Customer Reviews

Girder and Panel Tekton Plaza

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I enjoyed my Girder & Panel so much as a kid, I couldn't pass up buying one for a nephew.

In each set are a couple of bases to build from, many columns to build up with, and many beams to span with. You can cover your structure with the panels, there are different styles of panels as well.

These are a giant step up from Lego's, which are darn fun in their own right--but this let's children build a 'real' building.

Easy to put together, sturdy; and easy to take back apart.

It also allows children to realize how gravity affects buildings as they begin to span out and the unsupported structure begins to sag.

Bought for our grandson woho really liked it. His dad, however, likes it more. Hours of together time is great. Had one when I was a kid and loved it.

Tekton is challenging, but not too difficult for a seven year old. I have given Tekton to my grandson over several years because he continues to ask for them. The pieces are user-friendly to assemble and encourage individual designs beyond those shown in the packaging. Please see my review of the Tekton Truss Bridge for further comments.

My expectations must have been too high. My son LOVES construction/building sets of all kinds. The Girder and panels are great, but the windows and doors are merely made of vinyl film strips, like the old 35mm camera film. If they made the windows and doors out of plastic, I could recommend this toy, but I can't suggest buying this item the way it is now. He assembled a building once, and never touched it again. He's back to the old reliable building toys we've purchased elsewhere. It's okay, but not great. I wouldn't purchase it again, and not going to expand this collection at all. I do not recommend. Sorry.

The upside of these girder and panel toys is that my son has loved-it since we bought it a few years ago. He was 4 then and 6 now. He loves building with this vintage-designed toy because he can build tall buildings that are scaled right for matchbox/hot wheels cars. He never gets tired of building with these sets. That being said, the toys are a bit expensive for mostly molded plastic and that's what has kept me from buying many more. The major issue is that, just as I remembered from when I played with these growing up, the points where the girders and panels attach can break fairly easily, especially when you aren't careful when taking projects apart. I would not expect the plastic girders to be ultra-durable, but it becomes an issue when they break so easily and are relatively expensive. It would be nice if you could buy the basic pieces in bulk to replace ones that break.

My 10 year old son really loves building things with this and one day hopes to be an engineer or an architect. I bought this toy for him because I figured he would really love it, and he did. He plays with it more than he plays with his LEGOs because he finds it more realistic. I like that he can build whatever is in his mind, and have it come out real looking, without being too complicated for a 10 year old. I actually just ordered two sets for my nephews because my son enjoyed it so much!

I searched for this product many years. When I was a boy (the '50' & 60's) this toy was prized by children and I spent many hours of my childhood building things using the girder and panel building set. I had a great wish to locate this for my two grandchildren now that I am a grandfather. They love toys like the old-fashioned Tinker Toys and Erector Sets. I was elated when I found this on Amazon. One complaint. Many of the holes on the panels that allow you to snap them onto the girders are not punched out. This truly takes away from the satisfaction of building and rebuilding when one has inspiration and ideas to build. It is very frustrating. Mostly, the item is excellent. Just the one major problem on the one I was sent.

Girder and Panel was purchased for my son to help him learn to put things together but also to be able to teach him to think on how to do it. He enjoys it very much and is always tryig different things with it. It keeps him busy and we hope stimulates his mind.

My child is thoroughly enjoying her Tekton Plaza kit. The instructions and illustrations are very easy to follow - or she can design and build her own structures. Develops some basic vocabulary and understanding of architectural design and engineering - a very good first step for imaginative, hands-on children who like to create original work. Really impressive product. We'll probably purchase an additional set at some point.

I bought this for my 7 year old son. The girder system was easy to use but putting on the plastic windows was harder. I helped my son but he probably could build it himself. The toy was sturdy. Great case to store the pieces.