Awesome Rubber-Band Powered Steam Train

What’s this — a wooden steam locomotive powered by a rubber band? As the saying goes.. Just Take My Money!

And in fact, that’s what a Kickstarter campaign is doing rather well at.

A firm has been set up to sell wooden kit models, not unlike the dinosaur models sold in museum shops, but this time for a range of mechanical marvels.

And unlike electric model trains with tiny sealed off motors, these wooden trains are full of working wooden gears and it’s all visible to see as the train trundles along a wooden track.

Pop out the wooden pieces, polish them off a bit with some sanding paper, and assemble. Power is from 12 rubber bands that are wound up by a wheel at the back of the train.

A single wind should be enough to send a train off for some 16 feet.

Prices range from $17 for a tractor to $112 for the locomotive and track — all plus $7 for shipping to the UK.

Sadly, delivery is not expected until next April, so too late for an Xmas pressie, but as presents go, this one is hardly wooden.