Big Trak Instructions

Switch the On/Off switch to the "Off" position. The switch is located to the right of the keyboard. Flip the vehicle over, and open the battery box on the bottom of the vehicle by pulling the locking tabs outward. Insert the four D-cell batteries into the battery box, then put the cover back on the device.

Flip the model back over and unscrew the upper battery compartment. It unscrews counterclockwise. Plug the 9-volt battery into the compartment on the device and return the cover to the top of the device.

Switch the vehicle's upper switch into the On position. Place the vehicle on a wide, open stretch of carpet. Press the Test button to demonstrate the vehicle's function.

Press the "Clr" key to erase any existing program in the vehicle's memory.

Press the Up arrow and the number one. Press "Go." The vehicle will move forward one vehicle length. Press the back button and then number two, then press "Go" again. The vehicle will roll backward two lengths of the vehicle, and then stop again. This is how you use any of the commands on the vehicle, you have to input a command and then a number. Press "Clr."

Input a left or right command using the arrow keys, and then type in a number for the direction. Type in "Right" and "15," for example, and the tank will turn 90 degrees to the right. Type in "left" and "30" and the vehicle will turn around 180 degrees to the left. Imagine there is a clock face around the vehicle when it makes a right turn, a counterclockwise clock for left turns. The number of minutes you input is how far the BigTrak will turn. Press "Go," then press "Clr."

Press the "Fire" button, then type in a number of times to fire the laser cannon. Typing in "3" will cause three laser pulses. Press "Go," watch the laser go, and then press "Clr."

Send the vehicle forward one tank length by typing in "Up" and "1." Next, press the "Hold" button and type in the number "60." Then, press the "Back" arrow and the number "1." Press "Go." The tank will roll forward, then stop and wait for 60 tenths of a second (six seconds) and then roll backward. The number you input is how many tenths of a second the tank waits. Press "Clr."

Press the "Rpt" button, then type in a number of commands for the Big Trak to go back and repeat. For example, if you've commanded it to roll forward "2", then turn "15" to the left, and you press "Rpt" and "2," the vehicle will roll forward two car lengths, then turn, roll forward again, then turn again. You can only use "Rpt" once in your program. Press "Clr" when finished experimenting.

Input a program. If you make a mistake, such as telling the vehicle to turn left when you mean right, finish inputting the step then press the "CLS" or "Clear last step" button to erase the previous step. Then input a new one.

Check that the vehicle does what you want it to do with the "Ck" button. Press it, and it will perform its last command. This is useful for ensuring that the Big Trak turns a full 90 degrees when you type in 15, which may be affected by floor type. If you type in a command, and it doesn't work as expected, you can clear it with the "Cls" button. When satisfied with the program, press "Go."

Clear the program before switching the vehicle off and putting it away.