118 of 120 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Record & Play is a nice set, February 18, 2005
= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Record and Play (4095) (Toy)
I have a ton of LEGOs, including a Mindstorm and a Spybot, so what's different about the Record & Play? The core of this set is the brick with two motors with integrated rotation sensors. Push the red button and push the robot through it's moves (up to 20 seconds). Then hit the green button to play it back. It plays back fairly accurately, although it is a bit jerky (it doesn't play the motors slow, but short bursts of fast). As a bonus, the tail end of the brick has a shaft input that does the same thing as pressing the play button every time the axle turns. This is useful for building something that has the motor block hidden inside, making the buttons hard to reach, or for making the 'bot respond to some stimulus (My next plan is for a passing LEGO train to flip a lever, causing the shaft to turn, which will trigger the playback to lower and then raise the crossing gates). There is an on-off switch on the bottom, and the robot will remember it's programming even when turned off, as well as an auto-shutoff if left alone for 10 minutes to save batteries.
Normal play mode runs through the actions once and stops. Hold down the play button for a couple seconds and it switches to mode 2, which repeatedly plays the commands forwards and backwards. Pretty cool. Do it again to get into mode 3, which repeatedly plays the commands forwards. This is very handy too.
The 192-page book shows how to build five models: a bug that hops along on two wheels and 2 legs, a dog with 3 wheels, a pen plotter, a 4 legged crab with claws, a standing-up walking robot, and a drummer. Much briefer instruction are shown for a dune buggy, a catamaran walking bug thing, tractor, a grabber, a block thrower, and a card dealer (and probably a few more).
The other pieces included in the set are fairly standard, a nice mix between Technic and standard bricks in pleasing tan and greens (lime and forest). The only really new piece is a right angle 1:1 gear box. Two are included in the set.
I like the fact that there is no real programming involved, no computer required, and it is very quick to get the bot moving. The kit has LEGO's usual excellent quality throughout.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Basic Motor Set, July 8, 2005
This review is from: Record and Play (4095) (Toy)
This set is a good beginner's set for those interested in the Lego Mindstorms Robot sets. It is easy to build the sets included and introduces the concepts of gears. It can build many gear configurations found on MIT's Constructopedia Site. A good set to introduce motors and gears. My five year old son is interested in the set, but it is too advanced for many young builders.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Lego, August 12, 2005
= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: Record and Play (4095) (Toy)
I just bought this Lego for my 10 year old son. He loves it. He has already made a few different things such as the robot, the car and what I call the bug. He says that it is the "the coolest and best Lego" he has ever had. I would definitely recommend to ages 8+; even though the box says 7+ in age. It would be a little much for any child under 8.
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