Classic-Castle.com

I agree with Freak. I do blame TLC first, but the designers are not innocent bystanders. Back in the 1980s, I'm sure no one told the designers that they had to come with exceptional sets, or else. But they did anyway. I agree that it requires a special talent to design a good set with play value at ...

It would be nice to know who the designers from the mid 80s and early 90s were, and what they are doing these days. Maybe our resourceful admins can find out...now those would be people worth having a chat with.

As for these two...tar 'em, feather 'em, and ride 'em on rails!

The original forestmen had the most magical sets from the good old days of castle...before design went downhill in 1993. The addition of forestmen added depth to a previously 2D world of lions vs. falcons. Of the dark forest sets, I think dark forest fortress had some very nice concepts, but suffere...

Screen name: Tanzirian. Real name: Tanvir Mahtab. Age: 26. City/State: Charleston, SC. Profession: medical student (last year!). No brickshelf account! Themes I build in: any. Currently customizing a Santa Fe. First castle set: Didn't have any as a kid (didn't live in US back then; a friend of mine ...

I'm glad they rereleased the first two legends - the small differences in pieces between the originals and the new ones are of no concern to me. As a collector, I prefer new pieces, and not being terribly affluent, prefer not to pay a king's ransom for a misb original (although I have done so on occ...

I think what the article said about the 3-7 age group explains the persistent juniorization and mediocre design we see in the sets today. Previously, the focus was on the 5-12 group. Perhaps some market researchers hired by the company (like those guys who decided bley would outsell grey) decided th...

Lemon Squeezer, you either didn't read my post entirely, or didn't get the humor. You must have never been a gong farmer. Anyway, sorry to offend you.

Best castle is 6085, don't listen to the others, I am a former gong farmer and know more than them.

Here are TLC's 3 problems as I see them 1. (Most important) - abdoning legoland / lego system. 2. Poor set design. 3. Reliance on minithemes with a specific preset storyline rather than those that require kids to use their imaginations. Here's my take on what lemon squeezer just wrote: 1. Sculpture ...

For me DMs marks the beginning of the decline in quality of lego castle sets. And yes, I think this is a poorly designed set - looks like big pieces stuck together in a not too pleasing manner. Its not even the best of the DM sets - I like both the workshop and the tower better. On the positive side...

I am of the same opinion.

The castle is the best castle from the idea books - I wish there could have been pictures from more angles.

The siege stuff is only so-so...the official sets from the period look better.

Thanks Ben and Yaron for this nice series, hope we get more soon.

The chair and tent are beautiful little creations. Some of the early castle system would benefit from colorful additions like these. For instance, if I was dictator of TLC and rereleasing 6080, I would put that tent on the outside (and add red/yellow and blue/yellow horse barding!).

These sets are good, but are very similar to sets actually realeased, and not quite as good as the official versions (armour shop, guarded inn, etc.).
Nice work Ben isolating the images like that.

The set that I longed to have as a kid, and the one that caused me to rediscover lego early last year. My favorite among the three good big castles (the othe two being 6080 and 6086). I think the articulation of the surfaces is more refined than 6080. The flat baseplate and hinged design are a plus ...

The improved boxes may be due to competition from megablox, which also also has similar flip tops for its dragons series.