A build-it-yourself arachnid with a brass-and-bronze steampunk finish, ROKR's Emperor Scorpion kit takes a few evenings of snapping together 123 laser-cut parts — then wakes up: the tail curls, legs move, and three colors of light pulse through the shell.
It's motorized, so it holds its pose on a shelf like a museum piece and comes alive when someone walks past. 4.4 stars on Amazon from owners who rate the fit and finish.
Who should buy: puzzle people between projects, and gift-hunters who want the unboxing to take longer than the wrapping. Who shouldn't: anyone allergic to fiddly small parts — literally and figuratively.
