Mould King and Reobrix sets use bricks compatible with the big brand, at a fraction of the price, and most of them move. Here is what matters when you buy your first one.
1. Start with the piece count, not the picture
We sort our sets into three levels. Beginner is under 1,500 pieces: an evening or a weekend. Intermediate is 1,500–3,000 pieces: a week of evenings. Advanced is 3,000 pieces and up, often with pneumatics or several motors, and can take a month. For a first set, stay under 2,000 pieces.
2. Check what "motorised" means on that set
Some sets include the motors, battery box and remote; others sell the power kit separately. Every product page on MiningToy lists what is in the box under Specifications. If it says "RC included", you need nothing else except batteries.
3. Batteries
Most power kits run on 6×AA or a rechargeable lithium box. Rechargeable boxes charge by USB and last a couple of hours of driving. Buy a set of AA rechargeables if you go the AA route.
4. Building tips that save the day
- Sort the bags by number before opening anything. Do not open all bags at once.
- Use a tray or a lid for the loose pieces of the current bag.
- Run the motors and check every gear turns freely before closing the body. Stiff gears are almost always one piece pushed on too far.
- Route cables before adding the panels; unpicking a cabin to move a wire is the number-one frustration.
- Keep the instruction booklet flat; some sets also have a PDF you can zoom on a tablet.
5. Missing or broken bricks
It happens on any brand. Every set we sell is covered: send us the set number, the step number and a photo and we replace the piece free. Details on the returns and spare parts page.
Good first sets
Have a look at the beginner collection: compact cranes, loaders and excavators that build in a weekend and still have a working boom or bucket. When you are ready for more, the big crawler cranes are the sets our customers photograph the most.