CARS, TRUCKS, DIE-CAST & RC

Real Construction Fun for Little Builders

Little ones can be heroes with the RC Fire and Rescue set ($59.99) from Rokenbok System. The set comes complete with over 103 pieces, including an RC Fire Truck, roadway pieces, super slide, and multiple beam pieces. Authentic in look and feel, the RC Fire and Rescue Vehicle features a rescue claw and arm that "flips" vehicles upright. The sleekly designed urban fire fighting vehicles is painted in fire engine red and the fire station features swinging doors.

New Cars From a New Company

Automoblox (ToyShow), America´s newest toy car company, hopes to inspire future generations of engineers, designers and automotive enthusiasts with their new line of innovative wooden toy cars. By fusing traditional values with contemporary automotive styling and design trends, Automoblox´s new line of modular wooden vehicles allow children to build cars and trucks of their own design. The company, which recently teamed with Brio Corporation for North American distribution, has wonderfully incorporated the open-ended play of wooden blocks and combined it with the cognitive challenges that come about when they play with shape sorters and puzzles.

Get On The Train!

Model train manfacturer, Bachmann Industries, Inc., is adding two train sets to their On30 line. The narrow gauge Jingle Bell Express set includes a 2-6-0 steam locomotive with operating headlight, as well as a coal tender, box car, tank car, gondola, and bobber caboose. The historical Ohio River & Western passenger set includes a 2-6-0 steam locomotive with operating headlight, coal tender, and three lighted passenger cars.

Also new from Bachmann is its ready-to-run Mountaineer passenger set, which can be added to their line of Big Haulers Large Scale model trains. The set comes complete with a 4-6-0 steam locomotive with operating headlight, smoke, and speed-synchronized sound. Other features include coal tender, coach with lighted interior, and observation car with lighted interior. The set also include a 8´2" x 4´3" oval of track, power pack and speed controller.

New products for 2004 also include a wide selection of additional sets, separate sale items, and accessories in N, HO, O, On30 and Large Scale.

Chug-chug-chugging to a Toy Store Near You

Atlas is re-releasing the O GP-35 Locomotive with new Road Numbers and Road Names. These awesomelly accurate engines include four-driven axles, solid drawbar pull, correct detail for each road name, solid die-cast chassis, fuel tank, directional headlights and markers, and many other authentic accessories. The engines will be available as powered and unpowered units.

NKOK Gets Their R/C Motors Running

NKOK, Inc. is introducing a new collection of radio controlled vehicles at the Toy Fair, including the Stunt Monster series, the only die-cast R/C micro-sized monster trucks on the market, as well as 1/10 scale versions of the world´s most famous mega-trucks. Other R/C vehicles in the collection include the Air Nautique, a wakeboarding boat, as well as the retro-styled River Rat "Muscle" Boat. Entering the licensed toy arena, NKOK is launching three new R/C carts "driven" by Nintendo´s Mario, Donkey Kong and Yoshi, as well as BC Battlers, a new line of full-function, R/C war monster vehicles drawn from a popular animated series, and My First Escalade R/C cars for the younger set.

Mad About Mad Wheelz

Mana-Tee Concepts creates a new category with Mad Wheelz, a line of micro character vehicles that includes Cheesie Rider, Brain Drain, and Jolly Dodger. These humorous collectable vehicles are sold in both 2-packs and 4-packs. Mana-Tee has play sets and accessories planned for spring release as well as a Series 2, with an additional 12 styles.

Atomic Toys Launches Super Small RC Airplane

Atomic Toys has launched a super small radio control airplane that is literally flying off shelves. Z-Planes feature a wingspan of less than 12 inches, and the unique propeller design in the tail section works like a helicopter, spinning both directions. This proprietary design allows the airplane to work without any moving control surfaces.
Simple to fly, Z-Planes can be hand launched or taken off from the ground. The easy-to-use controller has only three buttons: thrust and left/right directional control. The RC unit’s functional range is about 200 feet, and the Z-Planes come in black or red, with stylish flame designs and matching controller, charger and an extra set of wings!

Silverlit Launches Micro RC

Just when you thought micro RC´s couldn´t possibly get any smaller, Silverlit Toys (ToyDirectory) launches the X-Trek Micro Racing System, the smallest-sized programmable RC yet. And no need for annoying recharge time-X-Trek provides a clever charging station that´s built right into the track, letting players recharge as often as they like without stopping the action. But wait…X-Trek is the first and only system of its kind that lets players instantly incorporate programmable stunts within the standard RC movements on or off the track, plus it offers also 2 speeds.