Possible cheap engine for scratchbuilders

[gavriel]

Hi,

 

Today I received the Portram I ordered after I saw these inspiring threads:

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/22412-new-tiny-chassis/

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/23779-okwb-kato-portram-evolves-to-a-lister/

 

And BTW I also got a small pack from China, with some toys I bought on ebay for the kids. One of them is a tiny Solar Powered Car (ruler is metric!):

 

 

 

You can buy these Solar Powered Car Toys on the internet for less than $2 including shipping

 

It has a tiny engine just above the axle, about the length of 10mm (15mm including the gear wheel) and diameter of 6mm.

 

I don't know about the voltage, but it must be minimal because it's using this tiny 15x15mm solar cell to power it.

 

I don't have any experience in scratch building, especially not a complete chassis. Do you think it can be used? I'll be more than happy to "sacrifice" mine (well, I'll see what the kids think about it, but I can order a new one for $1.75 and it'll arrive within 2 weeks) if someone could help me out with some links. I guess that I'll need to turn the engine 90 degrees and some gear must be built for it. Where can I find cheap plastic gear wheels for this project? If someone has documented some similar process that would be helpful too.

 

I wonder who will be the 1st to exploit it for motorizing some micro speeder!