TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Construction Product Category

Qubits Construction Toy - Junior 96-Piece Kit by QUBITS TOY COMPANY

The 96-piece kit contains 36 Qubits, 30 connectors and 30 bridges. The educational set’s easy-slide connectors slip into place, keeping the structures strong and steady. All designs touch on architecture, structure and basic concepts of geometry. Launch date: May 2008.
— "My husband came home to find [our four children] immersed in fabricating various projects and was so intrigued that he spent 30 minutes building with them," said Teresa Wilson, a reviewer among the five families that evaluated this product for a TDmonthly Roundtable. ( Watch Video) 4/4/2008 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

K'NEX Picture Bricks - Carnival Activities by K'NEX BRANDS

Kids can create 3D pictures by placing the included transparent building plate on top of the instruction grid and match up the colors to make a pirate ship ride, a merry-go-round or even a Ferris wheel. Add micro K’NEX pieces to give the images 3D movement. Instructions on how to build ten pictures are included, along with fun and educational facts about the subject of each picture. The set included 408 building pieces.
— “K'NEX is a new item for us. …[We sell] 20 to 30 per month,” Jamie Burdette, owner of LB Toys in Media, Pa., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— “K'NEX are very good sellers. When you're looking … for a nice gift, the K’NEX definitely comes in,” Fran Anaya, owner of Golden Aspen Toys in Flagstaff, Ariz., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— In spring 2008, two of 50 retailers singled out K’NEX construction sets as their best-selling construction toy. 3/26/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

K'NEX Picture Bricks - Farm Activities by K'NEX BRANDS

Kids can create 3D pictures by placing the included transparent building plate on top of the instruction grid and match up the colors to make a cow, a chick or even a barn. Instructions on how to build five pictures are included, along with fun and educational facts about the subject of each picture. The set included 200 building pieces. 3/26/2008 (Price: $5.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

KID K'NEX Country Friends by K'NEX BRANDS

The colorful, 45-piece set is packaged in a convenient build-on storage case that comes with a handle for easy transport. The set also includes building ideas and instructions on how to create familiar animals from land to sea. This product is a 2007 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award winner. 3/26/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cool Construction 10 Model Building Set by K'NEX BRANDS

The 150-piece set includes instructions on how to build ten different models – from bulldozers to forklifts. All pieces are packaged in a handy storage case, making it easy to take anywhere. 3/26/2008 (Price: $9.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Dueling Racers by K'NEX BRANDS

The set lets kid build two cars at once using two motors and 136 building pieces, including rods, connectors and bricks. Instructions on how to build two lead models and two alternate models are also included. 3/26/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

TwigJig® Starter Kit by EPSILON INDUSTRIES INC.

Used to position toothpicks precisely for gluing into strong trusses, the TwigJig makes short work of otherwise tedious projects, allowing individuals to easily build complex designs. The Starter Kit contains one TwigTrimmer for cutting toothpicks to the right lengths, one Square TwigJig with a rubber core for making square trusses, one Triangle TwigJig with a rubber core for making triangular trusses, 16 TwigClips for holding trusses together before gluing, 200 rubber bands, one bottle of Elmer's glue, 800 toothpicks, and instructions for making trusses.  Plans for projects may be downloaded from the TwigJig website. “It is truly a brand new idea and a 100-percent unique product,” Chris Naramor of Epsilon Industries told TDmonthly. “[It’s] the only product that uses ‘jigs’ and lets you build structures out of something as simple as toothpicks.” Launch date: January 2008. ( Watch Video) 3/24/2008 (Price: $29.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Star Wars Motorized Walking AT-AT™ by LEGO

When assembled, the All-Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) measures over 12” x 14” and is capable of walking forward and backward and moving its head up and down, using the power functions system. The 1,137-piece set includes an opening cockpit, rotating laser cannons, an AT-AT pilot, General Veers, a snow trooper and a rope- and light saber-equipped Luke Skywalker.
— In a late Spring 2011 survey, four out of 12 retailers surveyed said that LEGO Star Wars sets were their best-selling licensed products. six out of 12 mentioned Star Wars in general as being their best-selling licensed property.
— As of 05/12/2011 this product had 3.6 out of 5 stars from 5 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Fragile once assembled; does not come with numbered bags, unlike most LEGO sets.
—  “Star Wars is big right now. We sell one or two units of … LEGO every day,” Gary Timmerding, manager of Johnny’s Toys in Covington, Ky., told TDmonthly in April 2008.
— In spring 2008, 16 of 50 retailers singled out LEGO as their best-selling construction toy; four specified Star Wars. 3/24/2008 (Price: $129.99)

Toa Lewa by LEGO

The set’s 52 pieces assemble to create battle-ready Lewa, armed with a fully functional Midak Skyblaster, a razor-sharp sword, wing blades, a Mask of Levitation and a high-tech jet pack. The figure stands 7-1/2” tall. 3/24/2008 (Price: $9.99)

Cargo Copter by LEGO

The 272-piece set can be used to construct a helicopter with cargo-lift capability, a speedboat with power-anchor capability or a power-propelled plane. The cargo copter measures 12” long and over 4” high.
— “Legos are always a huge item,” Rich Gibson, owner and manager of Learning Express of Newton in Newton Centre, Mass., told TDmonthly in early 2008. 3/24/2008 (Price: $19.99)

Police Headquarters by LEGO

The police station play set is composed of three police vehicles, five policemen, two prisoners, a police dog, interrogation rooms, prison cells, a prison transport truck, car and motorcycle and plenty of accessories. The 953-piece set also includes gates that open, roof spotlights, a command base tower, sliding garage doors, trick walls and more. 3/24/2008 (Price: $89.99)

Ring of Fire by LEGO

When assembled, the 268-piece set creates a desert buggy racer and a ramp that leads to a ring of fire. A power slammer sends the car up the ramp while a wind-up motor at the base of the ramp makes the ring spin. 3/24/2008 (Price: $29.99)

Zoomorphs Insect Morphs by RIVER DOLPHIN TOYS

Thirty-five snap-together pieces give kids freedom to create their favorite insects — a red ant, wasp or monarch, perhaps — or combine parts to form poseable creatures the world has never seen.
— Two of 66 retailers told TDmonthly in May 2008 that Zoomorphs is one of their best sellers. 3/17/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Zoomorphs Rainforest Morphs by RIVER DOLPHIN TOYS

A tropical frog, panther and conure are just a few of the creatures that can be formed with this 35-piece kit. The colorful parts snap together easily and give children the chance to imagine, and build, any animal they wish. 3/17/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mythmorphs by RIVER DOLPHIN TOYS

This set features 36 interchangeable, snap-together pieces that can be used to form poseable characters, including a unicorn, Loch Ness monster and Griffon. 3/17/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Inversé™ by FAMILY GAMES INC.

Players attempt to position all five of their playing pieces on the playing field, while blocking their opponents’ attempts to do the same. No same colored pieces may touch or stand on the same side or edge; at the same time, no two pieces of the same height can be positioned next to each other. The game is available in four languages. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2008. Launch date: 2008.

Where to Buy: 1 Smart Noodle

( Watch Video) 3/17/2008 (Price: $12.50)

Bonz Band by CURIOUS TOYS

The instrument construction set consists of colorful, anatomically incorrect and interlocking construction pieces that children can use to assemble a variety of distinctive musical instruments. The set includes a CD of original music, a large metallic whistle, a canister with a top that converts into a tambourine and a bottom that converts into a drum, drumsticks, a washboard rattle, sand-filled shakers and four poseable eyes that turn the musical instruments into characters. The 42 construction pieces are all compatible with other Bonz sets. Launch date: February 2008. ( Watch Video) 3/12/2008 (Price: $26.00)

Matchitecture Mechanical Digger Kit by BOJEUX INC.

With this kit, children use match-like pieces called microbeams to build intricate constructions. 2/27/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

BIOLOID Do-it-yourself Educational Robot Kit by ROBOTIS

With strong plastic pieces and robotic capabilities, this build-a-robot kit requires only a Philips head screwdriver and creativity for construction. Individuals can build a humanoid, a puppy, a dinosaur, an excavator and other machines, all of which utilize a sensor module that can sense distance and detect sound, Dynamixel DC servo modules that allow for a broad range of motion, and a CM-5 central controller module. The included computer programs can be used to create robot behaviors and movements. Three kits — Beginner, Comprehensive and Expert — are available. 2/27/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle-Werx® 3-D Puzzles – Mega Blade by REVELL

The pieces assemble to create a robot that is over 15” tall and has joints that can pivot 233 degrees for extended play. The pieces snap and lock together, making glue completely unnecessary. Each piece is numbered for easy assembly. Three other robots are available: Black Wing, Eagle Strike and Hawk Wing. Launch date: January 2008. 2/26/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Puzzle-Werx® 3-D Puzzles – T-Rex by REVELL

The pieces assemble to create a dinosaur that is over 14” tall and has joints that can pivot 233 degrees for extended play. The pieces snap and lock together, making glue completely unnecessary. Each piece is numbered for easy assembly. Three other prehistoric creatures are available: Stegosaurus, Pterodactyl and Woolly Mammoth. Launch date: January 2008. 2/25/2008 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Clics Offroad Quad-P12 by TOYLINKS INC.

Kids can build off-road vehicles with this set. The set includes 79 pieces that click firmly together. When assembled, the big-wheeled jeep can ride on sand and stones. Launch date: January 2008. 2/12/2008 (Price: $26.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Clics Choo-Choo Train by TOYLINKS INC.

The set contains 130 pieces. 2/12/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Clics Contruct - Blue/Green Rocket by TOYLINKS INC.

The set contains 1,125 pieces, allowing kids to construct multiple rockets. A red and yellow version is also available. 2/12/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Clics Raving Sails Ship Educational Construction Toy Set by TOYLINKS INC.

The set includes 465 pieces that click together to create a ship and sail. Three crazy pirate figures are also included. 2/12/2008 (Price: $59.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]