I'm going to get my complaints out of the way before I start heaping praise on this set (like the final model deserves).
I think the lack of paper instructions was a bad call, at least as far as the standard 4-treads-and-a-turret build is concerned. Call me old school, but I really don't care for computer or phone/tablet instructions. I especially don't care for how MCX does computer or phone/tablet instructions. You really need to download the Mega Construx app to understand what I'm talking about. After builds goodness knows how many MCX sets (probably somewhere around 300 of them), I have gotten pretty good at the MCX parts sorting and instruction system and I don't really make building mistakes. I had to use the included brick separator on almost every step of the online instructions, and at one point I even had to disassemble the set to fix a mistake that prevented me from attaching the tread pods. I really hope MCX doesn't do online instructions. As an adult, I had eye strain after sitting in front of the computer building the Scorpion and the Frostraven all day, and I can't imagine what that much screen time would do to a child's eyes. I really want to try out some of the other tread and turret builds, but I really don't want to subject my eyes to that kind of screen time again; so I won't ever be building them.
On to the reasons I like this set:
This is the first Halo Reach style scorpion we have gotten, and it looks great. I can honestly say that a lot of the building techniques were surprising in the best way. The features are cool, although I don't like the reliance on the COD weapon strap piece to power the realistic recoil feature, as those are notoriously easy to break.
Here's the best part of the set:
The treads aren't rubber and you have to build them!
MCX and Mega Bloks rubber treads are notoriously terrible. They split and break like Pangea, and at about the same speed. You never notice they are breaking until they are broken. This set solves this problem. All of the treads are built out of tiny little tread pieces that not only prevent the treads from breaking, but also gives the set a semi-realistic treads sound when you push the tank around. I can honestly say that I took a break from working on the tread pods to play with the tread pieces for about ten minutes.
If you can stand the instructions, then you should definitely buy this set. Amazon has this set for forty five bucks right now and the Frostraven for 48 bucks (which is thirty lower than what I payed for mine). The MCX design team did a great job on both sets.
I think the lack of paper instructions was a bad call, at least as far as the standard 4-treads-and-a-turret build is concerned. Call me old school, but I really don't care for computer or phone/tablet instructions. I especially don't care for how MCX does computer or phone/tablet instructions. You really need to download the Mega Construx app to understand what I'm talking about. After builds goodness knows how many MCX sets (probably somewhere around 300 of them), I have gotten pretty good at the MCX parts sorting and instruction system and I don't really make building mistakes. I had to use the included brick separator on almost every step of the online instructions, and at one point I even had to disassemble the set to fix a mistake that prevented me from attaching the tread pods. I really hope MCX doesn't do online instructions. As an adult, I had eye strain after sitting in front of the computer building the Scorpion and the Frostraven all day, and I can't imagine what that much screen time would do to a child's eyes. I really want to try out some of the other tread and turret builds, but I really don't want to subject my eyes to that kind of screen time again; so I won't ever be building them.
On to the reasons I like this set:
This is the first Halo Reach style scorpion we have gotten, and it looks great. I can honestly say that a lot of the building techniques were surprising in the best way. The features are cool, although I don't like the reliance on the COD weapon strap piece to power the realistic recoil feature, as those are notoriously easy to break.
Here's the best part of the set:
The treads aren't rubber and you have to build them!
MCX and Mega Bloks rubber treads are notoriously terrible. They split and break like Pangea, and at about the same speed. You never notice they are breaking until they are broken. This set solves this problem. All of the treads are built out of tiny little tread pieces that not only prevent the treads from breaking, but also gives the set a semi-realistic treads sound when you push the tank around. I can honestly say that I took a break from working on the tread pods to play with the tread pieces for about ten minutes.
If you can stand the instructions, then you should definitely buy this set. Amazon has this set for forty five bucks right now and the Frostraven for 48 bucks (which is thirty lower than what I payed for mine). The MCX design team did a great job on both sets.