ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
On 18 August 2010, Make reported that automata builder and blogger Dug North had started a single-page index collecting plans for automata and other mechanical toys. The launch addressed a practical problem: instructions were scattered among websites, magazines and books. The index grouped the material into free online plans, purchasable plans and books containing automaton plans.
What Dug North launched
Sean Michael Ragan’s announcement in Make, published 18 August 2010, described North’s new page as a central list of resources for people who wanted to make automata and mechanical toys. It was presented as an index rather than as a single set of original instructions or a ranked catalog.
North explained the reason for assembling it: “People often write to me to ask if there are plans available for making your own automata. Indeed, there are some, but they are scattered around the internet, in magazines, and in books.”
#1 Best Overall
How the index was organized
The launch announcement identified three sections. They separated resources by access and format, giving readers a way to choose between no-cost material, paid plans and print references.
| Category | What it contained | What the announcement establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Free plans | Plans available online without a stated purchase price | The index included a category for free online plans; the announcement does not give a count or evaluate individual plans. |
| Plans for purchase | Automata plans sold to makers | The page distinguished purchasable plans from free resources; no prices, sellers or current listings are established. |
| Books with automaton plans | Books specifically containing plans for automata | Books were treated as a separate source type rather than folded into online plans. |
Why a dedicated index mattered to makers
Automata instructions often appear in different media and are difficult to discover through a single search. North’s project addressed that fragmentation by putting links and references on one page. Its value, as reported at launch, was organization: a maker could begin with a free web plan, look for a commercial plan or consult a book without searching each medium independently.
Readers could add missing sources
The announcement said readers could send additional resources through North’s contact form. That invitation made the page a community-maintained directory in spirit: its coverage could expand as makers identified plans that were not yet listed.
What the 2010 report does—and does not—confirm
This is a historical launch report, not a current directory review. The available account confirms what the index was intended to collect and how it was divided in August 2010. It does not establish whether the page remains online, whether its links still work, or what resources it contains now. Current availability should therefore be checked independently before relying on any particular plan or book.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
Related build resources
Books
Books containing automaton plans were one of the index’s three named categories, making print references part of the project’s core scope. The announcement does not identify a preferred title, edition or publisher.
Wooden model kits
A separate Delaware TSA automata design-challenge resource list mentions animated wooden model kits. Kits are a related option for someone who wants a physical starting point, but that reference does not show that North endorsed a particular kit or manufacturer. Treat kits as a distinct product category rather than as plans from the index.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
Practical takeaway for readers today
- Use the 2010 announcement to understand the index’s original purpose, not as proof of present availability.
- When evaluating an old listing, confirm that the plan, book or kit can still be obtained and that its instructions match your skill level and materials.
- Keep the original distinctions in mind: free online plans, paid plans and books serve different budgets and working styles.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
