The 2012 Hess Toy Truck – a Hot Toy this season! 

Since 1964 Hess Gasoline has released special edition vehicles for collectors. They have ranged from oil tankers, to fire engines, training vans and more. Each year kids and collectors alike wait to see what the new model is. For 2012 Hess released a rescue helicopter and vehicle set.

While a lot of collectors might gasp at the thought of this as a toy for kids, when my nephew saw it nothing else mattered. He actually skipped right over some of his favorite character toys that were sitting on the counter next to it.

The helicopter and SUV are made with realistic details, even the search lights move up and down on the helicopter! The SUV can be secured inside the helicopter or it can be used separately. Both vehicles have lights and sound effects that work with a touch of a button.

Realism doesn’t just stop with the design of the vehicles. The helicopter actually has three modes with lights and sound including: Ignition, Take Off and Fly by. It even has retractable landing gear!

I let my nephew play with the helicopter and SUV under close supervision, and showed him what each button did on the side of the helicopter. His eyes lit up when the propellors started to spin and the sounds and lights started. He raced through the living room making it fly through the house.

If you have a collector on your shopping list, or a kid who loves cars and helicopters this is a must have this year. You may be able to find it online for now, but collectors will be grabbing them quickly before their gone.