6077 Forestmen's River Fortress, Year: 1989, Elements: 348, Figs: 6, list Price: $37.50 (USD), Lugnet score (out of 100): 85, Review #: 1 Celebrating life in general, I'm beginning a castle set review series. To begin with, they'll be sets I own and will be chosen based on an extensive vetting process involving my mood... The dea is to spark off castle based conversation, so please comment, review, adapt into a MOC etc. My goal is to eventually makke this template sickeningly familiar so without a long winded rambling introduction (do not look above) here you are: The Thoughts of the inspiring Norro: ...in under a word per brick... One of the true greats. This ranks as one of Lego's finest achievements. The detail, playability, part content, and look are all brilliant. Forget the complications of a band of fugitives having a large tower in the middle of a lake with only a few leaves to disguise it... This set is fun to build and great to play with. The raft is a really nice inclusion and the entrance is so well built you can almost overlook the absence of an interior. With something inside this probably could have challenged for the position of my all time faviourite... Guest Minifig Comments: Even on Lugnet they mock me, the brave intrepid crusader who single handedly (and rather heroically I might add) discovered the lair of the fiendish woodsmen and throwing caution to the wind charged in. They were slightly more sporting thaan people give them credit for, they set aside their bows and just overpowered me... Now I'm sitting in that weird space beside the drawbridge that some set designer said would make a decent dungeon. If you see any crusader's around tell them I'm here... Resources: Comments from Lugnet members, Instructions courtesy of peeron, inventory courtesy of peeron Comments Instructions

 

6023 Maiden's Cart, Year: 1986, Elements: 42, Figs: 2, list Price: $5.50 (USD) (Good luck with that ; ) ) Lugnet score (out of 100): 78, Review #: 10 The Thoughts of the apt Norro: ...in under a word per brick... This set, curiously released in the US a year later, is actually very nice. Although many don't believe it there is more here than just the Maiden's White Hat (but that is still why you buy it!) The hinge mechanism of the convertible cart is actually very ahead of its time...The main disappointment here is yet another badly trousered knight, why grey? Guest Minifig Comments: Everybody talks about the &^%$# hat, I'm pretty too! I have a relatively rare torso, I'm a woman in a man's world of lego, and yet all people talk about is the hat. I thought knights weren't supposed to understand fashion, just appreciate its wearer. But I live in a two class system, with the hat my carriage is worth a fortune, without it...nobody cares! Ohhh... I am calling my tailor to get rid of it, next time I'm going to go with just a plain green rag, on top of a 'froresty' appearance, than people will finally appreciate me for who I am rather than what I look like... Resources: Comments from Lugnet members, Instructions courtesy of peeron, inventory courtesy of peeron Comments Instructions

 

6044 King's Carriage, Year: 1995, Elements: 120, Figs: 4, list Price: $16.50 (USD), Lugnet score (out of 100): 75, Review #: 9 The Thoughts of the legendary Norro: ...in under a word per brick... For some reason this set was released later then the other Royal Knight sets in my area. As a result I looked forward to it eagerly (since I had so enjoyed the other sets) and perhaps spoiled the set with too high of expectations... The figs are great and so is the concept but the carriage only looks good from certain angles and could use a few more pieces to 'bulk' it up. Perhaps the bounty of figs had made it hard to keep the set in its target price range, as it is, it came out at an odd price point. One other notable is the inclusion of a cloth flag in a smaller set. Guest Minifig Comments: There I am being knighted! Who the man, err knight?! The discomfort of having my legs put on backwards was worth it. The only downside is that once I get back up you won't be able to tell me apart from the other soldiers in the set... I suppose that's what makes us an 'army builder'. It is also nice to be included in such a unique box scene. I'll be a legend... Resources: Comments from Lugnet members, Instructions courtesy of peeron, inventory courtesy of peeron Comments Instructions

 

6085 Black Monarch's Castle, Year: 1988, Elements: 665, Figs: 12, list Price: $68 (USD), Lugnet score (out of 100): 91, Review #: 8 The Thoughts of the legendary Norro: ...in under a word per brick... The first black Castle had quite an imposing presence. Initially it looks as if the switch to black has lessened the attention to detail, but after building it you realize it is one of the most detailed castles yet produced. MOCers will love the numerous inverted grey slopes that hold up the battlements and army builders can appreciate the 12 chain mail/ plate armour figs, all of which lack a limiting printed allegiance. As well as conforming to the 80's modular standard the pieces also offer potential for a great variety of MOCs in the original spirit of Lego. Guest Minifig Comments: Yep that's me... cranking the *&£% wheel that operates the drawbridge. 'What do we need a drawbridge for? We don't have a moat or even a hill....' I said but they just told me to use my imagination and get back to work... Great gatehouse all the same though. Resources: Comments from Lugnet members, Instructions courtesy of peeron, inventory courtesy of peeron Comments Instructions

 
6022 Horse Cart, Year: 1984, Elements: 39, Figs: 2, list Price: $5 (USD), Lugnet score (out of 100): 69, Review #: 7 The Thoughts of the illustrious Norro: ...in under a word per brick... This was a nice addition to the Crusader line. The two figs make it an excellent army builder and the design itself is simple enough to make even duplicates look good in a scene, serving as extra supply wagons. Lego kindly included a saddle allowing the horse to be incorporated into your calvary and the small hand-full of black pieces dumped in a nearby spare parts bin. I only acquired this set a few years ago and the long wait probably raised my expectations too high but after I got over the small size I realized what a useful, and fun, little utility set this is... Guest Minifig Comments: Hello, I'm the soldier riding on the cart in the picture not the sucker walking beside it... What about this set? Well the wagon is comfortable and you sit fairly high off the ground, my only complaint is the lack of a second shield because my friend may need one if the battle gets rough and I'm riding away at high speed for a...erm...strategic redeployment of our mobile forces... Resources: Comments from Lugnet members, Instructions courtesy of peeron, inventory courtesy of peeron Comments Instructions

 

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