Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Illuma Bot FX

by Learning Resources

Product Features

• Lights, fibre optics & more
• 105 piece set building set
• Imaginations will soar
• Wireless remote
• 4 color-coded instructions

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 10.9 x 14.4 inches ; 3.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000CQXZ40
• Item model number: LER9205
• Manufacturer recommended age: 5 - 10 years
• Batteries: 7 AA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,370 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

Product Description

Editorial Review

Construct your own robot and then take charge of its every move with the included remote control. An expansion on the popular and award-winning Gears! Gears! Gears! construction toys, the IllumaBot is more of a model set—similar to some of the collectible model kits offered by Lego. Detailed instructions guide kids through building one of four possible robots. Once kids become familiar with how the pieces fit together, they can engineer their own robotic creations. The robot features 105 pieces, including gears, springs, a robot base and plenty of illuminated parts for additional fun, such as a light-up head, a large gear with chasing lights, two flashing dome pieces, and a fiber optic "whisker" light. Using the easy-to-operate wireless remote control, kids direct the IllumaBot forward or backward and open and close its claws. Unlike the gears in the original toy, the parts on this one are not as stable and easily knock off the robot. Although the manufacturer’s beginning age is 5 years old, age 7 is a better starting range for this model as construction is a bit too complex for smaller children. The IllumaBot requires seven "AA" batteries to operate. --Cristina Vaamonde

Product Description

Watch your child's imagination grow with this set of colorful gears. This 105-piece set includes unique pieces for innovative building, including a remote-controlled infrared motor with a 25' range, a chrome robot head with flashing lights, fiber optics, detachable claws, a large light gear and more. Color-coded instructions for building four motorized models are included, or children can also design their own models. Requires 7 "AA" batteries (not included).

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this colorful piece of junk!, November 19, 2006

By 

The Atkinsons (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Illuma Bot FX (Toy)

My son got this for his eighth birthday. First of all, it is not a "Robot" by any stretch of the imagination - you can only make it go forwards and backwards - and that very slowly. You have no control over the "moveable" arms or head and you can not make it turn or do anything really. Several of the things you build according to the instructions don't do anything except sit there and blink - not all that exciting. It took adult strength to get many of the poorly fitting pieces together. On the larger constructions the gears mesh so badly that most of your limited battery power is sucked up trying to turn them all - and the strain inevitably causes the poorly fitting wheels to fall off. Did anybody bother to "kid test" this thing before it wound up at all the "educational toy" outlets? I'm guessing not. Well, here is the lesson we learned - even a so-called "educational toy" can be a complete rip-off.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't hold up!, March 26, 2006

By 

Bell328 (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Illuma Bot FX (Toy)

We gave this to our 6 year old for his birthday and it was broken before bedtime. The base piece that is the remote control and wheels etc. was not made very well and now he cannot make any of the featured robots. He has other Gears sets so he can use the peices for other projects, but this one is very disappointing- especially for the money.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very pooly designed, December 31, 2006

By 

c2 (Dublin, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Illuma Bot FX (Toy)

Unfortunately, I too have to agree with the other reviews of this toy. Don't buy it, hands down. It shouldn't be purchased for less than 7 years if you do take the chance. The gears are entirely too hard to put together and once they are together, you can't get them apart without adult help. The antenna broke within the first day and for the $50 it cost, it's absolutely ridiculous. However, the idea is wonderful - kids love to play with this guy but he just isn't durable. This toy DEFINITELY needs to go back to the drawing board and constructed of more durable materials and made to withstand the playtime for which it was created. Right now, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. It needs to go back for a refund!