Christmas Giveaway: Angry Birds Island Challenge Slot Car Racing (Age 6+) Sent by Tobar

Maisto are a very well-known manufacturer of all kinds of small scale wheeled toys and collectibles. Die cast models, remote control vehicles and fantastic car tracks are just some of the Maisto items we've owned over the years and last month Tobar sent us their Angry Birds Island Challenge Slot Car Racing Set to review...

Everything arrives in a sturdy box and there is very little plastic packaging - nice one. You will need a whopping 8 x AA batteries to power your track, plus a small Phillips screwdriver, but it is Christmas morning-friendly otherwise and you can be playing in 5 minutes.

Inside the box you have 2.27m of track as 1 straight, 6 small curves, 4 large curves and battery section, plus 2 controllers, 2 vehicles, 6 adjustable track supports and 2 pieces of guard rail plus fastenings. There are also spare Guide Keel's for the underside of the cars (the bit that drops into the slot and keeps them on the track).

On the back of the box is a press-out (or cut out if you are a neat person) Eagle Mountain from the Angry Birds Movie. Removing it destroys the box, whereas usually I'd keep it for storage, however it is a nice addition to the set.

The cars are really nicely made and attractive, but top heavy, which will make them difficult to take around bends at speed. Included are Red and Leonard, with respective model vehicles. Familiar to anyone who has had slot car tracks in the past, 2 brushes underneath pick up the electricity and power the car.

The controllers are familiar slot car style, and feel good in your hand. They aren't heavy and are easily attached/detached from the track by plug in connections. There is a big range of power available at your fingertips, from 0-70% and 100% full power if you squeeze the trigger completely. This makes it instant and easier to drop the speed for bends and increase strength for hills.

Building the track is really easy. It's incredibly user-friendly with slot together tracks and really clever infinitely adjustable height supports.

Like most slot car tracks, there are 2 lanes and you can race 2 cars at a time. The track layout is a really quite tight figure of eight, with a steep rise and fall to get past. It's not an easy layout to get around, and the 'barriers' will not hold you on or bounce you back onto the track.

I think the Angry Birds Island Challenge Slot Car Racing Set is not ideal for an absolute beginner, because if a child opens it and attempts to use it with no experience, they may find it very frustrating and turn away.

This is an ideal set for an adult and child to use together, as they can troubleshoot and improve the track as a pair, and the adult can explain how to apply gentle pressure to the controller in order to complete curves and bends. I recommend this for age 8-9+.

The Angry Birds Island Challenge Slot Car Racing Set is available now priced £29.99 rrp. It's a nice gift for someone who likes Angry Birds, but not for anyone serious about slot car racing, hence the fair price tag. Amazon affiliate link below:

I'm pleased to be able to offer one of my readers their own Angry Birds Island Challenge set as a Christmas Present Giveaway prize. Entry to the giveaway is by Gleam form below. For a link to help with Gleam, or to see my other Christmas toy, book, gift and game giveaways, see my Giveaways Page.

The giveaway is open to UK entrants only and will close at midnight Sunday December 1st. Full terms and conditions are at the bottom of the Gleam form.

Christmas Giveaway: Angry Birds Island Challenge Slot Car Racing (Sent by Tobar)

We were sent our Angry Birds Island Challenge Slot Car Racing Set for review. Amazon links are affiliate, which means I earn a few pence as a thank you if you order through my link, but you don't pay any more.