Oh the JOYS of potty training… If I ever have the pleasure of training another child, I think I’ll wait until they’re jumping up, and down and requesting the potty. I know this isn’t fantasyland, but can’t a girl dream? As the final reward for my sons potty training efforts he selected, and earned the Deluxe Cranky the Crane. Fancy-shmancy, I know!

Naturally, Cranky the Crane is one of the most ill tempered fellows on the Island of Sodor. He loads, and unloads freight daily at Brendam Docks, and those bothersome freight cars are constantly in his way. Poor Cranky…

The Deluxe Cranky the Crane is part of the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway System. The Deluxe Cranky is featured in the NEW Deluxe Sights & Sounds Set. He is also sold separately, and the following items are included in the box:
● The Deluxe Cranky
● 1 - Cargo Car
● 1 - Exclusive Magnetic Cargo

The NEW Deluxe Sights & Sounds Destinations have multi-sensory capabilities that require batteries. The Deluxe Cranky the Crane makes sounds when activated, his eyes move as he works, and his head rotates like 340°. His motorized arm is completely plastic, along with the mechanics, his face, and steel girders. The base, the frame, and the decorative features of the operator’s house are made of kiln-dried maple wood. He measures 14” high, and at the widest point is 6”. That’s about the length of a large loaf of bread! As a crane, the Deluxe Cranky loads, and unloads cargo mechanically. The motorized arm lifts cargo via magnetic weight. A string is loaded into the operator’s house, and when one of the two red buttons is pressed the string either unwinds, or retracts. I haven’t weighed Cranky’s loads, but I have noticed Harold the Helicopter, and Sir TopHam Hatt frequently hang suspended in mid air. Wicked child…

The Deluxe Cranky sits on a wooden platform that measures approximately 4” wide by 5” deep. Unlike the feature picture, the wooden platform does NOT include the Thomas Track. An exclusive magnetic cargo is included in the box, and the only difference between that, and the regular cargo is the size. The exclusive cargo is slightly larger. The Deluxe Cranky requires 3-AA batteries, and includes an On/Off switch. Unlike the Cargo Transfer Station, the Deluxe Cranky will not work without battery power. There is no volume control, although the sounds are not loud. The battery compartment is concealed on the bottom of the unit. To replace the batteries, one needs a Phillips head screwdriver to open the compartment.


Our Thoughts:
Is the Deluxe Cranky the Crane worth the money? Well, it depends on whom you ask the question. My son adores the Cranky character in the Thomas & Friends books, and was begging for the counterpart for his set. After reading, the reviews on the original Cranky I opted to pass on it, because it seems there’s a problem with the head falling off. Then my child saw a picture of the DELUXE Cranky in one of those Thomas pamphlets. The child obsessed about the NEW Cranky for months. Since the final stage of toilet training were endless, I offered the toy as his final reward for poop, poop, and pee, pee in the potty. Thankfully the enticement worked.

I have given this toy a good rating, because it’s sustained heavy play over the last 6-months. In addition, William LOVES his crane! The fact that he’s freestanding is awesome. This destination can be placed in any layout, anywhere along the tracks. That said, I am not confident in the construction, because of the plastic workings. I’m generally not skeptical, but I had to replace the Cargo Transfer Station only months ago due to the plastic breaking. Also, the Deluxe Cranky the Crane has an irksome quirk. When he retracts completely, or the opposite, he makes a clicking sound. Presumably, the sound acts as a warning, but if the action persists, or the string is pulled too hard, the toy stops working all together. I discovered by accident that by turning his head all the way around, it resets the crane, and he goes back to work as usual. The suggested retail price of the Deluxe Cranky the Crane is $69.99. I paid $55.99 through an on-line store, but that’s still a hefty price to pay for an ancillary item to a railway set.

On a sad note, I recently learned that Learning Curve has been purchased by RC2 Corporation. The new company has withdrawn their promise to loyal customers all over the world and abolished the unconditional guarantee for life. Much of the wooden line today is plastic. The track, the engines, and the roadway vehicles are still made of wood, but the buildings, and the destinations are primarily made of plastic. The board is wood, but all the workings, and most of the structure is plastic, such as with this destination. Luckily, Deluxe Cranky hasn't broken yet, but I'm not confident considering I had to replace the Cargo Transfer Station. I’ve already had several issues with plastic parts breaking on other destinations since the Cargo Transfer Station broke, and RC2 Corporation won’t replace them, or even repair them for a fee. I’m so dismayed that the RC2 Corporation has chosen this path, especially on such high-priced goods, that I have opted to support the competition, Brio, and Maxim. Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway System provides excellent imaginary play, and it's a developmental, but I caution all potential consumers that the new guarantee last 90-days. That's it!

RC2 Corporation
1111 W 22nd Street, Ste 320
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
1-800-704-8697
www.learningcurve.com



Additional Thomas & Friends Reviews:
Coal Loader
Grain Loader
Barrel Loader
Mountain Tunnel
Wellsworth Station
Abbey Repair Shop
Cargo Transfer Station
NEW Mountain Tunnel Set
Thomas & Friends Editorial
Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory
Take-Along Sodor Engine Works






Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $55.99
Type of Toy: Trains
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years