Contraptions? Or other marble run?

[mrsbornkuntry]

I saw in this month's Family Fun magazine that a set called "Contraptions" was popular with their testers. Here it is on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MindWare-4415...YBNC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287585343&sr=8-1 .

I'm wondering if anyone has this, it doesn't have any reviews. I'm interested in getting this or some other kind of build-your-own marble run for my 11yo DS for Christmas. My biggest concern with this one is that it says all of the planks are identical so I'm not sure how much fun it would be. He's really creative and I'm afraid he'd lose interest if there aren't enough variations. If no one has a review of this one, do you have something you would recommend?

 

[sksjasams]

My DS just turned 12 last week. This is what my dad got him for his birthday:

http://www.amazon.com/Skyrail-Marbl...e=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1284673955&sr=8-1

There is a lot of physics, and trial and error learning when working with this. He worked several hours creating a track. He followed a picture in the book for most of it, and then added on to it with his own design the next day. My DS12 was really proud of himself. It was challenging, and definitely not for younger kids. That was just last week, so I can't say how often he will play with it yet, but he did really like it.

Does your DS enjoy building things? Is he looking for something more challenging than legos? If so, this may be a good choice.

ETA: I see this set costs twice as much as the one you were looking at. Maybe it could be a joint gift for your DS11and DS13 - something they could work together on?

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I'll look into that one. My DS likes building, but he likes being creative, figuring out how to get things to work on his own instead of following plans. The only Legos he plays with are loose ones that aren't part of a set.

 

[gower525]

DS just bought the i-coaster on clearance at Toys R Us for $30. It is lots of fun. You can follow the diagrams or make your own. (I think it is normally around $80)

 

[ratlenhum]

My son has this one

Super Marble Run Vortis and he loves it. The same company also makes a bigger set.http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001NFW4UA


Here's a great deal on a big iCOASTER set http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00175KE3U

 

[lucigo]

Another great marble game that has been a big hit for not only my son but all the kids who visit our home has been this...

http://www.amazon.com/Think-of-It-6222-Frigits/dp/B00004TXLR

 

[lucigo]

I saw in this month's Family Fun magazine that a set called "Contraptions" was popular with their testers. Here it is on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/MindWare-4415...YBNC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287585343&sr=8-1 .

I'm wondering if anyone has this, it doesn't have any reviews. I'm interested in getting this or some other kind of build-your-own marble run for my 11yo DS for Christmas. My biggest concern with this one is that it says all of the planks are identical so I'm not sure how much fun it would be. He's really creative and I'm afraid he'd lose interest if there aren't enough variations. If no one has a review of this one, do you have something you would recommend?

My son would love this, its now on my short list for Christmas. His favorite marble toy is actually a Discovery toy that looks like large gutters that you are supposed to use larger balls on, but he loves to run little marbles down it.

My son has had a consistent "thing" for marbles since he was about 18 months old! (He is 7 now).

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Another great marble game that has been a big hit for not only my son but all the kids who visit our home has been this...

http://www.amazon.com/Think-of-It-6222-Frigits/dp/B00004TXLR

Oh, our local children's museum has something like this, very cool! Now I'm torn between this and the Contraptions, but DH says the Contraptions because then he wouldn't be confined to the kitchen.

 

[hipchickie]

we have a quadrilla
http://www.amazon.com/Hape-Internat...toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1287685730&sr=1-24

I got it used off ebay for a song - the lady did not list it well, and it was a fluke that I found it....
My kids are 9 and 6 and they love it, I think an 11 y.o. would be great with it. They tend to do the setups listed in the book that comes with it, but older kids could set up their own runs. It stores well(comes in a box with a handle that has pictures on the inside of where each piece goes), and it can be added on to (my kids are dying for the spiral pieces)

 

[dunbarfamily]

We purchased a wooden marble run from Magic Cabin. Our DS (almost 9) and DD (almot 6) and DS (3) love it, and the baby loves to destroy their runs, so we're careful to keep her our when they're playing.

We have the basic set for 19.99. If you sign up for email alerts, they often have free or reduced shipping.

http://www.magiccabin.com/product.a...&search_value=marble run&cur_index=&pcode=767

 

[Janepod]

We also have a Quadrilla. Grandpa bought it for Christmas last year because he saw how much my son loved it at the local children's museum. We have the "Twist" set, which is pricey, but you can do so much more with it than the basic set or the "Twist & Rail" set. My son builds basic models on his own or more complex ones with us. He also puts his trains underneath so the marbles run into the cargo cars - very creative!

Last winter one of the flash sale sites (maybe Hautelook?) had some of the accessories and sets on sale for about 40 percent off so we picked up a few extra things there. I have my eye on the musical attachment but it is way too $$$ unless I find a closeout or used one.

If you buy something like the Twist set and decide to buy expansion sets later, make sure they are for the correct set (e.g., Twist set rather than Basic set.) Obviously all the pieces are interchangeable, but the instructions that come with the add-ons presume you have the correct starter set, so you might not have everything you need to use the expansion set to its greatest potential.

We just love it and he still plays with it almost daily 10 months later. (As opposed to the Zhu Zhu pets he HAD to have ... )

 

[rumrunnergirl]

.

 

[jessica52877]

Wow! I didn't realize there were so many different choices. My son would love all of these! With my swagbucks earnings I think I might get one, now to just figure out which one.

 

[lucigo]

Oh, our local children's museum has something like this, very cool! Now I'm torn between this and the Contraptions, but DH says the Contraptions because then he wouldn't be confined to the kitchen.

Do you have any metal doors?