All children, starting from the very beginning early age, and also many adults love to build various structures from construction sets. Currently, there are a huge number of different variations of this game - the well-known Lego sets and its analogues of Russian and foreign manufacturers, a metal construction set that came to us from Soviet times, magnetic, wooden and others. Most toys of this kind are equipped with a set of diagrams that show which models can be assembled from the existing figures. In this article we will tell you about what can be made from construction kit parts by putting the diagram aside and showing just a little imagination.

What can you make from Lego?

Lego is one of the most popular brands designers. There are an incredible number of different sets on sale for children of all ages, both boys and girls. In addition, there are quite a lot of similar logic games Russian and foreign manufacturers.

From Lego figures, children can build simply amazing figures - buildings, cars, planes, trains. Large sets are designed to build entire cities or farms. In addition, from a small number of parts you can make something useful and, undoubtedly, original, for example, a cup for toothbrushes or a box for wrapping a gift.

What to make of

No less popular at all times remains the metal construction set, often used in labor lessons at school. Usually the guys use its parts to assemble models of tanks, airplanes and helicopters, cars and ATVs. By showing your imagination, you can build anything from the parts of a metal construction set - from small elements to full-size models.

The metal construction set is considered a complex toy and embodies the dream of any boy to “work” with tools similar to adults.

Cold metal fascinates, allows you to create the most complex models using a screwdriver, keys, bolts and screws. Interesting activity The assembly of the model will appeal not only to children, but also to adults. Metal intellectual toys are a real excursion into the world of children's thinking and imagination.

The main idea of ​​the toy

The complete set of each product consists of components similar to those that dad keeps in his tool box: nuts, brackets, screws, and other fasteners. All this appears to the child as real, only performed in miniature.

Metal objects are fastened together by screwing in bolts of suitable diameter. The plates can be straight, curved, narrow or wide, each element of the plate is perforated with holes.

This makes the designer universal and makes it possible to create models guided only by imagination. Sets with a variety of elements allow you to assemble structures of all possible sizes and varying degrees of complexity.

Samples of finished products are shown on the packaging, accompanied by an assembly diagram and instructions for use. A boy can successfully create unique mechanisms and structures, collect crafts for school and preschool classes and play assembled models into games.

Self-made toys are a source of pride for a boy, so children’s interests should not be ignored; it is important to introduce a child to construction from an early age.

A smart toy will allow parents to captivate their child for a long time and go about their business.

Before starting the game, it is important to explain to the child that the initial design may not work out, but correcting errors will allow the desired results to be achieved in the future. Solving set and non-standard problems is the main purpose of the team game.

Differences from other species

It is difficult to call a metal construction set a toy; rather, it refers to serious intellectual work associated with creativity. Assembling the constituent elements, the child constantly refers to the instructions, develops ingenuity, patience and receives the result of his hard work in the form of a finished car or construction crane.

The game has many small elements that need to be carefully connected to each other not with grooves, which is typical for other types of assembly toys, but with bolts, washers and nuts using special tools. During design, parts must be constantly recalculated so as not to make mistakes when installing the necessary elements.

The assembly structure has moving components that can be loosened or tightened depending on the nature of the finished product. From metal elements One model can be used to create others, and you don’t always need to act according to the instructions. This will allow the child to develop and improve the logical line of imagination.

By establishing the interaction of objects according to the type of connection, the baby builds his own approach to the process, forms personal preferences, and raises self-esteem. By correctly constructing complex parts into a finished structure, the boys feel indescribable pride in their invention.

Advantages of the game build:

• Versatility and the ability to deviate from instructions;
• Parts of different modifications and special tools complement each other;
• Suitable for classes for children of different sexes;
• Divided by age and intellectual development.

For preschoolers, such a construction set is suitable as preparation for school and labor lessons. Interest in assembling metal products changes the behavior of many children, developing in them perseverance, concentration, and contact with adults at the level of discussing the action associated with assembling the necessary product.

It has been proven that assembling a construction set develops a boy’s clear and beautiful handwriting, which is important when depicting clear lines and letter symbols.

The benefits of a smart toy

Metal plates with perforations for construction became known in the last century. Manufacturers of construction sets in those years were unlikely to be guided by serious pedagogical motives, because the world of bright plastic had not yet been conquered, and wood and metal were the basic materials for making children's toys.

The popularity of logic toys made of metal has not slowed down, but on the contrary, interest in it is increasing every year.

The gaming assembly toy is designed to collect not only the parts from the instructions, but also others that can only come to mind. This allows you to develop imagination and logic.

Metal assembly toys are designed for children aged 5-6 years. In some cases, they are used in labor lessons in kindergarten and school, for making crafts.

In the process of diligent study, the boy:

• receives the basics of technical thinking and logic;
• develops fine motor skills of the hands;
• develops concentration;
• development of creative potential and systematic thinking;
• increases alertness and coordination of movements.

On the mental side, a feeling of self-satisfaction and adequate self-esteem develops after collecting the model.

Assembly and design have always been considered in a good way relieve tension and stress, develop a personal opinion about yourself, learn to set achievable goals and overcome difficult tasks.

These abilities will help boys in the future, since many technical specialties in higher education are widely available to them. educational institutions. Proper systems thinking can improve school performance.

Types of metal constructors

Nowadays, metal construction sets have many modifications, and the most unusual models can be assembled. Classic cars, cranes, steam locomotives - today have been greatly modernized beyond recognition.

The kid can assemble a real plane, a tower, or a truck with a large body. The sizes of the construction set vary from medium to large, and the number of parts in the kit always differs from each other.

Many modern views designers are equipped with electronics. This is very exciting, as it creates the illusion of a real game: with tanks, cars, signal flares and so on. Once assembled, technical devices can produce characteristic sounds, light up, and some moving parts can be controlled remotely.

If the designer is classic, without additional accessories, then the baby controls the finished product himself.

A logic game made of metal can be produced for small children from three years old and for older children. They differ in some complexity of assembly and the level of intellectual perception in children.

Mini-constructors are suitable for beginners. It is typical for them not large number parts, simple assembly and instructions diagram.

Set of metal construction sets

Items undergo strict quality control from manufacturing to packaging. Depending on the type and type of assembly, fragments of the construction set may include cords, plastic or rubber parts. The kit comes with a set of assembly tools and instructions.

If necessary, special notes and a diagram of a non-standard combination of fragments, the use of elements with electronics, and safety rules during the game are indicated.

How to choose a metal construction set

The purchase of a logic toy made of metal should be considered, since the type of activity is serious. It is worth considering some nuances that will not discourage the child from further design and self-development.

• Markings on packaging about mandatory quality certification;
• Age limit indication on packaging;
• When inspected, metal plates must be smooth, without sharp points or rough protrusions;
• The fasteners must have clear cuts and threads without visible defects;
• Toy parts for children under 5 years old should not be less than 50 mm;
• The product should not emit the smell of paint or rust;
• All constituent fragments must comply with safety requirements.

Thematic areas

When purchasing a play assembly toy, parents are often guided by the child's preferences. It is impossible to attract his attention with uninteresting activities, so manufacturers develop models of metal construction sets taking into account the interests of young inventors. Accepted trends include designers in a technical and futuristic style.

Technical style

Aimed at creating classic models combat and specialized vehicles: armored vehicles, tanks, military aircraft, guns, fire engines and signal vehicles with beacons, police crews and motorized vehicles, tower and cranes.

This type of assembly game is suitable for older children, so that they can later use the finished product as an addition to their own collection of toys.

Futuristic style

The direction is typical for creating famous cartoon characters. These assembly games come with additional parts made of high-quality bright plastic, cords, and rubber bands.

This game is suitable for younger age groups; it has large, bright pieces. color solutions. Children associate cartoon characters with positivity. Finished goods Can be used as a toy or room decoration.

This is how I remember my childhood. It’s easy, also because of the abundance of interesting technology and hardware around. My parents, especially my dad, surrounded me very much from the time I was little. interesting things- then the engine is from a Cossack kitchen table, either a color tube TV disassembled for repair, or a portable Mriya radio, which could play gramophone records while suspended. But most importantly, my parents sometimes bought me various interesting construction sets. And the most memorable thing for me was the “Electrical engineering in 200 experiments” set.

Photo from the Virtual Museum and Directory - Domestic Radio Engineering of the 20th Century

Now, unfortunately, they don’t make such things, including abroad. I constantly look at the shelves of stores with toys both in our country and when I travel around Europe. There is nothing like it. What was good about this construction set was that it combined a lot of different parts and components from which one could assemble both toys and conduct entertaining physical and electrical experiments. For example, it was possible to assemble a telegraph.

Photo from the Made in Leningrad community

Or an electric motor-fan, or a homemade galvanic battery, in general, the designer lived up to the name - two hundred could be assembled unique crafts, not counting your own invented ones.

And now, when my son is growing up, I also want to surround him with interesting technical things. And one of them is such a constructor. I don’t want to buy incomplete used ones from 30 years ago, because incompleteness is a tragedy :) And it’s almost impossible to find it at flea markets. But it is quite possible to assemble something similar from available parts, and without much effort.

First, the base, ordinary inexpensive metal construction sets that can still be bought in toy stores.

And secondly, what will bring this constructor to life will add movement. These are motors, wires and batteries. Where can I get them? Ha, I'm sure if you have children, you know what Chinese toys are. They are certainly bought as gifts for children by both parents and grandmothers, acquaintances, and guests of parents. All these flying dogs, jumping cars, barking airplanes - all this breaks down in an hour (day, week) and goes into the trash. But for me they go into the trash only after the main treasure has been extracted from them :)

Engines DC. Considering that I have four children, I have accumulated a lot of this wealth. How can these motors help? Here's what. One day a couple of years ago, my son and I were tinkering with my tools and I suddenly suggested to him, let’s build a car out of a stick. Who wouldn't agree to this? We took a piece of some kind of block, a motor, nails, an AAA battery and put it together in 30 minutes.

From nails and sticks, literally, it turned out to be an unsightly self-propelled toy. The child did not let go of it all evening, and then showed it to all the guests - “Look what a limousine dad and I made!” That's when I decided it was time to do these things on a more serious level. First we assembled a windmill, a memorable object from our last trip to Europe.

It turned out so cool that there was only one thing left to do, stock up on parts for such crafts in sufficient industrial quantities :) I bought all sorts of switches, battery holders, and rubber bands at the market. Grandmothers and friends were told that now our best gift- metal constructor. And after a while, my son and I became the owners of the coolest set possible. It was possible to start creating.

Our next craft is an airplane. Twin-engine fighter.

Where there is a plane, there is a helicopter. The son added two additional floors to the main rotor, which seemed better to him.

The child played with this helicopter toy for the longest time, because the main rotor was easily used as circular saw grinders - a lot of things in the house were cut down by helicopter - to the delight of my mother :)

Now she walks reluctantly, the mechanism needs to be adjusted.

But immediately after production, the walking machine, as its son nicknamed it, made everyone very happy with its vigorous gait :)

And the very last of our crafts. To make it, I bought on Aliexpress a radio control kit, a remote control with a receiver, a motor with a gearbox and wheels, a steering servo and a motor control board. All these things are available on Ali in abundance different sizes, capacities, opportunities. We made a radio-controlled tricycle with full control - gas, brakes, steering.

There is so much dope in this crazy tricycle that it’s difficult to get going without slipping. But it’s easy to make a police U-turn.

Below is a video of the unequal battle between a mad car and a caterpillar. My son and I collected a caterpillar for an exhibition in kindergarten, where they needed a craft from natural material, well, we built a realoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo" Due to the slowness of the caterpillar, the video is a little long :)

These wonderful things can be made from an ordinary metal construction set, scraps of old toys and a certain amount of purchased parts. The only necessary skill for parents is to be able to solder a little, without this it will be difficult with all these wires, switches and batteries. And, of course, imagination, but usually children have even more of it than adults, so involve your child, he will tell you what to do.

There is, of course, another way. For example ready-made kits Lego. Lego has a windmill.

There are all sorts of racing cars and trucks.

In general, Lego has everything, including robots and kits for customizing and programming them.

But personally, I don’t have a passion for Lego. And my son has problems with Lego, once he dropped the toy, and it was shattered into small cubes, it’s very disappointing to put everything back together. And Lego costs a lot, especially interactive robotic kits with motors or limited editions of all sorts of starships from Star Wars. Our metal will be more affordable, even taking into account the purchase of remote controls on Ali.

There is also an original metal construction set, Meccano. But again, it is very expensive and it is not easy to get it in our area. Therefore, here is the final photo of our wealth.

Now on the market for children's educational toys there are a large number of types and types of various construction sets. Each option has its own pros and cons.

Of interest to boys of all ages are construction sets whose parts are made of metal. With the help of such kits you can create both small cars or helicopters and professional models vehicles, as well as buildings and architectural monuments.

Construction is a useful game at any age

As a rule, the construction set includes various metal parts with slots for fastening elements. The set also includes: screws, nuts, bolts, technical components, wheels that help to fasten the iron parts into a single game model.

From it you can assemble a car, a helicopter, a construction crane, a tank and other toys that are interesting for a boy, which can actually drive and perform their initially specified functions.

Small car with rotating wheels (photo)

You will find detailed information about wooden construction sets in.

The main kit always comes with assembly instructions. If the constructor is universal, then the book will indicate several possible options assemblies to stimulate the boy’s creative and engineering thinking.

The toy helps children unobtrusively and with interest study the basic laws of physics, understand the essence of phenomena, and model new versions of things that are interesting to them. If something is done incorrectly, the car will not move and the crane will not be able to lift the load.

For a boy, a construction set made from iron parts is a storehouse of household knowledge needed in the future. He will learn to tighten nuts, tighten bolts, and come up with designs that will undoubtedly fulfill their assigned role.

Iron tank from Eitech (Track Vehicles Metal Building)

Varieties

Designers made of iron can be classified as follows:

1. By size. Play sets are divided into large ones, which have an impressive number of parts (their assembly takes considerable time) and small ones, made from a small number of parts (they are easily assembled by a child in a short period of time).
2. According to age restrictions. They are divided into sets for boys 5-6 years old, 7-8 years old, 9-10 years old. The older the expected age of the child assembling the construction set, the smaller the parts and the more elaborate the assembled model can be. From age characteristics The complexity of the assembly process also depends.
3. According to the presented models. Thematic ones are characterized by 1 or 2 specific models of equipment of a certain subject assembled from a construction set. Universal ones involve a large number of assembled models, and the same part can serve various parts in different mechanisms.

If parents buy their son his first metal construction set in his life, it’s better to start with a more simple options with a small number of parts. More complex and larger sets may be intimidating for children.

Powerful sports car

A construction set made from metal parts has its own special features (both positive and negative) that distinguish it from other similar toys.

Advantages of a metal constructor:

• Develops fine motor skills of the hands and instills perseverance.
• Stimulates constructive and spatial thinking, the construction of logical chains by the child, and develops mental abilities.
• Metal parts can withstand multiple assemblies. If desired, they can be bent and bent back.
• Large range of models. Each child will be able to choose from a wide range of options the option that he or she likes best.
• The kits introduce the child to basic men's housework: working with a screwdriver, nuts, screws, threads.
• Pronounced male character toys.

Loader

Flaws:

• Age restrictions - intended for boys from 5 years old.
• Increased risk of injury - iron parts not only provide wear resistance, but also real opportunity get injured. Therefore, the assembly of a set of parts by a child 5-6 years old should occur under the careful supervision of an adult.
• Metal construction sets are less bright and attractive than their plastic counterparts.

If after purchase iron designer, the boy did not show proper interest in him, there is no need to impose him. Put the set aside, and after a little time has passed, offer the play set again.

Locomotive with carriage

Probably every boy in the USSR had a metal construction set. It was a boring plastic box in which various iron parts with round holes(bars) of various sizes and shapes, bolts, washers, nuts, wheels, hinge elements and a wrench.

The metal was of good quality, was not covered with anything, so it had natural color. The models from the play set could hardly be called cheerful and bright, and it was not created for these purposes. The toy served exclusively to develop the first engineering skills of boys.

A large number of parts made it possible to make from the designer everything that a boy’s soul desired: various airplanes, cars, helicopters, steam locomotives and other equipment. The instructions for assembling the models were complex and confusing, so initially adults helped the children in constructing.

Modern ones, presented in a huge assortment for every taste and budget, are suitable for adults and little boys.

In the USSR, Soviet children who were passionate about constructing with metal construction kits grew into excellent engineers and mechanics.

Set from Soviet era

Manufacturers and prices

In the line of metal construction sets, there are several of the most popular manufacturers:

1. "Samodelkin." Externally very similar to the old Soviet metal set. It has universal parts that can be assembled into a variety of models that are not similar to each other. There are series “Baby”, “Junior”, “Technician”, “Samodelkin”, “Genius”, designed for boys of different ages and different level technical complexity. Metal parts are colored. Production - Russia.
2. "Tenth Kingdom" This manufacturer creates both universal (numbered) and thematic sets (“Truck”, “Jeep”, “Retro-Car”, “Steam Locomotive”, etc.). Designed for both labor lessons and independent child play. The parts are painted in standard colors. Assembly instructions included. Production - Russia.
3. Rinzo. Themed from metal parts with the addition of bright plastic elements. Compatible with similar play sets from other manufacturers. From one set you can assemble two models, carefully described in the assembly manual. Completed wrench and a screwdriver. Production - Great Britain.
4. Meccano. Constructor having high degree detailing and elaboration of technical components of their models. Has painted parts. The assembled equipment is distinguished by spectacular realism. Made in Canada.

The Meccano company produces some of the most expensive metal construction sets. The fact is that the models made from it are much larger in size than those produced by other companies and are as close as possible to real prototypes.

Race car from Meccano

Helicopter from the “Tenth Kingdom” brand

Transport from Rinzo

Game set from the brand “Samodelkin”

Table - Approximate cost metal construction sets

Brand	Name	Recommended age, years	Number of parts, pcs	Approximate price
Meccano	Combat helicopter	from 10	374	5450
Samodelkin	Baby	from 4	74	400
	Junior	from 4	124	450
	Samodelkin S-30	from 6	184	580
	Young genius No. 2	from 6	228	700
Rinzo	Truck	from 6	224	820
	Excavator and lift	from 6	132	660
Tenth Kingdom	Set No. 5	6-10	–	250
	Jeep	from 7	383	680

When choosing a metal construction set, consider not only the age category for which it is designed, but also individual characteristics your child.

Children under 3 years old should choose construction toys made from safe, large textile or plastic elements, and funny children's toys will help bring them maximum joy.

Despite the great popularity of plastic sets like "LEGO", metal sets for boys are becoming more and more in demand every year. Manufacturers come up with new models and make them more realistic, which invariably affects sales. And at a cost, metal construction sets are much more affordable than their plastic counterparts.