Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

Mattel and Amazon.com have teamed up to offer this item in Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging, a recyclable, easy-to-open alternative to traditional packaging. A Frustration-Free Package comes without excess packaging materials such as wire ties, hard plastic "clamshell" casings, and plastic bindings. It’s designed to be opened without the use of a box cutter or knife and will protect your product just as well as traditional packaging during shipping. The Frustration-Free Packaging on this toy saves on 4-color printing and minimizes the use of PVC windows, blister packs, fasteners, and 4-color inserts. This item ships in its own box, without the need for an additional shipping box .

Little astronauts have all the gear they need to explore the reaches of outer space with the Mattel Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle Mission Set. Using parts that snap together easily, kids will love building 30 different space crafts and inventing new worlds to explore. While the set is recommended for explorers aged four and up, it has small parts that make it inappropriate for children who require constant monitoring.

The Mega Rig lets you build 30 different space crafts. View larger.

Kids can use their imagination to create intergalactic space fights. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Durable building system encourages imaginative play The Bad: Lots of small parts to keep track of In a Nutshell: The Mega Rig Space Shuttle Mission Set provides hours of fun constructing space vehicles and thinking up places to explore At a Glance Ages: 4 and up

Getting Ready for Your First Mission
Since part of the fun is in thinking up ways to build a spacecraft from the many different parts, this Mega Rig set is ready to go without any difficult or time-consuming set-up. The set includes simple, illustrated instructions that will help you and your child build a large space shuttle with an exterior fuel tank and an all-terrain vehicle base that can be used as a launching site. The instructions include photos of other possible configurations and illustrations showing important details such as how to launch missiles, lock the shuttle's arm in place for space walks, and the many ways to combine Mega Rig wheels.

The UFO included in this set features other-worldly lights and sound, and it is powered by three button-cell batteries (AG13/LR44). Test batteries are included, but you will want to purchase another set just in case. The Shuttle Mission Set is compatible with all Mega Rig building systems, making it easy to combine different sets and inspire kid's creativity.

Galactic Exploration
Once a spaceship has been assembled, there are plenty of missions your child can accomplish. Between launching the satellite into orbit and coordinating an exploratory space walk, your child will be busy watching out for missiles shot from the UFO with its alien inside. The durable octagon shaped connectors hold pieces of each space craft together until they are pulled apart on purpose.

Our favorite configurations included snapping the bright orange all-terrain wheels onto the shuttle or UFO for land adventures, combining the shuttle and the fuel cell into one gigantic space ship, and loading the launch pad with accessories to create a headquarters for operations on distant moons and planets.

Other cool features include a space arm controlled by a lever, an oversized astro grabber for moving equipment or keeping the alien at bay, and plenty of fun compartments for the astronaut and alien to hide in. Your child will surely want to take this shuttle everywhere, but with so many small parts to keep track of, traveling with this set can require extra attention to detail.

Long-Lasting Imaginative Play
The sturdy plastic shuttle and its accessories held up well throughout our vigorous test missions, and the Mega Rig building systems are known for their durability. The moving parts and hinged compartments that make this shuttle so much fun could potentially come apart with lots of rough play, but we found the system to be extremely durable.

With the alien and the astronaut ready to be your friend or enemy, and the ability to make more than one vehicle at the same time, this building system is great for cooperative play or a single child with an active imagination. The ability to combine and recombine parts in so many ways offers a new experience every time your child picks up a piece of this shuttle system, so the fun never runs out.

What's in the Box
33 parts that can be assembled into more than 30 different space vehicles.

I purchased the Space Shuttle for my 6 yr old grandson, very easy for him to assemble. The best part for me was one cardboard box, quick & easy to open.

[How can I rate it when it is still in the box?!]

I did not know what "Frustration Free" meant when I purchased this toy. The explanations were not there a couple of months ago when I bought this. 'Frustration Free" means all of the parts are just stuffed into a carton, all willy nilly. None of the original packaging is there! This might be all right for, say, a single electronic item, but toys, especially with many parts, deserve their own home! (And look on eBay: When purchasing a used toy, the condition of the box is as important as the item itself.) I called customer service and she said to buy the other version; that Amazon would refund my original purchase. Hah! They have raised the prices! Yes, the "no FF" is more expensive, but the version I bought is also higher. Am I disappointed? You bet. We are taking our granddaughter to the Tucson planetarium to a children's show about exploring in space. A lot of emotional satisfaction centered on this gift.

Gave it to the 4 year old for Christmas and his 3 and 13 year old brothers "helped" him play with it. Oh, Dad jumped in too.

Rocket ships are difficult to find for young (3-5 yr old) children, but this one is out of this world! There are many different ways to build and rebuild this toy so it keeps my son fascinated for long periods of time. He has launches to different "planets" around the house (the couch, the dining room table, etc.) and explores them all. It is a great educational tool that inspires creativity and dramatic play.

if you are interested in this product, be sure to get the cheaper, environmentally safer packaging. it isn't as fancy, but the kids don't care. they get the same stuff for a cheaper price and it's better for the environment