KIDKRAFT VOLCANO TRAIN TABLE WITH 95 PIECE TRAIN SET

• KIDKRAFT VOLCANO TRAIN SET
• 95 PIECE TRAIN SET WITH TRACK
• ROUND STORAGE TABLE
• DINOSAUR CRANE

My wife and I bought this product from Costco as a Christmas present for our 3 1/2 year old grandson.As others have stated, it was quite a project to put together.However, as the construction process proceeded, we were very impressed by how stout and sturdy the table was.

Once the table was put together though, things went rapidly downhill from there.Putting the track together was akin to trying to assemble some sort of rickety Rube Goldberg Machine.However, after a lot of frustrating building and rebuilding, we finally got it put together.

At that point, I figured we should play with it a bit to see how well it would actually work out for our grandson. One of the first things I discovered, and I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it here yet, was that the freight cars, when loaded with freight, don't pass through the bottom opening in the volcano.They go up the hill at such an angle that the eyelets (for the crane) at the top of the freight hit the top of the opening of the volcano cave, preventing the train from passing through.We tried several different ways to try to get it to work, but like so much else about this train set, it's just a design flaw that there really isn't much you can do about.The freight-loaded cars did pass through the other two openings, however.

Consequently, my wife immediately contacted KidKraft, and they sent us out a second train so that one train could have freight, and the other not, thus one train at least could pass through all three openings in the volcano.They said they had not yet heard of this problem as the product was still new to the public, and they would keep our complaint on file.

Well, all of this took place several days before Christmas.This was going to be his "Big Present!"But, with the faults we had already discovered, we had a lot of trepidation about how it was going to work out.

It didn't.Like others have posted, it proved to be nothing but frustrating for our grandson, which really angered me since when he first saw it after opening all his other presents, his jaw practically hit the ground and his eyes were wide with delight.He is absolutely bananas for both trains and dinosaurs, and so when my wife and I discovered this item, we thought for sure this would make a great Christmas gift for him.Normally, I read reviews on most items before I purchase them, but at the time, there were no reviews on this item on either the Costco webpage or here on Amazon, where we tend to do a lot of shopping.

So, it's going back...we're returning it to Costco tonight, and will be replacing it with something perhaps like the well rated Carl the Conductor train table offered here on Amazon.So, as others have said, save your money for something built with fun and not frustration in mind.This train table needs to go back to the KidKraft drawing board.It's really too bad...it was a very neat idea!

UPDATE:

After discussing the matter with my daughter, son-in-law, and wife, and seeing how much my grandson loves this train table in spite of the flaws, we have decided to keep it and do a layout that will bypass the above mentioned flaws.Compared to some other train tables out there that are way overpriced, this nice sturdy table alone is worth what we paid for the set($129).Adapt and overcome.

ADDITIONAL UPDATE:

For those of you who have already purchased this item, you may want to consider the following.

http://www.amazon.com/Suretrack-Locking-System-Wooden-Stickers/dp/B0039H7Y1Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356665580&sr=8-1&keywords=suretrack+locking+system+for+wooden+rail+toys

We ordered some of these, and based on most all the reviews, they should do the trick holding the track together.I will post back after we've tried them.

(1/1/2013) FINAL UPDATE:

After fitting the track pieces together with the SureTrack Locking System, the train track is now quite solidly put together, and should give our grandson many hours of frustration free enjoyment.SureTrack and KidKraft should work out some sort of agreement together to include the SureTrack Locking System pieces with the Volcano Train Table Set.

As for the volcano itself, we used foam pieces with double sided adhesive between each section, and then wrapped black electrical tape around the circumference of the volcano section seams, both inside and out.This expanded the openings of the top and bottom sections by nearly a quarter inch, allowing the trains with freight to easily pass through. The tape is nearly the same color as the volcano, and is hardly noticeable.As for the center section, I ground the tops of the openings with a Dremel, then sanded them down to smooth them out.This worked perfectly, and the trains now pass through this section with ease.

In conclusion, one could say that this train set, which was conceptually a great idea, does not come to the consumer quite complete.Hopefully, KidKraft will re-engineer the volcano and include the SureTrack Locking System with future Volcano Train Table sets.

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I received this train set as a gift for my grandson. This is what I did and it worked out fine.

Problems:

1. Tracks fall apart when used.

2. Trains and objects fall into the volcano and are almost impossible to retrieve.

3. Volcano and track slide around.

Solution:

1.Use "Gorilla Glue" (very small amount because it expands when it dries) or Elmer's glue on top of all the WT supportsand install the 2 sections of track in the middle.Put small pieces of masking tape or painter"s tape on the bottom of the wood tracks where they connect and glue the pieces together. You can remove the tape a day later after the glue dries. If you use Gorilla Glue be very careful to use it sparingly on the connections and watch that the tracks do not get clogged at the connector points. If the glue starts to expand , wipe the grove of the track with paper towel. Use small pieces of paper towel for the track on the floor of the table. Use gloves if you are working with Gorilla Glue.

If you use Elmer's or wood glue, the glue will not expand, but you still should tape the bottom of the tracks to keep the glue from dripping through.

2. Stuff paper toweling until you fill the volcano to the first level.This will make it easier to retrieve any train sections or other items that fall into the volcano.

3.Use small pieces of painter's tape on sides of WT's to the floor of the table, also on the volcano and on some tracks, where applicable, so they don't slide around.

Good Luck, this worked for me and my grandson is enjoying this toy set.

Read Best Reviews of KIDKRAFT VOLCANO TRAIN TABLE WITH 95 PIECE TRAIN SET Here

Easy to put together and very creative options for the grandson to play with.It is also portable enough to move around.

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This is a horrible product.I have never written a review before but want to make sure no one else waste money on this.It is the only toy I was unhappy with for Christmas.We spent hours putting the track together and then it falls apart within 2 minutes of using it.There are no supports that work to hold up the upper tracks so kids knock it over without hardly touching it.The yellow plastic that wraps around the table doesn't snap into place and falls off.I would just leave it off but then the cars fall off the table easily.Even glue and adhesives don't work to hold it on.The center of it has a big gap going down the center so it looks as cheap as it functions.I could go on and on about all the things wrong with it, but I will just sum it up by saying it is a horrible horrible product.

This train table is practically unusable. The track doesn't stay together, pieces don't fit right.Even gluing it is impossible.It's a crime to sell something like this for toddlers who will never be able to use it.