Engineering/Technician Hobby Kit?

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I'm a meche student going into his jr year. I'd like to start spending some money on hobby kits that might include anything involving mechanics/electromechanics. I was interesting in materials/instructions to build anything ranging from model engines to basic motors/servos/controllers. I really want to take a shotgun approach to this, so the greater variety the better.</p>

<p>If anyone could suggest where or how I should start my search (besides "<a href="http://www.letmegooglthatforyou.com"&gt;www.letmegooglthatforyou.com&lt;/a&gt;" ), I would appreciate the help.</p>

<p>Thanks,
Chris</p>

<p>Simple robots? There are very cheap kits out there.
You can design a water rocket if you want.
You can make a pumpkin thrower (we have a thread here a week ago, check a few page down!!!)</p>

<p>Thanks for the ideas</p>

<p>Google “Arduino projects.”</p>

<p>Arduino is an open source microcontroller ecosystem that is geared towards hobbyists.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. Last bump. Anyone else?</p>

<p>[Maker</a> SHED from MAKE Magazine, craftzine.com, and Maker Faire](<a href=“http://www.makershed.com%5DMaker”>http://www.makershed.com)
and
[Make:</a> Projects How-to Projects Library ? Electronics, Arduino, Crafts, Solar, Robots](<a href=“Make: Projects”>http://makeprojects.com/)</p>

<p>Learn to see the stuff of our Maker. </p>

<p>DS builds interesting things from observing what he sees in the world. He brought home two devices that are very unusual and probably unique - he says that he got the ideas from things that you and I never notice. He took what he saw and engineered mechanical models. When you see the models, you can instantly recognize its natural counterpart and marvel at the beauty of nature.</p>

<p>I know that he has been thinking about these two projects for a least two years. The question that probably encountered was how was he going to build it and with what parts. Seeing an idea can be instantaneous, knowing what to do and with what, takes time, experience, and acquisition of a knowledge base.</p>

<p>^ can I get a hit of that?</p>