Project Lego - Part 3: Black Monarch's Castle

     In this third installment of my trip down Lego memory lane, I rebuild the centerpiece of my childhood Lego empire...Black Monarch's Castle. This build happened over the course of two days. I'm going to have to find a better place to build next time. Sitting on the floor for hours, like I did as a kid, is not so comfortable anymore.

     Black Monarch's Castle is situated on three separate green base platforms. The platforms are connected with hinges allowing the castle to swing open. The initial pieces are placed on the two smaller base pieces and begin to form the outer wall. The small inner wall will become part of the prison cell.

     

     
     The next steps have you finishing up the cell and working on the rear watch towers.

     

     
     Once you have the watch towers complete, it's time to attach the front base piece and work on the front half of the castle. This half is a little more complicated than the back half. The start is similar, as you will begin to form the outer wall.

     

     

     
     As you continue to build up the wall and the parapets, you will also begin to make the front entrance. The front entrance is the really complicated part. This castle has a working drawbridge and gate.

     

     

     

     

     
     The gap in the front archway is where the gate will fit. The gate can be raised and lowered using a thin string or some thread. The set came with string originally, but, of course, I couldn't find that. So I used black sewing thread instead.

     

     

     
     The final thing to do is attach the drawbridge. The drawbridge is raised and lowered using sewing thread just like the gate. Unlike the gate, though, you move it by turning a wheel. I have to say, the most time consuming part of this build was working with the thread. Making sure I had the right length and then tying the thread to tiny Lego pieces wasn't an easy task.

     

     

     

     
     Now that the building is done, the real fun begins. You get to add the finishing touches like the torches and the flags. And what about soldiers to man the castle? Black Monarch's castle comes with 16 Lego men ready for duty along with four horses.

     A visit to the Lego armory and the castle was provisioned with six spearmen, four archers, two axemen, and four knights on horseback armed with swords.

     Of course, I also have a lot of other Lego dudes bearing many different insignias. There's also a lot of leftover weapons, horses and armor, too. What to do? I had an idea, but it required a better setting. The basement floor wasn't going to cut it.

     

     

     
     The guards lowered the drawbridge as the scouting party returned. The sense of urgency in the riders gallop told them the news wasn't good.

     

     
     The call goes out. "The enemy has crossed the river! They march on us! To arms! Everyone, to arms!"

     

     
     The gate is lowered. The drawbridge is raised. As the horses eat from their trough, the men grab their weapons and armor and head to their positions on the towers and parapets. They take up positions and wait for the enemy to appear.

     

     
     The invaders materialize in the distance. Five banners united against the monarch. They approach the foreboding castle and stop. The standoff begins.

     

     

     

     
     Will the monarch survive the siege? Is the monarch even in the castle? I don't know. I never had a Lego set that came with a king. So, I can only imagine like the rest of you. What I do know, is that this castle is pretty awesome. I mentioned earlier that it has hinges and opens up. Here's what that looks like.

     

     
     Thanks for reading!

     

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All gifs and images are my own unless otherwise stated.

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