Overview

This picture shows the whole orrery. The Meccano model is restricted to the sun, the earth and its moon. The vertical axis of the earth is, just as in reality, tilted at an angle of 23½° with respect to the orbital plane so that it can be made clear how the seasons elapse over the year. The picture clearly shows that the Meccano model is build-up from five modules i.e. the base, the central drive, the rotation arm, and the earth and moon rotation mechanisms. The base is build up from various angle girders with a bearing #168 on top. Concentric with the bearing a flanged ring #167b is mounted separately, with four double angle strips, to the wooden bottom plate. In this way the flanged ring is insulated from the remaining construction so that it can be used as a separate electrical conductor.