Orchard and Waller are both self-proclaimed LEGO nerds, and Waller says he’s been associated with the LEGO Ideas platform for over a decade (going back to when it was called “CUUSOO”). While countless mechanical models of the solar system (also referred to as orreries) are claimed to exist, nothing matches the complexity and attention to precision of the Clockwork Solar System. Designers: Chris Orchard & Brent Waller “The relative orbital periods for each planet to complete an orbit are extremely precise. A lot of effort has gone into making each planet’s orbital timing more than 99.8% accurate relative to the other planets,” says Chris on the LEGO Ideas submission page. “The year of each planet is also represented through the 8 dials on the elegant octagonal base. Also included in the base is a motor and battery box to fully propel the model.” This isn’t the first time someone has built an amazingly accurate boat out of LEGO. Earlier last year, LEGO builder Marian built an instrument that accurately tracked the movements of the earth and moon around the sun, with precise moon phases. The Curd Solar System, on the other hand, also influences the other 8 planets (or 7 planets and Pluto, if you’re still clutching those pearls).
