Auroralampinen Posted August 8 Posted August 8 (edited) Hello everyone, today i will present my second review on eurobricks:). In this review, I will review the Pantasy Windmill Workshop:). (For moderators. Pantasy is a reputable company, and has many licences and original inhouse themes. Pantasy has not stolen any mocs, so I really hope this review can stay on eurobricks. Because Pantasy is not another cheap Chinese garbage company, I have allowed Pantasy sets general discussion and pantasy set reviews on this topic, so this will be the only Pantasy topic on eurobricks. I have done a ton of background research, to make sure that pantasy is a good and reputable company. I have included all useful links and pantasy links on the bottom of this review:).) In case you didn't know. Yes, I'm a huge nerd for windturbines and windmills. So when i saw this set a couple weeks ago, so I had to buy it. And I'm really super excited to review my first Pantasy review. And I'm really excited to have my one of the all time dreamed sets, a fully working and detailed windmill:). So take your popcorn and drinks and have a fun time reading this review:). Set details. Model name, Windmill Workshop. Set number, 85026. Piece count, 2400+. Minifigure count, 3. No stickers, this model has only pad printed pieces:). Price, 130€ (Please note. I purchased this model on amazon deutschland. So the price was 130€ with free shipping:).). (other note. Amazon Deutschland and Us usually gives discounts for Pantasy sets. And you can get this for 115€ in amazon deutschland, or about 117$ in amazon us) Release date 06.08.2025:). (north american date:). 08.06.2025) Shipping time from amazon deutschland. 5 days:). (and yes, because I was waiting/wanting this set soo much. It was really painful to wait for this to arrive(yes, im autistic and adhd person, and it has always been difficult for me to wait:/.). But the painful waiting was worth it at the end of the day, because this set is soo amazing. And it definitely delivered and lived up to my expectations. This windmill has everything what i have wanted and dreamed to have in windmill set. And it delivered even more things what i didn't even expected from a windmill set. So the pantasy windmill set will now be crowned to my most favorite set of all time. And the windmill beated my previously favorite set the 8880 which held the title for nearly over 8 years. So now going forward the pantasy windmill set will be my collection crown jewel:).). The box and shipping box. The set box arrived in a typical amazon shipping box, with good protection paper. The set box is above medium sized, with nice artwork:). Here is the windmill box next to the 42209 box:). The box was about 85% full. The bags. There are 39 bags, in total with 11 building phases, 5 unnumbered bags in total with 3 unnumbered bags for the minifigures, 1 for the electronics and 1 for the rubber bands and plates:). The instructions. The instructions are pretty thick, with nice artwork, leather style back cover. Instructions has 593 building steps, and 191 pages. Please note, there is no parts list at the end:). First pages of the book:). The last page from the book shows other amazing pantasy sets:). The motor unit and power supply. The motor and power supply are unique to the pantasy. And unlike other chinese brands, which still uses micro usb for charging and other stuff(im looking at you cada). Pantasy has moved to usb c, yayyy. And the good things don’t stop there. Because lego has made stationary motorized builds, like the motorized light house and vestas. But those sets had one issue. Batteries. I don't know why stationary builds need batteries, because it is normally on display and constantly running. So the batteries do run out quickly, but luckily there is a pv productions, and they have for the light house an adapter, which allows the light house to be connected to a usb socket. And when I had the light house, I did use the adapter. But pantasy has fixed this problem in the windmill set. Because this power supply does not take batteries. Instead this power supply is powered via the usb c cable. So you don't need batteries. Hurrayyy. And I did find in my random electronics box an old nokia usb charger and a usb c cable:). Interesting pieces and printed pieces:). the printed airship tile is a easter egg for pantasy steampunk airship:). https://pantasy.com/collections/steampunk/products/pantasy-steampunk-airship-85021 And yes, you have to assemble some pieces yourself:). In case you want to commit lego sins;), here is a useful recolor of the blue gear. Now you can fix the blue steering gear issue with the 42209:). In tan color. In white color. Rubber bands. Rubber bands were good quality and interestingly really thick. They feeled like they were meant to be used as o rings to seal stuff;). There was soo much nice chrome shiny gold and silver:). The build. Bag 1. Bag 2. Bag 3. Bag 4. Bag 5 started with interesting nexo knights pieces:). Bag 6. Bag 7. Bag 8. Bag 9. Luckily pantasy did not skip the test your build step:). Bag 10. Bag 11 + minifigures, there was soo much shiny gold and silver:). The spare parts. Piece quality was excellent, i did not have any missing pieces or poor clutch issues. Everything was perfect:). The minifigures. (Please note. I'm not a lego minifigure nerd. Because I have my whole life builded technic. So minifigures don’t sell the sets for me, it's the build what’s sells me to buy a set. So I have no attachment to minifigures, as some other people’s might have:).) The minifigures have a lot of nice prints. Please note that you have to assemble the minifigures yourself, and the legs don’t bend so there is a second pair of legs for sitting position:). Outside details. The interior(oops, the yellow piece camed loose, when i moved this to final display place. I did fix it on youtube functions video:).). The functions. Impressions and pros and cons. The model looks amazing and functions pretty well. Only hiccups can be the moving cauldron, which sometimes gets stuck(luckily very rarely if you adjust and fine tune it very carefully). And the spinning propeller gear train has an 8 tooth gear which popped out after 5 minutes of constantly spinning the propellers. But i found a good fix for it:). The original setup. My fixed version. (the propellers spins backwards after this fix. The youtube video shows this with original setup:).) (PS. I did send pantasy message about the potential issue, and I will update when i will get a response:). And also I made a post for pantasy facebook group about this issue:).) The side panels can be slightly fragile and flimsy. And the instructions are a little bit difficult to follow, because the pieces with darker colors are a little bit hard to see where they should go. So if this is your first build. Please take time with the build, and build with a lot of patience:). The quality with chromed gold and silver pieces is really good:). Here is example step where the instructions don't tell darker piece sizes perfectly:). Final verdict. Functions 4.5/5 Piece quality 5/5 Electronics quality 5/5 Instructions 4/5 Print quality 5/5 Building experience 4.5/5 Model looks 5/5 Figures 4.5/5 Aftersale support and customer service. Well, I did include this section in the review. Because too many Chinese garbage brick companies lack customer service and aftersale support. But pantasy has not skipped this, pantasy has an active facebook group where they ask customer feedback about future sets, tell about potential issues with current sets, and pantasy do respond to customer issues and other posts regularly. And pantasy does have a free missing piece replacement program and replacement Instructions program. So if you buy a pantasy set, you are not left in the dark, if you face an issue with a pantasy set. And pantasy does also have email customer support:). Useful links:). Pantasy facebook group:). https://www.facebook.com/groups/pantasybricks/?ref=share Pantasy website https://pantasy.com/ Pantasy customer support https://pantasy.com/pages/contact-us Pantasy missing piece support https://pantasy.com/pages/replacement-parts-service Pantasy digital instructions https://pantasy.com/pages/building-instructions Pantasy youtube channel https://youtube.com/@pantasy8756?si=fqC5cGoE6rg3fq2U Pantasy facebook page https://www.facebook.com/share/1YzTtpyrVZ/ Ps, and couple weeks ago, i saw review for the pantasy craft brewery. Wich has a ton of technic functions squeezed in. So i might buy and review that set soon in this topic:). Interestingly. When I did look at pantasy set reviews for background research, one pantasy set was designed by ex lego designer, James may. Which is pretty cool to see:). James May designed the bts set, Typewriter ideas set, the hocus pocus house set, the polaroid camera set. And many more:). Source this video:). James May's first designed lego set was the tuk tuk 40469:). Here is James May's designer playlist:). Here is a pantasy retro computer review from that ex lego designer:). If you made this far, have a nice august:). Edited September 26 by Auroralampinen Quote
Auroralampinen Posted August 8 Author Posted August 8 (edited) Update, pantasy now responded, and they propably will fix this issue with my fix. Pantasy has excellent customer support and they are really helpful. So kudos to pantasy being so nice to resolve customer issues:). Edited August 8 by Auroralampinen Quote
Milan Posted August 8 Posted August 8 @Auroralampinen Non-Lego brands should go to the Community forum. I will leave this here for a couple of hours, so others can see it and know where it will be. Quote
Auroralampinen Posted August 8 Author Posted August 8 1 minute ago, Milan said: @Auroralampinen Non-Lego brands should go to the Community forum. I will leave this here for a couple of hours, so others can see it and know where it will be. Ok, thanks i didn't know that:). Quote
Auroralampinen Posted August 8 Author Posted August 8 Ok, im now truly blown away. I did send pantasy all of slight issues with the design, and they respond that they would fix all of these in future sets. I have never seen so nice and perfect customer support. Kudos to pantasy being so nice to customer issues. Im now really impressed about their customer support:). Quote
JimDude Posted August 8 Posted August 8 3 hours ago, Auroralampinen said: Uhm, that's not how Roman numerals work Quote
Auroralampinen Posted August 8 Author Posted August 8 7 minutes ago, JimDude said: Uhm, that's not how Roman numerals work How they should work? Quote
Timewhatistime Posted August 8 Posted August 8 And the Pantasy-7 is rather a false 3 than a proper 7. Doesn't look like a well-designed high-quality product. Quote
Lok24 Posted August 8 Posted August 8 1 hour ago, kopylov said: Roman 4 is IV No, on very many watches it is IIII .... Quote
Toastie Posted August 8 Posted August 8 3 hours ago, Lok24 said: No, on very many watches it is IIII .... Absolutely true! 5 hours ago, Timewhatistime said: doesn't look like a well-designed high-quality product. Well, if your judgment is a result of inspecting a picture of a print (rather than what TLG does, a sticker) then try their bricks. Maybe just on a small, totally cheap product. Inspect their bricks, plates, how they attach, detach, the colors, and then do another judgment. I just mounted their Steam Punk Air Ship (#85021) to the ceiling of my attic, held by a 4 stage glass cap insulator of the German railway (that I salvaged). It was a pain in the megablocks to do so - mounting the insulator that is - but it was a true salute to the quality and fun of building Pantasy's Air ship. TLG will never ever come to that level. BTW, there are no stickers in Pantasy sets. There are prints. Best Thorsten Quote
Auroralampinen Posted August 8 Author Posted August 8 5 minutes ago, Toastie said: Absolutely true! Well, if your judgment is a result of inspecting a picture of a print (rather than what TLG does, a sticker) then try their bricks. Maybe just on a small, totally cheap product. Inspect their bricks, plates, how they attach, detach, the colors, and then do another judgment. I just mounted their Steam Punk Air Ship (#85021) to the ceiling of my attic, held by a 4 stage glass cap insulator of the German railway (that I salvaged). It was a pain in the megablocks to do so - mounting the insulator that is - but it was a true salute to the quality and fun of building Pantasy's Air ship. TLG will never ever come to that level. BTW, there are no stickers in Pantasy sets. There are prints. Best Thorsten Wow, i have been eying the airship. I might pick up it some day in the future:). Quote
Toastie Posted August 8 Posted August 8 19 minutes ago, Auroralampinen said: I might pick up it some day in the future:) Just do it! I love absolutely your review on the Pantasy Workshop! So far, I purchased their 85007 "Steam Punk Train Station" - which is much more so about an elevated train - I am working in Wuppertal ;). I purchased their 85018 Retro Telephone - as I have a very close friend collecting such telephones, and I am running all the telephones I ever had live in my attic. And lastly, the Air Ship ... it is insane what they do. Insane in the sense of breathtaking. In recent years, TLG was also breathtaking. Breathtakingly bad, that is. I am saying this after being 30++ years a true believer in the brand. All the best Thorsten Quote
Timewhatistime Posted August 9 Posted August 9 9 hours ago, Toastie said: BTW, there are no stickers in Pantasy sets. There are prints. That makes it even worse, and one is compelled to look at the wrong Roman numbers (without the option to simply not attaching the corresponding sticker). Don't get me wrong: Even as a long-time die-hard fan of TLG I cannot ignore the downfall of their products. However, I couldn't find any pleasure looking at a clock's dial with these flaws in Roman numbers. Call me "Monk", but this kind of ignorance would drive me crazy. Quote
Lok24 Posted August 9 Posted August 9 4 hours ago, Timewhatistime said: look at the wrong Roman numbers They are not "wrong". Quote
Timewhatistime Posted August 9 Posted August 9 12 minutes ago, Lok24 said: They are not "wrong". Pantasy used "IIV" as a 7. It is located between 6 and 8, so I take it to be intended as a 7. Call it what you prefer, I consider this number as wrong. Quote
Toastie Posted August 11 Posted August 11 On 8/9/2025 at 9:29 AM, Timewhatistime said: Call me "Monk", but this kind of ignorance would drive me crazy That's absolutely OK. There is a trick though: Remove the wrongly printed 2x2 round tile and replace it with, e.g., TLG's https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=14769pb133#T=S&O={"iconly":0} These sell for about a quarter on BL ;) I know it is a pain to do so, but much better than severe suffering. And then you can still enjoy the superb quality of the rest of the 2400+ pieces All the best Thorsten Quote
Timewhatistime Posted August 11 Posted August 11 2 hours ago, Toastie said: There is a trick though: Thank you for understanding and caring about my mental sanity. Strictly speaking, this trick involves third party pieces. I'm not quite sure if it thus conflicts with the Lego purity law... However, I see your recommendation in terms of parts quality. Quote
Toastie Posted August 11 Posted August 11 7 hours ago, Timewhatistime said: I'm not quite sure if it thus conflicts with the Lego purity law... Heehee - this could be an issue. However: Mental sanity is WAY above any purity laws And there is an easy way out: Just replace all other pieces with genuine LEGOs (I know, there should be no s, but I grew up with the s as in "Your LEGOs are all over the place!" - which tells that it was a small "place", as I just had a small bucket of - well - LEGOs - back then) Have fun and all the best Thorsten Quote
JimDude Posted August 12 Posted August 12 (edited) On 8/9/2025 at 9:29 AM, Timewhatistime said: That makes it even worse, and one is compelled to look at the wrong Roman numbers (without the option to simply not attaching the corresponding sticker). Don't get me wrong: Even as a long-time die-hard fan of TLG I cannot ignore the downfall of their products. However, I couldn't find any pleasure looking at a clock's dial with these flaws in Roman numbers. Call me "Monk", but this kind of ignorance would drive me crazy. Monk! I did have to LOL when I linked your user name to the topic at hand ;). I can't say anything about the quality of the bricks of Pantasy or how they compare to LEGO (I can say plenty about the recent prices of LEGO sets, OTOH! But that is for a different time and place), I just found it mindboggling they got VI and VIII right, but not VII. Edited August 12 by JimDude Quote
Yperio_Bricks Posted August 16 Posted August 16 Thanks for the review! Very interesting, great set That 1x1 plate with studs on both sides (or whatever it is called) is such a great part. And there are so many gold & silver ink parts! Quote
Peppermint_M Posted August 17 Posted August 17 This looks very quality and far far far from the likes of Tatco. I wish these competitor brands would motivate LEGO to improve, this steampunk theme is very nice looking and the metallic parts are very tempting to me. Thanks for sharing, my fellow Clone Brand player! Quote
Toastie Posted August 17 Posted August 17 (edited) 53 minutes ago, Peppermint_M said: This looks very quality IMHO, Pantasy sets are >all< very quality, with regard to brick quality (GoBricks!), all prints = no stickers , building instructions, excessive usage of gold, silver bricks and plates, building style, and everything else . 53 minutes ago, Peppermint_M said: I wish these competitor brands would motivate LEGO to improve It's a long - a very long way - to Tipperary. I believe, TLG will never get there (anymore). They don't have the "simply go nuts" folks anymore - if they ever had. No, wrong, the 4.5/12V train theme was "go nuts" TLG improves on selling totally overpriced 18+ sets. The Dark Side ... it is very, very bright over here. I am wearing sunglasses all day and night All the best Thorsten Edited August 17 by Toastie Quote
Auroralampinen Posted August 19 Author Posted August 19 Ok, the pantasy motor system is actually a full blown ecosystem of components:). Here is the newest member of the BAS ecosystem:). This was already revealed, and this one is also part of the BAS ecosystem:). On 8/18/2025 at 12:31 AM, Toastie said: IMHO, Pantasy sets are >all< very quality, with regard to brick quality (GoBricks!), all prints = no stickers , building instructions, excessive usage of gold, silver bricks and plates, building style, and everything else . Pantasy does use stickers on some sets, but mainly they use prints:). Quote
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