Italeri 3101 Leonardo Da Vinci The Marvellous Machines - Self-Propelling Cart

*Model comes unassembled and unpainted.

This model is a reproduction of one of the most amazing of Leonardo da Vinci's plans. It is known as "Leonardo's Car" although recent studies have defined it one of the first robots in history. The machine is drawn on page 812r of the Codex Atlantics with other devices. the "engine" is hidden inside the car, where a coiled spring stopped by a mechanical brake transfers motion to gears that move the wheels on the sides. Another system of gears allows for constant speed, with a clockwork-like mechanism. Secondary levers act on the two big wheels to steer the robot or move stage props, like puppets to be carried on stage.