FAQ'S

Almost anyone can build one of our cars - you don't need any special skills or experience. We sell patterns, parts, part kits, whole kits and complete cars, so there's something to suit every budget. Our vehicles are superior in every way to the many plastic offerings you see in toy shops.

Size / Age: All our cars are designed to get through the average door [30" / 762mm]. The Toylander cars are large enough to take a 6' 15 stone adult and two five year olds. The Tractor will take a similarly sized adult easily. The Geepstar will take an adult just! The Mayfair takes children drivers up to eight or nine years old. The record for oldest customer at purchase for their own use is 83 years young!

Petrol: Due to the extra dangers involved in installing petrol engines the child safety rules require a stricter set of standards to deal with explosion, heat, gasses and noise plus the recent ruling that only adults with a valid driving licence are allowed to drive a petrol vehicle of any size in a public place, we do not encourage or have knowledge of fitment to our models.

Pedal power: the all up weight and size of these toys discount the viability of Pedal Power. Build without motor and push the car for some real exercise.

Electric drive: The standard cars are one wheel drive and a Toylander will pull away on the flat with two adults on board [a tight squeeze!] without problem. I would not recommend it as a regular thing but it was demonstrated at Billing Land Rover show 06 to prove a point. However twin drive transforms the torque and running time tremendously. A partial differential effect is gained when two motors are used in series. There is no comparison with any plastic or toy shop car, pedal or motorised.

These models can be powered by either one or two motors: One motor one battery one drive wheel; two motors, two batteries i.e. one per motor two drive wheels.  Motor drives through chain to wheel.

Drive choices: Soft Start is designed for use around Tiny Tots and if there is some resistance felt it will not pull away. Older children and adults have a little difficulty with pulling away and convert to either Direct Drive or Speed Control.
 

Direct drive: is as it suggests and allows forward and reverse. Include a cut out switch to disable the car when unattended or emergency stop. I use this system on the prototype Toylander and Geepstar demonstrator.

Speed control: this system works like the throttle on Scalextric® the more you press the faster you go except the throttle is under foot in the Toylander. It comes complete with forward and reverse switch, ignition switch, linear throttle and full instructions. Great for teaching reversing trailers. This system can be seen on the Toylander 1 demonstrator.

4 X 4: Vehicles are not four wheel drive vehicles.

Play time duration: In the average level back garden with regular cut grass and a path or patio at the same level the little cars will last for the best part of a day on average. When giving rides at the local school in the playground or on cut and level playing field the cars run for about three and a half to four hours depending on the number of riders at a time. This is equivalent to half the time running and half the time changing and instructing drivers. When we are at a showground and the children drive the car around all day they use a twin motor model and get about seven hours or so depending on the terrain.

Patterns: The Mayfair, Geepstar and Toylander 2 are all supplied with a set of full size paper patterns to cut out, stick down and cut through with a jigsaw to produce the panels. The Tractor and Toylander One have patterns for the tricky panels and all the standard square and oblong panels are produced from dimensioned drawings.

Doors on the Toylanders:  In the original design we decided against this route as it complicates the job for the average builder and meant that we would need to add considerable extra weight to replace the lost strength from the sides or get into a welded chassis. We overcame entry concern [which turned out to be un-founded] by supplying a step, in the ancillary pack, for the side to ease entry for the smallest driver.

When the cars were tested for 'Child safety' the advice was that for doors cars must comply with 'Slam', 'Pinch' and 'Trap' rules. e.g. full length hinges, large gaps, hinge covers etc., etc.. 

Roof: Fitting a roof limits the age of driver that can be accommodated. The Geepstar has a canvas top option and in five years none have been built. It works to a greater point on the Geepstar because the screen is proportionally higher and the doors are cut away. Geepstar with Canvas top fits children up to about age 5.

Batteries: Safe choice GEL or AGM 33 or 35Amp hr. Can use Caravan deep cycle make sure they fit and have looped overflow pipe to catch acid. Car batteries: only use if you already have one but don't expect and old one to be powerfull enough to power up the electronics.

Remote control: We have a system of remote control suitable for the Speed Controlled vehicles.

Shipping Parts / Kits Worldwide: We have shipped to New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Taiwan, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, South Africa, Cyprus, Japan, United Arab Emirates: Jordan & Dubai, Germany, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Singapore, Honk Kong, USA, Guatemala, IOM, IOW, France, Italy, Belgium, The Philippines, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Malta, In addition we have sent patterns to Cyprus, Israel, Taiwan, Greece, The Channel Isles and Russia.

Parts:  All parts are available from the stores individually, small packs and whole kits. There is no need to struggle to find any of the parts.