Customer Reviews

Matchbox: Deluxe Pop-Up Playset - Construction

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

 

 

I almost didn't find this item, due to the rather inaccurate product desciption, but it's the 2nd MB set sold on Amazon, and part of 5 Adventure Sets. The other large one is the Dragon Castle, and the other 3 smaller ones are the Snake Jungle, Harbor Patrol, and Auto Center. They are all multi-level, interconnectable, playsets for Matchbox cars. Small enough to fold-up and take anywhere (after careful placement of the contents) and they become an even larger play area when you get more of them and interconnect them. You only get 2 ramps per set, and very odd positioning of the ramp connectors, making it somewhat difficult to get certain sets to link up, and nearly impossible to interconnect them all with ramps when you have all 5.

Despite the very thin plastic used, it's very durable, except for one side of one of the building frames, which keeps popping out of it's hinge (but does not break). There's a lot to do in this tiny area, with a wrecking ball, hook, two building roofs to snap on, a car launching cement mixer, and 2 levels of play. My son has a lot of fun with these playsets, and likes to close them up, and bring them from room to room. Each of these sets comes with one vehicle.

Parents of kids with younger siblings, please keep in mind that most of these have some smaller pieces, and the most hazardous are in the Snake Jungle set, with a VERY small trophy, and a round boulder. On most of the other sets, the small attachments were oblong shaped, and seem to be a tad larger than pieces that would normally present a choking problem.

All these sets are recommended for Matchbox fans, as the multi-level play areas, and even the thin scale design, add to the playability.

I am all for toys that clean up easily when you're done playing with them! My son received this set for his 3rd birthday. We do not have any of the other sets, but this one has been lots of fun. there are 2 levels with 3 ramps that can snap in to different sides of level 2, and can even connect together to form a bridge. The crane base extends pretty high and there is a wrecking ball on one side and a hook type thing on the other side to grab things and lift them from one level to the next. There is a boulder (which my son calls a "meatball") and one bulldozer. My son has a lot of fun with this, and because it is so easy to fold up and put away, we've brought in on car rides, to grandmas house, and even to a restaurant.
I absolutely recommend this for toddler/preshcool aged kids

I purchased this toy for my 6 year old son, and he loves it and wants all of the additional sets too. Does it snap together with all of the other sets? I don't know, since at the present we only have the one. But seriously, who cares? Not a 6 year old, they want to move the sets all around, and drive the cars across the floor to the next set.

As for folding it up, just flip up 2 ramps and close it, just before you snap it shut drop in the cars and everything fits neatly inside a single box.

Well made and durable enough for a six year old.

This toy folds up easily and even has a handle so little 2 year olds can easily tote it around from place to place. The crane is definitely the most exciting feature of this toy. It is durable enough for my not so gentle 2 year old.

For the price... I would recommend something else, but all in all there is a bit of quality and of course the storage space required is attractive. That being said, there is little functionality and even with the addition of the other sets in the series, not much is new here. Good for a travel toy, but other than that... not much to get excited about.

I would say this toy appeals to parents for that fact that it is compact and again easy to carry along, but is that why you buy a toy? NO!