Customer Reviews

Fisher-Price Big Action Construction Site with Remote Control

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's nice to feel like a kid again!

The joy on my grandson's face was priceless when we both got down on the floor in the playroom to 'play trucks'. Like kids in a candy store, we ripped open the carton and got down to some serious play time.

Set-up was super easy, just remember the batteries. The construction set is multi-sided so you can play from any direction. A nice feature for multiple kids, or in my case, me and my grandson.

The set appears well built and should be able to take some abuse, but I wouldn't recommend dropping from the roof onto the driveway or beating it with metal spikes. The fit and finish is excellent and there were no sharp edges or 'pinch' zones.

The gameplay is tremendous. My grandson loved the interactions and started asking many "how does that work" questions. We added ping pong and make-up balls to make things even more tremendous. Chloe, the cat, however, refused to ride in the truck.

This set will provide many hours of fun learning for any child.

Length:: 2:25 Mins

When I first put this together I really didn't think it was going to hold my 3-year old boy's attention for very long. In fact, I was a bit disappointed that it seemed like there was only one path to move the truck along and that was it. My concerns were diffused the more he played with it. He likes it and is having a ton of fun with it.

There are actually numerous ways to play, and plenty of places to drive the truck. The most obvious is driving the truck up the elevator. When the truck loads onto the lower elevator, it trips a spring-loaded mechanism that raises the truck to the upper level. Once on the upper level, you can either proceed around the bend to the down elevator, or if you stop at the bend in the road, you can back up. This causes the truck to back into a well-positioned stop that causes it to dump its boulders into the hopper. Going to the upper elevator, the truck loads on, and it's weight causes it to drop to the ground. Therefore, the elevator is completely self-working without the need for batteries or your child to reset it. There's also stops on the elevator to prevent the truck from falling off in mid-air. Very well designed.

Once on the ground, you can go around to the boulder-loading area. Running the truck into it, it automatically causes the boulders to fall into the truck. The truck can also back into the lower boulder hopper/elevator to spill the boulders into it, similar to the one on the upper level.

In addition to those activities, the truck can go under one part of the platform, can park in a garage area, and can stop for some gas at the pretend gas-pump. The crane is also movable and I like that the plunger can be worked to pop the boulders out of the claw without having to use a second hand. The crane can reach everywhere from the ground to the upper level to grab/dump boulders.

The remote is durable and the 4 buttons easy to use. Note that you cannot make the truck move forward/back while steering. You have to stop to turn the truck. The big, rubbery tires grip well and move the truck just fine on our carpet. The control is ok, but turning a precise amount is difficult. This is where the wide openings to the ramps are helpful, though they don't guide the truck properly 100% of the time. There is a spot on the set near the garage for the remote to slide onto when not using it.

Design-wise, this set is very similar to Geo-trax. The remote is the same type of Infrared remote, with similar range and good reliability. The boulders are the same size, so this is a good set to combine or use in the same area. The scale is bigger, so it makes for more of a "quarry" compared to the trains & tracks found in Geotrax.

The only problems we've had is that when going on the upper platform, making the turn causes the truck to click like the gears are slipping. It happens every time, so I'm disappointed in this one aspect. We've had the occasional fall off the elevator and platform, but it's funny more than annoying. Most of the time it works well.

Considering how much my son has been playing with it and the cost of similar Geo-trax type toys, I think this toy is priced accordingly (~$55 at the time I received it).

Half the fun is in the assembly! Sort of Legos on steroids. Once complete there are endless combinations of play. The elevator is a particular hit and is designed with weighting and release mechanisms to move in response to the truck's arrival. However, it only works without extra assistance one of four times... either the truck's nose gets too far forward and catches on the lip of the exit ramp or, on the way down, the first elevator tilts on its axis and catches on the support, leaving the descending truck suspended in the air. Usually can be overcome with a quick tap that doesn't disrupt play too much.

The truck is responsive to the remote control but precise steering is not possible. This is generally overcome by the wide ramps and of course other household furniture is fair game! With the exception of the elevator hiccup, smiles all around.

This contruction set is really easy to put together, and can be played with from all sides which is great for when we have other children visiting. It's BIG, so make sure you have enough space for it. It's as sturdy as can be expected for a plastic toy. I don't expect it to become a hand-me-down.

It's listed as being for ages 3-7, and my three-year old really enjoys playing with this toy, but I think he's too young for it. The remote control truck is simple enough for him to use, but he has some difficulty maneuvering it withing the contruction site. Had I known, I'd have put it away for a year, but it's too late now. This is definitely one of his favorites.

My 4 1/2 year old grandson loves anything to do with trucks and construction. He really likes this toy and I know he will have many hours of enjoyment using it. The downside is that he has a 5 year old sister who wants to play too, but the toy only comes with one truck and remote. A sure way to start squabbles is to have a new toy that is attractive but leaves one kid waiting to get control of the remote. I will look to see if the extra Boulder Blast Quarry set, Scoop 'n Shoot Excavator and Boulder Boost Dump truck, which can be ordered separately, come with remote controls. I hope so.

The set has lots of pieces but they are large and easy to snap together. The unit can be played with on all sides, so that is a nice feature. The truck fits the span of an adult hand, so it seems big to a 4 year old. Remote is easy to use with four bright directional buttons. There is a fun elevator and ramps and a dumping action for a plastic boulder. Several more boulders would have been appreciated, because they are easily lost under couches and chairs, etc.
The truck spins and works on my low pile carpet, so that's a plus. My grandson likes the fuel fill feature, but wants to know where to put the credit card to pay.

Like any of this style plastic toy, I don't think it is made to last for very long. I'm hoping it doesn't break before he loses interest in it. The pieces are a little thicker and sturdier than some of the garage and construction type toys that sell for a lower price. I like the toy, considering the price, the 4 year old loves it.

The Fisher Price Big Action Construction Site with remote control is a great toy that young children (3 to about 7 years-of-age) will love, as will the adults in the household, and here is why:

PROS
* Well designed
* Easy assembly
* Sturdy construction for heavy duty plastic
* $50- price range seems appropriate for a product of this quality
* Elevator, garage, gas pump and remote vehicle provide varied play options and interest
* Good for single child play or even a few children, as when this is spread out you can fit a few children around it.
* Color coded remote makes is easier for smaller children to remember how to operate it

CONS
* (6) AAA batteries not included - required an unplanned trip to the store
* An additional vehicle would have been perfect as children can be impatient when waiting or having to share

OVERALL RECOMMENDATION

BUY - 4/5 stars

It didn't take long to put together and is lots of fun. We actually received it as a birthday gift for my 2 year old. I wouldn't say it is for a 2 year old entirely, but he loves it! He drove up the ramp elevator time and time again- granted, he placed the truck near the tracks to drive on vs steering it over there. I'm sure with some time he'll figure out how to do so better soon.

Here was my one big complaint- in case you run into the same thing. The elevator wouldn't rise the entire way. After wanting to send it back, call the company etc. I had an idea that maybe somehow it was possible to adjust the elevator spring. After taking the 2 screws out of the back of the orange main crane piece it came apart with a loud bang- the spring came 'undone'. After pulling and pulling/prying at the bottom of the same piece, with a screwdriver to get the orange part of the elevator/crane it finally came off the gray platform- it was a pain. Wind it back together with the 'strongest setting' (play with it and you'll figure it out which gives the most 'leverage'/lift of the elevator), put it back on the platform with the screw and magically it works wonderfully now; it just takes a little adjusting of the spring and then there is plenty of lift for the elevator/truck. If I didn't have to mess with it I'd of given 5 stars.

Now, we've gone around, up, down, loaded the boulder, unloaded until it was wayyy past bedtime. I love how it is '4-wheel' drive too and will go over carpet/rugs etc no problem- even drive up boxes etc and almost fall backwards b/c it drives so well/strong. FYI- the unit turns on with a tap of the light on truck and eventually automatically off after no use. Awesome toy and highly recommend!

This toy is fun and quite cleverly designed. However there are some slight flaws, and it might not have that much long term play value.

To describe the fun parts: There is an easy to use remote control dump truck which you can drive onto an elevator. The elevator uses a spring to lift the truck onto the upper level of the toy. You can then drive around the upper level (which is designed so that the truck will not fall off) and back onto the elevator to go down. Also, while on the upper level (this is less obvious), you can back into a spot which will dump out the contents of the truck into a bin. You can pour the contents of the bin back into the truck by driving to the right spot on the lower level. There are two boulders which you can use for the contents of the truck, and there is also a well designed crane for moving them around. There is also a parking spot for the truck on the lower level, and a place to hang up the remote control.

The toy is generally well constructed, should withstand some abuse, and does not have sharp edges.

Now for the slight flaws: First, the elevator tends to get stuck going up, so you need to give it a slight nudge. Second, the boulders are too round, so they easily roll away and get lost. Third, if you want to put the toy away, there is no way to fold it up to a more compact size.

Finally, while my little kids initially had a lot of fun with this toy, it did not seem to hold their interest for that long. They seem to spend much more time overall with items such as magnatiles which are simpler but can be used in many more possible ways.

My recommendation: if your kids really like trucks, construction, etc., then get this toy, and when your kids lose interest in it, pass it on to a friend.

This set really surprised me with how big it was. I expected something about half the size! Once we got it set up which was simple & easy my son played for hours. (I even caught the hubby at it) It reminds me of the Rokenbok sets we had for our older children, except it's on a simple level and any child will have endless hours of fun with this. Just make sure you keep a supply of batteries on hand cause you will surely need them if yur children(or husband) like construction themed sets!

Wow, this thing is awesome, its big and has lots of moving parts! My 4 year old nephew loves this thing. For the fun, its definitely worth the price. Enjoy!