Introduction

The M-Gears toy construction sets are the M-Gears Building Set and 2 remote-controlled vehicle sets (see below).  Each comes with instructions to build multiple creations which may remind readers of our perennial favorite – Lego. M-Gears distinction is the intricate interplay of many many gears instead of simple building blocks. But without the difficulties of below).  Each comes with instructions to build multiple creations which may remind readers of our perennial favorite – Lego. M-Gears distinction is the intricate interplay of many many gears instead of simple building blocks. But without the difficulties of Lego Technic. Children will find M Gears far more forgiving, and likely more fun to create with.

Building the M-Gears plans included with the sets is a lot of fun but watching them move is mesmerizing.

M-Gears is sturdy and colorful. While they don’t advertise it loudly, M-Gears is compatible with Lego and other popular building blocks. We tested this out you can plug Lego blocks right onto your vehicles!

While younger kids can enjoy Elmo Live – if Mom and Dad can find one that is – M-Gears is perfect for a slightly older and more inquisitive child.

M-Gears Building Set

M-Gears Building Set

The M-Gears Building Set can serve as both the starter set and the expert set.  We recommend it for two reasons: it comes with a lot of parts (300!) and it contains instructions for many creations which helps children better understand the kinds of cool things that can be built with M-Gears. So it’s a great place to begin and the best set to use for all-new creations.

We got a little worried checking out the box art up close – all those gears and colors looked fun but also complicated and potentially frustrating. It only took a few minutes with the parts to change our minds. Learning Resources designed M-Gears very well.  Parts are sturdy, fit together smoothly and the instructions are visual, clear and make building process simple. As with all building sets we had a few lapses when ‘reading’ the instructions but we were still learning the gears concept. After a few minutes it became second nature. As we moved past our first creation this problem seemed to go away. It does take time to build some of the larger sets. This probably isn’t the kind of toy you want to take traveling to eat up a few minutes here and there, aside from the fear of losing precious parts!

When we finished our first Building Set creation, the airplane, we were impressed with the pure kinetic joy of the thing. Aim the finished toy and watch the hundreds of gears and parts do their thing. Seeing all those gears we placed move in every direction was both fun in itself and a good reward for the time and concentration we put in. It’s a great pay-off.

Note, the Building Set is motorized but not remote-controlled like the two vehicle sets we researched below.

M-Gears Remote Control Vehicle Sets

M-Gears Grand Prix

The remote-control M Gears sets are fairly similar but both are sold separately from the Building Set above. They are the Remote Control Grand Prix Car and the Remote Control Off-Road Racer.  Each comes with 200 pieces. The Off-Road Set comes with instructions to also build a Tow Truck while the Grand Prix Set comes with instructions to build a Moon Buggy.  Guess they have a thing for moon buggies! But this time the result is larger and of course remote controlled.

The remote control chassis in both sets can support many kinds of vehicles and with even more parts from the M-Gears Building Set – and maybe some Lego blocks as well – you are able to create with very little limitation other than your child’s own imagination.

You’ll probably want to get at least one of these if your son or daughter enjoys M-Gears as it’s the perfect complement to the M-Gears Building Set.

Note that the vehicles are not blazingly fast. Dad’s won’t need to fear one of these rushing under his slippers while he walks to get the paper Sunday morning. And that’s a good thing.

Where To Get It

K-Bee Toys and other online stores like Amazon.

Target online or in stores. But be aware that availability may be a problem as Target doesn’t stock M-Gears sets in all stores.

Recommended Ages

Learning Resources recommends M-Gears for children 7 to 12 years of age. With children it really all depends on your son or daughter and their aptitude to this kind of play. The smallish parts and need to read instructions (at least to get the result shown on the box) might frustrate the younger set. Younger children will enjoy this most when accompanied by an adult for assistance. Really, this is the best way to play anyway! We think M-Gears is a well designed and thought-out line of toys and that most children – and their parents and grandparents – will find plenty  to enjoy here.

M-Gears Photos