About Me. Jerrel from AllAboutMeccano.com
Hi, I am Jerrel. I have been building with Meccano for over 25 years. Long before reviews, social media, or sponsored content became part of the hobby.
My first Meccano set came from my grandfather in 1999. I was six years old and completely hooked from the first build. That interest never faded.
Why Meccano stayed part of my life
What kept me interested was not just building models, but understanding why things worked. When a structure failed or a motor stalled, fixing it became part of the fun.
Over the years I built hundreds of models in my workshop in the Netherlands. These ranged from simple cranes and cars to walking mechanisms, geared systems, and full restorations of older Meccano sets.
Meccano never felt disposable to me. It felt like a mechanical system that rewarded patience, attention, and experimentation.
What this site is about
AllAboutMeccano exists to help people make better choices with Meccano. Not based on marketing claims, but on real use and honest evaluation.
I make a clear distinction between:
- Sets I own and have built myself. These receive full hands-on reviews after extended use. For example the Super Construction 25-in-1 .
- Sets I do not own yet. These are clearly labeled and researched using official manuals, build videos, and long-term feedback from the Meccano community.
The site also offers free vintage Meccano manuals , practical building advice, and regularly updated Meccano deals.
How Meccano reviews are done on this site
Reviews on AllAboutMeccano are not based on quick builds or first impressions. I do not copy product descriptions or rely on promotional photos.
When I own a set, I build it multiple times over an extended period. I look at how parts align, how well screws hold after repeated use, how motors behave under load, and whether a model stays solid after being taken apart and rebuilt.
I pay special attention to frustration points. These include unclear instructions, weak joints, stripped threads, or designs that look good but fail mechanically. If something becomes annoying after the third rebuild, that matters.
What “tested” actually means here
On this site, the word tested has a specific meaning. It does not mean built once and photographed. It means living with a set long enough to understand its limits.
In 2025, I spent serious time with the following Meccano sets:
- Meccano Super Construction 25-in-1 with more than six months of repeated builds
- All current Meccano Junior police, fire, and rescue sets tested by my nephews
- Ducati GP Bike, Mountain Rally Car, and the Makers Toolbox
- Several vintage restoration and part compatibility projects
If a set loosens over time, becomes less fun after repeated builds, or has design flaws that only appear later, that information is included in the review.
Transparency about sets I do not own yet
I do not own every Meccano set that exists. When I review or recommend a set I have not built myself, I clearly say so.
In those cases, my evaluation is based on official manuals, build videos, teardown footage, and long term feedback from experienced Meccano builders. I compare those findings with similar sets I have already built.
This approach allows me to give useful guidance without pretending hands on experience where it does not exist.
Meccano taken seriously as a mechanical system
One reason Meccano has stayed relevant for more than a century is that it scales far beyond small desktop models. In the right hands, it becomes a true mechanical system.
In this James May Toy Stories episode, Meccano is pushed to an extreme by building a full size, rideable motorcycle and attempting the Isle of Man TT course.
This is not something meant for home builders, but it shows clearly that Meccano is not just a toy. It is a modular mechanical system capable of real engineering challenges.
Why honesty matters more than hype
Meccano sets are not cheap, and they demand time and patience. Overhyping a set or hiding its weaknesses only leads to disappointment.
If a set is great for beginners, I say so. If it looks impressive but frustrates most builders, I say that too. The goal is not to sell more boxes, but to help people enjoy Meccano for the long term.
How this site is funded
AllAboutMeccano is not sponsored by Spin Master or any other manufacturer. No one pays for positive reviews or rankings on this site.
The site is funded through affiliate links, mainly from Amazon and Bol.com. If you buy a set through one of those links, it does not cost you anything extra. The small commission helps me buy new sets, replace worn parts, and keep the site running.
If a set is disappointing, I say so clearly. Affiliate income does not change how a set is reviewed or described.
What you should expect from my content
You should expect clear language, realistic expectations, and honest limitations. Meccano can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be frustrating if the wrong set is chosen.
I do not claim that every set is perfect, and I do not recommend sets simply because they look impressive in photos. Long term usability matters more than first impressions.
When something is based on research rather than hands on building, that is stated upfront. I do not blur that line.
Get in touch with me
If you have a question about a specific set, want to share a build, or spotted something that needs correction, you can contact me directly.
Use the contact form and your message will go straight to me. I read and answer everything myself.
I enjoy seeing what other people build and hearing how sets perform outside my own workshop.
Why I keep doing this
Meccano has been part of my life for more than two decades. It taught me patience, problem solving, and how mechanical systems actually behave in the real world.
This site exists to pass that experience on in a practical and honest way. If it helps someone choose the right set or avoid a frustrating one, then it is doing its job.
Keep building,
Jerrel
Last updated: December 15, 2025