Editorial Review

This neon green and grape roller coaster is impressive in both size andscope. When fully built the coaster stretches 6 feet long and stands 3 feethigh. The directions are detailed and clear, and we had no trouble putting ittogether. It did take us a bit over five hours, though, and it's likely that anychild under 12 will need parental assistance. But assembling it is half the fun.When finished, the track careens so hazardously, it's hard to believe the carswill stay on, but they do! The plastic chain hauls the three cars up slowly,just like a real roller coaster, and the sound effects box re-creates the noiseso perfectly you'll squirm with anticipation. After reaching the top and passingthrough the serpent's mouth, the cars begin their dizzying descent past thesound effects box, which has now switched to emitting enthusiastic and terrifiedscreaming. Gravity and centrifugal force whip the little cars along the rest ofthe track until at last it reaches the beginning of the ride, only to be towedup for another round. If you don't have 6 feet of space, there are instructionsfor a smaller version, and you can turn the sound effects off if you prefer toplay quietly. Entirely worth the time and effort, this is ideal as a familyendeavor. --M. Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (125)

GREAT BUILDING
Mon son got this for christmas and when I first saw it I thought "Oh no." But then once we opened it up and actually started to build it, WOW! I am always amazed by k'nex and how they make it work, it was a lot of fun to build, took about 5-6 hours ( We are not experts yet on the k'nex) but well worth the effort. It has withstood being moved from room to room, having the dog topple it over and being jumped on by the friends who have played with it. It comes with the option of a small or large track (we went for the large) and the instructions are easy to follow. My kids, 8 and 5, have not grown tired of it yet. Definitely a better buy.

A great toy!
I (...) built this toy when I was ten. This toy works very good if put together right. Many people would think this is a very hard toy but It really wasn't at least for me.

I give this 5 stars

Fantastic!
This easily is the best present that my 8 year old son has ever received.Even though it took about 5 hours for my husband and son to assemble, the assembly was easy, with color coded pieces and a clear instruction manual.Once it was finished, we all sat in awe.It looks like something out of an amusement park!We all sat and watched this thing go around for about an hour.My husband and I like it as much as our son does.We highly recommend this! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets    3. Models    4. Activity   

Editorial Review

Big Air Boz is being hounded by plastic balls that are pursuing him through a convoluted maze of tubes, chutes, and contraptions in this complex construction toy. Use the included step-by-step instructions to build a five-foot tower, featuring a motorized airlift, a tiny trampoline, spiral loops, spinning paddle wheels, and other Rube Goldberg-type tricks. You can also set the instructions aside and come up with your own system. The storyline of a young hero like Big Air Boz chased by plastic spheres adds little to the fun of toy but there is tons of fun to be had in orchestrating the network of available mechanisms. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (21)

THE MOST FUNNER AND BESTEST TOY S EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS TOY IS SOOOOOOOOOO AWSOME A LICOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An incredible toy (if you know who you're buying it for)
My son got this for his 10th birthday.He has previously built just about every major K'Nex kit including the Ferris Wheel, Screamin' Serpent, Rippin Rocket, Electronic Arcade, and Loopin' Lizard.His excited reaction when he opened the box: "Wow. This looks complicated!"That was the highest possible compliment he could have granted to this toy.

A week later, it has lived up to his expectations.He thinks it's the best K'Nex project ever, and I share his opinion.The things that other reviewers seem to be complaining about are the very things that make this superior.It's complicated.It requires a lot of tweaking to get right.But unlike the simpler projects that you build and then stare at, this one demands involvement.If you want a model kit, buy something else.If you want the thrill of building and interacting with a classic Rube Goldberg contraption, this is one great toy.

If your child is not extremely patient, or has never built a K'Nex project, I would NOT make this the first.The instructions are not easy, but kids who've succesfully completed large K'Nex models before will be more comfortable with the familiar graphic lexicon of the instructions.

RE all the reviewers' comments about missing parts, I would be amazed if anybody could get through the construction of this thing without making some mistakes along the way.Thinking that a part is missing is part of the process of discovering you have to retrace your steps to figure out what you did wrong back in step 47.If that sounds awful to you, don't buy K'Nex.

RE all the comments about balls missing targets and tubes needing adjusting and balls flying in the wrong direction, see above.This thing requires tweaking to get right.Balls WILL fly off in the wrong direction.That's what makes it all the more satisfying once this thing gets humming.

If you are shopping for a serious K'Nex fan, Big Air Ball Tower gets 5-Stars.

Wow, what a turkey
The original Big Ball Factory was solid.Solidly built, solidly durable, good solid fun.

If you were fortunate enough, you caught sight of an early model that was rejected, in an ad from the time.There was originally a jump at the end of the track run, and a basket to catch the ball after it flew through air.They changed the design before press because it wasn't reliable enough.

Too bad the quality-control folks at K'Nex from that era have (apparently) left the building.

I built my (original) Big Ball Factory at work once; I worked for a major software company.I would have fellow engineers come and watch the machine at work for 10-15 solid minutes. Our moments of zen.Balls rarely if ever jumped the tracks.It was a thing of beauty.

This latest incarnation is an abomination.It has horrible support, needs constant tweaking, and looks like it was designed by a child. A child lacking in any kind of engineering talent.

Even at the reduced price I got it for, it's barely worth the specialized parts I'll use to build a better Big Ball Factory some day. Anyone who doesn't have the patience and engineering drive to treat this set as raw materials for something worthwhile he or she will build separately is wasting money.Bottom line.

Oh, K'nex, this was such a shame.You usually do so much better. ... Read more