GRIPPING STUFF

I do like a good robot and especially enjoy a toy that operates like the real thing. One of the best models I have is the Bandai Robot Arm Machine, a chunky remote control toy with interchangeable accessories. As if the toy wasn't cool enough on its own, Bandai opted for packaging art from mecha maestro Yoshiyuki Takahashi. His amazing style has graced model boxes for decades and looks totally cool here too, giving a good model an even more exciting presentation.

The robot has rubber treads and full movement control, as well as firing missile bank, operating claw arm and a power shovel.

Although the grip strength isn't huge, it is great fun to play with. Blue Box toys clearly saw a good thing and copied the design, with their own slightly larger version, again with power shovel and gripping arm.

Electronics company Tandy also got a piece of the action with a huge radio control Robot Tank version, with fully operable claw. This one is much more powerfula and capable of lifting a little weight. It has a tracked chassis and great range - ideal for charging round the garden on search and rescue missions!

To test your robotic dexterity, Tomy made the Armatron - a remote control arm with dual joystick control, that you can use to assemble a small array of parts into a module. Its a great way to develop control techniques and a delicay of touch.

Having developed said skills, Tomy then ive you the option to go mobile, with the Mobile Armatron! The big brother is more of a standard robot shape with a large single arm and a wheeled base, so that the whole robot can be moved about into position, befre using the fully 360* range of movement on the arm, all controlled from a tethered joypad.