droolicious : toy cars

Retrolicious: American Retro Army Airplane

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

It's not the sort of everyday item we'd plunk down for even in a good economy, but if you're looking for a unique birthday gift that'll last for generations, this American Retro Army Airplane seems like a smart buy.

Over 45" long with a 35" wingspan, the plane promises durability through a heavy-gauge steel construction and a non-toxic, chip- and rust-resistant finish. Perhaps its coolest feature, though, is the working propeller, which spins when junior works the pedals -- because yes, it can also zip along for miles on those sturdy, solid-rubber tires.

$399 from Babesta. (Assembly required.)

Automoblox 2008 C9R Sportscar Should Keep Us Busy Well Into '09

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:00:00 GMT

We're big fans of Automoblox here at Droolicious, and though it's technically just become last year's model, this 2008 C9R Sportscar has us looking forward to whatever the brand is rolling out next. The car handles beautifully and just feels rock-solid in your hand -- no doubt thanks to its solid-wood body -- but as with the other Automoblox toys we've covered, the details on this one simply blow away anything we've ever seen on a wooden toy car.

Mix and match its parts with other R-Line vehicles when you're done building to create an even more awesome racer, or simply zoom it along the floor -- no matter what sort of paces your little ones put the C9R through, it should bring hours' -- if not years' -- worth of fun.

$39.95 from Amazon.

Go, E-Racer, Go!

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Featuring one design that's literally green, the sleek, sporty E-Racer is an eco-friendly toy car made from bamboo and finished with water-based paint. It's also free of choking hazards, which may be why the recommended age is 2 and up, but unlike so many toddler-friendly cars, this one's also got the sort of looks that'll appeal to older kids and grown-up collectors alike.

$19.99 from Raspberry Kids. [Via ohdeedoh]

Formula 1 Goes Wooden: Playsam Racer F1

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:30:00 GMT

Chris posted about Playsam's eco-friendly, smooth-wood Streamliner F1 back in April, and if you're looking for a racetrack-ready counterpart to that sleek sportscar, the Racer F1 is ready to cross the checkpoint.

It's solid wood, beautifully finished and, well, just a wee bit expensive at $82: Get your pit crew to Fitzsu to nab one.

Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro R/C Car: Who Needs the Open Road?

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:04:00 GMT

Most R/C vehicles require you to have a big stretch of land, sea or air before you can really cut loose with them, but even apartment-dwelling kids can tear it up with Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro cars, which use suction power to climb walls -- literally -- and make the most of whatever limited space you give 'em.

The cars -- the only ones of their type -- are perfectly agile when zipping around on horizontal surfaces (they even have a built-in "Ground mode" if that's how you prefer to use them), but when you activate their "Wall mode," an internal vacuum fan kicks on and the car can start defying gravity on virtually any smooth surface. Charge time is about half an hour, but make sure you also leave the store with batteries on hand, as the controller/charging unit takes six AAs.

$29.99 from Amazon, and check out this video from RC Mania to see the little suckers in action:

Sprig Discover Rig a Literally Kid-Powered Green Toy

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:39:00 GMT

Made in Canada from a combination of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic, the Sprig Discover Rig also has an eco-friendly motor to match its green construction. The internal generator juices up as your kids roll the car around during play, and once it's fully charged, little ones can activate three different play modes to enjoy lights, a rumbling engine, and safari-adventure sounds.

$49.99 from Toys"R"Us. [The Daily Green]

Very Big Toys: Hot Wheels T-Rex Rampage Set Reviewed

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Hot Wheels seems to have learned a lesson after its unfortunately, if aptly, named T-Wrecks play set kept falling apart: Take the T. Rex off the track if you want to give kids a dino set worth keeping. That said, the T-Rex Rampage Play Set is basically a collection of individual Hot Wheels City pieces with a plastic dinosaur added -- and while the individual pieces aren't much sturdier than any Hot Wheels play set before them, they're at least built to fall apart this time, with various trigger points that the dino can hit, Godzilla-style, as it makes its way through the city. (The electronic sound effects, which include roars, explosions and general sounds of destruction, are a nice touch.)

My boys, ages 5 and 8, put it through the paces and haven't gotten bored yet (which is saying something), and the only mildly frustrating experience so far has come via the helicopter mounted atop the skyscraper, which loves to come undone regardless of whether the T. Rex is attacking it. Their little brother, age 2, is obsessed with the set (particularly the car launcher) despite being proof positive of why the age recommendation is 4 and up: He unwittingly causes more damage than the dino anytime he sits down to play.

Here's hoping that someday Hot Wheels, Matchbox and their ilk will design play sets that are as strong as the cars they're built to accommodate, but for now, this is one of the more reliable sets out there. Damage counter starts at $39.99 from Amazon.

ABC Kids Expo 2008: Plan City Adventure Set From Plan Toys

Chris Ford — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:31:00 GMT

Plan Toys are really awesome. They're all made from recycled rubber wood trees, stained (as opposed to painted) and fun to play with. Every kid I think who was at ABC with their parents probably stopped by the Plan Toys booth at one point and played with their stuff. My favorite is the Plan City Adventure Set.

The Plan City Adventure Set is a play set that you can buy in parts, and the great thing about it is the tracks build out into four different levels. I can really see lots of parents and kids playing with this together. All of the parts are compatible with other Plan Toys products, and they're also compatible with Brio and Thomas the Train toys too. In the Plan City Adventure Set they drive cars and not trains (as you can see from the picture) but it you're a train family you can get trains too.

Plan City, Table $220 and Adventure Set is $190. Check out all of the great stuff at PlanToys.com.