Working Windmill

Description

Beyond the hills of the southern regions, across from Cherry Blossom Lane, stands a lone windmill, weathered by time. The inhabitants of the land cherish the mill and its owner for his unwavering services. Their children love to come and hear tales of old from the kindly miller, Mr. Zimmer. Even the animals seem to know Mr. Zimmer and his mill as a welcome refuge. And now… He welcomes you to his Working Windmill.

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Behind the model:

The Working Windmill is a whimsical take on historic European windmills, design choices like the overall shape and the grain floors on the second and third level were made to reflect that. The windmill is surrounded with a lush spring setting to magnify the cheery, storybook feel of the model. Additionally, story details like the wheat cart, the sign, the garden, and the living quarters were added to bring the scene to life. 

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Model details:

The Working Windmill is fully functional. Just slide the crank into its keyhole on the back and watch the windmill come to life!

The model is approximately 32 studs long, 28 studs wide, and 30 bricks tall (not including the height of the blades). It includes 2,099 pieces, 6 unique stickers, 4 minifigures and 13 animals (horse, dog, sheep, lamb, kitten, bunny, squirrel, bird, 3x butterflies, frog, ladybug).

The windmill is viewable from all sides and includes a full interior that can be seen by pulling off any of the three removable dark blue panels. On the outside of the windmill, you’ll find the following details:

     - A fully stocked root cellar.

     - A cherry blossom tree, housing a bird’s nest.

     - A log pile, placed next to the door.

     - A fenced in garden invaded by an athletic bunny.

     - A horse drawn cart with three bushels of wheat.

     - A sign for the windmill.

The interior of the model is divided among three floors: the living quarters, the grain floor, and the millstone floor. On the first floor you’ll see the living quarters, made complete with the following details:

     - A bed with drawers on either side.

     - A lounge chair for long days.

     - A vintage stove used for cold nights.

     - A desk and stool for writing letters of importance

     - A dish shelf holding mugs, bowls, plates, and more.

     - A dining table with two chairs.

     - A storage area with extra wheat.

On the next two levels we have the grain and millstone floors which include:

     - A millstone and grain basin.

     - A meal spout to transfer flour between the floors

     - A flour basin to gather the crushed grain

     - A toolbox set next to the flour basin.

     - A sack and barrels holding processed flour.

My main goal for this model was to include as many details and story elements as possible while still using parts efficiently. By doing that, I was able to create a scene with visual impact from both up close, and far away.  

I hope you enjoy the Working Windmill!