Hornby for a 6-year-old?

onlyroz

Any opinions about whether Hornby train sets are suitable for a 6.5-year-old? Would he be able to assemble the track himself, and operate the trains with minimal difficulty? Or would something like the Lego train sets be more suitable?

I'm struggling to think of Christmas present ideas, short of buying MORE lego models, or MORE Wii games or MORE action figures, or getting him a 3DS (he's already got a DSi, which he hasn't had that long). All this stuff would just add to the already huge mountain of toys in his over-stuffed room...

Lotus-eater

Sounds like he's got more than enough already. What about a bike?

I_luv_cats

A 3ds is unsuitable for aged 6 and under (in 3ds handbook) as it could damage their vision. Being 6.5 I'd be still cautious and really not worth spending £££ as he has a dsi already and there aren't many 3ds games out yet.

I think a Hornby/other train set would be a good idea. But if you want to do it properly it will cost £££ for the train set, more track, more rolling stock, scenery, accessories. (a board to put it on ??)

It would bring some extra creativity into the childs mind, don't think putting together would be a problem as children are very clever / soon learn.

onlyroz

Yes, I know the stuff about not giving a 3DS to an under-7, but he's nearly there. I probably won't get him one - I've got a 3DS, which I let him use occasionally, but not for extended periods.

Regarding the Hornby, if I went that route I'd probably get him a few new trains, controllers etc, and try and get some second-hand track off eBay. I'm concerned about how much room it would take up, and how easy it is to assemble, because we don't have anywhere that the track could be set up permanently - his room is too small for more than a small layout. We do have room downstairs, in the living room, but I wouldn't want it set up all the time.

Spendless

onlyroz wrote: »

I'm concerned about how much room it would take up, and how easy it is to assemble, because we don't have anywhere that the track could be set up permanently - his room is too small for more than a small layout. We do have room downstairs, in the living room, but I wouldn't want it set up all the time.

This is why we never bothered. The scalexteric that DS had was only occassionally played with. When my DS got to around 8, he outgrew lego and moved onto k'nex instead. He builds his own designs and did with lego too, but you can buy boxed sets.

onlyroz

Quite a nice set here for £200:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Huge-Job-Lot-101pcs-of-Hornby-Track-00-Gauge-L-K-/160646653425?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item25674965f1#ht_4305wt_1156

peachyprice

onlyroz wrote: »

how easy it is to assemble, because we don't have anywhere that the track could be set up permanently - his room is too small for more than a small layout. We do have room downstairs, in the living room, but I wouldn't want it set up all the time.

From experience, unless you have room to leave it up for a period of time, even if it's just a week, don't bother.

It takes ages to se up and get going, if they have to take it all apart and put it away the same day, they just won't bother using it more than a few times.

MackemPunk

A 6 year old would not be able to set up a Hornby set IMO, they are very fiddly and quite fragile, also my 5 and 7 y/o got bored of it after a few days when they realised that all it it does is go round in circles with very little interaction.

meeps

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornby-R1121-Devon-Flyer-Gauge/dp/B00260GAN8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1315682246&sr=8-4

we got my son something along those lines for his 5th or 6th birthday/xmas and he did really enjoy it, but we set it up and he drives it, the oval just fits on our large coffee table or on the rug in his bedroom, but its a get out for the weekend type of toy. I don't personally see a huge amount of play value in it, but what is has done is create a love for real steam trains, model railway events etc that get us out and about, we went to see the Tornado train in action this morning and he would love the hornby model for that.

for christmas I am thinking of an annual pass to a nearby museum, as even he agrees he doesn't play with 'kids toys' much, he'd rather take apart an old computer!

Counting_Pennies_2

He sounds like a very lucky boy.

One thought I had was that the toys you mention are all singular in terms of anyone to join in and play.

Maybe some outside games such as swing ball for one or two players if inside is filling up?

Ravenlady_2

You can turn the 3d off on the 3ds, it makes my eyes go boss eyed too but its a good console and some preloaded games and cards