Back in the days when technology was a good guy, and cereal boxes came with real toys, kids got diving submarines that they charged with baking powder and played with in the bath tub. Now kids can have the same fun again. We have found a (gray!) submarine, about 4-1/2" long, that can dive and surface up to a dozen times with a single charge of the baking powder that you get to supply. Comes with instructions and made in the USA.

Eschew plastic models. Go ahead, we won’t tell. And then try these nostalgic wooden kits from Pathfinders Design & Technology. All pre-cut pieces, held together only by wooden pegs, they each take about an hour to build. You pick: the Catapult, approx 9” tall on an 11-1/2” base, and including a few clay balls for assaulting castles (ages 14+); the Ballista, as used by the Romans, which will stand approx 7-1/8” tall x 10-5/8” long (ages 14+); or the Trojan Horse, which will stand approx 11-13/16” tall x 12-3/16” long (ages 8+). Note, figures not included.

Design your own planes, then fly 'em. This kit has over (35) parts including balsa wings and bodies, plastic struts and landing gears, rubber-band drives and (3) props. Comes with a handy divided travel case and instructions for (8) planes that can be built at the same time, including an X-wing and tri-plane, but it's made for you to experiment with your own designs. Also made to build, disassemble and rebuild different models. For ages 8+.

Shoot one of these little plastic arrow-helicopter-rotor gismos straight up with the included rubber band launcher and watch it soar as far as 300 feet! A fun outdoor toy that grows in sophistication as you learn how to adjust the arrowcopter for wind conditions and flight patterns: distance, return, circular descent etc. Our "each" contains a package of two (2). Recommended for kids over the age of 9.

This kind of owi doesn’t even hurt! It’s an OWIKIT™ 7-in-1 Rechargeable Solar Transformer. This one, a Creative Child Magazine and Dr. Toy award winner, features all snap-together plastic parts (no screws or tools required), a solar panel, micro rechargeable battery and accessories. Using solar power or (2) “AAA” batteries, not included, you power one of the (7) different vehicles from the Recharging Station and send them on their way. Incredibly easy to assemble and comes with an illustrated instruction manual. Vehicles include racers, bulldozers, solar cars and more. No bandages required for this owi. Age 10+. ! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD–Small Parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

Could be lilliputian versions of Heidi Klum and Naomi Campbell, but they’re not. They’re dandy little 37-piece (mostly) steel model kits of two different racers, a biplane or a helicopter, from Steel Works. Finished models will be a couple of inches long, and a tiny tool for assembly is included. We’ll pick one that will be just right for you. Ages 8+.

Just like the original Stomp® Rocket but slightly smaller for slightly smaller feet, the Stomp® Rocket Jr. Glow also, you guessed it, glows in the dark. Includes (4) 8-3/4" tall foam rockets, launch tripod, 3-foot hose and the launching pad on which you or your young 'uns stomp to launch it up to 100 feet. Runs on air alone (no more waiting for your liquid hydrogen order from NASA) so it's safe. For ages 3 and up, depending upon shoe size.

Or maybe not. Hotel managers get funny about rocket launches, but this is NASA-level fun for the backyard, or maybe a cheap motel parking lot. The Stomp Rocket™ uses no batteries, fuel, diet cola or anything else but your feet. And good stomp on the 4" X 8" "Blast Pad" can get you 200 feet of lift at speeds up to 100mph. You get (4) bright yellow plastic rockets, 9" long x 7/8" dia, with soft, round nose cones (bulbs?) for safety's sake, and a tripod gantry. Fine adjustments even allow for accuracy contests. If the neighbors have really high roofs, or you manage to achieve orbit, we've got a (2) pack of replacement rockets. For ages 6+.

Incendiary rocket fuel? We don't need no stinkin' incendiary rocket fuel. We got the Mighty Seltzer Rocket! The seltzer rocket, made of simple plastic parts. (No, don't lean over it!. That's not a foam nose cone, you know!) The 4-1/4" x 1-1/4" dia seltzer rocket that holds water and (1) dissolving seltzer tablet. The rocket that has shot almost 30 feet in the air for us. It comes with (4) antacid tablets, just like those you can buy at the drug store -- and it's basic science at its best!

The problem with mobiles is that you have to wait to inherit the wind before they do anything interesting. Until now. This devilishly clever mobile has an 8” wide single prop plane with a solar cell up top mounted on a crossbar with a coin holder at the opposite end for ballast. The whole shebang is approx 18” long. Can be hung on the included 5” ball chain or set on top of an empty plastic pop bottle. In white plastic, which you could paint if you tend to paint things. Ages 8+.