It’s quite rational to assume that no one would want to splash out Rs 75,000 on a limited edition car model. But enquiries at a premium city toy store point to the contrary.
“We’ve had many people asking about it here and even at our Chennai store,” says Sudhir Pai, senior vice president and head of toy store, Hamleys, which is selling four out of only 250 existing pieces of the Swarovski studded Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG model.
The scaled-down replica, created using 7,800 crystals, will be sold on a first-come-first served basis. Although this product is meant only for connoisseurs, Pai insists that the other premium toys at his store have been selling well despite their hefty price tag.
And it’s not just at Hamleys. Several toy stores across town have introduced a range of extravagant toys for young adults, many of which can cost a small fortune. From fuel-powered mini cars to monument-building brick sets and even robots, toys have ceased to remain a child’s domain. Pai sums it up, “When we were kids, so many of these things weren’t available. We may not have even dreamt of them. Toys excite everyone; they cut across the age spectrum. So, young adults take a lot of delight in buying these things.”
Model trains are a worldwide hobby, and even adults claim to be addicted to modifying and rebuilding their precious sets several times over. Premium brand Hornby offers a range of trains of all shapes and sizes. Accessories include extra tracks, trees, buildings, light signals and even tufts of grass.
{{/usCountry}}Model trains are a worldwide hobby, and even adults claim to be addicted to modifying and rebuilding their precious sets several times over. Premium brand Hornby offers a range of trains of all shapes and sizes. Accessories include extra tracks, trees, buildings, light signals and even tufts of grass.
{{/usCountry}}The world’s best-known toy building brick comes with an Indian twist too. In terms of the number of elements, the Lego Taj Mahal has over 5,900 pieces, the most ever featured in a set by the brand. The model includes details like the base, minarets domes, finials, arches and stairs. It can be assembled in three sections for easier transportation.
These radio-controlled cars are self-powered, and can be controlled from a distance using a specialised transmitter. The fuel-powered variations are known as nitro cars and can go up to speeds of 100kph. The city even has RC hobby groups that meet regularly to race their cars.
Spykee, the first of its kind, is a robot that works on Wi-Fi, and can even make VOIP calls for free using the Internet. Its features include capturing photos and videos, listening to music, video surveillance and sound and light effects. What’s more, when its battery is low, it returns to the dock charging station by itself.