[Elecraft] Unassembled K2 Vs Assembled Marketability

[Walter Underwood]

I built this code practice oscillator, nice kit. I glued some brass standoffs into an Altoids tin for a case.

https://www.nfarl.org/kits/

Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories makes some nice beginner kits, like the flickery flame series.

https://shop.evilmadscientist.com/directory#soldering

wunder
K6WRU
Walter Underwood
CM87wj
http://observer.wunderwood.org/ (my blog)

> On Mar 14, 2022, at 10:14 AM, jerry <jerry at tr2.com> wrote:
> 
> On 2022-03-14 08:19, Douglas Hagerman via Elecraft wrote:
>> I think a K2 would not be a great project for most 8 year olds.
>> However, a simpler (and cheaper) kit like this one from MFJ should be
>> within a beginner skill level, given some reasonable coaching. (Also a
>> soldering station to avoid soldering iron frustration!)
> I keep meaning to show him how to solder.  Don't want him to get burned though.
> 
> Some simple project with blinking lights.    I also have a crystal radio that I built
> for him.   Plan to take it apart and bundle it into a "kit" for him to put together.
> 
> At this point in his development, he is more interested in "how things look", rather
> than "how they work".  He quickly gets impatient when I try to show him schematics.
> 
> We have soldering irons up the kazoo.  The  best one is an XYtronics LF-3200 - it's
> a 120W soldering station with an RF-powered iron.  Just like a Metcal, only without
> the Metcal price.  That sucker heats up in about 10 seconds.
> 
>                - Jerry KF6VB
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> https://mfjenterprises.com/collections/kit/products/vec-1340k
>> <https://mfjenterprises.com/collections/kit/products/vec-1340k>
>> Which raises a question: what other similar kits are still around? As
>> far as I know, the ones from the good old days (1990s) are defunct.
>> Doug, W0UHU
>> ---
>> Message: 22
>> Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2022 17:44:50 -0400
>> From: Kevin Cozens <kevin at ve3syb.ca <mailto:kevin at ve3syb.ca>>
>> To: K2 <elecraft at mailman.qth.net <mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net>>
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Unassembled K2 Vs Assembled Marketability
>> Message-ID: <3006cfa4-f73e-efa0-93a2-f70717f91c6b at ve3syb.ca
>> <mailto:3006cfa4-f73e-efa0-93a2-f70717f91c6b at ve3syb.ca>>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>> On 2022-03-13 15:13, jerry wrote:
>>> My 8 y/o son has been lusting after an $800 Lego kit.  A walking Star
>>> Wars tank. It has something like 8000 pieces.  I explained to my wife
>>> that it would reasonably keep him busy for a whole week.  But she didn't
>>> see the logic :).  So we bought him a simpler kit with 1200 pieces that
>>> will keep him busy for one day.
>> I don't know whether the K2 or the $800 Lego kit would take less time to
>> build but he will learn some new skills assembling the K2. The K2 could
>> spark an interest that could last a lifetime where the walking Star Wars
>> tank could be forgotten in a few months.
>> --
>> Cheers!
>> Kevin.
>> http://www.ve3syb.ca/ <http://www.ve3syb.ca/>               | "Nerds
>> make the shiny things that
>> https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens
>> <https://www.patreon.com/KevinCozens> | distract the mouth-breathers,
>> and
>>                                    | that's why we're powerful"
>> Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172          |
>> #include <disclaimer/favourite>     |             --Chris Hardwick
>> -----------------------------
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