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DrBoost
DrBoost UltimaDork
8/16/15 1:35 p.m.

So my 13 year old is getting too old for Legos. He has a great imagination and has built some stinkin' cool stuff. I want to keep his brain working and his scientific mind active. I know LEGO has a robotics set, but holy cow is gets expensive FAST if you want to actually build stuff. Here's a few things I found:
Not soo much something to build http://www.gizmag.com/sphero-2-faster-brighter/28715/
Seems a bit similar to LEGO because you can built lots of different things http://www.gizmag.com/littlebits-electronic-kits/28822/
Again, seems similar to LEGO because you can build stuff http://www.makershed.com/products/moss-zombonitron

Do you guys know of anything else?

Mazdax605
Mazdax605 UltraDork
8/16/15 1:39 p.m.

You're never to old or big for Lego's.

kylini
kylini HalfDork
8/16/15 1:41 p.m.

I...uh...hate recommending this, but if it's critical thought you want to promote while being a touch more social (hah!), have you thought about getting him addicted to Magic the Gathering?

Somehow, it might be cheaper than Legos.

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/16/15 1:43 p.m.

Subaru engines?

 photo Subaruengine022_zps617675bb.jpg

mndsm
mndsm MegaDork
8/16/15 1:51 p.m.
Mazdax605 wrote: You're never to old or big for Lego's.

This.

Datsun310Guy
Datsun310Guy PowerDork
8/16/15 1:54 p.m.
mndsm wrote:
Mazdax605 wrote: You're never to old or big for Lego's.
This.

My brother is a 45 year old mechanical engineer and still uses his Legos to think through some of his designs at work.

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
8/16/15 1:56 p.m.

Too old? Blasphemy!

logdog
logdog GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
8/16/15 2:56 p.m.

Seems the next step is to put him to work finishing the Porsche.

G. P. Snorklewacker
G. P. Snorklewacker MegaDork
8/16/15 3:05 p.m.

Minecraft

Paul_VR6
Paul_VR6 Dork
8/16/15 3:18 p.m.

Megasquirt install on a 15hp briggs.

ncjay
ncjay Dork
8/16/15 3:23 p.m.

I agree that noone is ever too big for Legos. At 13 it's time for one of these.

eastsidemav
eastsidemav Dork
8/16/15 3:24 p.m.

If he's at all into electronics and computers, how about an Arduino or Rasberry Pi?

mazdeuce
mazdeuce PowerDork
8/16/15 4:08 p.m.

If he still wants to build, it's time for lumber and nails, or a grinder and a welder depending.

HappyAndy
HappyAndy UberDork
8/16/15 4:17 p.m.

Go onto craigslist and find him a basket case dirt bike or ATV and have him tear it down and reassemble it. Big bonus points for actually making it run. Not quite as much fun, but just as educational, follow the same plan with a garden tractor, then turn it into a yardkart.

kazoospec
kazoospec Dork
8/16/15 4:33 p.m.

Mine went RC planes at that age. Pretty cheap to get into these days (sub $300) and there are simulators for PC's that allow to to crash virtual planes initially and spare the real ones. If he enjoys it, once you start building your own planes, the amatuer engineering possibilities are pretty much unlimited.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/16/15 5:04 p.m.
Mazdax605 wrote: You're never to old or big for Lego's.

this!

chandlerGTi
chandlerGTi UltraDork
8/16/15 5:22 p.m.

VW rabbits are the next obvious choice.

Mike
Mike GRM+ Memberand Dork
8/16/15 5:25 p.m.

RC cars are interesting. 13 is plenty old enough to solo build a Tamiya kit.

Graefin10
Graefin10 SuperDork
8/16/15 5:29 p.m.

I agree with kazoospec. However, I'll be more specific. There are many sites about people scratch building foam r/c aircraft. You can get into it quite reasonably. Here's a link to google images for you to check out. this could be a really fun father and son endeavor.

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+magic+the+gathering&biw=1152&bih=645&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAgQ_AUoA2oVChMI8ave2tGuxwIVydSACh1FUw7y#tbm=isch&q=home+built+foam+rc+airplanes

Here's a youtube video of a great flying VERY large gasoline powered version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIzSjZ7VKpE

NOHOME
NOHOME UberDork
8/16/15 5:57 p.m.

                     +

And I have no ide why you would have even waited this long!

Grtechguy
Grtechguy UltimaDork
8/16/15 6:06 p.m.

Look into VEX robotics.
http://www.vexrobotics.com/

It's what the local school is using for it's intro (6-8th grade) robotics classes.

Mike
Mike GRM+ Memberand Dork
8/16/15 6:10 p.m.
DrBoost
DrBoost UltimaDork
8/16/15 6:29 p.m.
logdog wrote: Seems the next step is to put him to work finishing the Porsche.

To Logdog and whoever "+"d this post, screw you!
Hahaha. I'm Just kidding.

DrBoost
DrBoost UltimaDork
8/16/15 6:30 p.m.
logdog wrote: Seems the next step is to put him to work finishing the Porsche.

I just "+"d it myself.

singleslammer
singleslammer UltraDork
8/16/15 7:13 p.m.
kylini wrote: I...uh...hate recommending this, but if it's critical thought you want to promote while being a touch more social (hah!), have you thought about getting him addicted to Magic the Gathering? Somehow, it might be cheaper than Legos.

I like how this was entirely ignored. I feel your pain brother. Also, Kaijudo is the kid version. Much cheaper.

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