Toyology

Build your own RC Bug

If you've plans on world domination, creating a master race of robotic creatures to take over the planet but you feel you're underqualified this might be a good place to start. The all new Remote Control beetle is ideal for honing your skills in the ways of gears, motorsand electric circuits to assist you in making a start on those bigger plans. When you've finished your build this six wheel multi-directional mover has a controllable LED lit claw in place, perfect for undercoverr removal operations. For a smidge under £30 this Bug ticks all the right boxes. Available now from RED5

Duck Hunter lands in the UK

We first had our mitts on this eighties inspired flying duck back in January, now its arrived on the virtual shelves awaiting mallard hating mercenaries to take it on. Power up the duck placing it on the infra red gun for ten seconds or so then let it loose skyward whilst trying to take it out with three direct hits from the recoil noise making pistol, when youhave it'll lose its wing power and dive earthward, if you're not sucha great shot it'll flap for about 40 seconds around before losing power and landing ungracefully on the ground. They plan an alternative version where one player remote controls the bird whilst another tries his aim, fans of the original NES game rejoice in this slice of retro action, grab version one for £29.99 at IWOOT.

Grow your own pets

It isn't quite as Frankenstein as it may sound, these new Creepy Crawly Kits each come complete with fine looking insect abode, a pair of tweezers, feeding pipette,magnifier and an instruction/info pack (which handily doubles as a coulouring in book for the kids). Once you've chosen whether it'll be a Butterfly or Stick Insect that you fancy rearing send off for your kit and the manual will tell you how to go about buying the eggs or larvae online. At first admittedly we didn't fancy either but after seeing the quality of the kits quite fancy a go at growing our own. £12.95 from FIREBOX

Down to earth price on this mooncraft

The Mega Rig Galactic Rover by Matchbox has been a Toyology favourite for a while, now that the price has been slashed to just a fiver from £15 we're thinking we'll add to our automotive interplanetary arsenal. A decent looking vehicle that breaks down into smaller craft and this six wheeler is motorised too. For those hovering over the buy button you'll also get an air powered "stomp" rocket launcher at its core, stick small soldiers/aliens etc inside and blast them skyward. Grab one HERE

Ice Age 3 - Prehistoric plushes a plenty

Fans of the Ice Age films are in for a real treat with this third installment, we were treated to a preview the other night and it'll apeal to all ages. The Ice Age merchandising machine have waited until the third film to release this battery operated Scrat, the squirrel-like creature whose acorn based antics are evident once more. Switch this one on and it'll scurry around the floor desperately hanging on to its nut. £14.99 at ToysRus

Airfix book celebrates seven decades

For 70 years Airfix has been on the toy scene, its ever-lasting appeal illustrated inside this fabulous collectors book written by self confessed Airfix addict Aurthur Ward. Covering the early beginnings and the first model tractor to the more modern sets including the Dr Who seriesand the chapter when the iconic brand almost disappeared before its rescue by Hornby a couple of years ago. A great book for fans and a decent coffee table read for anyone who ever had a set. £16 at Waterstones

Illuminated LEGO

A new range of LED illuminated toys are set to be ready for the shelves this Xmas, Recreation and IQ have joined forces to bring us a range of half dozen lights. From a mini keyring LEGO man with light tucked away under his foot so by moving his poseable limb you'll direct the light to an eight inch LEGO Brick lantern containing four LED's to give 360 degree light.

Woolies is back

Making its return in an online only capacity the retailer now stocks over 1/2 million bits on its all new website and of course toys feature heavily as does the ressurected Pic N Mix. The new click n mix online sweet shop has already proved a huge hit today for its user freindliness, get yourself over there and fill up your stripey paper bags right away.

Top Trumps enters a new dimension

Top Trumps and 3D production company Inition have teamed up to bring the first in a whole new range of 3D play and collect cards. By sticking a 3D device inside the cards are simply stuck up to a webcam for the magic to begin. The first pack is called Bugs, and with your card in hand you'll be treated to a dancing Tarantula in the palm of your hand that'll dance and jump up and down. A host of interactive activities are contained in the pack and over the coming months a whole load of titles will be added, WWE, Transformers2 and Spongebob to name a few. Check out Toptrumps website for more info.

Invest in bricks not mortar

We've just stumbled across this LEGO contraption, a simple build that once complete you stick a coin atop of and wind its handle, at this point a dragon pops out his head and collects your coinage.. We like..just £6.75 at the LEGO Store.

Terminator Salvation Chopper has landed

This menacing looking machine has some decent detail of the Terminator T800 skull and that in itself is enought to get noticed as you buzz the three channel RC about the room, the added effects really set it apart. Glowing LED lights in the eyes, sound effects from the film and a laser battle mode to fight other choppers in the Bladez range make the £27.99 almost bearable, grab one at PLAY.com

Petrol Power

Charge this savings machine with your spare coinage and in no time at all you'll have enough to splash out on a special treat, presuming of course all your input ins't just copper. As you load the box with cash it'll indicate its fullness, we don't know how ch it'll hold but nevertheless makes for an intersting incentive to put away the pennies.£10 at Red5

Fairy Light

Clip one of these to your nightime read and bother no one else as Tinkerbell shines a light on your novel, possibly one for younger readers but Ahhhhh isn't it cute? Euro 7.99 at Play.com

R/C Chopper launchpad - Take one for a spin

 

Silverlit have been the purveyors of some fine flying machines, choppers of all sizes for all levels of pilots but seemingly at the end of design ideas for straight up spinning machines they've started to add new twists. The new Heli Mission looks like a heap of fun, control the RV-a-like machine around the room before finding the perfect spot, then, operate the doors and marvel as they open and elevate the flying machine from inside at the touch of a button then take off on your indoor mission. £64.99 from PLAY

NERF Havoc arrives..Almost

We first saw the rapid fire machine gun in January at London Toy Fair and got a little overexcited at this belt fed, fully automatic, foam dart firer. Blasting its bullets out at the rate of three per second it was set to be the ultimate posession in anyones NERF arsenal, but it all went quiet on the launch date front, rumours abound that it might notmake it to the UK! We can happily tell you that it is on the way in a couple of weeks, priced at £49.99 over at IWOOT...It'll blow you away!

Farmyard Fun

 

Remember those toys you tuned upside down as kids, the ones when you righted them they let out a farmyard sound that sounded like a distressed animal? Well, here's the 21st century version of the same, battery powered these are activated with a shake, better still the faster you shke the higher pitched the said animals shreik becomes. £4.99 at Character

Treat yourself to a Mr T toy

They're clearing out the last few Mr.T Bobble Head wacky wobbler Van for a smidge under a tenner, go on treat yourself. Kapow Toys

European Connections

 

You may well know your Sweden from Spain in shape form, and have a fair idea of where they fit into the continent, Ukraine and Belarus however might prove a little more tricky! Grab yourself a 58 piece jigsaw from Geopuzzle with pieces the shape of the countries and you'll excel at this subject in pub quizzes. A great learning tool thats fun for kids too. £10.99 at Amazon

Engines Ready?

 

Early, non-oiled stained versions of the Haynes car manuals can fetch a few quid these days, so iconic is the brand they've branched out into lots of licenced areas, and we're certain you've seen someone sporting a t-shirt with a see through car image of theirs on the front. We've stumbled across this piece of Lilliputian engineering today, a 100 piece kit that allows budding engineers to those completely useless with the workings of whats under a bonnet to have a pop at putting together their very own internal combustion engine. The kit is complete with all the tools you'll need and of course a step-by-step Haynes guide on how to put it together. Once completed stand back smugly and watch the ignition sparks fly and marvel at the ignition sounds from this ten inch model. £29.99 spent at Menkind = Fathers Day sorted!

Property deal is on the cards

 

New from Hasbro is a card based version of their property trading game Monopoly, with his version however won't wipe out hours! you can deal, negotiate and of course clean out your opponents cash in under 20 minutes. We've been playing it for a few days now and it took us just a few rounds to get to grips with the array of cards that make up the game, suggested age for younger players is about right at eight and it appeals as both a family game and one to play with freinds. Collect a mini portfolio of three properties in the same suit to win whilst watching out for fines from others and cards that can turn an entire game on one turn such as Sly Deal, Deal Breaker and Debt Collector. We're giving this one "mildly addictive" status and one to pack for non-electronic fun on your travels. £4.99 at Amazon