Editorial Review

Fully equipped for the uber rescue mission, this souped-up spacecraft doubles as a jet and a Rescue Heroes command center. The top of the jet flips open to reveal an electronic screen and an operations deck, where Keytron, a robot, plugs into the control board to relay missions to the team. Included are two tethered backpacks which, as Rescue Heroes fans know, allow the action figures to communicate. What's more, the jet itself transforms into a giant robot, with a deployable space pod as the head and a tank-like tough-terrain vehicle down below. This is a sturdy, sizable toy that those who enjoy Rescue Heroes ought to love, and it contains plenty of moving parts. Also included is a C.D. Moon action figure in a red space suit. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (5)

FUN IS THE WORD I AM LOOKING FOR
it works super good i bought my 11 year old 2 so they fight.the money is well worth it.i would throw somthing on th ground and it would pick it up. IF I WERE YOU I WOULD BUY 2

GREAT
This is a great remote control toy. My kid has loved it ever since he got it. It is definitly worth the money. It is not like other remote control dogs that fall over every time and cost a lot more. If you want something that isn't too expensive and works well get this you wont regret it.

ROBOSAPIEN TECH'S BEST
ROBO IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF NEW AGE ROBITS AT ITS BEST.AS A COLLECTOR OF FINE ROBOTS FOR HOME USE AND NOT AS TOYS,I HAD GREAT INTREST IN THE ROBOSAPIEN. I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY RECOMMEND IT AS TOY FOR ROUGH KIDS BUT AS A LEARNING PLATFORM FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS. WITH A LITTLE PATIENCE YOU CAN PICK THINGS UP AND HIS MOTIOINS ARE VERY FLUID. THIS IS ROBOTICS AT ITS BEST. YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HONDA OR SONY WITH THEIR TOP DOLLAR BOTS BUT TO GET SUCH QUALITY AT A BARGAIN PRICE IS GREAT. YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF THINKING THE LITTLE GUY IS ALIVE!!!! IT'S LIKE WATCHING THE CHARACTERS FORM SMALL SOLDIERS COME TO LIFE IN FRONT OF YOU. IF YOU LOVE ROBOTS AND ROBOTICS DON'T PASS THIS UP!!!!!!!

Super Fun
Our experience is different than the earlier reviewers...my very bright 12 yr old boy has a blast with this thing. He actually read the instructions and makes it do lots of fun things. It keeps him very entertained, and he's always coming up with new tricks to entertain everyone. It's kinda lovable too in a funny sort of way. :)

Not worth the money.
The robot has some entertainment value when it first comes out of the box, but that goes away fairly quick. The motion is not very fluid, it kinda shuffles to walk, you don't have direct control over opening or closing the hands, it basically only has one pre-programmed pick-up motion. It says that it's programmable, which it is, but it doesn't remember the programming after it shuts off. This simply is not the NASA designed, fluid motion, humaniod robot that I thought I was getting. I would wait till retailers realize this isn't a hundred dollar toy, and get it on clearance for under fifty bucks. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Fully equipped for looting and plundering across the high seas, this pirate ship sports a massive wooden hull powered forward by six sails, three adorned with skulls and crossbones. Triple-firing cannons lay above and below deck, while a sword-wielding captain commands two crew members. A parrot can rest atop the captain's shoulder. There's also a working wench for hauling up all that misbegotten treasure and a removable dinghy for one-off raids. Other elements include a deployable anchor, a walking plank, and a yellow guard rail that circles the deck. The boat measures over 2 feet long once assembled, and can be put together in several ways, outlined in the accompanying booklet. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Editorial Review

Getting young children interested in toy trains is a wonderful way to teach as well as to have a lot of fun. By playing with train sets, young minds learn how to fit things together, how transportation works, how cities and communities are created, all the while enhancing their imagination through pretend play. This sizable and table kit features a smooth, easy to clean melamine surface on the top with convenient storage compartment underneath. The 83-piece train set sports a wide variety of train cars plus buses, police cars, dump trucks, and other vehicles to operate on the pieces of road, which are included in addition to the track. Filling stations, gates, buildings, bridges, and other modular components add to the magic. Since all the pieces fit together so handily, young train enthusiasts can spend hours designing their own sprawling networks and configurations. We liked how complete this set is and how handily it all stores when playtime is done. Compatible with Thomas the Tank Engine and Brio train sets. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Caleb loves it
My son (3 yo) has had this for about 8 months now and still loves it. Whenever his friends come over to play, they all inevitably end up inside the toy and take other toys in to play with. It is fairly durable and has been fought over and pulled from room to room many times. If your child loves Thomas, this is a good (if fairly large) toy to have.

Kids LOVE it!
I have not had the bad experience as the customers below. My son got it a year ago when he turned 3 and my daughter was 1 and they both love it. So does the kids that come over to play. Now a year later and they still love it, also it's still in great shape. I am now getting it for a friends son. I find that it's easy to fold up, although the kids don't leave it like that very long.

This tent is AWESOME!!!
My husband and I ordered this for my daughter's 2nd birthday. Let's just say she doesn't come out of it much. She Loves It!!! It is so cute and worth every penny. She has gotten so many hours of enjoyment out of it. She likes to take her books and her Thomas trains in there as well. If your child loves Thomas, they will love the tent.

HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED
I bought this for my 14-month old because he likes to crawl under tables, chairs, etc. I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened it - what a piece of GARBAGE!!! It is made of some paper-like product (like a Bounty paper towel) and it smells horrible. My son had ink all over his fingers after playing in it for just a few minutes. I am definitely returning this item. How annoying that the material of this product is nowhere to be found on the box or in the online description.

confusing
My 2 year old son got this for a gift, he loves it, but it falls over very easliy, and I spent half the time standing it back up, also the directions on how to fold it and put it back in the bag are not very clear, ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Nice picture making for an easier puzzle
My 2 year old daughter has this puzzle and thinks its wonderful.

Unlike many puzzles, with just one character on it, the picture is brilliant having lots of different trains, etc on it. It is easy to fit togehter, with parts of a different character or scene on every piece. She can easily put Thomas, the sheds, Harold, etc together thus eventually making the whole puzzle.

This is by far her favourite puzzle. For one, it's Thomas! And for 2, it's well-made and 'easy' to work out how to put together.

Most Beloved Toy
My son who just turned 4 years old in December received this for Christmas. I'm amazed at the beauty and durability of the pieces. He put it together about three times (with help) the first time we opened it! I never seen him so excited about a toy and to my greater surprise--a puzzle! Each time he placed a new piece in (sometimes with my assistance and sometimes not), he'd ask me to turn around and then ask me to look. When I looked I praised him for his accomplishment and he squealed with excitement. He literally jumped up and down almost after each piece was placed! He told me this was his favorite gift for Christmas and believe me he had quite a few more that were more expensive. I'll be buying more Thomas puzzles from this company in the near future as I'm very impressed.

Easy enough for young kids to solve by themselves
My son and I have been doing puzzles together since he was two, but most of the puzzles that claim to be for kids are too complicated or have pieces that are a little too small for him to work with; so he usually "helps" me by talking with me as I do the puzzle and occasionally placing a piece. He likes this big Thomas puzzle because, at age 4, he can do it all by himself. The pieces are big, which not only makes it easier to grasp and manipulate, but easier to comprehend the shape and the picture pattern as well. Of course, he likes that it is Thomas, and he even likes the "cool" box it comes in.

So this puzzle has a lot of replay value, because whenever we start a puzzle session, he will eventually move to this one to show mommy and me that he can do it all by himself, and that makes him feel good.

Big, bright puzzle
My son has enjoyed this puzzle since he was 3! It features a bright picture of his favorite engines. The pieces are large and easy to handle- perfect for a younger child who loves puzzles. It has been great for spacial learning. My son would put this together, again and again. He is almost 5 now and still plays with this. The pieces have lasted for almost 2 years and still look new! (They are a heavy cardboard.) ... Read more

Editorial Review

Mighty indeed! This Tonka backhoe is aptly named. Riding high above the ground (11 inches) on large, rugged tires (4.5 inches indiameter), it's constructed of heavy-duty steel and durable plastic. Realistically styled after a full-size backhoe, it has a long steel arm for digging deep or scooping up rocks and dirt. The backhoe can swivel a full 360 degrees on the truck bed, making it easy to load dirt into other trucks or get to those hard-to-reach rock piles. There's a sure-grip handle on the side of the arm for lifting and lowering, and another handle at the base of the arm lets the "driver" extend or retract the work bucket for scooping and dumping. The backhoe sits on strong steel axles that have been tested with a 50-pound load. With a lifetime guarantee to back it up, the Mighty Backhoe is built to withstand all the rough play your kids can dish out. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The way Tonka ought to be!
I got this backhoe for my 3 year old last year and it has put up with more abuse than any toy should have to face -yet it still works well & looks fine. My son has had an enormous amount of fun playing with it, riding on it, attacking his sister with it, etc. and it keeps coming back for more. Don't bother with motorized plastic, this is the real thig!

My 3 year old grandson loves favorite trucks
I bought the backhoe, dump truck and the back loader and recently purchase the crane for him. He takes them everywhere he goes. His father takes him to see the real ones at work and he know what each one is called.

They are very durable. Great trucks.

Great toy
My boys (2 and 3) love this!!!
(It's metal, so not great for really little children.)

Your kid is going to LOVE this!!
I bought this backhoe, the front loader, and the dump truck for my 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 year old boys. The quaility is great and we love the steroid size of these classic construction vehicles! My children really dig these huge toys. They get lots of imaginative and creative play with these construction toys as well as practice with hand-eye dexterity and manipulation. There is so much fun to have in piles of sand, rocks, gravel, or plain old dirt!

Fun and leaning in one toy.
This is a toy that works great in combination with the Tonka Mighty Dump Truck.

My nephew normally is glued to computer games, but this toy actually got him to play outside for a change.

It is durable and works best when the child has access to dirt/sand. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The starting point for this Fisher-Price train-track set for toddlers is a mountaintop chalet surrounded by lush, green pine trees. Tugging a crate of goods, the blue loader-engine train departs the chalet, winds down the track, kept securely on by a yellow guard rail, and whizzes through an underground tunnel. It's a relatively one-dimensional toy, though the layout can be rearranged to connect to other GeoTrax sets. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (9)

This is pretty cool
when you first get batteries it flies good it will stay in the air for a while. But when the batteries start to go out itstarts to suck. The air hogs dominator is really durable to I craashed it a bunch and only got a few battle scars on it. but over all this is a pretty cool toy.
P.S Don't get dollar tree batteries like my mom did it will start dying after about two flites.

Best flying RC plane yet!
After my nephew saw the Dominator commercial he was dying for a Dominator. So I bought it. Well out of all the RC planes I've tried, this has been the easiest to learn. You can't miss it in the sky since the plane body is huge and the control is reasonable for the price. Compared to the other stealth looking planes in the stores, this by far was the best in price. Overall, my nephew adored the plane, it provided a decent time period of flight. I recommend purchasing this plane for any child who likes RC products and outdoor fun. Great plane!

ok..... not really
well i bought this for my friends birthday and the next day i came over and we went to a field and started to fly it. WARNING LANDING SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as u can see the lands is horrible but it can fly for a good amount of time. but if u even try to land it it will twirl in the air and go head first into the ground. I would not buy it

All planes a series of compromises, this is no exception
The new Air Hogs Dominator is an interesting RC plane, way off in a corner of the design space.I am a fan of low-aspect ratio designs, and this plane certainly demonstrates the advantages and disadvantages of low-aspect ratio airplanes.

The airframe seems incredibly rugged.While the tails are potentially breakable, the wing is fat and seems quite strong.The low-aspect ratio design leads toa plane with reasonable wing area, but still a very small wingspan -- so that it can fit in a normal-sized box fully assembled.The thickness of the wing allows it to be very strong while just made out of the cheapest, lightest foam.

On the other hand, the plane doesn't glide very well, with a glide ratio of maybe 5.This means that when you shut the engines down, it sinks like a rock.This is maybe not such a bad thing, though -- it's not going to sail away from youlike some RC gliders.The extremely small size (and basically equilateral-triangle shape) makes it somewhat difficult to determine which way the plane is flying.When it's a couple of hundred feet away it becomes quite difficult to see.

The differential throttle control is weak.Now, many RC crashes are due to over-control -- that can't happen with this plane.The plane treats control inputsas suggestions more than commands.This lack of strong control means that you really want to fly this plane in an extremely large field -- and launch it from the center.Don't for a minute think that you can toss this plane off a cliff (say) and get it back to the takeoff spot -- at least not until you have a lot ofexperience with this plane.I've flown a lot of RC, and this is by far the hardest plane I've flown to get to a particular spot.

The plane really wants to spiral.Again, as you don't want to have it get too far away from you, maybe that's not a bad thing.The control is iffy enough, too, that it's very easy for the plane to get downwind of you in any kind of breeze.I wouldn't fly it in more than a five mph wind.

The low L/D of this design means that you run through the batteries pretty quickly, I would say that my longest flight so far has been about 3 minutes.

Still, it's fun. It's so easy to toss in the car, toss into the air, and fly.The props seem reasonably well protected -- although I've only flown the plane in long grass (and would recommend that that be the only place to fly it.)It's cheap, simple, seems rugged, and has a cuteness factor that can't be ignored.As I've said, I'm prejudiced toward low-aspect ratio designs, it's fun to play with one.

I'll write a long-term review in a few weeks.

Thad Beier

Fun....but tuff to controll
I got this toy a day ago, I took it out to fly it and I was having fun until it started going straight and I was using the controller to make it go right and it just kept going straight.Then after it went straight for a while, it just started to go in circles and I couldn't controll it. Then it just crashed.It was fun until i lost controll ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wanna keep your kids entertained??
My Goodness!We started with such a small little Geotrax set and look at what we wound up with!!My 3 year old got a small set right before his birthday and played with it quite a bit.Then he got MORE for his birthday...and NOW, it is the first thing he plays with when he wakes up and the last thing he play with when he goes to bed!The airport set is probably his favorite by far!But he and his big sister LOVE to take it apart and make new creations with all the tracks and play with the battery operated train, fly the airplane, load cargo, you name it!They really use their imagination and work together with all this stuff!

The only downside is I had to buy a REALLY big tub to put it all in when we don't want to look at it all!The control center, construction set, airplane set and all take up quite a bit of room and there are times when we want it just "put away" for a while.But that's the only bad thing I can say about it...this stuff is just COOL!

I recommend this for ANY kid, probably ages 2 and up.I bought a set for my 2 year old nephew in March and my sister says he LOVES it.If your kids like planes, trains, and automobiles, this is the toy for him!

Another great addition to our geotrax set-up
This is a fun addition to the system.Set up time is less than 2 minutes.My girls love it.The only problem is the fight that sometimes happens over who gets to fly the plane.

To infinite and beyooooond !!!!
To wait for new Geo Trax series... some months.

To deliver it at home... less than a week.

To assemble it ... half hour.

To see the happiest face from my child, when he saw the plane flying... Priceless...... 10 Stars !!!

Great as an addition to your train or as a stand alone toy.
This is a very fun toy.I would consider it a stretch, however, to say that this is a necessary addition for your train set.I would say that this is a great toy on its' own merit.The airplane is a big hit.It flies in circles with the control of a hand-held lever.As it flies the propellers spin.There are three different sounds (a jet, helicopter, or propeller plain.)There is a luggage carousel that spins around for cargo.As I said, my son plays with this independently from his train set.It can be incorporated.I would not hesitate to purchase this even if I did not own any other pieces from geotrax.

Like it but prefer some of the other addons better!
My son recevied this for Christmas as an addition to his Geotrax system.He loves to play with it and loves the sound effects it has but, I found it to be more of a play alone part of the geotrax system than an integrated piece.Other add ons like tower clock, rescue squad, etc. are combined into the train system while this is not. It connects to it but the train portions pass by it rather than be part of it. Still a great piece but I think that if you have other toys like my son does his little people airport would have worked just as well by setting it up nearby. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The name Tonka means "big 'n' chunky" to many people, and this dump truck doesn't disappoint. Even the plastic chassis and front end are sturdy, and the tipping truck bed--itself nearly a foot long--is a solid slab of yellow steel. The tires are almost 5 inches in diameter and can ride confidently over any random pile of lesser toys. This is not a vehicle with a great deal of sophistication--the truck bed tilts, and that's it--but it is one that encourages, and can take, a lot of rough use. Included with the truck are a sturdy plastic construction helmet with the Tonka logo and two tools, a shovel scoop and three-pronged rake. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Features

• Special Gift Pack includes:
• Tonka Mighty Dump Truck
• Construction Helmet
• Tools

Reviews (4)

Great toy!
This is such a great idea and wonderful addition to our Tonka collection. It is so cute and sparks such imagination for our toddler. You really cannot destroy these toys either - we've tried!

Hee hee... "Mighty Dump"...
Ya know, it's nice to see some things have hardly changed at all since my childhood days. Take this big guy for example: this classic Tonka dump truck still has the same look it did when I was zoomin' one through my sandbox almost two decades ago! I am a bit bummed that the undercarriage is now made of plastic-- a pretty tough plastic, fortunately-- but otherwise things have pretty much stayed the same over the years design-wise. Most of the cab and the dumper bed are still made of steel, and the exhaust stack is still rubberized for your young'un's safety. Then there's the thing that REALLY hasn't changed after all this time: the difficulty I have holding back snickers whenever I see or hear the words "mighty dump". And judging from the previous sentence, my filthy-minded reaction to certain out-of-context phrases hasn't changed all that much, either...

'Late

Tonka Tough
When my oldest daughter was two, we bought her a Tonka dump truck. She is a junior in high school now, and the truck has endured heavy play from two more of our children, not to mention those of neighbors and visiting relatives. It's moved hundreds if not thousands of loads of sand around the sandbox, not to mention carrying sticks, dolls and even kids up and down the driveway, across the basement and through the kitchen.

I am planning to buy one for my nieces for Christmas.

All Toys Should Be Made This Well
My son received this toy for his first Christmas and we have have been playing with it ever since. -- Two and a half years later, fast forward through his third birthday, and we still play with this even though some of the newer toys and gifts remain untouched and overlooked.

I think the reason why has to do with the freedom my son has to use his imagination and to use this in combination with other toys. Also the size and scale are delightfully easy for small hands, and just small enough to be independently carted out to the back yard to scoop up dirt or snow or whatever the New England seasons dish out. The color and finish looks as bright and shiny as ever and I imagine it will continue look good for years to come. -- And now, Tonka has added cool accessories to boot! Your little Bob the builder fan will be as enchanted as mine, I'm certain. -- The other thing, is that since the toy looks so great, requires no batteries, has really nothing to break, and makes no NOISE -- it is a favorite with the parents in this house as well. Makes a great gift for almost anybody. Grab one. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In this sweet and gentle amusement park themed play set from Matchbox, it seems like the cars are having just as much fun as the people have. After all, it's not often that cars get to go on a Ferris wheel or get shot out from a cannon to knock over pretend space aliens and win prizes. With bright colors and soft designs, it's a silly, non-violent toy option for younger kids. One car is included with this particular set but it's compatible with other Hero City gear from Matchbox, affording the possibility of creating a vast and sprawling Hero City empire. Three C batteries are required but not included. A DVD with two Hero City cartoons is included.  --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Editorial Review

Toot-toot! All aboard for lunch with the very functional Thomas the Tanklunch box, which is made of durable plastic and comes in the traditional Thomasblue with a red handle. Inside the generous container are an 11.5-ounce canteenand a Pecoware double-deck sandwich container, which measures 5 by 5 by 3inches. Both are adorned with Thomas scenes. On the front of the lunch box is anifty front panel--decorated with another happy Thomas scene--that clips open.This compartment is big enough to accommodate another sandwich or is the perfecthiding place to tuck away a secret goodie for your child. Press a button on theside of the canteen, and the cover pops up, revealing a straw. No muss, no fuss.The lunch box measures 9 by 7 by 4.5 inches and can hold a lot of food--forchildren or adults! --Diane Tuman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Most Adorable Lunchbox
This Thomas Train Lunchbox is GREAT! My three year old son was so excited when he saw it for the first time. It is spacious and well constructed. The compartments are large and there are multiple options for use with each piece. The kids (ages 3-5) in his preschool class went crazy when he brought it to school. It is a one of a kind.

Retro cool
I gave this 5 stars for fun, because my son loved it from day one, and would not leave the store without it. He played with it for days while we waited for school to reopen after Christmas.

I rated it 5 stars for educational value, because it made him want to go to school, which is a significant educational achievement indeed.

Unfortunately, I had to mark it down, because the water bottle is already broken at the point where the button to press it open meets the cap. Also, the straw is hard to clean, especially after a young child eats a cheesy snack and nibbles on the straw.
Lastly, the front compartment is very difficult to open, especially for a young child, so you end up not using that section at all.

Other than these, it's tough, it's cute, and it's a retro look that parents remember all too well. Substitute another bottle, and enjoy.

now in its fifth year of use and still going strong!
This is THE lunchbox to get! My six year old son received this as a gift for his first birthday. I didn't think much of it at the time. HA! Little did I know how much we would use this durable and practical lunch box set! I can pack his lunch everyday without one piece of plastic wrap or one plastic baggie! A sandwich fits perfectly in the tray provided and stays fresh and soft until lunch time! Under the sandwich I pack fruit, pretzels or other snacks....again without any plastic wrap or baggy! I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!

Cute item for your Thomas fan, but...
A friend of mine bought this lunchbox for my son and he loved it as soon as he got it. He's 4 and not in kindergarten yet, so this only gets used from time to time when we go out to lunch, etc. It can also be used to carry along small toys, trains, or whatever. Another reviewer has said hers cracked after it was dropped. I can't really comment too much on that since ours hasn't been dropped (yet). The lunchbox is pretty roomy on the inside and even has a side compartment too! There's a snack box inside with a little tray which basically divides it into two compartments. I usually put a sandwich on top and put other things underneath. The biggest problem with the whole set is the cup that comes with it. It is really cute, but leaks into the lunchbox frequently and is a MAJOR PAIN to clean. There's a little spring loaded straw that pops up when you open the top, and goes back down when you close it. You basically have to disassemble these parts each time you clean it and let them dry, then put the whole thing back together again. I think they could've included a simple thermos or something that would have been much easier to use and clean. My son loves the design of the box, so I would recommend this lunchbox. However, I would leave the cup at home and throw in a juice box or something instead!!

The Thomas Lunch Box
My 3 year old son has this lunchbox and he dropped it and it cracked. It's not very durable. Also, it has a compartment for an ice pack, but didn't come with one. It is very difficult to find an ice pack for the size of the compartment. On a good note, he loves the drinking cup and snack box. ... Read more