Automata are traditional mechanical toys; they offer great opportunities to engage in fascinating DIY toy projects for older children and adults who enjoy mechanisms and assembling machine toys.
Automata are entertaining challenging machines with intricate designs on wood or paper that move with cranks, levers and wooden sticks engineered to produce motion.
The Chinese Dragon snaps its jaws and twists its body when the crank is turned. This toy kit displays how mechanics works and stimulates curiosity for science and technology.
This creative toy kit is packaged with four 8 1/2x 12 cards printed with the model parts, wooden sticks, and complete instructions. Assembly requires tools such as: glue, scissors, craft knife, needle and thread.
The Automata Chinese Dragon is a design by Walter Ruffler, one of Europe’s most accomplished automata designers.
Three of the best products for kids to engage in creative activities of recycling and reuse. Are you looking for kids science projects that emphasize in helping the environment and promoting a green message? The three featured toys have everything children need for discovering the possibilities of clean science.
The Bottle Catamaran project uses plastic bottles as floats. The package includes the mechanical accessories, an electric motor, a big spinning propeller, and a frame to mount 2 empty plastic bottles. All you have to do is just rescue two empty 1-liter bottles from the recycling bin and you are ready to start.
Bottle Catamaran
The Brush Robot uses a wooden brush and a motor’s vibration to become an animated traveler of random paths, the best part of all, other than the building experience itself, is this robotic toy sweeps as it goes. The package includes motor and motor cover, baseplate, terminal caps, battery case and cover, small and large brushes, a couple of spring wired eyes, and every nut, screw and bolt needed for the project.
Brush Robot
Finally, the Clean Energy Critter is a Tin Can Robot made out of a recycled soda can. Easy projects for kids such as this one, which allows them to create a robot pet reusing resources that are ready to be disposed, are adventures that have the ability to expand young minds. This walking, wobbling, bug-eyed robot friend is both incredibly charming and interesting. The package includes instructions, motor and motor case, body plate, battery case, body rims, wired legs and wings and all nuts, and all necessary screw and bolts.
Tin Can Robot
Theses amazing creative toys require a screw driver and “AAA” batteries in addition to the recycled containers.
Everything you need to build your own motorized Ferris Wheel, Breakdance Ride, or Merry-Go-Round. This construction set includes over 600 components, a fischertechnik XS motor and a battery tray for a 9V battery (not included).
The Ferris wheel has a diameter of almost 20 inches and is equipped with six gondolas. A great model that creates a real fair atmosphere!
The kit includes a full color, 30 page construction guide.
Young mechanics love this see-through combustion engine. Kids use the included screwdriver and easy-to-understand illustrated instructions to build it. When complete, they can turn the crank to see each part move!
The 1:14 scale model includes operating valves, rubber fan belt, vinyl ignition wires, moving pistons and connecting rods, camshaft, and hand crank.
Revell Visible V-8 Engine 1:4 Scale
Comes with an authentic engine display stand for a nice finishing touch.
Age 12+
For retail price and availability information Click Here!
This incredible building set features movement bright flashing lights and pieces that glow in the dark. 121 plastic durable gears snap together and pull apart with ease for hassle-free construction and cleanup. Can be used with all other Gears! Gears! Gears! sets. Comes with glow-in-the-dark stickers power motor flashing lights (button-cell batteries for these included) a handy storage tub and more. Power motor requires 3 AA batteries (not included).
Create an amazing machine! Now kids can build ball-driven motion machines just like the ones seen in science and children’s museums nationwide. This over 600-piece kit comes complete with tracks, funnel, motorized elevator, ball trampolines, baskets, and 6 balls. It assembles in a variety of configurations and includes online tutorials to help teach physics and engineering principles. Fun, challenging, and educational!
Age 8+
For retail price and availability information Click Here!
Kids really get into gear! The award-winning Gears and Gizmos Kit provides hours of twirling, whirling construction play with easy to assemble and reassemble pieces. The 82-piece set includes an array of colorful springs, stickers, small, medium and large gears, a propeller, bases, and more. Little builders get creative with endless possibilities providing endless enjoyment!
Gears and Gizmos
Age 7+
For retail price and availability information Click Here!
Everybody feels different about thrift stores, I for example, don’t love them, but my lovely wife does, so every once in a while I end up in one. I really don’t care about the clothing deals, not even with retailer tags still on, but I am naturally attracted to the electronics and toys.
I visit the electronics section first to make sure there are not goodies to rescue, and then I move on quickly to the toys.
Toys in thrift stores are a delicate issue, like any treasure hunting endeavors there are risks involved, and the dangers for children health and well being are enormously serious.
You don’t want to expose them to lead, leaky batteries or recalled products, any precaution should be taken in consideration.
Last week we found some extraordinary deals we couldn’t let pass, among others we found a brand new K’NEX® Loopin’ Lightning Coaster™ set for less than 5 bucks, I couldn’t believe it. I can clearly remember the first time I got to meet this fantastic contraption creative toy in a retailer store before the holidays, we stood starring at the little cars completing the circuit over and over for a long time, now we can do it in our living room, and the construction process was so fun. It took a lot less time than I was expecting.
Obviously these toy kits we found were holiday returns from some retailer, so some problems were expected, what were the chances to find all 622 pieces in a previously opened box anyway? Not many, but luckily we found good replacements in our home K’NEX® supplies. We ended up missing only three pieces, no big deal!
I can’t stop admiring the ingenuity of the K’NEX® toy. This is an excellent creative toy by definition: a single set has multiple creative alternatives, the attachment mechanics are flawless, the different inter-connectable systems are so precise, the design is a symphony of engineering dedicated to children learning entertainment.
If you and your kids enjoy creative toys and fun projects, you need a K’NEX® set as much as you need blocks toys in your house. These may be the coolest toys they will ever have. Seriously!
building set at Amazon.com
