Author: MaryB

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Spaghetteez Building Set – Boat

This Spaghetteez boat shows different connectors each building set has. These connectors allow you to connect a straw’s end to the middle of an another straw.

Spaghetteez is a unique brand of building sets with flexible tubes. Basic Spaghetteez pieces are plastic straws of different lengths, and they not only bend very well but also keep whatever shape you twist them into. They can bend again and again to form a flat surface, they can wrap around each other, form knots, and so on.

All the straws have special connectors on their ends, so you can connect any straws together, or loop a straw by connecting its own ends. The sets also have special connectors that will hold the straws together at certain angles or side by side. Or, if you need to connect two straws by their middles, you can just tie them together.

Just like any other straw, the Spagheettez set allows you to create lightweight and hollow shapes. However, these straws can hold together upright if your craft’s shape allows it. For example, you can create an animal, and it will actually stand on its legs. The Spaghetteez sets also include wheels, so you can create a vehicle and actually roll it around.

Unlike with many other sets with straws, you can’t cut Spaghetteez straws and continue to connect them. Spaghetteez straws have special connecting pieces on their ends, so they won’t be able to connect if you cut the end off. Because of this, the sets have many straws of different lengths.

Spaghetteez Building Set - Boat
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Clics Offroad

Clics Offroad is a set with big wheels to build different off-road vehicles. With relatively small number of pieces, it still offers many different models of vehicles you can play with after assembly.

ClicsToys, a Belgian company established in 2001, operates its very own factory located in Kempen, where they craft the popular Clics building blocks. These building sets mostly have square pieces, all sharing identical form and shape. What sets Clics apart is their ability to connect smoothly at the edges, allowing flexible joint movements.

Using these plastic squares, the creative possibilities are endless, even though Clics sets usually offer relatively few extra pieces and accessories. Some sets may include wheels and decorative panels, but few extra items. The true strength of Clics lies in the generous number of pieces in their sets, allowing you to make even biggest creations with ease. The pieces of Clics are too big to swallow and easy to hold, so they are safe, but some connections can be too tricky to younger kids. So the most sets are recommended for children who are 3 years old or older. However, these sets will be interesting even for the 10-years-olds.

The fundamental building blocks in Clics are square, which naturally leads to the cubic or brick-like structures. However, the great advantage of these blocks is the ability to connect them at various angles, making diverse shapes. Careful assembly can even give you triangular or sloping figures. Nevertheless, the most robust and tough structures in Clics are cube-shaped. Additionally, you can create flat mosaics by combining pieces of different colors.

Clics Offroad
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K’NEX 35 Model Building Set

This is a classic 480 piece K’NEX set with pieces like rods of different length and flake-like disks. Its package proposes 35 different models, but the actual number if things you can build, of course, is almost infinite.

This K’Nex 35 model set contains 480 pieces, including both large and small flake-like parts. It also comes with thick and thin rods that match these pieces, along with some rods meant to connect the larger and smaller flakes. These special pieces aren’t found in all K’Nex sets.

One great feature of this kit is that it includes a spacious storage box. You can use this box to store partially built toys and continue working on them later.

Just like with other K’Nex sets, the pieces in this one fit together securely. You can easily take apart your creations and use the pieces to build something new. The regular K’Nex pieces are sturdy and can withstand active play, while the mini K’Nex pieces are a bit more delicate. This 480 piece K’NEX set includes pieces of both sizes.

It’s important to note that although the crafts you can make with K’Nex can be quite large, some of the pieces, especially the mini ones, are very small. This can be risky for very young children who might accidentally swallow them. Also, these pieces may be a bit tricky for smaller kids to assemble correctly. That’s why K’Nex sets are recommended for kids aged 7 and older.

K’NEX 35 Model Building Set
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PLUS PLUS GO! Racing Cart Car

Plus Plus Go! are sets with moving parts most Plus Plus sets don’t have. They offer racing cars and other vehicles. This one is Plus Plus Racing Cart set. As always, you can build anything from the 240 pieces this set include.

Danish Plus Plus sets are among the most popular and well-known “waffle” building sets. Almost all pieces in these sets are exactly the same – except for the wheels and the baseplates. However, even with only the basic pieces, you can build almost anything.

All basic pieces have exactly the same shape and size – they look like two pluses joined together, hence the brand name. Each piece has two pegs on the long sides one peg on the short sides, and the matching empty spaces. The pieces are thick, so the pegs are as thick as they are long. Because of this, you can connect the pieces in any direction, they will hold well all the same. So you can build both 2D mosaics and all kinds of 3D shapes, connecting the pieces vertically, horizontally, or even with an angle. The Danish schools use Plus Plus kits as an educational tool. They help teach kids basic STEAM skills and help them develop fine motorics and creativity.

To add some difference and more variety to the crafts, the Plus Plus brand offers countless sets with different numbers and colors of the pieces. There are pieces of different colors and hues, glowing pieces, pieces with glitter, and so on. The sets also may include any number of the Plus Plus pieces. There are also both small traveling kits and big gift sets.

PLUS PLUS GO! Racing Cart Car
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Spaghetteez Building Set – Animals

Some animals from a Spaghetteez building set. These sets have small, short straws you can use for connection or decoration.

Spaghetteez is a unique brand of building sets with flexible tubes. Basic Spaghetteez pieces are plastic straws of different lengths, and they not only bend very well but also keep whatever shape you twist them into. They can bend again and again to form a flat surface, they can wrap around each other, form knots, and so on.

All the straws have special connectors on their ends, so you can connect any straws together, or loop a straw by connecting its own ends. The sets also have special connectors that will hold the straws together at certain angles or side by side. Or, if you need to connect two straws by their middles, you can just tie them together.

Just like any other straw, the Spagheettez set allows you to create lightweight and hollow shapes. However, these straws can hold together upright if your craft’s shape allows it. For example, you can create an animal, and it will actually stand on its legs. The Spaghetteez sets also include wheels, so you can create a vehicle and actually roll it around.

Unlike with many other sets with straws, you can’t cut Spaghetteez straws and continue to connect them. Spaghetteez straws have special connecting pieces on their ends, so they won’t be able to connect if you cut the end off. Because of this, the sets have many straws of different lengths.

Spaghetteez Building Set - Animals
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Chinese Magnetic Building Kit – Sets

Since it can be challenging to find Chinese construction sets by their names, which are often written in either Chinese characters or English letters and generic names that yield various search results, I have provided an image of all three sets for those who are interested in expanding their collection of construction sets. The crafts made from the set containing 52 pieces are shown in my other posts.

Chinese Magnetic Building Kit - Sets
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