About Thames & Kosmos Thames & Kosmos was founded in 2001 with the mission of improving informal science education outside of the classroom by publishing high-quality science kits for children of all ages. T&K's mission has since expanded from its STEM roots to encompass other educational branches as well, including arts and crafts and the panoply of thinking and social skills that can be taught through games and magic. T&K places an emphasis on teaching concepts and skills through tactile processes. Our vision is to give all children access to real, physical activities and projects that teach them how things work. Remote-Control Machines: Construction Vehicles Build remote-controlled models of heavy-duty construction vehicles Build eight models of realistic heavy-duty construction vehicles and control them with a remote-control unit. The models can be controlled both to drive around on the floor and to move their work tools, such as buckets, shovels, forks, and cranes. A 64-page, full-color manual guides you through model building with step-by-step illustrated instructions. Read the manual to learn how the real-life versions of these awesome machines are so powerful and how their various mechanisms function. Ages 6 and up 64-page, full-color manual 227 pieces 8 models The Remote The six-button, multi-channel remote control unit allows up to four motors to be used at the same time in the same space (additional motors sold separately). To control a model, set the motor unit and the remote to the same channel (1-4) to enable them to communicate. One set of buttons on the IR remote control unit drives the vehicle forward and backward. The second set of buttons controls the vehicle's steering. The third set of buttons controls the "action" of the vehicle, such as lifting the bucket on the dump truck. The Manual A 64-page, full-color manual guides you through model building with step-by-step illustrated instructions. Read the manual to learn how the real-life versions of these awesome machines are so powerful and how their various mechanisms function. Discover how they can use physics to their advantage to move massive amounts of soil and rock. Investigate the concepts of force, torque, and simple machines with these working models. The Models Build a bulldozer with a blade that can be raised and lowered, a backhoe with a digging bucket that can move inward and outward, and a dump truck with a dump bed that can be raised up to empty its contents. Make a mobile crane truck with a crane arm that moves up and down, a skid loader with a bucket that also moves up and down, and a road grader with a scraper blade that turns left and right. Assemble a forklift with a fork that can be raised and lowered and a concrete mixer truck with a mixing drum that rotates. Instructions for two additional models — a reach forklift and a wheel tractor-scraper — are available online. What's Inside The kit comes with 227 building pieces including one four-channel remote control unit and three motor units to enable the construction vehicles to move forward and backward, side to side, and to move their work tools. The plastic building system is compatible with other Thames & Kosmos Construction, Engineering, and Physics kits--combine the pieces to create your own configurations limited only by your imagination! Educational Value After kids build each model, they learn more about the vehicles they constructed in the 'Check It Out' sections in the manual. For example, after building the crane, further information details how levers and pulleys are used to minimize the amount of work needed to lift an object off the ground. Quality Assurance & Customer Satisfaction Thames & Kosmos is committed to providing quality products that users can enjoy and learn from for a long time. Our customer service department is available to troubleshoot any problems that may arise while using our kits, and replacement parts are also available. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. We love our products and want you to have the best possible experience with them.
