Motorised builds

These builds use electric motors and a battery box. Builders learn how to mount a motor, wire it up and gear it for speed or strength.

Start with Motor Buggy for free

Complete MightyCog booklet collection: 82 PDF booklets for $12.99. Instructions only; individual booklets remain free.

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Before you start: Motor builds need the motors kit and batteries. The build guide shows every part you need before you start.

28 builds, easiest first

  1. 🔋 Motor Buggy: Your first car that drives by itself — with a forwards/backwards switch and headlights! (level 3 of 5, about 30 minutes, 20 steps)
  2. 📡 Spinning Radar: A motor-driven radar dish that sweeps round and round on a turntable — with a blinking light. (level 3 of 5, about 25 minutes, 15 steps)
  3. 🪢 Belt-Drive Buggy: No gears touching: a loop carries the power from the motor down to the wheels. (level 3 of 5, about 35 minutes, 11 steps)
  4. ⚙️ Clutch-Gear 2-Speed Car: Push the gear lever and a driving ring grabs a different gear: 1st climbs, 2nd races! (level 3 of 5, about 45 minutes, 18 steps)
  5. 🎛️ One Motor, Knob Steering: The motor drives, YOU steer — turn the knob as you walk beside it. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 21 steps)
  6. 🔥 Twin-Piston Engine: See inside a car engine: two pistons race up and down in turns! (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 22 steps)
  7. 🌬️ Oscillating Fan: A desk fan that turns its head left and right all by itself! (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 18 steps)
  8. 🛢️ Nodding-Donkey Pump Jack: A slow crank rocks a long beam up and down — nod, nod, nod, all day long. (level 3 of 5, about 45 minutes, 30 steps)
  9. 🎡 Ferris Wheel: A big wheel turns slowly while its gondolas always hang the right way up. (level 3 of 5, about 45 minutes, 28 steps)
  10. 🦾 XL Power Crane: The strongest motor plus a worm gear: 24 times slower and super strong. (level 4 of 5, about 35 minutes, 27 steps)
  11. 🪖 RC Tank: Two motors, two tracks, one remote. Spin on the spot and climb over anything! (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 27 steps)
  12. 📦 Conveyor Belt: A factory belt that carries your parts from one end to the other — and drops them in a box. (level 3 of 5, about 50 minutes, 22 steps)
  13. 🚂 Floor Express: A remote-control locomotive with headlights, a chimney and a log wagon. (level 4 of 5, about 40 minutes, 17 steps)
  14. ↩️ Reverse-Gear Truck: The motor only spins one way — the gear lever decides forwards or backwards! (level 4 of 5, about 55 minutes, 18 steps)
  15. 🔄 Reverse-to-Turn Car: Only one motor — but it can still turn! Drive backwards and the wheels swing round. (level 4 of 5, about 50 minutes, 24 steps)
  16. 🎮 First RC Car (Servo): Your first remote-control car: one dial drives, the other dial steers. (level 4 of 5, about 50 minutes, 27 steps)
  17. 🛵 Front-Drive Servo Trike: One front wheel does everything: its own motor drives it and the Servo swings it round. (level 4 of 5, about 50 minutes, 21 steps)
  18. 🏁 Three-Speed Car: Two little gearboxes in a row make a big one: crawl, cruise or fly! (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 20 steps)
  19. 🚜 Skid-Steer Loader: No steering at all: left motor, right motor — spin it round on the spot! (level 4 of 5, about 65 minutes, 25 steps)
  20. 🧗 Worm-Drive Crawler: Super slow, super strong: worm gears drive both axles and it never rolls back. (level 4 of 5, about 50 minutes, 20 steps)
  21. 🔒 Diff-Lock Mud Truck: Stuck in the mud? Slide the diff lock and both wheels are forced to turn together! (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 33 steps)
  22. 🚞 Cog Railway Climber: A mountain train that grips a toothed rail — it climbs super steep ramps and never slides back. (level 4 of 5, about 55 minutes, 20 steps)
  23. 🕷️ Klann Walking Spider: A robot that WALKS instead of rolling — beams and pins turn a spinning crank into steps. (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 17 steps)
  24. 🏆 RC Racer: A real remote-control car: motor drive, differential, servo steering and headlights. (level 5 of 5, about 75 minutes, 38 steps)
  25. 🤖 Robot Arm with Servo Claw: Swing, lift and grab! Three motors and a remote turn you into a factory robot operator. (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 30 steps)
  26. 🏆 Independent Rally Car: Every wheel on its own springy arm, a differential, universal joints and Ackermann steering. (level 5 of 5, about 90 minutes, 47 steps)
  27. 🌐 AWD with Central Diff: All four wheels driven, with a differential in the MIDDLE of the car — like a rally car. (level 5 of 5, about 90 minutes, 28 steps)
  28. 🚧 Twin-Motor Dozer: Wide caterpillar tracks, one motor per track, and a blade that cranks up with a worm gear. (level 5 of 5, about 100 minutes, 33 steps)

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