Construction Toys Sets Reviews

Erector Sets are Part of American History

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:56:33 +0000

In 1911 A C Gilbert invented the original Erector Set, the concept he came up with was so unique at the time he was granted a patent for the new toy in 1913. Gilbert used miniature mental beams complete with holes for screws, nuts and bolts. Along with the beams, there were mechanical parts like pulleys and gears to make real, moving models. Unlike the traditional construction toys where they were made from blocks and simple shapes.

Construction toys are extremely beneficial for children, both in development of fine motor skills and imagination. Erector sets teaches them how to use the basic tools like the screwdriver and wrench for the model kits, as well as subconsciously picking up basic concepts of engineering, not to mention practical uses for when they’re a little bit older!

If you were to ask engineers and architect how their career started they will tell you their passion was encouraged by their erector sets. Erector sets have grown more complex in recent years. Sets now contain small engines so kids can make model cars that actually run doing a variety of tasks.

Of course learning and education whilst playing is all well and good, but the main priority is for the child to have fun, and that is what erector sets do. Erector sets achieve that goal as kids can play with whatever they have built for hours, even days! The entire process of building fosters convergent thinking. This is what scientists call the ability to follow directions, learn facts and arrive at correct conclusions. These skills are very valuable to your child as they go through school and take exams. At the same time, erector sets and similar construction toys, also promote divergent thinking. This is when someone has the ability come up with new ideas and creative solutions to problems.

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Magneatos Jumbo 148 Piece

admin — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:00:36 +0000


Big and little builders can take their Magneatos Jumbo creations to the next level with these Master Builder Sets. Our new series of panels, clips and bendies work with classic Magneatos Jumbo balls and rods to add a whole new dimension to building. Ages 2 and up.

Magneatos Intermediate Master Builder Series – 170 pieces, by Guidecraft

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:17:36 +0000


Magneatos Intermediate Master Builder Series - 170 pieces: Bigger builders can take their Magneatos Intermediate creations to the next level with these Master Builder sets. Our new series of panels, clips and bendies work with Magneatos Intermediate balls and rods to add a whole new dimension to building. Ages 5 and up.

Magneatos Jumbo Master Builder – 296 Pieces – Guidecraft – G8109

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:34:36 +0000


This furniture arrives unassembled. Big and little builders can take their Magneatos Jumbo creations to the next level with these Master Builder sets. Our new series of panels, clips and bendies work with classic Magneatos Jumbo balls and rods to add a whole new dimension to building. Dimensions: 20"(W) x 20"(D) x 6"(H)

Intermediate Magneatos 114 pcs

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:51:36 +0000

Intermediate Magneatos are two-thirds the size of the jumbo Magneatos (sold seperately as G1886) but with all of the fun, for more advanced builders with a little more dexterity. They will capture a child's attention and stimulate their imagination for hours on end. The super strong magnetic balls and rods are a snap to put together, and the large size make them perfect for small hands. Kids will develop fine motor skills and explore simple problem solving techniques as they play. 114 pieces. Ages 3 and up.

LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:04:10 +0000

Get ready to battle the dark side with the Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon, Lego Star Wars Set 10179. One of Lucas Licensing's favorite Star Wars models in 2007, this replica of Han Solo's famous starship is crafted from over 5,000 Lego pieces. With so many little pieces and such unbelievable detailing, the Millennium Falcon is recommended for advanced Lego builders ages 16 and up. .caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } table.callout { font-family: verdana; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.3em; } td.think { height: 125px; background: #9DC4D8 url(http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/callout-bg.png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } td.glance { height: 100%; background: #9DC4D8; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-top: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; } img.withlink {border:1px black solid;} What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Huge, movie-accurate smuggling starship The Bad: Construction requires extreme diligence and patience In a Nutshell: This iconic Star Wars model is sure to wow collectors and Lego enthusiasts At a Glance Ages: 16 and older The Millennium Falcon is the ultimate center piece of any Star Wars or Lego collection. View larger. You'll probably find Han Solo and Chewbacca in the cockpit. View Larger. Detailed, Movie-Accurate Design The most iconic vessel in the Star Wars universe, the smuggler Han Solo won the Millennium Falcon from fellow rogue Lando Calrissian in a game of sabacc. Every detail of this famous, modified Corellian Engineering Corporation YT-1300 freighter is packed into this model, which is constructed to scale. LEGO mini-figures of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa are included, so you can really replay your favorite scenes. Start off by testing your skills as a pilot and see if you can navigate the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs, the way Han Solo claims to. Later, you'll want to stage an attack on the dangerous Death Star. Huge, spectacular, and movie-accurate, the Millennium Falcon is the ultimate center piece of any Star Wars or Lego collection. When completed, this model is over 33-inches long, 22-inches wide, and eight-inches tall. Rotating top- and bottom-mounted quad-laser turrets, a radar dish that rotates and can be elevated, and a boarding ramp that can be extended are just some of the cool features included in this model. You can seat a crew of four mini-figures at the controls in the removable cockpit. And landing gear provides a stable base for model to stand on. Building Your Own Millennium Falcon With 5,196 Lego pieces, the Millennium Falcon took more than 50 hours to construct. Split between two adult builders and several days, these hours provided a fun time to chat and reminisce about favorite Star Wars moments. We imagine that having the original trilogy playing in the background might have motivated us to construct this starship even faster. A huge percentage of the pieces come in shades of gray, and approaching construction requires a bit of organization and discipline. This means that building the Millennium Falcon is not a project for the faint of heart, but detailed, step-by-step instructions help ensure that construction is a relatively straightforward process, despite the complexity of the finished model. Once it's built, the Millennium Falcon is sure to inspire awe all around. Collector's will appreciate the display card that allows them to show off ship specs with the model. What's in the Box 5,195 Lego pieces, instruction booklets, and a collector's display card.

LEGO Mindstorms NXT

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:09:00 +0000

Sure, Mindstorms NXT is a toy, but it is an important toy, like a piano or a chemistry set. It's one of those items that engages an imagination and possibly opens doors to new interests. Since our future is surely to be shared with robots--it's already started happening, just look at Roomba--those robots will need, at least initially, humans to program and maintain them. Those people, years from now, will likely remember their experiences with Lego Mindstorms. Out of the Box The main part of the kit is the NXT itself. It's about the size of an iPod (though a bit thicker) with a a loudspeaker, a monochrome LCD, and navigation keys on the front. This is the controller for the robot--it's brain, if you will. It has three ports on top for connecting to the servo motors and four ports on the bottom for connecting to four different sensors: Touch, Light, Sound, and Ultrasonic (see detail below). The NXT: the computer-controlled brain of the Mindstorms robot Touch Sensor: enables the robot to feel and react to its environment Sound Sensor: enables the robot to react to sound Light Sensor: can detect light and color Ultrasonic Sensor: allows the robot to measure distance and react to movement Servo Motors: ensures the robot moves with precision The set includes Ethernet-like wires for connecting all of these to the NXT, as well as software and a basic USB cable for downloading programs from your computer. Then there are all the Lego parts, hundreds of them, and most are very small. It would be a good idea to get a plastic organizer for the different parts--it would not only make construction and storage easier but also part loss less likely. Hitting the Bricks The instructions for MNXT are simple, illustrated, and they gently take the new user on an introductory path through the system. The quick start guide promises a 30-minute robot building and programing intro, though for me it was closer to 50 (I'm a little old and slow). It starts with a simple diagnostic routine which shows you how to test the function of all sensors, then proceeds to step-by-step picture instructions for building a basic first robot. It's about as complex as building a piece of Ikea furniture. Programming is the real gem in this system. It has a drag-and-drop interface using pre-programmed objects that you pull from a palette and snap to other objects. Next, I installed the software. Be sure to check the system requirements (below). The software is well-designed and very intuitive. It comes with built-in video instructions on how to create your first simple program and download it to your NXT. Bringing It To Life Programming is the real gem in this system. It has a drag-and-drop interface using pre-programmed objects that you pull from a palette and snap to other objects. Each object is configurable. For example, the Sound object brings up a sub-window that allows you to choose between a tone and a list of sound files, set the volume, set duration, and so on. Little Lego bricks between the objects reinforce the idea that building a NXT program is like building a Lego model. Programming this way is much easier than, say, creating a web page from scratch. Lego even offers a software development kit for getting deeper into the programming. Mindstorms NXT "challenges" from top: Tribot, RoboArm, and Spike. There comes a genuine thrill from seeing something you've created--even something simple and silly as my first program--come to life in a robot. It's akin to seeing yourself on TV for the first time. I played that program a dozen times. The software contains "challenges," which are similar step-by-step instructions for creating and programming more complex models, such as a robotic arm that can "perform simple tasks and react to different colors." Each challenge is divided into smaller tasks with step-by-step building, programming, and testing guides for each task. Accessing your latest program once it's downloaded to the NXT is pretty easy. Lego has set it up so that you can execute it by pressing the big orange center button four times in a row after start-up. I was surprised to find out that you don't need a computer to program the NXT. You can program directly into the NXT Program submenu. Bluetooth Ready The NXT also has built-in Bluetooth wireless technology. If your computer has Bluetooth, you can test and download programs to the NXT without connecting the USB cable--a really handy feature if you're programming a complicated dance routine and you don't want your robot getting tripped up in cables. If your phone or PDA has Bluetooth, you might be able to use your device to control the robot. Best of all, Bluetooth allows you to create a network of up to three NXT devices. Think of the possibilities: three NXTs plus three sets of blocks and sensors equals bigger, more complex robots. My one and only complaint is that I wish the sensors had more "studs," those little round parts that allows Lego bricks to interlock. --Porter B. Hall

MEGA Bloks Building Imagination Bag (80 pcs)Classic

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:06:46 +0000


Add some brightness to your builds with classic colors! Create endless building possibilities with the new color palette. Includes ten fun creativity cards; offers practical storage. 80 pieces.

Magneatos – Intermediate Glow 114 PCS

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:08:36 +0000

Intermediate Glow in the Dark- 114 pcs.How do you make the multiple award winning JUMBO Magneatos and Magneatos Intermediate Series EVEN MORE FUN? You add a new element of fun and intrigue. Make them GLOW IN THE DARK! Guidecraft has added this extra element of surprise to both the JUMBO and Intermediate series. Kids will love the mystery of seeing their creations come to life with and exciting glow when they turn down the lights!

LEGO Make & Create Boeing 787 Dreamliner

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:24:25 +0000

.caption { font-family: Verdana, Helvetica neue, Arial, serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; } ul.indent { list-style: inside disc; text-indent: -15px; } Now the newest, most revolutionary aircraft in the renowned Boeing fleet can be a part of your Lego collection! With 1,197 Lego pieces, the Lego Make & Create Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a fun building project for kids and adults. Build and Brag Building the Dreamliner is only half the fun. The other half is showing off to friends. Perfect for Lego fans and collectors, this airplane model features a display stand and display card listing the real aircraft's specifications and details. The Dreamliner airplane is scaled to the perfect dimensions with authentic colors and details. View larger. Just like the real thing! View larger. Just Like the Real Thing The Dreamliner was developed in co-operation between consumer requests, fans, and Lego designers. Based on exact specifications from Boeing Commercial Airplanes -- a Lego exclusive -- the airplane is scaled to the perfect dimensions with authentic colors and details to make it look just like the real thing. The overall length is 26 inches; the wingspan is 27 inches. This Lego kit is recommended for ages 10 and up. About LEGO The world-famous building block set encourages a unique type of play that is fun, creative, engaging, and challenging. Taking its name from an abbreviation of two Danish words, "leg godt," meaning "play well," LEGO has been inspiring children and adults to do just that since 1932. Seventy-five years later, LEGO is one of the world's largest toy manufacturers, with products sold in 130 countries. What's in the Box Lego airplane set with 1,197 pieces, display stand, and display card.