Mattel’s ‘Thing Maker’ Is Coming Back [Video]

When I was a kid, one of my favorite toys (and probably my Mom's least favorite) was something called the 'Thing Maker'.

It consisted of molds that you could fill with goop and cook to make little rubber things like insects or army men.

They're bringing it back, only now it's more like a 3D printer.

My mom hated Thing Maker because the heating pad could burn us (it never did, but she loved worrying), and we would leave bugs and insects all over the lving room floor, not to mention our penchant for experimenting and trying to cook edible insects using cookie dough. (That stunk up the house pretty good).

Here's an old ad from the '60s for the original Thing Maker.

The newer version promised just as much fun, if not more. Mattel says the 2016 model will look like a small, microwave over, and operate off the print driver for either iOS (Apple) or Android. The main thrust of the toy will stay the same, the ability to 'manufacture' plastic toys for fun (and annoying your Mom).

"We think this is the perfect time for us to come out in the market with a product that's disruptive in our opinion," said Aslan Appleman, a senior director at Mattel told UPI.

Children will be able to drag and drop from templates and print one part at a time and then assemble the pieces together.

At some point you’ll be able to make Hot Wheels and Barbies with it.  Pre-orders are now being taken on Amazon for the October release. It comes with a price tag of $299.

"In today's digital age, it's more important than ever for families to transcend the digital world and make their ideas real," said Appleman. "ThingMaker pushes the boundaries of imaginative play, giving families countless ways to customize their toys and let their creativity run wild."

Here's a look at the new one.