ROKR (Prime Steam Express) - 3D Puzzles for Adults Wooden Toy Train Models Kits to Build Prime Steam Express

Easy to put together

This is a great kit and you get a lot for the price. I am a VERY experienced plastic modeller but still found this kit to be a challenge. I made it with my 5yo Train-mad son and it was WAY out of his league; he loves the finished result though. The biggest issue was just how fragile some of the parts were but even here the kit most often provides replacement parts. You are trying to manipulate and occasionally force small, thin laser-cut parts into tight slots and unless you do it just right they can snap. The kit is a marvel of design - it is like putting together a very well engineered 3D puzzle.

I have a number of ROKR 3D wooden puzzles and they are fun and challenging to complete. Be aware that Prime Steam Express is much smaller than most of the ROKR products. See the attach photo for a comparison between ROKR's full size LK701 locomotive on the right and this model on the left. If this is your first 3D model I would wait until you have tried one of the larger models. Although this is a great model when complete, IMHO it is not for a first time builder. Contains many small parts that WILL break even when careful. Fortunately many of these are duplicated, but it's still a good idea to have some tacky glue available in case you need it. Do I recommend it for an experience builder? YES Took be about 4 hours to complete taking my time and ensuring I was following the instructions correctly. It makes a very nice display piece, especially if you are into trains.

Really enjoyed putting this together. The instructions were flawless. Detailed images were clear and labeled properly. Broke one or two of the smaller and fragile pieces but they had spares. As usual, just need to be careful when putting these together. This is my second time putting this type of puzzle together. This was fairly easy and the complexity was mild.

some of the tabs that push into holes to join 2 parts are very tight fits. I used a hobby knife to trim the tabs then used tiny bit of glue. Means you may have to let it sit so the glue dries.