A review of “Tomb Raiders: Angry Sea and Hidden Sand” by Tonecheer.

By Ian Scott Horst

Ian is the moderator of the Facebook group “Wooden Asia,” for fans of Asian-themed book nooks and other DIY kits.

Tonecheer’s third DMBJ book nook

“Daomu Biji” or “DMBJ” is how fans refer to the extensive multi-media Chinese phenomenon “Tomb Raiders,” and this is the third Book Nook kit on the subject, all officially licensed by Book Nook super brand Tonecheer through Chinese media giant Xiron. Books, movies, online webisodes, TV shows, animé graphic novels abound telling the stories of three adventurers who specialize in grave-robbing lost ancient Chinese tombs.

Tonecheer and Xiron have already produced two other kits on the subject: the first was “Crescent Moon Restaurant,” reviewed here on Book Nook Workshop, and the second was “The Lost Tomb,” reviewed on Wooden Asia. Both are intricate, beautiful two-level builds. But this third kit takes not only DMBJ kits to a new level, but really shows what is possible in a Book Nook.

Two sides, two adventures: the underwater tomb

This 273 mm tall Book Nook continues the DMBJ saga; instead of two levels, this Book Nook has two sides. The thinner side shows a multi-level interior of a lost, ruined undersea temple. There are numerous ancient artifacts lying about depicted in beautiful 2D graphics: a giant stone dragon disk, urns, an apparent Shang dynasty vessel, even a mysterious ghost cat. The three adventurers, shown on this side in a wide-eyed cartoony style, can be made to climb the levels by means of a turning wheel on the outside of the box, connected to a ribbed plastic chain which raises and lowers them along a track. A single LED illuminates the tomb from the top. The other side holds the real drama.

A moving yacht, acrylic waves and dramatic lighting

In a swirling sea filled with waves and schools of fishes, the three DMBJ adventurers escape the underwater tomb and swim up to their boat, which tosses in the waves. Two levels of lighting, one in blue and one in blue, green and white, add drama to a scene constructed largely of sweeping brightly colored acrylic pieces. There’s a 3D box of treasure, and their yacht, in full three dimensions, can be made to buck the waves by means of a ship’s wheel on the outside of the box and a complicated but well concealed gear arrangement. If everything on the tomb side is depicted in orderly fashion, the water side is inspired chaos. Nothing aligns on a horizontal or vertical axis: the wave pieces, our three swimming adventurers, and the temple exit on the ocean floor are set at crazy angles suggesting motion and realism. The colors are bright and attractive, with the twilight above the waters contrasting vividly with the underwater depths. You can almost hear the many seagulls flying up above.

A freeform design with no dust cover

The box assembles to a somewhat freeform top shape which emphasizes the wavy ocean side; this means no dust cover but the visual effect of the implied waterline is stunning. The atmospheric pink and blue colors on the outer box reinforce the twilight (or dawn?) world inside.

Why this feels like the book nook of the future

Tonecheer’s design, incorporating elements of the mechanical engineering for which they are known in their Book-Nook-adjacent lines like music boxes, transmission models, sound machines and desk lights, really makes this Book Nook feel special. Although the acrylic pieces follow the artistic notions (and limitations) of the 2D design that somehow still brings scenes to vivid life, their interaction with the light and their sweeping arrangement really invite the viewer into the scene. This is the Book Nook of the future: pushing limits on design, dimensionality and functionality. It’s not hard to imagine digital sound or a motor being added to a kit like this and somehow we’re in a whole new ballgame of scenic possibility and imaginary realism.

Instructions, materials and electronics

As usual with Tonecheer products, this product is not just interesting design, but stellar engineering. In a complicated structure filled with delicate, breakable parts, Tonecheer’s 36-page instruction manual is perfectly detailed and very clear about all the steps necessary to realize this project. The kit comes with 9 pieces of high-quality, beautifully printed MDF. One small sheet is half thickness for character figures and the yacht. There’s a full board of acrylic, and several bags of screws, and the metal shafts and plastic washers necessary for all the gears inside. There’s the familiar bar of wax for lubrication, and the preassembled lighting kit with six different kinds of LEDs and a touch pad. (There’s no motion detector on this one).

Building the mechanisms and concealing the wiring

You begin this build by installing the transmission belt for the temple side; then moving to finish gear assemblies on the ocean side and then adding elements to the inner walls. You create the temple levels, then the yacht on its background perch; and then finally before boxing things up, the ocean floor with its temple ruin and sloped landscape. The wiring happens gradually, but is organized in a way that makes it very organic and logical, and also in a way that will lead to concealment. At no point do you have complicated fragile assemblies dangling against each other as you wait to connect them. The battery box (3-AA batteries) is easily accessible underneath.

Fit, difficulty and build time

Although only 290 pieces, this kit feels more substantial than a simple intermediate build. Care needs to be taken with the acrylic, but I had no breakage issues, and except for one of the cogs which was a bit of a struggle to attach, everything fit well. I used copious wax where called for, and glue only where called for. There’s one of those expanding-tenon and tiny-black-screw assemblies for strength.

I worked on this in three or four sittings, probably at least a good ten hours.

Kit details and Ian’s ratings

Model: TQ567
Piece count: 290
Dimensions: 183 × 109 × 273 mm
Power: 3 × AA batteries; accessible battery box underneath
Lighting control: touch pad; no motion detector
Dust cover: none
Build time: approximately 10 hours over three or four sittings

Design and artistic concept: 10/10
Engineering and precision: 10/10
Instructions: 10/10
Lighting and electronics: 10/10
Build experience: 10/10

Ian’s verdict: a perfect score.

Final thoughts and finding the kit

I’m excited about where some of these manufacturers are leading the hobby with their technological and design innovation. I do note that this kit may be hard to find in US or European markets, since Tonecheer sells DMBJ kits mostly to Chinese audiences. Check out Chinese internet vendors like Kingstora, Aliexpress and possibly Fifijoy, and expect to pay a little more than a normal Book Nook price point but not as much as for one of their transmission models. Whatever will they think of next?

Review and photographs © Ian Scott Horst. All rights reserved.