keeping one amused
We're unlikely to see the veritable amount of tat that surrounded the Royal wedding last year, we're hoping that celebratory and commemorative kit will all attempt to be as classy as this chess set (over optimistic perhaps). Each piece is handpainted, it truly is a glorious piece of kit that's certain to find favour with those who refer to parts of their abodes with terms such as East and West wing. It'll set you back almost £300 HERE for those interested parties.
Star Wars slot sets – At last
We've been treated to a fair few Scalextric licences over the years, James bond ones were pretty good, Toy Story didn;t float our slot-car racing boat, this pair of beauties has us grinning from ear to ear. Why we've had to wait for so long to get Star Wars and Scalexctric to tema up Darth only knows, and frankly we don;t give a Yoda because it's finally happening - Exactly when we're no sure. So, we have the Micro 1:64 scale Death Star Attack set with a Lord Vader Tie Fighter battling a Luke Skywalker X-Wing, the spaceships have working ...
Cherry picker is a sweet build
It took us a while getting around to building our LEGO Technic Bucket Truck, that’s cherry picker to most of us or elevated platform to those perhaps allergic to cherries or very posh indeed. It’s the machine used to rig up local Christmas lights or fix street lights, very clever vehicles they are too. Just like its real life ride this Bucket Truck has a set of gears to raise and rotate the platform on the back, two more gears let you deploy the outriggers at the side of the vehicle to keep it stable when the platform is fully ...
Off-screen action with Mario
In our scramble to put as many crossover category toys to the test this year (think Skylanders, Wappydog, Angry Bird plush etc) we'd somehow almost missed this plumber based box of racing good ness. The Mario Kart Battle pack features a Mario and Yoshi sat in their rides and an assortment of track accessories for you to establish where your hairpins and chicances should be placed. whilst you race the lights on the nift RC unit have lights which each represent an action you'd find on the console version, Mushroom: Gives a speed boost Green Shell: Sends your opponent hurtling backwards Lightning: Sends ...
Remember the posh Fox?
The upper class fox was at his very best in the eighties, close to the cuff humour for kids TV, often ridiculing his guests and co-hosts, quality Telly. Now you can own your own Basil Brush handpuppet, give him a squeeze and he'll let out his grin inducing laugh topped off with a legendary "Boom Boom" at the end. At just £12.99 seems like a no-brainer.
On January 27, 2012, In Adults in mind, Edutainment, Electronics, Figures and Dolls, by peter jenkinson
On January 24, 2012, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Collectables, Edutainment, Film Fun, Get Involved, Puzzles, by peter jenkinson
We have seen a few 3D puzzlesover the past months, these new ones from Wrebbit (we’ll get to the bottom of that name creation soon) are these landmark builds, each one a 750 piece plus affair, not easy by any means but deeply satisfying when finished. From the Taj Mahal to Big Ben there’s a few to choose from and are about the biggest in their class, and priced between £20-£40 when launched in June over at Amazon.
On January 4, 2012, In Adults in mind, Boys Toys, Collectables, Current Affairs, Edutainment, by peter jenkinson
The annual stocktake is underway at London Zoo today, we’d not mind being in charge of elephants/giraffes or sloths – easy enough but what about those poor folk who have to do the reptile house? Anyroad, here’s a mini display of Zoo life that’d make a great toy for the kids or even a boardroom homage to all of Noahs friends….If we hear of an undercount in the lion/tiger enclosure we’ll let you know.
On December 21, 2011, In Adults in mind, Boys Toys, Collectables, Edutainment, Featured, Figures and Dolls, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Pit Stop, Reviews, by peter jenkinson
It took us a while getting around to building our LEGO Technic Bucket Truck, that’s cherry picker to most of us or elevated platform to those perhaps allergic to cherries or very posh indeed. It’s the machine used to rig up local Christmas lights or fix street lights, very clever vehicles they are too. Just like its real life ride this Bucket Truck has a set of gears to raise and rotate the platform on the back, two more gears let you deploy the outriggers at the side of the vehicle to keep it stable when the platform is fully extended; and a large gear knob on the rear even lets you steer it. With all of these functions in mind, and of course the nifty looking design, this rig is as much fun to build as it is to assemble and so we pay homage with our 10th, and final Toyology Gold of the year. Around £40 at John Lewis
The latest installment of the Toyology slot on Funkidslive radio is all about “tech for tots” – This way for our five fab gadgets aimed at keeping the kids jam ridden mitts away from your shiny device.
On October 27, 2011, In Adults in mind, Board Games, Boys Toys, Collectables, Current Affairs, Deal of the Day, Edutainment, Figures and Dolls, Film Fun, Get Involved, Girls Allowed, Music, Outdoor Escapades, Pit Stop, by peter jenkinson
Since back in June (thanks Tesco) we’ve been inundated with top tens (lots of them), fab fifteens (fewer of those), eclectic eights, super sixes etc etc……then yesterday, the one which the media come out in force to see, is the annual Toy Retailers Associations announcement of their Dream Dozen. It’s an eclectic round up of 12 toys across many categories that the organisation, which represents 75% of Toy retailers in the UK, reckon are going to be the hottest property this Yule, so, laydees and gentlemen without further ado, here they are :
Doggie Doo, John Adams, RRP £22.99
Fijit Friends, Mattel, RRP £54.99
Fireman Sam Pontypandy Rescue Set, Character, RRP £29.99
Kidizoom Twist, Vtech, RRP £49.99
LeapPad Explorer, Leapfrog Toys, RRP £79.99
Lets Rock Elmo, Hasbro, RRP £69.99
Milky the Bunny, Flair, £59.99
Monster High Lagoona’s Hydration Station, Mattel, £39.99
Moshling Tree House, Vivid, RRP £18.99
Nerf Vortex Nitron Blaster, Hasbro, RRP £44.99
Ninjago Fire Temple, Lego, RRP £91.99
Star Wars Ultimate Force Tech Lightsaber Assortment, Hasbro, RRP £39.99
This year there were two new award categories, the Kid’s choice and Mum’s choice awards, tested and voted by the people who really matter, read on for those results :
The arrival of this set of desktop critters has pretty much wiped out the morning, so we’re going to just write it of and carry on messing about a while then work through lunch to make up the time. These Remote Control Desk Pets are extremely nifty little blighters, each one charged via the USB powered five -way remote unit, that’s no batteries EVER, big tick in the box there. Both the Skitterbot and Trekbot are available in two colours, more importantly thats a different frequency for each so you can race them together on your well though out/ hastily constructed desktop course. Both traverse about the place with entirely different actions, the Skitterbot ideal for enraging arachnophonbes and the Trekbot ideal for tripping up tea weilding interns. Also ideal for night time skirmishes with their slightly unsettling flashing heartbeat eyes. Each one is yours for £19.99 this way please…
If you like the idea of being cultured but aren’t much of a reader we may just have found the perfect solution…
They’re called Spineless Classics, but basically they’re a book without the book part. The text from some of the greatest stories ever told in picture format ready to hang on your wall.
Naturally our favourites are Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan but there are some grown up type versions too.
And because each of the stories varies in length, so does the size of each poster. Forget flicking through a book to see how many pages you have to go, now you’ll be measuring in centimetres. Alice measures in 50cm x 70cm and Peter Pan is in the bantumweight division at 70cm x 100cm.
At £29.99 here they’re are sadly a somewhat pricier alternative to a book and we must say we’re disappointed that they don’t turn up framed and ready to hang, you really are just buying a fancy poster, but as a one-off treat we really do like.
Brought to you by the people who can’t even say ‘red lorry yellow lorry’ – Tongue Twister Snaps, ladies and gentlemen.
Whilst there is an educational, learn how to read and match things up element to this, we mostly like the fact that you end up saying some very silly – and often rude, or maybe that’s just us – things.
The game is based on conventional snap, so for the most part you are just putting cards down and waiting for the letters to match up. However, when you do spot a pair you don’t shout snap whilst smashing your opponents hand to the ground causing irreparable damage and all manner of internal bruising, oh no this is far more civilised, sort of.
Spot a matching letter and shout out TONGUE TWISTER, which is actually more difficult than it sounds anyway. If you’re the first person to do this you then attempt to read the tongue twisters on the cards, claiming for your own all the ones you do succeed in saying (that’s a tongue twister right there) until you inevitable fail in a fit of floor stamping sulky type failure and throw all the cards in the air.
Awesomely addictive animal antics and an alternative available as well. Bargain central at £5.99 right here
Bob the builder. Can he fix it?
Bob the builder. Yes. He. Can!
But only thanks to his trusty Haynes manual, Toyology can reveal.
Yes, we thought for all these years that Bob was a true builder genius type, but it appears he’s simply been following the instructions, just like the time we bought a chest of drawers from a well known Swedish furniture store. We bet Bob has never end up putting a drawer in back to front and upside down though, maybe his diagrams are a little easier to understand..
In a rather novel idea the Bob the Builders’ Owners Workshop Manual gives Bob lovers everywhere the chance to find out more about their cartoon favourites, complete with cutaway drawings showing what’s inside all the machines and full information guides as to how they work. So if you’ve ever had a deep seated desire to learn more about hydraulics, cranes and cement mixing, what are you waiting for?
Well of course you’re waiting for the September 1 release date and to save up the meagre £7.99 it’ll set you back. If Bob isn’t your bag then try the Haynes manuals for Thomas the Tank Engine, roary the Racing car and also the plethora of Wallace and Gromit contraptions, all this way…
