Ultimate Big Boys Toys - Top 5

Always the subject of vigorous debate is the vexed question of what is the ultimate toy for big boys? The best of air, sea, and land are reviewed to answer that question:

No. 5 - Martin Jet Pack

Ever fantasised about having your own wings, like Buzz Lightyear, and flying at will?

Well, the Martin Aircraft Company in New Zealand just might be your best friend! For around US$75,000 you can strap on a Martin Jet Pack (MJP) which, at 200hp, is the equivalent of bolting a MotoGP superbike to your back!

The MJP can fly as high as 2400m which is 7874 feet in the old scale and can travel in excess of 96kmh (60mph)!

Best of all, you don't need a pesky pilot's licence if you live in the US - not that throwing a jet on your back and flying higher than most birds, should push you in that direction! Just as well the blokes at Martin Aircraft Company won't sell you a MJP until you have passed their flying training program.

For around US$75,000, what a toy to have parked in your garage!

No. 4 - NCR Millona M16

The NCR made, Desmosedici powered, Millona M16 is quite possibly the quickest, and most exotic, street bike ever made and definitely deserves to be in the Top 5!

The carbon framed, Italian superbike weighs just 145kg and lays down a claimed 200hp (147kw) at the rear wheel. It is lighter than most 800cc MotoGP racebikes and utilises carbon fibre and titanium for most of its components.

With its light weight components and race-like power on tap, speeds of over 300km/h are no longer the realm of just MotoGP racers.

Unfortunately, the big boys' toys holding down the Top 3 positions are even more phenomenal which, frankly, is the only thing keeping the M16 in fourth position.

While the NCR Factory has not released a price you would be hard pressed to pocket much change out of A$300,000.

No. 3 - Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport

The newly released Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport is the ultimate bloke's car! The leader of the Veyron pack is lighter, more powerful, and faster than its predecessor.

The Veyron is powered by an 8.0 litre W16 quad-turbocharged engine delivering an incredibly impressive 1200hp which is a claimed 199hp more than the standard model. The number that counts, a confirmed 431kph top speed, puts this baby at the top of the heap in terms of performance. In fact it is the fastest car in the world at present with a blinding 0-100kph in 2.2 seconds.

The only reason this piece of mechanical art didn't get the top gong is the other two contenders are just bigger and, believe it or not, more expensive!

Bugatti are only producing 30 units and at a price of €1,950,000, be quick!

No. 2 - Eclipse Private Yacht

Constructed in 2009 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany the motor yacht Eclipse is the ultimate! At over 164m it is also the world's largest private motor yacht.

It is the defining standard for private yachts with: two swimming pools; two helicopter pads; eleven guest cabins; and numerous hot tubs (oh, the 70s)! You also have an onboard disco hall and three launch boats, just in case you need to escape the 'ugly lights' at 3am!

Incredibly, the yacht is equipped with a Mini submarine (submersible down to 50 m) and requires seventy crew members to operate!

The yacht is owned by a wealthy Russian businessman and boasts an impressive defence infrastructure! It is fitted with intruder detection systems and, wait for it, a German built missile defence system! Einfach uberraschend!

The master suite and bridge have, as a feature, bullet proof glass and armour plating. Reportedly, the yacht is also equipped with an anti-paparazzi shield made up of lasers capable of obliterating photographs!

At € 800 million ($1.2 billion US) the Eclipse is the ultimate water going vessel, however, the ultimate big boys' toy gong goes to...

No. 1 - Gulfstream G650 Business Jet

The Eclipse Private Yacht was very hard to beat!

However, due to its ability to get to most places in the world in a very short period of time in luxury the ultimate big boys toy goes to the Gulfstream G650 Business Jet.

With an ultra large cabin, fastest speed, and ultra long range endurance, the Gulfstream G650 is the platinum standard in big boys toys.

Flying at a maximum operating speed of 0.925 mach (that's really fast) it is the world's fastest civil jet aircraft. It can climb to a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet giving you the ability to dodge bad weather and commercial jet aircraft which normally operate around 35,000-40,000 feet.

Let's face it; just the sheer bloke cudos you get from owning your own private jet is enough to push the Gulfstream G650 over the line and put a huge smile on any bloke's face.

At a mere US$59m the Gulfstream G650 is the deserving ultimate big boys' toy; and the crowd roars...

Scott Williamson is the bloke behind BlokeZone which is dedicated to showcasing high-end big boys toys and executive lifestyle - what blokes want! http://www.blokezone.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Williamson

Discovering the Toys, Such As Schleich Action Figures, That Boys Continue to Love

There are those who say that the only difference between boys and men is that men have more expensive toys. In this day and age it seems that even boys' toys have become more expensive and more sophisticated than ever before.

Traditionally, boys' toys have been centred around the interests and pursuits of the adult male to a large extent, so toys like cars, boats, motor-bikes, gadgets, guns and so on would be popular. Another whole category of toys for boys includes the type that are geared towards making something, either from simple building bricks, or more complicated plastic pieces of various shapes that can lock together like Lego. These kits are remarkable in the range of different things that can be made from them, and the amount of creativity they can stimulate. For the older boy there are even kits of simple electronic gadgets and radios available now.

Another are of play that most boys have enjoyed is to do with models, either of animals or people. Such models (such as from Schleich) can be built into sets or settings that mirror real life, and allow the child's imagination to take hold and create stories and scenarios. Favourites among boys, inevitably, are toy soldiers or other action figures that enable them to act out scenes of war.

Schleich, for instance produces models of figures including the world of mediaeval knights, and the world of the American Indian. There are also sets of wild animals and of dinosaurs, with each model being very detailed and realistic, whilst at the same time being suitably robust. Any boys who have read about the Knights of the Round Table, or other stories of bravery and chivalry of the medieval knights, will be interested in the Schleich set of knights which includes many different colourful figures as well as a castle.

Mention must be made of course of computer games which, once discovered by a boy, can be tremendously addictive, and can take hold at an early age. Such games are not to be perhaps, encouraged too much, since they are one-dimensional, usually of the shoot'em up variety. They may help develop a child's reaction times but do not do much to stimulate creative thinking.

There are some very good mathematical games online for children, but alas, given the choice, they seem to prefer to shoot aliens.

Train sets are of course one of the top favourite toys of boys of all ages. Model train sets have an enduring fascination for many boys, even from a very young age. Some boys will progress from a simple set of large scale trains to smaller, more detailed, and much more comprehensive sets over time. Given the requisite space, a well set up train set will give hours of fun for both father and son.

A child's natural inclinations and interests will tend to guide the parent in choosing toys to buy, but in general it is the toys that have stood the test of time that are often the best. Such toys, such as Schleich action figures, are satisfying to play with, engage a child's mind, whilst perhaps also helping them develop physical or manual dexterity. Primarily, of course, boy's toys should be fun. After all, children are only young once, aren't they?

J Timothy Mitchell works with Totally Schleich Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Timothy_Mitchell