A couple of entries back, I mentioned some of the wonderful resources that were available on the internet for those interested in downloading instructional materials which were produced for some of the older fischertechnik kits.  While these sites are essential to visit for that reason alone, they’re also a great way to connect with other fischertechnik fans and see some of the really innovative and creative models they have come up with. For example, the German fischertechnik community page,  www.ftcommunity.de, has a wealth of material, such as this page which details the creation of a very cool and very complex Pendulum Clock constructed primarily of fischertechnik parts.

While this site is in German, there are translating add-ons available for most web browsers which will easily help you overcome this small issue. On the other hand, if the language barrier is too much of an issue, check out this site.

fischertechnik freeforumns.org is a brand new message board site which was created especially to help connect fischertechnik fans in the United States, Canada, and other English speaking countries. While this site is still in its infancy, it currently has discussion forums to address such topics of interest as sharing your creations, getting help with fischertechnik projects, and swapping old parts and kits. They even have a forum for educators to discuss ways in which fischertechnik can be used in a STEM education program.

Facebook is of course also a source for numerous groups and pages, including one dedicated to fischertechnik fans in Germany, another for builders in South Africa, and of course our own “fischertechnik User Group” page, which you can visit (and ‘Like’)

It goes without saying that anyone searching for fischertechnik on the internet would be doing themselves a great disservice if they didn’t also visit YouTube to view some of the hundreds and hundreds of videos that have been posted there by instructors, students, technicians, young builders, hardcore ft fanatics and even casual fans. While we welcome you to search around this site a bit yourself, perhaps the easiest place to start is right here:

Of course, I couldn’t mention fischertechnik and YouTube without sharing at least one video with you. This time around I want to present you with a short clip from the most recent fischertechnik Fan Convention in Germany this fall. If you remember last year, we featured a video of the exciting ‘Firestorm MegaCoaster’ model which thrilled young and old alike at last year’s show, and this time around we have a clip of the new and improved Firestorm 2…and this time, YOU’RE in the car seat as the coaster goes through its twists, turns and drops! Enjoy:

I hope that this gives you a small taste of the resources that are available for finding out about fischertechnik that are as close as your own keyboard. You can find many more links on the home site for fischertechnik in the US and Canada, which is of course www.fischertechnik.com, as well as by just doing a simple Google search. On that note, until we meet again…happy building!!!

Author: Lance Zurek