Classic-Castle.com

Dear Lego,

How is the weather there? I hope the wife and kids are good. Anyway, enough of the small talk and on to the reason I am writing you.
A few years ago, if I remember right, you sold a set by an incredible brick artist named Daniel Siskin (I apologize for the spelling) intitled the blacksmith shop. It was part of what I beleive was suppose to be a series of fan inspired sets.
Now I see that through your great website (I love the internet) that you are selling two classic space themed sets created on the lego factory by 2 more fans. I really think you are missing the boat when it comes to the appeal of fan inspired sets when it comes to us classic castle maniacs.
I am by no stretch of the imagination a marketing genius, but if you sold them as web exclusives I am sure it would draw tons of buisness to Lego direct. Thank you for you time.

Sincerely,
Bear

Hey Bear,

I totally agree with the idea of fan-designed castle sets. There have been other great fan sets between the Siskind Blacksmith shop and the recent Star Justice/Space Skulls:

The two Santa Fe train car sets designed by James Matthes:


Market Street designed by Erik Brok:


Hobby Train - which involved several train builders, IIRC:


The three sets in the microscale Factory line came from a contest judging builders designs (including Nathan Sawaya, Nathaniel Kuipers and others):


I think that various Mindstorms AFOLs were involved in the development of Mindstorms NXT. There are also AFOLs who have gone on to become LEGO employees, so there are sets designed by them in that role - Jamie Berard, Misterzumbi etc.

Bruce

The blacksmith's shop was/is a favorite of mine. I do wish they would make a fan designed set in the new Crown-Sketeton-Orc-Dwarf theme. I could waste a few hours dreaming about it. Perhaps a tavern/inn or fortified bridge or detailed joust tournament with decent raised sideline seating like the "Knight's Tale". Just by going through some of the MOCs posted here many ideas can be found.
-Tower

Ice Castle

With a sand blue 'frost ogre' in silver armor, a handful of orcs/goblins to attack the castle, and some knights/dwarves/elves, or other creatures to hold the castle.

Ice Castle, Ice Castle, Ice Castle *chants*

Fan based sets?

I can only think that LEGO must then market and sell us a Castle Village Windmill/Grain Mill set. You could have a companion set like a wheat-cart; the perfect excuse to bring back the PITCHFORKS!



("Fan" based...)

I would illustrait this point with my own Bricks, but they've been moved to the garage as my office space became somewhat flooded this past week. Thank the lord above for shelves and plastic water-proof tub/totes.

So here is an example of another fan's work to show what I am talking about:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=118063

And if you want to work it into the modern Castle Fantasy timeline, you could overrun it with zombies, skeletons and trolls.

I still hold out hope that some more civilian based sets might come out on S@H. To me it seems like there are enough of us interested that even in limited release TLC would make their money back many times over.

R