Bought this set for my 4 year old, as his older brother loves his metal meccano, but this set is far too fiddly for him even with close supervision. He can manage lego and knex fine, but managing the nuts and bolts to assemble this is beyond him. The second disappointing aspect of this set, is that once the models are assembled, they are very wobbly, as the nuts don’t stay tight, so the finished toy can’t be zoomed around, like you can with knex or lego vehicles.

I wouldn’t recommend this toy, wait until they’re 8 or 9 and get them the real thing.

Rating: 2 / 5

I bought this for my 4 1/2 year old for xmas as he loves lego (recommended for age 5) which he can build complicated models unassisted.

This meccano set is virtually unusable. He is unable to build the models as he does not have the dexterity and finds the instructions too complicated to follow.

I thought that I could build some models for his to play with but I have struggled with some of the stages such as when too many componants need to be fixed togther with too short a bolt (the threads on some nuts are bent already). Even when built it is almost impossible to tighten sufficiently so the nuts loosen and the model falls apart. If I can’t build a model secure enough to play with, how is a 4 year old supposed to?

Wish I’d stuck with lego.
Rating: 2 / 5

I got this for my 5 year old son in the hopes that it would be easy for him to build, but he has difficulty putting it together. The instructions are clear, but it seems that you sometimes need two pairs of hands.

After helping him build one of the models he just wants to play with the toy, but is unable to. After 5 mins it is falling apart and needs re-tightning, by which time he has lost interest.

The box also states that you can build 10 models with the parts enclosed, but frustratingly, they only supply instruction for 5! I also found that it is not as durable as I hoped with some of the parts splitting after very little use.

A dissapointing toy!Meccano Set 2 Mechanical Construction Box
Rating: 2 / 5

Bought this item or my 4 yr old for christmas. Very dissapointing! Although it says 4+ on the box the actual meccano site states 5+ and I can see how. My son found this item very frustrating and got bored after a few minutes. The instructions are difficault to follow, somthings they suggest to do and not possible, screws and nuts come undone very easily. Box states you can make 10 models but instructions only give plans for 5. Once you realise that it’s not as good as you thought – too late to take it back as youv’e opened it.
Rating: 2 / 5

Bought for my 4 year old son. A brillinant purchase – great for fine motor control (fingers doing fiddly jobs), vocabulary of tools and pieces, good to spend time with him making something together. Good sturdy plastic – nice box to keep it all in. Now asking for the other 2 sets for Christmas.
Rating: 5 / 5