brick by brick we're stuck together

"Redwall Abbey"

A Redwall Abbey MOC built in sand red. I've made a number of versions of Redwall over the years, but it's been a dream to use the out-of-production sand red color for the walls. These are some photos of the current iteration as displayed at Albuquerque Brick Convention 2026. The background is made using bricks at a 45 degree angle, which made for some fun cloud shapes.

What makes this set interesting straight away is that it is not just another display piece inspired by an object: it is the object. A full-size decorative lamp in brick form is a very unusual concept, and that alone makes the Pantasy 85042 stand out in a crowded market. Whether you love the design or not, you immediately understand the ambition behind it.

I’ll quickly skip over the usual quality points like the packaging, brick quality, and instruction manual, simply because Pantasy has already proven itself on those aspects for quite a while now. At this point, opening one of their boxes already tells you that the overall experience will be premium. In terms of finish and presentation, the brand is clearly operating at a level comparable to LEGO or Lumibricks, and that consistency is becoming one of Pantasy’s real strengths.

As for the design itself, I’ll try to stay objective because, personally, this style is not really my thing. I’m not especially drawn to this kind of vintage decorative object. That said, I have to give credit where it’s due: the lamp is packed with details, and the designers clearly did a very solid job giving it a strong personality. The retro inspiration is obvious from the start and, in my opinion, fully achieved. Even if I’m not the target audience aesthetically, I can absolutely see why some collectors will love it.

The build starts with the base, combining Technic elements and classic bricks to create a structure that feels reassuringly solid. That was a good choice, especially for a model of this size. It also allows you to install the LED system early in the process, because yes, this lamp actually lights up — and that’s a huge part of its appeal. A functional light feature always brings something extra to a display set, and it’s hard not to think that other brands should pay more attention to this kind of detail.

Then comes the lampshade, and this is where my experience became more mixed. To be honest, I didn’t enjoy this section that much. The construction is extremely repetitive, with the same sub-assemblies repeated again and again. Of course, that comes directly from the object’s design, so Pantasy probably had very little room to do otherwise, but building the same sections 8 to 12 times does become a bit tedious. By the end, I was more relieved than excited to finish that stage.

Still, I don’t want that criticism to overshadow what Pantasy achieved here. Even in the most repetitive parts, there are some genuinely clever building techniques used to maintain both the strength of the structure and the elegant, airy look of the lampshade. That balance is not easy to achieve, especially on a model designed to look delicate while remaining sturdy enough to handle and display. On that front, the designers really deserve praise.

So in the end, how do I feel about the Pantasy Stained Glass Table Lamp 85042? I’d say this is a set for a specific audience. It won’t be for everyone, and it is definitely not the kind of build I would recommend purely for the building experience, because the repetitive sections may test your patience. But for fans of vintage decor, original brick-built objects, and display models with real presence, this one has undeniable appeal. Once finished, it becomes a striking shelf piece with character, scale, and a functional lighting feature that makes it even more satisfying in the evening.