LEONARDO DA VINCI: LEVERAGE CRANE

Leonardo da Vinci: Leverage Crane, a plastic kit (Italeri)

This kit belongs to the line in which the Italian maker Italeri turns machines from Leonardo's notebooks into plastic. This time it is a lever crane, that is a lifting device in which the combination of a lever linkage and a ratchet made it possible to raise a heavy load with considerably less force than a plain block and tackle would have called for. The model is not tied to any ordinary modeling scale; it is a historical object in its own right for a display case. The manufacturer lists it among the simplest kits it makes and recommends it from the age of eleven.

The real subject

Besides painting, Leonardo da Vinci worked steadily on mechanics and building. His notebooks hold dozens of lifting and transport devices that arose from the practical needs of Renaissance building sites, where stone blocks and structural elements had to be raised to great heights. The lever crane belongs to the group of designs in which Leonardo's thinking about gearing and about the balance of forces is clearly visible. The ratchet mechanism prevented backward movement and made it possible to raise a load step by step, which was a vital safety feature on the wooden structures of the day.

Building and painting tips

Before gluing, sort the parts out according to the instructions and go through them dry, because on structures made of thin beams every inaccuracy adds up. Use thin liquid cement for plastic and build on a flat surface. If you want to approach the look of wood, lay down a base brown, go over it lightly with a lighter shade on a dry brush once it has dried and finally pick the edges out. A thin dark shade flowing into the joints gives the structure depth.

Who the model is for

• Anyone interested in the history of technology and Renaissance mechanics
• Beginning modelers and building together with children from the age of eleven
• Collectors of the line of Leonardo da Vinci historical machines
• An unusual gift outside the classic modeling subjects

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.