Small plastic balls may not seem like a big deal, but they are central to the Rokenbok construction universe. The more of them you have on your construction site, the more there are to be loaded, conveyor-belted, chuted, and dumped using all your other gadgets. This set contains 100 balls--50 large (0.75 inch) blue and 50 small (0.5 inch) red. The Rokenbok construction system, of which the balls are a part, incorporates a vast array of snap-together construction modules, as well as radio-controlled vehicles and other snazzy motorized widgets. With a central control module, it's possible to remotely command up to eight different machines using either one or multiple handsets. Cleverly designed radio controls steer and move a very responsive vehicle using only one thumb for control and are quickly interchangeable between vehicles. Detailed building plans are included, though they are not as easy to follow as you might hope. The constructed sets are probably too fragile for use around younger siblings but are endlessly expandable. --Richard Farr
