Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)My almost five-year old son received this as a Christmas present and has had the greatest time with it. We were a little skeptical about whether it would be easy enough for him since it is very intricate, but he is so good with Legos and Knex that we tried it. Originally we were looking for something more interactive than Legos but less complicated than an Erector set. This fit the need exactly.
It really is fun. Even my husband likes it =) The dump truck works by remote, and it drives around, picks up the balls, and dumps them in the quarry. The quarry is automatically programmed to work the conveyor, which takes the balls up to the yellow slide, one by one, and sends them down the chute... either falling into the storage bins up top or into a big collecting bin on the bottom. The dump truck can then pick up the balls from the bin on the floor or the storage bins in the air, and start all over.
It is pretty neat. For my five-year old, who has never had a remote toy before, he can play with the truck for quite awhile. And a month later, he still brings it out every day. We just keep the apparatus assembled and all he needs to do is slip in the cartridge for the truck, turn on the unit, and it's ready to go.
It is a little more difficult to put together than Legos. Mostly because the pieces need a bit more force and carefulness to snap together. Also the directions are not as clear as Legos' are. It took a couple hours with granddad to assemble just right.
It took him a little while to master the remote... it is actually more like a video game controller, which he had never used, and is pretty sensitive. (Takes two hands, use of rolling thumb technique). It takes some fooling around with, even as an adult, to drive carefully and get the truck to back up just right. But even my two and three year olds can drive the truck straight down the hallway just by pressing the forward button. It is probably ideal for a six or seven year old, or a child experienced with video games already.
That said, it's not a toy for toddlers or hyper young children (at least, not without supervision). It takes some focus and respect. My own five year old once got a Lego light (tiny) stuck in the dump truck insides and we almost ruined it, taking it apart to get the light out. Yet for the most part, it's a very durable toy, and the pieces snap together strongly so you can pick up the apparatus and carry it without splitting apart. But don't let your toddler or pet fool around with the dump truck, sending unit, or cartridges. The little balls are obvious choking hazards (EXACTLY the right size of a baby or dog's throat). And if pieces come off the apparatus, it can be a little tricky to get them back on just right... they require a little more force and finesse than most little boys have.
That said, it's a great buy. Sending unit and remote are sold separately, so it's expensive. And it needs several Double As (6?) and one 9-volt battery. But matching Rokenbok sets can be added without buying extra accessories (unless you want another controller for a second child). So it's tempting to want to invest in your own RokenbokLand =)
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Rokenbok Conveyor Company Start SetGrab your hardhat, jump in your big ol' R/C Loader vehicle, and start the workday here at Conveyor Company. Outfitted with all the tools of the trade, this new 190-piece construction site has everything you need to run your high-octane ROK supply business. Almost four feet of winding chutes, two dispensing collection bins, a quarry for scooping up ROK balls, an automatic Motorized Conveyor, and a fully outfitted maintenance garage highlight this great new set.
Conveyor Company has everything to load and unload, get the action and automation revved up, and keep the multi-featured, remote-controlled loader operating at peak efficiency. Requires one 9-volt and six "AA" batteries, not included.
Click here for more information about Rokenbok Conveyor Company Start Set
