Robot Wars - Radio Controlled Shunt

Nippier than any of the other robots Shunt is a tricky adversary whose lethal axe and ability to turn in tight corners could definitely pose a threat. Fear not, however, a child's safety is never compromised: terrific detailing on the part of the manufacturers means Shunt looks deadly, but he is in fact perfectly safe. All edges and spikes are blunt plastic and rubber--paint and texture only indicate menace.

The radio-control unit is chunky enough for small fingers and the buttons and levers will withstand even the keenest of operators. The robot is surprisingly responsive, and moves left, right, backwards and forwards via the levers; the buttons on top of the unit will set his axe in motion and the buttons on the side of the unit, when pressed, will provide atmospheric background noise for the heat of the battle. The range for this robot is surprisingly good: around 10 to 15 metres during this test.

It should be noted that all the Robot Wars robots benefit from a smooth, rather than carpeted surface, though Shunt still performs surprisingly well on either. If this is a gift, the giver should also be aware that the batteries require 15 hours of charging for first use. The packaging is such that it is possible to extract the charger and rechargeable batteries (both included) without too much effort or damage, and these could be charged and replaced before the robot is wrapped. A screwdriver is required to insert the batteries into their covered cavity, something children will need adult supervision for. Once up and running, Shunt has good stamina: after more than an hour of duelling for this test, he was still going strong. Full operating instructions are included.

This robot is not suitable for children under three years because of small parts, but to reach its full potential it probably needs an operator of around five or six years old. There's no upper age limit--adults will love Shunt as much as kids do.

Shunt looks absolutely superb, and can stand alone as well as working with one of the other robots in the range. His moveable axe is equally effective (though much less deadly) than that of his on-screen counterpart. This is an absolute dream of a toy for Robot Wars fans of any age. --Lucie Naylor

Also available: Matilda and Sir Killalot.

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