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   

Reviews (9)

Excellent motivator and great fun
As a child I used to play with K'nex a lot. I just dug up an old model I built to hold my poker chips today that I'd made years ago, and I decided to look around for the biggest set I could find.

As a college student now, I can see the value of playing with the K'nex set as a kid: creativity, problem-solving, even common sense about the laws of physics (big stuff that falls down tends to go boom, for example), all have been boosted thanks to this toy, I think. It's no wonder I'm able to learn new techniques and ideas so quickly now (as opposed to some of my friends).

All you have to do is show your child how to connect the pieces in different ways, plop a models book in front of them, and let them have at it with your encouragement. Just don't let them put anything in their mouth: some of the pieces are less than an inch long.

What a GREAT simple toy
I bought a 22 piece set of these for my 5 1/2 yr old daughter. She played with those 22 pieces for over an hour just ditting there.

I can't say enough...they are easy to clean up since they are magnetic. The only things I'd say as a caution are that the metal balls hurt if they stray away and you step on them so keep it contained.

My sons favorite toy!
I have a 6 year son that was bored with legos and licoln logs, but loved to try and build things. So, we got him this set for Christmas. He loves it! You are not limited to what shapes you can make with the other building sets. he will go to his room and build things himself from looking at the directions. Since christmas we have bought him a few of the smaller sets to go along with this set. My husband and I like to play with it to. I would recommend knex to everyone! They are worth evey penny! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. 3-D Puzzles   

Editorial Review

Lincoln Logs is a classic toy that originated in 1916 and has been around for multiple generations—it may even have been a favorite of kids' great-grandparents. While the original sets built several variations of a log cabin, the current Lincoln Logs are sold as models to make specific buildings. However, kids can still use their creativity to construct buildings of their own design. This 150-piece set features logs and accessories to build the largest ranch in the west--the Big L Ranch. The tub contains 125 wood logs, three roofs, a chimney, three gates, a ladder, a barrel, five windows, two doors and frames, a rope, a trough, a flag, two horses, a steer, one cowboy figure, and one cowgirl figure. The logs are still made of real wood although all roofs, action figures, and accessories are made of plastic. The kit comes with a colorful instruction book that most older kids should be able to follow on their own; younger children may need some parental assistance. Kids can collect other Lincoln Logs models (sold separately) to set up an entire western frontier town. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Still Great Play, Partner
As a child, Lincoln Logs were one of my favorite toys.You could build houses, forts, roads, fences, and just about anything else you could imagine for a piece of wood.Lincoln Logs have changed over the years, but they remain a wonderful toy to stimulate imagination.

This particular set is one of the larger sets available with 150 pieces.I think that if you are going to get Lincoln Logs, the more you have the better.I always wanted ever more Lincoln Logs to build even bigger forts, which was one of my favorite themes.The western and frontier themes seem to be somewhat old-fashioned for many children who would rather be punching video game buttons for hours than imagining what it would be like to create houses by hand, and then living in them.

This particular set includes pieces that are improvements over the original.Plastic windows, people, animals, a ladder and other miscellaneous people increase the imagination factor rather than detract from it.I initially was disappointed that the wood-slat roof pieces were missing from this set, but quickly realized that the plastic roofs remained in place as opposed to the wood slats that seemed to fall off the roof with little encouragement.On the other hand, you could use the roof slats in other arrangements, such as bridges and roads.

While I think it is interesting to build the models included in the original instructions, Lincoln Logs are sufficiently versatile and easy to use that even very young children begin stacking them with ease in their own configurations.This capability is a real imagination builder.I prefer Lincoln Logs for their greater reliance on imagination than most other building blocks and toys, which tend to emphasize a specific configuration.

John Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, first created Lincoln Logs in 1916.Strangely, he claimed that the construction of the foundation of Tokyo's Imperial Hotel was his inspiration for the toy rather than log cabins.The toys were an instant success because they developed good hand-eye coordination and for the other reasons noted above.The toys became an even bigger success after World War II and the baby boom era.

Lincoln Logs are one of the few toys that seemed to have survived for decades.There have been many challengers to Lincoln Logs, and they are probably much less popular with children today because of the many more sophisticated choices.However, Lincoln Logs remain a great toy, especially for younger children.Even older children, like those in there 40s and 50s, can find a lot of enjoyment in a toy that was much more popular in a previous era, and still retains most of the characteristics that were the reason for that popularity.
... Read more

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

Editorial Review

You might never stop building once you get your hands on the 50-model building set from K'NEX. This super value set includes pieces to build over 50 moving machines, creatures, and rides, plus a bonus battery-powered motor to set the models in motion. A 225-page instruction manual features step-by-step instructions for three levels of building: friendly, moderate, and greater, depending on your child’s age and skill level. The color-coded rod-and-connector system and visual instructions make construction simple while teaching hand-eye coordination and planning skills, as kids build everything from a sea turtle to a racing car. The set's sturdy components can also be combined creatively to form unique original structures and designs, and are compatible with other K'NEX systems. When it's time to put them away, all the pieces fit nicely into the 17-by-12-by-6-inch blue plastic box with handle. Requires two AA batteries (not included) to operate the motor. --N. Mered ... Read more

Features

• Contains 481 pieces
• Build more than 50 machines, creatures, rides, and more, or design your own
• Three building levels depending on your child's age and skill level
• Includes motor to set your models in motion
• Sturdy blue plastic carrying case

Reviews (3)

Get a toy that stimulates your kids
I got my first K'nex set for my kids (well, and for myself as well) when my son was 4.The k'nex allows kids to make innumerable constructs.The enclosed book gets their imagination flowing, additional instructions on the web site further enhance, but then the kids let loose with their own ideas.My son is now 11 and my daughter is 8 and they are still coming up with new imaginative creations.K'nex does not have the intricate detail of Lego.However, the long rods, the connecting pieces, allow the construction of sturdy models (long bridges/tall buildings) and the pieces are generic enough that they can be reused over and over for different purposes.

Its great.

Most played with toy we own
My 7 year old son got this set for Christmas last year, and with all the toys we have for our 5 kids, this K'nex set gets the most use.He built with it every day for months, and still builds something new about every week with it.He has built about every model in the book and he is getting better at building his own ideas.We've gotten a lot of the models on video tape, and he loves to show his grandparents the new ones.I loved the sea turtle that "walked" across the floor, and he builds amusement park rides and puts little people in them.This thing keeps him busy for hours at a time, and he's getting another tub of them for his birthday.His little brother wants one for his birthday this year.The motor is very cool, and he figures out how to use it with the models that don't call for it.Since Christmas, he has only broken 2 pieces, so I thought that was pretty good.Highly recommended!

I love K'NEX
I have had a KNEX set for 10 years or so.My daughter has always been envious of mine, and I don't let the kids play with it.She received money for christmas and bought this set.She has had a lot of fun putting together the models, however there are a couple of models in the book that there aren't quite enough pieces to build.If this were the only set in the house, it would be very disappointing to get as far as she did, then have to disassemble and start with another project. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets   

Reviews (2)

Mother of three
Admittedly, I would have never bought this toy for my kids, but my 5 year old son received it as a Christmas present and I am astonished that he and his 3 year old brother, AND 8 year old sister actually play with this thing.They look at the pictures and try and make the same figure, and they all three sit and do it together.It also teaches them creativity.It is hilarious what they can come up with.I want to buy another one so each of my sons will have one.It comes in a small case to keep all the pieces together, and to my suprise they haven't lost any yet.I love this thing.My son has a birthday party to attend next week, and I think I will get this as his gift.I hope they come out with even more sets!

Awesome toy for 3-7 year old boys
After having bought other building sets, such as, Lincoln logs, Tinker toys and Legos, that didn't get a lot of play time, I thought I would try this Knex set for Christmas for my four year old.Although this wasn't the first toy he wanted to open, once he did open it and began to play with it, this is the one he cannot put down.Both he and his seven year old brother love playing with it.The seven year old has no problems building the models that are illustrated in the instruction booklet.There are no words, just pictures, perfect for this age.The four year old likes to use his imagination and build his own creations.I actually regret not buying two sets of these for Christmas. My seven year old is already asking for a set for his January birthday.Both of my boys also love video games and this set is one of the few toys they play with when video game time is over.This set has a been a hit this Christmas and I look forward to buying more Knex building sets for my boys. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets   

Editorial Review

Wild West adventurer Buck N. Bronco and his pal Dusty Trail areroundin' up some wild horses and building the finest ranch this side ofthe Mississippi. Children can spend hours--on their own or withfriends--helping them construct their western compound. There areenough real-wood Lincoln Logs (114 to be exact) and brightly coloredplastic awnings, doors, and windows to make at least three structureson the ranch. There are barrels, four horses, and even a water trough.Instructions for a corral, a blacksmith's shop, and a small fort(complete with lookout roof and flag) are included, and, of course,there are many other building possibilities, some of which are picturedon the giant tub the set is packed in. --M. Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (10)

It's a Ranch! It's a Fort!It's Lincoln Logs!
As a child, Lincoln Logs were one of my favorite toys.You could build houses, forts, roads, fences, and just about anything else you could imagine for a piece of wood.Lincoln Logs have changed over the years, but they remain a wonderful toy to stimulate imagination.

This particular set is one of the larger sets available with 150 pieces, and 114 of those are wood logs.I think that if you are going to get Lincoln Logs, the more you have the better.I always wanted ever more Lincoln Logs to build even bigger forts, which was one of my favorite themes.The western and frontier themes seem to be somewhat old-fashioned for many children who would rather be punching video game buttons for hours than imagining what it would be like to create houses by hand, and then living in them.

This particular set includes pieces that are improvements over the original.Plastic windows, people, animals, a ladder and other miscellaneous pieces increase the imagination factor rather than detract from it.I initially was disappointed that the wood-slat roof pieces were missing from this set, but quickly realized that the plastic roofs remained in place as opposed to the wood slats that seemed to fall off the roof with little encouragement.On the other hand, you could use the roof slats in other arrangements, such as bridges and roads.The plastic roofs are better for younger children, though older children would benefit from the hand-eye coordination and the problem solving skills the wood roof pieces provided.

While I think it is interesting to build the models included in the original instructions, which includes a corral, blacksmith's shop and small fort, Lincoln Logs are sufficiently versatile and easy to use that even very young children begin stacking them with ease in their own configurations.This capability is a real imagination builder.I prefer Lincoln Logs for their greater reliance on imagination than most other building blocks and toys, which tend to emphasize a specific configuration.

John Lloyd Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, first created Lincoln Logs in 1916.Strangely, he claimed that the construction of the foundation of Tokyo's Imperial Hotel was his inspiration for the toy rather than log cabins.The toys were an instant success because they developed good hand-eye coordination and for the other reasons noted above.The toys became an even bigger success after World War II and the baby boom era.

Lincoln Logs are one of the few toys that seemed to have survived for decades.There have been many challengers to Lincoln Logs, and they are probably much less popular with children today because of the many more sophisticated choices.However, Lincoln Logs remain a great toy, especially for younger children.Even older children, like those in there 40s and 50s, can find a lot of enjoyment in a toy that was much more popular in a previous era, and retains most of the characteristics that were the reason for that popularity.

I scored
When the toy arrived I was overwhelmed with the contents..I feel like I scored big ... the kids will love this christmas morning.

Great Toy!
I bought this for my 4 year old son Marshall at Christmas. He loves it. He plays with it almost every day! His twin sister Jamey likes it too but not as much as my son. I found this toy to be worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets    3. Wild West   

Reviews (2)

Really Fun
My six-year-old helped me build this a few days ago and we had a lot of fun with it.It has some easy assemblies that are great for young kids who can't build the whole wheel themselves.Build time is around 3 - 4 hours and the result is well worth it.It's a lot of fun to sit and watch when the music is playing and the wheel is spinning.My only complaints are that the motor is too loud and the design doesn't allow for easy disengagement of the gears for manual spinning.And don't forget:there are instructions to build two other amusement park rides with this set for a total of three rides (but there are only enough pieces to build one at a time).Overall this is a must-have K'Nex set.

Better than the real version!
My daughter (9 at the time) received this last year and absolutely loves it! She started on building it one day and finished the next, the instructions were easy to follow and she loved the building process more than playing with it at the end!
She has built the other 2 rides as well, but enjoys the ferris wheel the most. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Reto en 3D
Espectacular y maravilloso, si te gustan los retos, este es un buen comienzo. Los detalles estan perfectos, al finalizar te sientes realizado. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. 3-D Puzzles   

Reviews (4)

Learning to Imagine
We bought this for my 4 year old granddaughter not really sure if she would find pleasure in building with wood or not.
We decided tosit with her after she opened up her present and share the memories and joys we had with her dad when he received
his first log set.She became interested and began to build. It was great seeing her use her hands and imagination as she put together her first log house.Lincoln logs will always have a place in our hearts and our homes. A building toy in more ways than one and highly recommended for young and old. Enjoy!

Sleeper Hit of Christmas 2004
Lincoln Logs are one of those toys your remember so fondly from your own childhood, that you hope your kids will enjoy them every bit as much as you did. Although today's kids seem to be so into electronic games, computers and video games that you don't hold out much hope that they'll be interested in some simple chunks of wood.Well image my suprise when my 4 yr. old son (who is autistic) received this set for Christmas and promptly fell in love with it! At first he demanded that I build the Homestead and then he would play with it. After the first week I decided that maybe he was ready to try to follow the directions himself. I simply showed him the step-by-step directions (13 steps in all) and he caught on very quickly. Now he builds it himself and it matches the pictures perfectly. He feels a real sense of accomplishment and insists we come see the house he built every time. He has played with it EVERY day since Christmas (no exaggeration) - usually the first thing he says when he wakes up in the morning is "Build house, daddy." It's also a great toy for creative play. He uses Ma & Pa to 'help' him build the house and they take care of the horses. We've been so pleased with this toy that we plan on buying additional sets for upcoming special occasions. The only complaint I have is how few pieces were actually in the set. Other than that, I'd have to give a big YES vote for this toy.

Lincoln Log Conestoga Homestead
Great way for my 5 year old daughter to use her imagination ~ from building different things to the dramatic play once she has everything set up!She loves it!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets   

Reviews (2)

great fun!
This is our first experience with Kinex and we are very pleased.Our boys ages 3 and 5 both have spent hours making creations.It comes with two sets of eyes, which is important for two builders to work at once.Only one nose piece, but that is the only complaint.This toy is fun for a wide variety of ages and personalities, the possibilities are endless.Now we just need more pieces...

1st K'Nex purchase...loved it but better value in other kits
This is my first K'Nex purchase for my 4 year old son.I knew there weren't a ton of pieces when I ordered it but I wanted to buy a small amount just to see if he liked it.He does!He has enjoyed creating all different kinds of creatures and vehicles.I do feel that I paid up for the cute container.If I had to do it again I would but a "starter" kit in a plain box. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great puzzle!
I am an avid LotR fan and I found this puzzle to be a great buy! Some of the pieces are very small, which makes it more difficult, but it holds together very well when finished and looks great! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. Jigsaw Puzzles   

Editorial Review

The beauty of this radio-controlled vehicle is that you assemble it yourself with snap-together pieces. The vehicle can be assembled in any number of different ways, including a dune buggy shape and a scorpion. The great thing about this is that, since you need to build it before you can play, it engages your child actively in the process. This is not the "Here I am now, entertain me" experience that you find with most toys. In the course of assembling the car, you (or your kid) will learn the rudiments of how a steering system works, since no matter how creative you want to get with the rest of the vehicle, the steering has to be hooked up properly for the thing to work. This dragster comes in two frequencies, 27 MHz and 49 MHz, so if you want to get two and race them, you can do so without the signals conflicting. Requires one 9-volt battery and eight AAs (also compatible with a 9.6-volt rechargeable battery system). --David Stoesz ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This car is a rip off.
This car is a waste of money. I built it the first day I got it and I thought it was pretty cool at first but it kept on breaking. It cant turn at all. It also only uses one wheel to drive and has the two fake on it to stabalize it. This means it wobbles a lot. It also doesn't run very well on carpet. Actually, it doesn't really run on any surface that good. Out of all the rc cars I have bought(to many to count)this is the worst of all. Please don't buy this. It is a rip off. It is horrible.

waist of time
was too hard to put together, my 7 year old lost all interest christmas night. had to take it back beacuse it would not steer straight, would fall apart even without making it go. i do give it a 5 star educational value based on the level of patience and studying of the instructions you have to do

Really Good.
This knex dragster was really fun. Though it's not very durable. The pieces don't hold together well. Other than that it's fun to control and drive.
P.S.(it doesn't have good distance either) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets   

Reviews (7)

not for sissies
the other reviewer who complained about taking 22 hours to finish the puzzle should stick to 2d puzzles - maybe a 60 piece variety or something.these 3d puzzles are great! the are challenging and thought provoking and engaging and NOT FOR SISSIES!

looked fun, ended up being a disaster!!!
I ordered it because it looked really fun, and looked like a great display item! It was a disaster!! for one thing it took me 22 hours NON STOP to finish it, and after it was all finished(i followed the the directions to the letter) it looked like a 300 year old barn!!!!!! Everything was sagging, the pieces wouldn't fit,(all of the pieces mostly looked alike, so if you screwed up once the whole puzzle is ruined)!! It was stressing, and NOT fun!! DON'T BUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

missing pieces
I got this for christmas, because im an avid lotr fan. I love rohan and gondor, so i thought the puzzle would be cool. Its now march and im not done with it because i have at least twelve missing pieces. If it had all the pieces when i got it maybe i could finish it............but this is just to warn you, high risk of missing pieces. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. 3-D Puzzles   

Reviews (13)

Fun Quality Toy
I bought this for my three year old daughter for christmas. She could spend hours playing with it if i let her. The pieces are thick and durable and there are enough pieces to be very creative. My husband and eight year old son also enjoy playing with her and her kid nex.

Kid Knex Rock
My boys love Kid Knex.They have a huge tube of Legos and Mega Blocks and Lincoln Logs and... that they NEVER play with.When my son started asking for Kid Knex I ignored him.But his aunt was listening and he recieved Footed Friends and Bug Eyed Buddies for Christmas.My boys age 3 and 5 spend endless hours playing like these blocks.My five year old is asking for more Kid Knex for his birthday.These blocks are a great choice.

Knex Rocks It...
My son had a heck of a time creating mythical creatures out of these small plastic rods...at least, until he ate them all. I recommend this toy if you're kid doesn't look at Knex and see chicken wings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets   

Reviews (4)

Great Set, but no motor
My son received this set as a gift, so we did not anticipate a motor being included.That aside, these sets are great for kids that don't have a similar 30 or 40 model building kit from knex.My 6 year old loves them, and spends many evenings building new models with or without my help, and frequently prefers to build new models over TV and video games---I did start him out by encouraging him to build his first few, and you may need to if this is for K-5 or 1st grader, but once they get it, the models seem much more satisfying to him then legos or other similar products and the designs are endless, and at remarkable at times. Some of the 3D spaceship/airplane/vehicle builds become fun toys when the building is done.

another one duped by the missing motor
From a parent of 2 boys (7 and 11) who love playing with KNEX. We bought this for our son for x-mas (prior to the reviews listed above being posted) and read the description stating it came with a battery powered motor. Just what our son needed to go with his other k nex sets. When it arrived, there was no motor nor did the packaging reference one. reality is that we were duped into believing it was something it was not. As a basic Knex set it lacks as compared to the others also.

Disappointed
Our children have two other sets and we were excited to give them one with a motor.We are VERY disappointed, this set is advertised as having a motor, but it does not.It is just a plain set like the two we already have.I too feel ripped off. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction    2. Building Sets   

Editorial Review

K'NEX building sets have been used in classrooms for years, but theseopen-ended construction sets are also worthwhile for playtime at home or forhomeschool use. This set focuses on building models of different transportationvehicles for land, air, sea, and space travel, using the 800 plasticconstruction pieces that include rods, connectors, tires, pulleys/hubs, andthree motors. Activity cards with construction diagrams for 44 different modelsare included, along with a 56-page teacher's guide with 168 activity suggestionsand background information. Some of the models are quite simple (a hang glider)and some are complex (a space shuttle), so the set can be used by children ofvarying abilities and ages (from 5 to 10). Kids who are drawn to constructionsets will of course enjoy this set, but parents might also consider it as a funand educational way to improve spatial reasoning skills in kids who aren't somechanically minded. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children'slibrarian ... Read more

Features

• Activity cards to create 44 models
• 56-page teacher guide
• Supports 12-16 students working in teams
• Sturdy plastic storage tub
• 800 plastic construction pieces and 3 motors

Reviews (1)

Disappointed
I like Knex in general, but I was very disappointed that this set only contains one battery operated motor.The description says three motors, but two of them are spring motors.For the price I expected a lot more.This set is over 4 times as expensive as the 425 pice value tub, but has less than 2 times as many pieces. ... Read more

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

Reviews (1)

Cool...
This is a very fun toy, but it is very hard when you cant find the peice that you need. It is really neat, but the more peices you have, the more fustrating it can be. Very fun... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Puzzles    2. 3-D Puzzles   

Editorial Review

This roaring basilisk is one of several fierce and movable beasts from K’NEX’s Alive! Series of models, which kids can build from scratch. This building set includes 283 pieces comprised of the usual K’NEX "snowflake"-shaped connectors, bar-shaped spacers, and tiny rings, plus a bird-like head, sharp claws, and a few other scaly serpentine body parts. For kids familiar with these models, construction should be no problem but the uninitiated will probably require some ramp-up time to get the hang of how the pieces connect. Fortunately, the kit comes with an instruction book with detailed three-dimensional illustrations for building at three different challenge levels. The beginner level builds the beast’s basic frame and offers movable tail action via the included trigger. The moderate challenge level adds clawing functionality to the baselisk while the advanced level sets the dragon-like creature up to fire the three included missiles from its tail. At all levels, the battery-powered basilisk’s head pivots, emits a truly startling roar, and glows from the eyes and tongue. The head operates on three button cell batteries (included). --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Roaring Basilisk Belches!
I have an almost 8 year old son who whips Bionicles and complicated Lego toys together following the directions.This toy is so darn complicated plus the visual instructions are terrible.At the beginning of the instructions it warns "the kids" that they might need help from an adult as the pieces are difficult to snap together!THIS is NOT an 8 year+ toy.I am really dissapointed in K-Nex as my 5 year has many of their other larger toys and those are terrific.K-nex just totally blew it on this one.Don't waste your money. ... Read more