Step 1:

To start the assembly of this drum, we will begin with part CA as a foundation to build the drum shell.

Take 16x part AA’s and place them around the outer pegs of part CA, making a circle. These blocks must be placed in the orientation shown. One inner peg of part CA must be between the 2 pegs of part AA on every section.

See the 3rd picture and verify that for every one AA block, there is one inner peg on the CA foundation part in the middle of it.

Step 2:

Next we will add the second layer of blocks, starting with 6 more AA blocks. Place the blocks in the pattern shown. Use the second picture for a better visual.

On every layer we will offset by 50% the placement of the next layer’s blocks. None of the AA blocks will be placed directly on top of each other.

Please note that the foundation piece CA has 2 sets of 2 extra square holes underneath it. These square holes must line up with the larger empty spaces on layer 2. In other words, make sure these holes are horizontal and perpendicular, to the left and right. See last picture!

Step 3:

Now we need to start adding the blocks that will hold the drum’s lugs. On this layer, every other block in the circle will be a block BA. See the second picture for a better visual.

Note that there will be 2 gaps in the blocks on this layer at this time. These should line up exactly to the left and right, which will be right above the extra holes in the CA foundation piece.

Step 4:

Next is adding the snare strainer assembly and the snare butt plate. First, locate the 3 strainer pieces, HA, HB & HC. HB will connect to HA like in picture 2, with the slot cut-outs aligned. Next, take HC, the lever part, and press it down into the slot, centered. There will be a small amount of resistance, but you should feel a click when it is set in place properly. Once set, you can move the lever to either side.

Now that the strainer assembly is together, place it on the second layer of blocks. Take the butt plate block (I) and do the same, in the orientation shown in the last photo.

Step 5:

Before moving up to the next layer, let’s add the lugs (BB) to the BA blocks that can connect them. Take 8 of the BB lug parts and slide them on each of the connectors sticking out from BA blocks. They should be snug, with no gaps between the 2 parts.

Step 6:

Now, on to the next layer! Place 14 Block AA’s around the perimeter again, almost in a complete circle, minus 4 pegs, or 2 blocks worth. Make sure the exact area shown in red on the second picture is the part that is not filled by AA blocks on this layer.

Step 7:

Next, we fill in the gap on this layer. Place 2x AB block (the tiny, single-peg ones) and block K (the badge block) as shown in the photos.

Step 8:

This layer is almost finished. We just need to add the “tube” parts (BC) of the tube lugs to each lug. Place all 8 of the tube pieces on each lug as shown in the photo. If the lugs feel a little loose or try to come off, don’t worry. Once everything is place the drum build will feel tight.

Step 9:

On to the next layer! We will start with 8 more block AA’s, evenly spaced out around the perimeter. See the photos for reference!

Step 10:

Now we just fill in the empty spaces of this layer with the BA+BB blocks.

This time it will be easier to assemble the sets of 2 blocks before adding them to the drums. So attach all 8 BB parts to the BA blocks, then place each set in the empty spaces on the current layer. It should look like the photo here!

Step 11:

The next layer is all the same block! Just add 16 more AA blocks around the perimeter like shown in the photo!

Make sure to place them offset from the blocks below them for a stronger build! 

Step 12:

Now lets build the resonant drum head using parts CB, CC, and CD. The orientation of these parts do not matter. Just fit them into each other as shown.

Step 13:

Now that the resonant drum head parts are together, let’s place them inside the shell and connect them to our foundation, part CA.

The drum heads are the trickiest part of the build. You may have to spin the parts to get them to line up properly. Apply pressure to the edges of both sides to get them to seat snugly to one another.

Step 14:

On this step we will add the supports. This support structure is necessary for keeping the drum heads from caving in. While a real drum instrument would not need this due to the way a drum head mounts, it is necessary for the stability of this build.

Connect all 4 part S supports together, and then place them in the center of the resonate head. Due to their design, the orientation does not matter.

Step 15:

Next we need to assemble the batter head of the drum. This consists of 4 pieces. EA, EB, EC, and CD. Your kit will have 2 CD parts, as this part is the same for the top and bottom drum heads.

Connect all 4 pieces together as shown. Orientation does not matter on these.

Step 16:

Now that the batter head is assembled, place the head onto the drum, connecting it to the shell on the edges, and the support in the middle. Orientation does not matter for this step.

This part can be a little tricky to get everything to connect and sit properly. Everything should feel tight, secure, and level once done properly. 

Step 17:

Next we will add the tension rods for the batter head. Located all 8 of the BD tension rod pieces and place them on the tops of all 8 of the upper BB lugs.

Step 18:

Now we can add the batter side hoop. Start with 8x of part FB. Place these evenly spaced on on the perimeter of the drum head with each piece also connecting to the BD drum lugs.

After all 8 are in place, fill in the gaps with parts FA until you have what you see in the first picture.

Step 19:

Turn the drum upside down and place all 8 BE tension rod parts into the underside of the lower layer of lugs, mirroring what we did on the top. Part BE has a short side and a long side. the short side will be inserted into the lug (BB), and the longer side will face away from the lug, as a connection point for the bottom side hoop parts.

Step 20:

We will now repeat step 18 but on the bottom, resonant side of the drum. Place 8x part GBs around the hoop, equally spaced, connecting each piece to both the edge of the CA drum head, and the BE tension rod parts.

Note that parts GA and GB are just like parts FA and FB except where on the FA and FB parts you have 2-3 holes on the underside of each piece, on the GA and GB parts, the 2 holes that would connect to the head are pegs instead.

Next, fill in the gaps with all 8 part GAs.

Step 21:

This is the final step. All that’s left is to connect part J (snare wires) to the 4 square holes left on the underside of the drum!