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Build the K'NEX Motorized Madness Ball Machine, a towering contraption full of building challenge and exciting performance! Towering over 4 feet high and featuring a motorized lift and 3 exciting ball runs, the Motorized Madness is a builder's dream. This set includes 2,004 colorful, plastic K'NEX pieces, a new track system and 5 balls. Follow the color-coded instructions to build this exciting ball machine step by step. Then switch on the motor to bring the model to life. The motorized ball lift continuously carries balls to the top of the tower, where they alternate down 1 of 3 different ball runs. The downward spiral sends balls down a dizzying ride to the bottom. The hammer drop transports the balls off the track and onto 2 swiveling elevators, and the funnel drop sends balls on an express ride straight to the bottom. Dimensions (assembled): 30"L x 24"W x 50"H.
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Knex Motorized Madness Ball Machine is one of our favorite Knex Sets
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Our 5 year old son is a *huge* Knex fan (OK, I'll admit it - he's obsessed). :-)
And so he's built with some parental assistance quite a few of the more complex, larger Knex sets. With a few exceptions most of them have been very good, but the Motorized Madness Ball Machine set is definitely one of our favorites.
Here are the Pros and Cons we've found with this particular set:
PROS
- The end result is very impressive. Whenever the kids have friends over the kids (and their parents) spend quite a bit of time playing with the finished model.
- It's well constructed. (If you've built many of the Knex models, you know that some completed models are sturdier than others - this model is one of the sturdier ones.)
- Most of the Knex models perform the same action over and over. This model comes with 5 large balls that zip down various paths and then get "lifted" via a motorized ball elevator back to the top again. It's fun to watch.
CONS
- The bigger Knex sets can be expensive. That being said, you can often get Knex sets on sale and this one took some time to build and is still played with by our kids months after it was originally assembled so we feel it was worth the cost.
- It's BIG. It's not just high (over 4 feet tall) but it's also about two feet wide, which makes it a challenge to find a place to put it once it's built. (Because honestly, after all that effort, you never want to take it apart.) :-)
- The instructions that come with this set can be confusing if you're not used to reading Knex instructions, so while the end-result is quite impressive, I wouldn't recommend it as the first set for someone who's never built with Knex before.
For a younger child I'd recommend starting with a generic tub of Knex bricks and connectors that allows you to build multiple, smaller models.
For an older child with building experience with sets other than Knex I'd recommend starting with one of the Knex ferris wheel sets or the Knex Sawblade Thrill Ride set which still creates an impressive, large model but has simpler instructions and more repetition to help the child get used to Knex instructions and pieces. We've found the sets with tracks - like this one - tend to be trickier.
Overall, my son really enjoyed putting together this set and we all enjoy playing with hit. Definitely recommended for the advanced Knex'er.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-30
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K'nex are great - but don't overpay
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My kids love K'nex and this is on their wish list for this year. . .but beware people selling it for $89+. The regular retail price at ToyRUs is $59.99, and I just got it on sale for $41 and some change, and they still had more in stock (not online, just in store).
Rating: 
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-12-12
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Lots of fun!
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This product is great. Everything works in it except for the swing arm ball drop. But my 8 year old son was able to fix it. The ball would not go into the first cup on the swing arm ball drop as things didn't seem to line up correctly. We reviewed the instructions a few times, but we had built it correctly. My son added a small piece of foam to one rod, and that helped place the rod and ball cup in the correct position to catch the ball. The only reason we took a star off is for the swing arm ball drop.
Note: there are no extra pieces, so don't lose any while building!
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-11-30
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