K'NEX K-Force: K-25 Rotoshot Blaster 

       

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Made By:
K'NEX (set #47011)
Type:
Building Set
MSRP:
$39.99
 
K'NEX

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K'NEX K-25 Rotoshot Blaster
K'NEX K-25 Rotoshot Blaster package K'NEX K-25 Rotoshot Blaster right side K'NEX K-25 Rotoshot Blaster trigger K'NEX K-25 Rotoshot Blaster barrels K'NEX K-25 Rotoshot Blaster safety position K'NEX K-25 Rotoshot Blaster fire position

 

One of the most common criticisms about many current forms of entertainment is that they lead to sedentary lifestyles. While K'NEX toys have always encouraged construction and creativity, their toys' "run around and play" activity level have been generally limited to the swooshability of the finished builds. To address this, they introduced K-FORCE: a line of foam dart blasters you assemble yourself and have the full functionality of a traditional NERF gun.

The 214-piece K-25X Rotoshot Blaster is a single-shot gun with a rotating drum that holds up to five darts. The plastic parts are all bagged, and the five darts are in a small box. Construction is fairly simple, though there are a few steps that require careful attention to make sure everything is lined up and assembled correctly. Total assembly time is about 45 minutes. The instructions are printed on a nice, heavy paper and include extra illustrations and callouts, a kit inventory, and suggestions for alternate builds and other sets in the series.

The bracing along the sides of the main chamber seem like so much unnecessary work at first glance, but the finished blaster is very solid. The weight of it may be somewhat surprising, but the long frame and forward grip makes it comfortable to hold and it's not so heavy as to prevent one-handed shots. Kids and adults with smaller hands will be able to wield it left- or right-handed, but larger hands will want to use the red/gray rectangular pad on the side of the frame for additional grip. The instructions place this for right-handed shooters, but it's easy enough to pop it off and switch it to the other side of the frame for lefties.

To fire, the "preload ring" must be pulled back until it locks. Pulling it partway out will make a load "click" and the chamber will rotate, but unless you pull it to the second stop the ring will simply retract back into the chamber and the blaster will be unable to fire. A crossbar behind the ring provides a sturdy anchor to draw against, providing your hands are large enough to reach it and the ring at the same time. Once the ring is locked in the "ready" position, the blaster can fire a single dart. The ring must be re-drawn for every shot, which can be slow going at first but minimal practice will cut this time substantially.

The package's claim of shooting 75' (23m) seems optimistic. I could consistently place shots at approximately 40' (12m), and by raising the muzzle I could get a few more feet at the expense of accuracy. The rubber-tipped foam darts pose little to no risk of injury or damage, but should not be used inside where breakable objects may be knocked over (soft as they are, they still have enough oomph to knock over pictures, glasses, or other small items).

Overall, this is a neat item and one that is a nice combination of construction and outdoor (or large indoor) fun. The larger size and multiple barrels give it an extra "cool" factor, and the weight and rigidity belie its multi-part construction. The weight and complexity also make it better suited for older builders. It would have been nice to get some suction-cup darts to go with it, but other than that it's a great set and well worth picking up.

 

Our thanks to K'NEX for providing this review sample. Have a question, comment,
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