While this isn’t a Robotime kit, I wanted to share my experience with this level 5 music box build since it has some lessons for any builder tackling complex kits.
Bread Factory Completion — Beautiful but Not Without Challenges
I finally completed the Bread Factory from another brand, and while I’m thrilled with the end result, the journey to get here was anything but smooth. This kit is absolutely a level 5 difficulty for a reason.
What drew me in was the steam effect — it looks like smoke coming out of the bread oven and it’s genuinely amazing. The music is catchy, and the little bread box power switch is adorable. But let’s talk about what made this build frustrating.
The instruction book is a large, staple-bound book that literally fell apart during assembly — thankfully it has page numbers so I could reassemble it. There are confusing sections throughout, and they waited way too long before including any power test. I did my own power checks at each major electronics step based on my Dream Coffee Factory experience, which was essential.
The curved dome pieces with slits are incredibly fragile to begin with, and there are several in this build. I broke every single spare I had — which almost never happens to me. This kit should either include more spares or redesign this component for durability.
The steam effect is incredible, but here’s the execution problem: they want you to disconnect one of those fragile curved dome pieces every time you want to refill the water. That’s absolutely precious. I solved this by unscrewing the cup from the bottom instead. They included a pipe for filling, which is great, but there should’ve been a small hole on the side (hidden from the front) for water access instead.
Other observations: The door that says “staff only” is a neat idea but wonky in execution. The pre-installation power check doesn’t include the steam component, and there are zero instructions on how to verify it works — you just have to hope it functions once everything is installed.
On the positive side, everything is flat wood pieces, and I sanded and finished the edges with a walnut furniture marker for a polished look. The film strip assembly is different from Dream Coffee Factory, and it’s holding up well.
About the aroma feature advertised on the box: while redoing my video to get a closer look at the steam effect, I discovered the steam does produce a faint smell. However, there are still zero instructions on what that’s supposed to be, whether that’s the intended aroma experience, or how to activate it properly. It’s a mystery feature.
I do wish there was a third option where you could have the music on without the steam. As beautiful as the steam effect is, sometimes you might want just the music and the ambiance without the water maintenance.
Would I build another mechanical music box from this company? Probably not anytime soon. The end result is beautiful, but the assembly experience left me wanting better instructions, better component durability, and more thoughtful design. That said, if you love problem-solving and don’t mind working around gaps in instructions, this kit offers a satisfying challenge and a gorgeous final product.
