Icoaster and other marble runs.

[lucigo]

Has anyone had experience with the icoaster? Is it too hard for a 7-8 yo boy to keep together? I don't mind helping him set it up but I don't want it to be frustrating and keep falling apart afterwards. Is it worth the money? Is there a better marble run you would recommend?

I bought the KEVA Contraptions http://www.amazon.com/MindWare-44156W-KEVA-Contraptions/dp/B002V7YBNC/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1291992705&sr=8-12 Not realizing that its basically just 200 of the same sticks that you have to build. I haven't decided if we will return it or use it for Angry Birds pretend play. (I made oven-baked clay angry birds for him).

My 7-yo loves marbles, but I want to get him something he can enjoy, not something that will frustrate him. Would appreciate your input

 

[stewpette]

We bought this one for my dd7 for Christmas:

http://www.amazon.com/Mega-Bloks-iC...=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1291994334&sr=1-3

It arrived earlier this week, it is large, in a huge box. Wish I could tell you how it is, but we won't know until after Christmas. The reviews I read seemed pretty good - hoping for the best!

Lisa

 

[lucigo]

We bought this one for my dd7 for Christmas:

http://www.amazon.com/Mega-Bloks-iC...=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1291994334&sr=1-3

It arrived earlier this week, it is large, in a huge box. Wish I could tell you how it is, but we won't know until after Christmas. The reviews I read seemed pretty good - hoping for the best!

Lisa

Thats the same one he was drooling over last night LOL I think I'm going to get it and hope for the best! Just hope it will stay together

 

[DoBug]

iCoaster didn't last one day with DS 7 and I don't think he was that rough with it. we got a replacement part 1X and then it broke again. the only thing still working is the obnoxious music box.

just our experience

 

[lucigo]

iCoaster didn't last one day with DS 7 and I don't think he was that rough with it. we got a replacement part 1X and then it broke again. the only thing still working is the obnoxious music box.

just our experience

Thanks!! UGG

 

[junebugs]

I bought one for my DS a few years ago. I think he was 9 at the time.
He liked it at the time, but got bored with it pretty quickly. But that is pretty typical for him with most toys as he is a bit ADD.

My kids are pretty careful with most of their toys, the iCoaster included. They put it away carefully for storage and generally only get it out and put it together around the holidays. So we have not had any problems with breakage, etc. I am obsessed with not losing any of the metal balls - so I remind them constantly to keep track of them.

My DD who is now 9 just got it out a few days ago and put it together without any help. It can be tricky to get it to work properly - EVERYTHING - needs to be lined up just right and we helped her with that a bit.

It is fun to play with. My 5 year old neighbor was over the other day and saw it. He loved it and would have stayed all day to watch it if he could have. He did have a tendency to knock the pieces out of place - which is easy to do because they are stuck together magnetically.

I agree that the music box can be VERY annoying!

 

[Annette_VA]

We got the iCoaster 2 Christmases ago for my then 7-year-old son. We do Christmas at my parents' house. He set it up down there and played with it the whole time we were down there.

When we came home, I don't know that he ever fully set it up again. He's played with the speaker box more than anything.

 

[lucigo]

Thank you all! My son has a "thing" for marbles, has since he was about 2...so I think I will go ahead and give this a try. I have a feeling it will be a good rainy day project after the newness wears off

 

[jessica52877]

I went with the keva blocks. I am interested to see if my son even likes it. I wanted something that would last longer and he could do more with. I know he would love the other for a day, but after that wasn't sure what he would think. I am quite leary to be honest. I just really am not sure if he'll like either enough for the $.

 

[Yoshi]

There are 2 versions of the iCoaster, the first older model is the one that doesn't stay together, the newer one is fine. I bought the newer model around January 2009 at Target when it hit 75% off and doesn't fall apart. The only problem is sometimes the vertical bridge (the steel rail that the marble travels under) will sometimes cause a marble to get stuck. The other minor complaint is that the courses are never that long. It takes less than 10 seconds for the marble to complete the course from the time it reaches the top of the lift but there are 10 different course designs in the book to keep it from getting boring.