Fun
Great little Motor!
Kelly423 –
It Actually Works!
Exciting and fun to assemble for both young and old. However, assembly would have been easier if instructions had included words and not just diagrams. Another drawback was that if you make a mistake with the screws, they cannot be removed and used a second time.
Amazon Customer –
Nice kit
Nice kit not bad to put together a little on cheap made side for money fan was stripped out so had to modify to get it to work but kit was ok the sound is lame for engine reving or running but not a bad kit
Amazon Customer –
Educational!
This item is extremely educational!! This would be great for a homeschool project or a mechanics class for a homeschool group!