FunWhole

[Pseudoty]

Two separate things here, first I am surprised at how many people post pictures on Insta and FB of their "FLego", that's what they call it, fake lego builds. There is an amazing MOC that requires 2 1/2 Rivendell that I was looking at building, but even if not buying the minifigures you are looking at $1K if buying Lego.  Also, the Titanic seems to be a big target for fake Lego and most of the UCS SW ships. I haven't looked at this in years so had no idea how prolific it had become. Quality with numbered bags seems to be way up based on reviews and prices are way down with new "official" stores offering purchase options in the USA. Printed instructions and even real "Lego" boxes. These are still stolen IP, knockoffs but not sure what percentage of the market share goes to them versus official Lego sets. 

 

Second, Brick Artisan the #2 ranked MOC builder on Rebrickable and BL designer reviewed a new to me building block company,  so I thought if it was good enough for him I would give them a try since they are sold on Amazon. These are all original designs not stolen IP that come in boxes better than Lego and include some very unique elements that lego does not produce. I just did a cheap trial set, The Newsstand, for $28.50 and it includes a light kit. I have never built a Lego set with a light kit only light bricks and on this one it is totally integrated into the build so that nothing is visible. All very nice high quality printed parts and a horrible minifigure. The fit and finish was very good with no missing pieces and they do have a parts replacement option although I did not have to use it. The tolerances are so good that the clutch power is so strong that parts are difficult to separate which can be a bad thing. 

I was thinking about picking up the Farmers Market and Lakeside Cottage but not sure if I want to spend more money on this line.

 

ETA: Oh, I left out the best thing. Name of this company is: Funwhole!

 

Edited March 26 by Pseudoty

[DadsAFOL]

Two separate things here, first I am surprised at how many people post pictures on Insta and FB of their "FLego", that's what they call it, fake lego builds. There is an amazing MOC that requires 2 1/2 Rivendell so even if not buying the minifigures you are looking at $1K if buying Lego. Also, the Titanic seems to be a big target for fake lego. I haven't looked at this in years so had no idea how prolific it had become. Quality with numbered bags seems to be way up based on reviews and prices are way down with new "official" stores offering purchase options in the USA. Printed instructions and even real "Lego" boxes. These are still stolen IP, knockoffs but not sure what percentage of the market share goes to them versus official Lego sets. 
 
Second, Brick Artisan the #2 ranked MOC builder on Rebrickable and BL designer reviewed a new to me building block company,  so I thought if it was good enough for him I would give them a try since they are sold on Amazon. These are all original designs not stolen IP that come in boxes better than Lego and include some very unique elements that lego does not produce. I just did a cheap trial set, The Newsstand, for $28.50 and it includes a light kit. I have never built a Lego set with a light kit only light bricks and on this one it is totally integrated into the build so that nothing is visible. All very nicely high quality printed parts and a horrible minifigure. The fit and finish was very good with no missing pieces and the do have a parts replacement option. The tolerances are so good that the clutch power is so strong that parts are difficult to separate which can be a bad thing. 
I was thinking about picking up the Farmers Market and Lakeside Cottage but not sure if I want to spend more money on this line.
 
ETA: Oh, I left out the best thing. Name of this company is: Funwhole!
 
http://bp-forum.s3.amazonaws.com/monthly_2024_03/News1.thumb.jpg.53a8b34517610069fbb95b7be7d40a4b.jpg
http://bp-forum.s3.amazonaws.com/monthly_2024_03/News2.thumb.jpg.74396515871b7003b375f8a9355439de.jpg

This is a family forum. I don’t think you’re allowed to talk about your Funwhole here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brickvoyeur]

From my understanding the quality is pretty much on par with Lego at this point, and they 1:1 copy everything. Many of the bootleg brands have switched to the numbered bag model, versus chaos building. This only aids to the brand name nostalgia. 

They also steal (or license in some cases) people's MOCs from rebrickable.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bogus bricks/

Since the economy hit the shitter, more people have been lured towards bootlego, and many of them won't return when actual inflation dies down. It also doesn't help that previously you had to go out of your way to visit aliexpress to get bootleg bricks, but now there are a ton of sites with them. The biggest being Temu which takes your search history and shoves ad's at you regarding knockoff items at a fraction of the price. Shipping speeds are also way up on this stuff, and bootlegs that would take 6-8 weeks previously are in your hands in 1-2 weeks now. 

 

[Captain_Obvious]

Interesting topic @Pseudoty

Love the competition that F’s create for LEGO—this will push LEGO to up their game in terms of pricing, promotions, and creativity. LEGO has totally taken advantage of the consumer for way too long with their monopoly.

The question, as stated above becomes, what percentage of consumers will ditch LEGO? I didn’t grow up with much, so owning an OEM LEGO set has special meaning to me—I don’t care if the F’s are one-to-one. My ability to buy unlimited LEGO to make up for the lack in my childhood speaks to all the hard work I did to change the hand that was dealt to me. I know I’m not alone on this, but I don’t think I represent the majority anymore.

I’ve seen this in the timepiece game too. The Chinese Rolex super fakes are near one-to-one (dumbazz Rolex moved their machines to China in the 2000’s to save a buck and those machines were quickly replicated). Despite the one-to-one, almost all the hardworking dudes I know, could care less about the F’s because having the real thing represents something more. To the younger guys though, they’d prefer to own the whole Rolex collection of super fakes than own just one real one.

The tide has turned with Gen Y and Z. It’s all about the instant gratification (why do the hard work), the need to be a superficial instagram star, and the hyper cycle of trends that creates a throwaway consumer culture.

But maybe it’s me who’s been wrong this whole time. Did I overbuy into these brands marketing gimmicks, aspirational BS, and keeping up with the Jones’s that may not really exist? I kinda think Gen Y & Z are on to something—especially if the quality is becoming one-to-one.

[fuzzy_bricks]

This thread got me to go look at some of their original designs.  They had some old west stuff, which I'm a fan of.  Not sure I can pull the trigger on fake Lego.  The old Tyco castle I had still haunts me.

I did find this humorous on Funwhole's Amazon storefront.  97.5% chance of being complete.

[Pseudoty]

 

On 4/4/2024 at 4:44 PM, Pseudoty said:

Only on bag 2 but so far so good, perhaps too good. These GoBricks are something perfect clutch power, injection mold marks are better than Lego, translucents are well translucent not cloudy, clears are packaged separately to help avoid damage and look to be crystal clear. No smell or oily feel, fit and function seem perfect but the colors seem a shade different than Lego. Numbered bags, nice base plate, instructions are good, haven’t gotten to any possible stickers or printed elements yet and no missing pieces so far. They do have a parts replacement service and online instructions as well.  They even have anti-theft and piracy prevention built into their packaging. 
 

So I finished the Pantasy Bakery last night with no missing pieces, no stickers all printed parts, but also no minifigures. I was not aware that this is version 3 of this set and that Pantasy actually listens to reviews and corrects/upgrades the set and rereleases it instead of just moving onto the next set.  The first version was more of a pinkish cartoony look and had stickers. Whoever designed this set has some top notch building techniques like some of the windows and the toilet are better than Lego builds. 
 

If you are looking to build this set to add to your city know that the base plate is thicker than Lego and that there are no technic connections because all 4 sides of the build are finished with details. I was going to take pics comparing it to the bookshop as the Bakery is taller and much more robust but didn’t want to risk taking it off the shelf where it has been sitting for 4 years. I have but have not built any of the newer modulars since. 
 

The bricks are perfect 98% the same as Lego if not better in some ways as the injection mold points are less visible and it was fun to just build and not have to worry about what side of an element was facing outwards like I have to do with Lego recently. The numbered bags are even superior to Lego in quality they are thicker and have the set name and number on them. I emailed Pantasy and they sent me the digital files for electronic instructions which I preferred over the printed book.
 

With all of the Lego sets out there to get and build who is this set for? Perhaps someone looking to add more modulars to their collection or someone trying to save money as it is only $80 shipped from the USA in a nice box with good instructions from Amazon using Promo code MandRPanda versus $200 for the Bookshop.
 

I did get another Pantasy set the Wood Cabin for $55 but it will have to wait as it is back to Lego and the $300 Batman wall art set. You don’t get the Lego purist joy from the build or adding it to your collection with Pantasy and I don’t feel Pantasy is as big of a threat to resellers as all of the Flego sets out there with their excessive clutch power and foggy translucent pieces. 
 

Here is a snippet from an Amazon reviewer:

“Bricks: The bricks are very close to Lego in look and feel. No molding defects or missing parts. Some of the tiles are a bit scuffed, and there are some micro scratches on some of the clear parts but nothing outrageous or distracting. Fortunately, most of the clear parts come in their own bags to prevent scratches. Clutch power is generally a tad tighter than Lego (think Cobi). Unlike Lego, there are no quality control issues with color consistency: all bricks of each color match each other well. One unfortunate oddity: the 2x2 jumper tiles all have an engraved square around the central stud, so they don't match the totally smooth plain tiles esthetically.

Design: A mixed bag. The exterior detailing feels too gauche, too exuberant, too "gingerbread house," for my taste, but that's obviously subjective. It lacks the esthetic refinement and unity of the best Lego modulars, like the Parisian Restaurant. A few simple modifications can tone things down, however. If you're making a street scene or city, the color scheme matches nicely with Lego's modular bookstore. The core design of a gym poised atop a bakery is either incongruous or cheekily amusing, depending on your point of view. The set is loaded with tons of detail inside and out, which, while not challenging for an experienced builder, is nevertheless fun to build and look at. In fact, the quality and amount of detailing makes some of Lego's modulars feel a bit rushed and lazy by comparison.

Overall, this is a fine example of the new wave of Lego competitors beating Lego at their own game, with a top-quality product priced for way, way less.”

 

ETA:

Pic of extra pieces and I popped off the top of the rain gutter when taking pics and need to find it now  

 

Edited April 21 by Pseudoty

[Captain_Obvious]

 

Are you reselling this crap? You've been cheerleading this stuff a little too much lately lol

[Bricklectic]

On 4/21/2024 at 12:37 PM, Captain_Obvious said:

 

Are you reselling this crap? You've been cheerleading this stuff a little too much lately lol

Not sure if that adjective is based on experience? Everything I've read on online forums indicates the same as pseudoty. GoBricks is very high quality. 

The rise of the clones is an extremely important event in the Lego world and needs to be covered far more comprehensively, if anything. 

It's unusual even for a dominant player in any given consumer category to have such a monopolistic stranglehold; perhaps this is the beginning of the end of that. 

I find it interesting that Mega has come up with some worth lego level designs, but their bricks arent up to snuff. Pantasy on the other hand to me seems perhaps the opposite. Great bricks but not loving the designs. 

[Pseudoty]

On 4/21/2024 at 12:37 PM, Captain_Obvious said:

 

Are you reselling this crap? You've been cheerleading this stuff a little too much lately lol

No, it started out more of a know thy enemy sort of thing but the results are the results. I have a  Flego apocalypsburg, my white whale set, from Marstoys but I am really not looking forward to building it if it is similar to the build experience of the Old Fishing Store. I was thinking of grabbing 2  Rivendell from Marstoys to do the MOC as previously posted but definitely won’t. However because the Flego stuff isn’t good enough for me doesn’t mean that many will turn to it because of the savings for something that is nearly as good as Lego.
 

As far as these Pantasy sets I am done as well unless something new comes out that really looks great. I still have the Pantasy Wood Cabin to build and a FunWhole Farmerstand and I may get the Farmers Truck for $30 to go with it. I don’t see someone buying the Bakery if they still need the Lego Jazz Club, Boutique Hotel, Book shop or Natural History Museum. However if someone wants a Detectives Office or Green Grocer I can see them easily going with Flego than resellers. I just didn’t trust these reviewers saying Flego was just as good as Lego and needed to see for myself, it is not, but for the savings it will be an option for many. 
 

Here this will put your mind at ease 🤣

[Pseudoty]

37 minutes ago, Bricklectic said:

Not sure if that adjective is based on experience? Everything I've read on online forums indicates the same as pseudoty. GoBricks is very high quality. 

The rise of the clones is an extremely important event in the Lego world and needs to be covered far more comprehensively, if anything. 

It's unusual even for a dominant player in any given consumer category to have such a monopolistic stranglehold; perhaps this is the beginning of the end of that. 

I find it interesting that Mega has come up with some worth lego level designs, but their bricks arent up to snuff. Pantasy on the other hand to me seems perhaps the opposite. Great bricks but not loving the designs. 

Exactly, I perused their offerings and nothing else looks interesting to me. Perhaps if you were into Steampunk, Astro Boy or Popeye, the boat is supposed to be great according to MandR, but at least they aren’t stealing MOCs off of rebrickable but coming out with their own unique stuff. 

[Tonka858]

Do they promote they do the testing, So it can be legally imported into the states? IE no banned ingredients? 

[fuzzy_bricks]

On 4/19/2024 at 10:28 AM, Darth_Raichu said:

LOL Jang lost his loyalty to LEGO when LEGO removed his reviews of sets that were released early in EU (but not yet in US).  This was what, 5 years ago ?

I know Jang has reviewed quite a few other brands, lots of Mega Halo stuff.  I do appreciate him calling Lego out this whole time given their asking prices.  I doubt these sets will convince Lego to print more of their elements, but we can hope.

5 hours ago, Pseudoty said:

I did get another Pantasy set the Wood Cabin for $55 but it will have to wait as it is back to Lego and the $300 Batman wall art set. You don’t get the Lego purist joy from the build or adding it to your collection with Pantasy and I don’t feel Pantasy is as big of a threat to resellers as all of the Flego sets out there with their excessive clutch power and foggy translucent pieces.

From what you're saying, it sounds like if they have a set that fills a void, it is a viable alternative to Lego, but Lego would still be preferred if cost wasn't a factor.  I wonder if that Lego joy will ever fade for some of us, or if younger people will even develop it. 

[Pseudoty]

16 hours ago, fuzzy_bricks said:

From what you're saying, it sounds like if they have a set that fills a void, it is a viable alternative to Lego, but Lego would still be preferred if cost wasn't a factor.

Exactly, if they did some Baseball stadiums or something else that Lego doesn't do like the amazing Cathedral from BL Designer program I would not hesitate to order from them again. 

[raindog]

On 4/21/2024 at 9:11 AM, Pseudoty said:

With all of the Lego sets out there to get and build who is this set for? Perhaps someone looking to add more modulars to their collection or someone trying to save money as it is only $80 shipped from the USA in a nice box with good instructions

Thanks for pointing me to this subforum.  I built the Bakery about 3 weeks ago and find that, not only did we have the same experience building but also emotionally.  I started building this with an "ashamed, but LEGO doesn't offer this set and I want it" and finished with a "wow, that was a fun and quality build."  I think that, if Pantasy continues on its course that LEGO should be very afraid.  Sure, they make different sets but the bang-for-buck is so lopsided right now that it doesn't make sense to NOT pay attention to Pantasy.  

I've been begging LEGO for years to make a large Sacre Coeur set.  If Pantasy beats them to it, I'm all in!

[Pseudoty]

3 hours ago, raindog said:

Thanks for pointing me to this subforum.  I built the Bakery about 3 weeks ago and find that, not only did we have the same experience building but also emotionally.  I started building this with an "ashamed, but LEGO doesn't offer this set and I want it" and finished with a "wow, that was a fun and quality build."  I think that, if Pantasy continues on its course that LEGO should be very afraid.  Sure, they make different sets but the bang-for-buck is so lopsided right now that it doesn't make sense to NOT pay attention to Pantasy.  

I've been begging LEGO for years to make a large Sacre Coeur set.  If Pantasy beats them to it, I'm all in!

How did you first find out about the Bakery just find it interesting that I never heard of it but now it seems to be everywhere. I remember when I first built the Cafe Corner circa 2014 I was not back into Lego when it was released and remember posting here about how I felt while building that set. Lego definitely pulls at that innate hunter gatherer thing in us and I don’t get that from Pantasy. 

Not sure if you remember the one staircase build or the toilet build in the bakery but both were totally new building techniques equal too if not better than Lego. I bet if you took a group of AFOLS and gave them this set to build for review as if it was the next modular that it would get overwhelming great reviews if people thought it was Lego, but because it is not Lego many won’t admit it to themselves for various reasons.  

[raindog]

3 hours ago, Pseudoty said:

How did you first find out about the Bakery

Youtube.  I probably speed more time on it than a normal person.  I don't recall the channel but it wasn't M&R.  At 63 years, my insomnia has really gotten out of hand and I usually line up about 2-3 hours worth of YT to watch.  Right after Highlander on HandI.  The thing is, at that time, I was such a LEGO snob that, if LEGO had it at 3x price, I would have purchased the LEGO.  Still, there is one thing that I won't support.  If Pantasy would copy someone else's IP then I wouldn't support that at all.

 

 

3 hours ago, Pseudoty said:

Not sure if you remember the one staircase build or the toilet build in the bakery but both were totally new building techniques equal too if not better than Lego

Both are better than LEGO IMHO but I still don't understand the clear glass bathroom door.  I could have easily replaced it but I care more about the exterior than the interior.  But I loved Pantasy's attention to detail, like the tilting menu boards, drainpipe, pigeon coop, etc.

Edited April 25 by raindog

[ravenb99]

I'm registering for pantasypicker.com right now.  

Can a mod set up some affiliate links please?

[Pseudoty]

Just now, ravenb99 said:

I'm registering for pantasypicker.com right now.  

Can a mod set up some affiliate links please?

Don't forget about FunWholePicker.com 

[ravenb99]

20 minutes ago, Pseudoty said:

Don't forget about FunWholePicker.com 

already tried that one.   Do NOT go there...

[Pseudoty]

Pantasy has a new modular released today that is licensed. 15% off with code JASON221B comes out to $96

 

I am waiting to see the new modular from Funwhole that they are calling their flagship set. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D1QWNPWX/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A3UHXPXNX2PIXW&psc=1

 

 

[fuzzy_bricks]

5 minutes ago, Pseudoty said:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D1QWNPWX/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A3UHXPXNX2PIXW&psc=1

The “lifestyle” photo of the guy looking at the carriage in a vest and tie has me cracking up. 
I don’t always play with LEGO but when I do I dress up before I do it. 

[Pseudoty]

Just now, fuzzy_bricks said:

The “lifestyle” photo of the guy looking at the carriage in a vest and tie has me cracking up. 
I don’t always play with LEGO but when I do I dress up before I do it. 

I have never seen the show is he the actual actor who plays Sherlock Holmes he does have his magnifying glass as well. 

[fuzzy_bricks]

7 minutes ago, Pseudoty said:

I have never seen the show is he the actual actor who plays Sherlock Holmes he does have his magnifying glass as well. 

No idea, there have been so many Sherlocks. The only two I can think of are the marvel universe guys. 

[raindog]

After my experience with the Bakery, I'm buying this one, no questions asked.  I'll build it on a LEGO Mils plate and add it to my city without a moment of guilt or regret.  I am officially an ex-LEGO Snob.

[MrToes16]

 

2 hours ago, fuzzy_bricks said:

No idea, there have been so many Sherlocks. The only two I can think of are the marvel universe guys. 

There is only one true Sherlock