Funwhole Old West Train Station (F9039) Review

Howdie partners! BrickMcBricksworth back with another FUNWHOLE review, this time it’s for the brand new Old West Train Station (F9039)! 

This new product from FUNWHOLE is an expansion of the Old West series, already available in this amazing series of sets is the Western Saloon, Sheriff’s Office, and Old West Freight Train which was reviewed right here on The Brick Post.

The price point of this set will be very respectable, coming in at €124.99 / £114.99. It has 1,974 pieces, which checks out at a ridiculously good 5.8 pence per piece (6.3cents).

If you would like to grab your very own FUNWHOLE Western Train Station set, please use our affiliate link, not only will it help us out it also gets you 10% off the price, get in! Use THEBRICKPOST during checkout here https://www.funwhole.com/products/west-train-station-1974pcs?ref=THEBRICKPOST (the link should automatically discount your shopping cart).

As this is not the first set I have reviewed from FUNWHOLE I won’t go on too much about the actual piece quality etc. I will be tailoring this review to the actual set. But just know the quality of pieces is now so close to the brand leader it’s almost indistinguishable!

One of the great things about this set is, it is inspired by Red Dead Redemption, a timeless game which I am currently replaying right now, so building this set for review couldn’t have come at a better time for me.

Lets begin this review with the usual look at the instructions and in this set this is a whopping booklet but is laid out so well and printed brilliantly, making it so easy to follow. There is only the odd time it can get a little confusing between the lighter and darker browns but nothing that is any different to any brick brand if I am totally honest.

The set consists of 10 numbered bags and the handy F bag which contains the specialist pieces for the lights and the Minifigs. It contains 5 figures: Ticket Seller, Female Passenger, Gold Miner, Robber, and Bounty Hunter (if you are playing out a game from Red Dead Redemption this fig would be perfect as the John Marston).

As you my be aware FUNWHOLE pride themselves on being the pioneers for their sets having light kits that come as standard as part of the build process of the set. As mentioned earlier they have also now created pieces that help hide wires really well and make it so the pieces properly fit together. When you buy an aftermarket light kit for an alternative brand to FUNWHOLE this process does compromise the structure somewhat but not with FUNWHOLE. Designing the lights into the set is a fine touch indeed.

This set begins with the foundations of the main station itself and straight away feels solid after the first bag. The tiling work in the next couple of bags is like a therapeutic work of art installing it and comes together rather quickly so you can really see your progress early on.

You then start to build the perimeter of the main building on top of the station and it isn’t long until the first lights need to be installed. One note with this set if you don’t want to install the lights connected to the pieces they are glued to, not to worry FUNWHOLE include normal pieces if you don’t want the lights. But in all honesty why wouldn’t you? The lights on this thing make such an impact it would be crazy to leave them off.

A few bags later and this set really takes shape and it’s not by any means a small set – it’s massive. Once you start to see the tracks alongside the station you get the sense that if you don’t already have the Western Train it now is a must for your collection. (The train tracks are fully compatible with other brick bands gauge tracks).

After a few more bags it’s time to build the roof. This part is a little on the repetitive side but it really can’t be helped but it looks visually striking once complete.

There are many Easter eggs in the printed tiles of this set like the Sheriff’s wanted poster and connections to other Old West products. There is also some great other train station related prints like tickets and train times.
As now the standard with FUNWHOLE there are no stickers. I can’t stress enough that as an adult fan of bricks this is highly welcomed.

The lights:

So what elevates FUNWHOLE?
In recent times we have all seen how amazing a light kit can work with bricks but usually you have to buy these separate from your set. Costing you even more money. Not the case with Funwhole, they are the leaders in lighting brick sets because the light kits come in the set the instructions are tailored to include these as you build, rather than having to pry apart parts of the set risking it’s rigidity etc. This in turn makes installing lights a doddle rather than a daunting task that makes you feel like you need an electricians course, FUNWHOLE have now even gone to the extent of creating specialist bricks and plates to hide the cables even better than ever before in a set. These not only make the cables hide away better they are shaped so when you place them togeteher they have channels for the wires so they don’t get damaged in the install. This also vastly aids with the clutch power of the bricks and plates. This has to be the part of the set I found most useful.

As you can see in the photos this set looks amazing in the day and at night but is elevated to another level once you add the Western Train.

I am currently back cataloguing the other two sets because I can’t in all honesty just leave it there. I must have a full Western scene, and thanks to FUNWHOLE I can do that easily and most importantly affordably.

So now the time comes in the review for the scores:

• Figures get a solid 8.5 out of 10 (mostly because you get a RDR figure should your imagination run wild like mine!)
• Playability 9 out of 10
• Display appeal 9 out of 10 (elevated to 11 if you get the train!)
• Build experience is a 9 out of 10

I’m going to give this one a fully deserving 9 out of 10, it looks so good with the Western Train but if you don’t have the train it would still be 8.5 out of 10 easily.

I really hope you have enjoyed this review and let’s get dusted in Old West Town! Head over to the FUNWHOLE website to buy yours today, use our code THEBRICKPOST to get 10% off yours.

If you would like to grab your very own FUNWHOLE Western Train Station set, please use our affiliate link, not only will it help us out it also gets you 10% off the price, get in! Use THEBRICKPOST during checkout here https://www.funwhole.com/products/west-train-station-1974pcs?ref=THEBRICKPOST (the link should automatically discount your shopping cart).