Product Feature
1. The Mega Rig Shuttle Mission building system starts as one gigantic space ship
2. Becomes 30 separate super cool space vehicles you can combine any way you like
3. Plus it has lots of really cool accessories, like a space arm to grab things, an ATV and a UFO with a space alien inside
4. For ages 4 years and above
5. Promises hours of fun and imaginative interplanetary adventure
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Not even NASA has a shuttle that's this much of a blast. This Mega Rig building system starts as a gigantic spaceship and then becomes 30 separate super-cool space vehicles you can combine any way you like. Plus, it has lots of really cool accessories, like a space arm to grab things, an ATV and a UFO with a space alien inside. But don't let the alien and its flying saucer drag you away; the 30 out-of-this-world combinations mean that the Space Mission vehicle promises hours of fun and imaginative interplanetary adventure. Requires 3 AG13 button-cell batteries (included). Shuttle placed horizontal on transport measures 18"L x 10.5" W x 11"H. Shuttle placed vertical launch measures 12"L x 10.5"W x 18"H. Alien Spacecraft measures 5" diameter x 2.5"H.
Review
Little astronauts have all the gear they need to explore the reaches of outer space with the Mattel Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle Mission Set. Using parts that snap together easily, kids will love building 30 different space crafts and inventing new worlds to explore. While the set is recommended for explorers aged four and up, it has small parts that make it inappropriate for children who require constant monitoring.
The Mega Rig lets you build 30 different space crafts. View larger.
Kids can use their imagination to create intergalactic space fights. View larger.
What We Think
Fun Factor:
Durability:
(what this means)
The Good: Durable building system encourages imaginative play
The Bad: Lots of small parts to keep track of
In a Nutshell: The Mega Rig Space Shuttle Mission Set provides hours of fun constructing space vehicles and thinking up places to explore
At a Glance
Ages: 4 and up
Getting Ready for Your First Mission
Since part of the fun is in thinking up ways to build a spacecraft from the many different parts, this Mega Rig set is ready to go without any difficult or time-consuming set-up. The set includes simple, illustrated instructions that will help you and your child build a large space shuttle with an exterior fuel tank and an all-terrain vehicle base that can be used as a launching site. The instructions include photos of other possible configurations and illustrations showing important details such as how to launch missiles, lock the shuttle's arm in place for space walks, and the many ways to combine Mega Rig wheels.
The UFO included in this set features other-worldly lights and sound, and it is powered by three button-cell batteries (AG13/LR44). Test batteries are included, but you will want to purchase another set just in case. The Shuttle Mission Set is compatible with all Mega Rig building systems, making it easy to combine different sets and inspire kid's creativity.
Galactic Exploration
Once a spaceship has been assembled, there are plenty of missions your child can accomplish. Between launching the satellite into orbit and coordinating an exploratory space walk, your child will be busy watching out for missiles shot from the UFO with its alien inside. The durable octagon shaped connectors hold pieces of each space craft together until they are pulled apart on purpose.
Our favorite configurations included snapping the bright orange all-terrain wheels onto the shuttle or UFO for land adventures, combining the shuttle and the fuel cell into one gigantic space ship, and loading the launch pad with accessories to create a headquarters for operations on distant moons and planets.
Other cool features include a space arm controlled by a lever, an oversized astro grabber for moving equipment or keeping the alien at bay, and plenty of fun compartments for the astronaut and alien to hide in. Your child will surely want to take this shuttle everywhere, but with so many small parts to keep track of, traveling with this set can require extra attention to detail.
Long-Lasting Imaginative Play
The sturdy plastic shuttle and its accessories held up well throughout our vigorous test missions, and the Mega Rig building systems are known for their durability. The moving parts and hinged compartments that make this shuttle so much fun could potentially come apart with lots of rough play, but we found the system to be extremely durable.
With the alien and the astronaut ready to be your friend or enemy, and the ability to make more than one vehicle at the same time, this building system is great for cooperative play or a single child with an active imagination. The ability to combine and recombine parts in so many ways offers a new experience every time your child picks up a piece of this shuttle system, so the fun never runs out.
What's in the Box
33 parts that can be assembled into more than 30 different space vehicles.
User Reviews
Chear mega rig toy set
Best Christmas toy forever. This is the great toy for your children. It helps your children to create there imagination. I love this toy. It good for children ' science learning. The toy also funny to play. :2011-10-08 00:25:01
Funny.
I would like to say my boy love this very very much. I bought for him on Christmas day. He play it again and again. Today, I see the happy boy in my house and thank for this item. Thank you. :2011-06-15 01:54:23
We love this toy
I am not generally a fan of plastic toys requiring batteries. That said, this toy has been awesome. My three year old son plays with it frequently, imaginatively and for extended periods of time. I think that it will be a favorite for a long time to come.We love this shuttle space and recommend to buy.Never miss this toy for any reason.
Best toy I have ever seen. :2010-11-30 02:13:14
Great toy
pretty consistently since then. I cannot say that about most of his toys. Since it can be rearranged so many ways it really keeps my son's interest. He also has the space rover. We are so happy with this toy that we will be purchasing the pirate ship and lair for his 5th birthday. It's also cool to know the Mega Rigs are interchangeable. I would definitely recommend this for kids four years old and older. :2010-11-30 02:12:56
Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle
I highly recommend this toy for kiddos 5 and up (including adults). While this is an expensive toy at $79.99, it has many pieces, is very well constructed and designed to be assembled in many different ways. The most charming piece is the alien space ship which makes the greatest noise. This set works well with the smaller moon rover set which can also be assembled into the same parts system. It is well constructed and entertained my 5-yr old grandsons for a hour or more, as well as my older children. This is a toy that will be around when my 5-yr olds are 30, and how cool will it be to remember the space shuttles when looking at this toy in 30 years. :2010-11-30 02:12:37
Even a partial!
My son was rummaging through the toy bin at the thrift store and came across just a few of these parts; the front, the middle minus the doors, the rear booster and a pilot. I tried to convince him it was not a complete toy but he wouldn't be swayed. For almost a year now this has been his favorite toy. I know it had been someone else's favorite toy because any markings or makers marks were gone and it took me months to research and find out who made it. I had a clue when it fit so perfectly with his other mega rig toys! (dinosaurs are a big hit for 6 year old boys) I'm definitely going to be his hero with the complete set! Usually I rotate half the toys out to storage every three months or so but the space shuttle is the only toy he keeps full time. I love listening to the stories he comes up with for a few pieces of plastic. :2010-11-30 02:12:18
Even at this Price
This may be the best toy I ever bought my now 5 1/2 year-old. He constantly comes back to it. I don't remember how much I paid for it, but it may even be worth the current going rate of $150+; he loves it that much. This could be the perfect blend of what a kid wants in a toy and what a parent wants (except for the several pieces that need to be picked up, but at least they are large and findable between couch cushions.) :2010-11-30 02:11:57
Fantastic Toy
This is an amazing toy. My 5-year-old got it for his birthday. He loves it! There are so many different ways to put it together and it is pretty easy to figure out how. Plus it doesn't have to be put together any certain way so the imagination can take over and play can continue without any frustration. It is a bit difficult to open the cargo doors and they fall off pretty easy, but they also go back on easily. The only real negative is the alien space ship makes an obnoxious sound. I wish I had taken the battery out before I gave it to my son. The biggest pro is that it will be a toy that he can play with for many years before he outgrows it. I do wish there was more than one astronaut. All in all Im very impressed with this toy. :2010-11-30 02:11:37
Suprised
I am so suprised at how this toy has survived over the last week. It came out looking pretty cheap and destructable, but after a week of heavy play by 3 rough boys, it it still all in working order. There are enough pieces and combinations that everyone is content to play with a section at a time. Our 3 year old twins have no problems pulling it apart and putting it together in new combos by themselves. A nice bonus.
I am very happy this toy has worked out.
(I am adding this note a year later) This toy has survived the year and is still very popular with our kids. Only 1 small thing broke, but didn't effect the toys playability or safety. We will be getting other sets in this series. :2010-11-30 02:11:05
Worth the wait
I ordered this in March and was sent an e-mail within a week or two that it was on back order. I waited 4 months for it to become available, ignoring the e-mails Amazon sent suggesting I could cancel the order. Since arriving last week, my five year old son has barely looked at any of his other toys. He has developed intricate stories around the many different parts of the toy, which includes rocket, space shuttle, launcher, UFO, and can be mixed and matched to more varieties of space ships than he will ever need. The entire line of Mega Rig toys have proven to be one of my best investments for encouraging my son's story telling skills. Their are so many things you can do with them and they are easy for a five year olds strength and abilities. There are many small parts that require you to keep track of them, so get a small basket for safe keeping when not in use. If you lose too many of the small parts the changing forms of it are limited. :2010-11-30 02:10:45
Excitement for several ages
When I gave this gift to my 5-year old grandson, several of his older cousins (6-12, male and female) all wanted to play with this. They played for several hours and then we finally had to put the toy away so that our grandson could enjoy his new toy. It's been about two weeks now and he (and his siblings) are enjoying this toy very much. He plays with it everyday and has fun creating different objects.
It is well made and very durable (trust me - my grandsons are not real easy on toys). This one has been tried, tested, and passed with flying colors :2010-11-30 02:10:20
Favorite for Christmas
My 5 year old got this set along with the Matchbox Mega Rig Space Rover for Christmas. These sets were easy to put together and have provided hours and hours of fun. The Space Shuttle set comes with parts to build up to 30 different space vehicles. Instructions are easy to follow (although you dont need instructions if you just want to be creative). The pieces are big and chunky which make it easy to pull apart/snap together. The alien and its spacecraft are the perfect addition to an already great set.
This set was an even bigger hit with my son than the Lego Space Police space station... and with its larger pieces it cleans up nicer too. The only downside is I wish this set came with a case to store it all in. But for a few extra dollars we purchased a big tupperware case for all our space gear. Definitely recommend :2010-09-15 13:39:59
We love this toy!
I am not generally a fan of plastic toys requiring batteries. That said this toy has been awesome. My three year old son plays with it frequently imaginatively and for extended periods of time. I think that it will be a favorite for a long time to come. :2010-09-15 13:39:59
Great toy!
My son received this for his 4th birthday almost a year ago and he has played with it pretty consistently since then. I cannot say that about most of his toys. Since it can be rearranged so many ways it really keeps my sons interest. He also has the space rover. We are so happy with this toy that we will be purchasing the pirate ship and lair for his 5th birthday. Its also cool to know the Mega Rigs are interchangeable. I would definitely recommend this for kids four years old and older. :2010-09-15 13:39:59
Matchbox Mega Rig Space Shuttle
I highly recommend this toy for kiddos 5 and up (including adults). While this is an expensive toy at $79.99 it has many pieces is very well constructed and designed to be assembled in many different ways. The most charming piece is the alien space ship which makes the greatest noise. This set works well with the smaller moon rover set which can also be assembled into the same parts system. It is well constructed and entertained my 5-yr old grandsons for a hour or more as well as my older children. This is a toy that will be around when my 5-yr olds are 30 and how cool will it be to remember the space shuttles when looking at this toy in 30 years. :2010-09-15 13:39:59
Perfect for my son
Knowing other mega rig sets I ordered this without having seen the pictures, but I had not imagines how much fun my 6-year old and his friend would have with this. Realistic enough for easy gameplay but also flexible enough to vary things. And it is - like all the mega rig stuff - almost indestructible, an important consideration in our household. : 2010-08-07 13:01:23
