Review (5/5): A great falling sand picture
In short, excellent product with well thought out characteristics. I am purchasing more.
I thoroughly enjoy the Golden Sun sand picture by Paradise Vision. It appealed to me so much I purchased it as a gift to myself. Now I am purchasing more for gifts for others. I provide below more details that may not be apparent in the product description or that are notable for me and might be important for others.
Mounting Features - The "picture" comes with design and parts for both table top placement and wall mounting. Frame is angled so that it will not stand on just the frame. Even if it could stand on the frame it is much too susceptible to falling over (and breaking glass) and the provided tapered frame prevents its support is important. It appears Paradise Vision also concluded this and, according, effected this taper. For table top support, a slightly flexible plastic "leg" is provided that supports the picture from behind. The leg attaches to the picture by press fit compression of the leg's two-prong fork feature to be around a sort of rubber grommet. If securely attached I find the leg does not come off when picking up the picture and placing it again on the table top in the same orientation. The leg must be removed and replaced 180 degrees on circular grommet/mount on back of picture if the picture is turned over for the falling sand effect. Bottom line, pick up picture, remove leg, turn over as many times as you want, when satisfied, reattach leg and set picture on table top.
Glass Face - Face is glass, not plastic. Perfect. Plastic is more susceptiple to scratching in my experience and opinion.
Great Scene - Picture has a perfect photograph for complementing the sand (OK this might be apparent in the Amazon photos). What appeals to me is that there is the photograph where other sand pictures that have no photo leaves the viewer seeing what is behind the sand when the sand settles. I find seeing whatever happenes to be behind the picutre less appealing. Also, in this (Golden Sun) version, the sand includes yellow and orange sand (small amounts of both) that complement the photograph and make the sand scene appear like the tops of hills/mountains still receive sunlight.
Great Frame - Solid frame with small grain/fatigue surface features, also painted a shiny gold coler (thing shiny dark gold gift bow). It might have a clear coat of some kind, but I am not sure. Tight, quality joints and surfaces at corners with no mis-alignment, mismatched thickness problems. I am nearly certain it is wood, but I cannot be absolutely certain.
Good Dimensions - Dimensions are big enough to accomodate more than one "hill/mountain". My experience with smaller sand pictures tend to create only one or none or more very small ones.
Air/Water Adjustment - Parts includes a blunt syringe and instructions for adding air or removing air contained in the picture. This is done by inserting the syringe through a normally blocked, one-way gasketed hole feature (about 1/8 in. diamteter) in the side of the frame. I have never seen this feature for users in water-filled sand pictures by other manufacturers. I will confess to not having tried adding/removing air because I don't want to alter the amount that seems to be working just fine as received from the manufacturer. Instructions for doing so are provided and I found sufficiently clear.
Tilt Angle Potentially Problem - The only thing I would have changed if I could was to shorten the slightly flexible plastic leg so the picture doesn't tip back , it appears, by only 10 degrees or so from vertical where it is easily tipped forward if bumped. If it falls forward, it could break, particularly if the glass strikes an object when falling. I would have suggested, perhaps, 20 degrees tip for a little more stability.
Slightly Flexible Leg Feature Good - I suspect the leg is slightly flexible, rather than rigid, so that, if the picture is bumped from the front or set down on the table top surface a little more "vigorously" that the leg will flex a little rather than, otherwise, possibly resulting cracking or breakage of the leg or picture. Great idea Rainbow Vision.
I know I have written a lot. I hope it helps.
Steven