Lift-Off Rocket
by International Playthings
(Click here)
Product Summary
Manufacturer: International PlaythingsBrand: Discovery Channel
Model: G02232
Color: Red
Product features:
- Batteries: Requires two AA batteries (included)
- Dimensions: 17L X 9H X 9W inches
Description of Lift-Off Rocket
Explore the vast reaches of space in this light-and-sound rocket. Toy rocket is equipped with all the comforts of home: kitchen, bathroom and a fold-down bedCockpit seats 2 astronautsComes with moon crater and lunar explorer buggyBuggy stows away in the cargo hold for takeoffPush the red button to see boosters light up and hear thrilling rocket soundsConvenient carrying handleStimulate a life-long love of learning with a toy that gets kids playing, thinking and exploring.Baby Products Reviews of Lift-Off Rocket
Customer Review: How do we land this thing?
Summary: 4 Stars
I've always been a big fan of science fiction, so I jumped at the opportunity to get my two-and-a-half-year-old his very own rocket ship for Christmas. Finally, a sci-fi toy made for children his age! Right? I mean, the Product Details read: "Our recommended age: 18 months - 3 years" and "Manufacturer recommended age: 18 months and up." And yet there's a big warning in the center of the page, "CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs." Amazon can't seem to make up its mind. There are no small parts that I can see would be a choking hazard.
The rocket is big. My boy is not a big kid, so it's a bit difficult for him to lug the 4.2 pounds of rocket ship around. The big handle on the side, which has a red button (you can see it in the picture) looks like the rocket is meant to be lifted and carried through the air, but that's only feasible with bigger kids who have the wrist strength.
The ship itself had three rockets connected to it. The bottom part of each rocket glows when it takes off (more about that later) and provides a very stable base when placed on a flat surface. It won't fall over easily.
The bottom part of the rocket includes a storage compartment. The storage compartment includes a mini-buggy, which fits one astronaut. The buggy's wheels (and all of the International Playthings space toys) are made of solid rubber, which makes them very durable and less prone to curving when rolled.
The middle part of the rocket includes a foldout ("Murphy") bed. What you don't see in the picture is that the bed covers a toilet - this has to be the first toy with a space toilet I've ever seen! The kitchen includes an attached microwave, but you won't be able to close the living quarters with the bed down. The bed is actually made to cradle one of the astronaut's heads, with a slight concave depression. These little details really show the amount of thought put into this toy.
The pilot compartment is straightforward. It flips up and two astronauts lay in it. What's interesting is that they sit in it the same way astronauts in real rockets do - their backs to the ground, facing towards the sky. My son has a little difficulty comprehending this point (he thinks they're sleeping) but it's definitely an educational plus.
There are two astronauts (one orange, one blue) and a space dog. The space dog cracks me up, but he seems to be an afterthought. He doesn't fit anywhere - not in the buggy, not in the little moon crater, and not really anywhere in the rocket. He can sit on the bed (bad dog!) if you want to store him.
A bright green alien looks friendly enough, with three eyes and a pair of suction-cupped hands folded in front of his tummy. He's not quite the same size as the aliens, so he can't fit anything made for astronauts (there'll be no aliens stealing our ships, no sir!).
Overall, the rocket is fairly durable. The doors to the storage and living compartments open easily enough. The pilot's compartment is flimsy, however, and I managed to yank the door right off trying to get it to open. Fortunately it clicks right back in.
The rocket has two sounds, depending on whether it's in space or landed on the ground. If it's in space, it makes what can only be described as "space sounds" - beeps and blips. Holding down the button creates a continuous stream of these space sounds, but again this requires considerably wrist strength to keep the rocket aloft while pushing the button.
I wasn't all that impressed with the rocket sounds until I pressed the button one day while it was sitting on a flat surface. And then, hoo boy! You get a full countdown, complete with echoing "Five-five-five, four-four-four..." from mission base to Rocket One. The rocket then makes a blast off sound and the base of the rocket lights up. Awesome!
Until you try to land it, of course. The rocket has no landing sequence for some reason. Electronic toys these days can encompass entire CDs full of music, so why this rocket is always blasting off and never landing is a mystery.
My son mostly uses the astronauts in other play sets (they're victims for a lot of traps in his Dragon Castle). I'm confident he'll play with the rocket more as he gets older; I know I sure will! It definitely made an impression on him though, as evidenced by the time he put a transparent drum over his head and shouted "I'm an astronaut!"
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