The novelties 2012

Action is what you’re going to get with the new fischertechnik ADVANCED Rolling Action set. With 260 components and the flexi-rails they’re familiar with from the PROFI Dynamic set, children age 7 and over can build three fast obstacle courses for roller balls and three basic models helped by the building instructions.

One, two, three – go! The starting lever shoots the steel ball into the obstacle course along the flexi-rails. The ball lands in the counter-weighted elevator, which conveys it to the top. From there, a catapult sends the ball on its way accelerated by a loop, curves and a teeter-totter. Destination reached. And the game starts over. This set makes understanding how energy is transformed in a chain reaction child’s play. The obstacle courses are built on two fischertechnik base plates, which provide the required stability for the structures and guarantee lasting fun. The basic sets teach children how the action elements work so that they can go on to build more complex courses. Out of just a few elements, they can build a simple obstacle course with sloping levels, an elevator or a miniature golf course

fischertechnik ADVANCED Rolling Action:

aged 7+, 260 components with 4 balls and 11 flexi-rails, 6 models, available from March 2012.

With its cool offroad buggy, the new fischertechnik Cars & Drives set promises no end of fun and games and opens up opportunities for discovery and experimentation with some unusual drives. Including 270 components, a pullback motor and other elements, it lets kids aged 9 and over build 8 different models with the help of the building instructions and an instructive booklet.

The trike runs silently towards its goal – driven by a rubber band which unwinds from the drive axis. Even the propulsive energy contained in a flexible rod made from fischertechnik parts will amaze budding engineers – it is simply attached by a string to the drive axis. With a few puffs, blow up a balloon to power a vehicle using pullback energy, as in a jet propulsion engine. In strong winds, the three-wheeled vehicle, such as the kite buggy, moves with the aid of a sail. But it can go faster: with a pullback motor on the back, the models simply race away. Aided by the instructive booklet, young scientists learn how energy is generated and converted into propulsive power for vehicles. There’s also fun in store designing and building the off-road buggy. With its sprung chassis and cross-country tyres, the model is excellently well-equipped for offroad adventure. What’s more, once fitted with the extra PLUS Control, PLUS Motor XM and PLUS Sound + Lights sets, the motorised buggy can be steered by remote control through the playroom.

fischertechnik PROFI Cars & Drives: Aged 9+, 270 components with pullback motor, 8 models, instructive booklet, available from June 2012.

Air is the medium of motion behind the new fischer PROFI Pneumatic 3 construction set. With its new compact high-performance compressor, fischertechnik’s conventional construction set range just became a whole lot more exciting. Offering 360 components, a compressor, pneumatic cylinders, manual valves and tubing, kids aged 9 and over can construct 8 different models with the help of the detailed instructions and informative booklet... 

Making hardly any noise, the large claw moves to pick up a tree trunk. And it’s not the only thing in motion: using manual valves, you can operate various pneumatic functions featured on the tractor. The basic model with steering can be converted into different versions featuring either a tree trunk claw, a front loader, or a hay bale claw.

Powered by a 9-volt battery, the compressor supplies the necessary air pressure. This is more compact and performs more effectively than the components used previously. In addition to the vehicular models, the principle of pneumatics is clearly demonstrated using instructive models such as a lifting platform or sliding door

fischertechnik PROFI Pneumatic 3: aged 9+, 360 components, plus a compressor, 4 pneumatic cylinders, battery holder, manual valves, tubing, 8 models, instructive booklet, available from July 2012

Pneumatic cylinders hiss, their air pressure supplied by a gently humming compressor – the noises coming from the kids’ room are more like those you’d expect in a small factory: with the new fischertechnik COMPUTING ROBO TX ElectroPneumatic construction kit budding designers aged 10 and over, not to mention the young at heart, can build four different models – following the detailed instructions and an informative booklet.

A suction claw arm lifts a component from the parts feed. An optical sensor detects the colour and sorts the components into a storage rack. The construction kit, featuring a compressor, a mini motor, pneumatic cylinders and a special suction facility, transforms the kids’ room into a mini factory. The inclusion of photoelectric switches and an optical colour sensor means there’s no limit to the creative fun that can be had.

A new game – a new chance. The same goes for the ever-popular pinball machine, a game that demands both patience and skill. Using ROBO TX ElectroPneumatic components you can create a fully functional pinball machine with a computer-controlled High Score counting mechanism.The components can also be used to create a ball run featuring a claw grip robot, designed to suction lift the balls at the end of the course and deposit them at the beginning again. And the game starts over. The design and programming of a compressed air engine is another fascinating option. Electromagnetic valves enable the suction and pneumatic components to be controlled by computer. To do this the valves are connected up to the fischertechnik ROBO TX controller. Using the ROBO Pro graphics software, you can program the systems on your PC. To operate the ROBO TX ElectroPneumatic construction kit, you need the ROBO TX Controller, the ROBO Pro software, and either the PLUS Accu Set or the PLUS Power Set.

fischertechnik ROBO TX ElectroPneumatic: aged 10+, 400 components including an optical colour sensor, compressor, electromagnetic valves, pneumatic cylinders, photoelectric switches, tubing, push buttons, 4 models, instructive CD-ROM, available from March 2012