by David Smith
The Toy Fair, held this week at Olympia, always offers a great chance to get a sneak preview of some of the big new launches coming our way.
This year was no different, and after two days of strolling around looking at all the new stuff it’s safe to say that there are some exciting new products on the horizon.
Perhaps most exciting for retro buffs is the imminent re-launch of Bigtrak. Dubreq, the people behind the original and re-launched Stylophone, have decided there’s more mileage in the nostalgia market and have revamped another legendary techno toy.
Bigtrak has been slimmed down to half his original size and re-dubbed ‘Bigtrak Jr’, but we reckon he looks pretty nifty in his new, svelte guise. His feature count hasn’t been shrunk – quite the opposite in fact, as you can now program in 32 movements instead of the original 16.
We enjoyed a great demo of Bigtrak at the Dubreq stand and can report that as well as the robot itself, we will also be getting add-ons including a camera and a missile launcher.
You can find out more at www.bigtrakisback.com and a snippet of Bigtrak Jr in action is included in our Toy Fair video on YouTube.
Also of interest was the news that getretro.co.uk has signed a deal to produce a range of action figures from the TV show The Adventures of Merlin. The 3.75in. figures will go on sale in the summer and will include all the main characters and the dragon.
We saw the prototype sculpts the figures will be based on but sadly were not allowed to snap any pics or video. Also showing was a video demo of a planned castle construction playset.
For those who like to add a bit of extra expression to their electronic communications, bajca is a fun keyboard that plugs into your PC via USB and adds 16 instant emoticons to your typing possibilities.
Traditionalists may prefer to master the multiple keystrokes currently needed to add a smiley face with its tongue sticking out, but most will love the convenience of the bajca system – and it looks gorgeous as well. In fact, you can pop the emoticons out and use them as jewellery, apparently.
Flying toys were everywhere and we had a demo of Bladez Toyz’ latest gyro-equipped helicopter (which also features in our YouTube clip), while on the Revell stand there were more helicopters (including the Snake attack helicopter) and a pair of remote-controlled tanks just waiting to be turned loose on each other.
The Revell stand was also home to some spectacular looking model kits and the 73cm long USS Wasp, a WWII aircraft carrier, is sure to challenge and delight in equal measure. For those who like a gentler approach to modelling, the new Leonardo da Vinci collection, which includes his famous Air Screw, Crossbow and Glider designs, is a striking and really original range.
A final mention must go to the re:creation stand, where a Monty Python collection took pride of place. If you’ve ever wished for your own Norwegian Blue to re-enact the Dead Parrot Sketch (honestly, everyone in the office would think it was just hilarious), a Biggus Dickus corkscrew or a Mr Creosote vomiting sauce dispenser, your long wait is nearly over.