Join the Classic Castle alternate model review discussion. Please post your opinions on the model play ability, piece selection, design, etc. Which models stand up to our catapult of critique and which ones crumble in shame!
Twin Arm Launcher was released in 1988 and has three alternate models. The first model features a knight practicing tilting against a quintain. Next there is a chariot carrying supplies during a march. Finally, two siege workers operate their war machine which fires flaming bolts at the enemy.
That quintain is actually pretty cool, if it works. The cart/chariot thing is neat, though slightly odd looking with the shields in that position. The alternate catapault looks okay, but lacks from non-functionality. 8/10
Excellent alternate sets. It's great that there is so much versatility to this set; it can be a siege weapon, cart and a quintain, depending on your need.
Cool quintain, and the cart is nice; but my favorite one is the flaming bolt thrower. That idea is just so cool (and the model's good enough for me to tell what it was before I read your description).
~smcginnis
Learning French.
Say it "ESS-MICK-GIN-ISS", with a hard "G", as in "get".
My favorite is definitely the flame-bolt launcher. It looks very cool, unfortunately it does not work. The chariot soldier has an odd sheild but the quintain is nice.
Nice timing, I just bought this set recently! Those are nice alternate models. It's a great set with the round shields, horse barding, weapons and cart wheels. I think I like the first two alternates best.
It would have been cool if the new castle sets had had alternates. Still, at least the Viking models do, although I was unsure where to begin to try and recreate them (at least with the Viking Army siege engine).
And all these solutions with only three brick colours! Amazing!
I think this set speaks more of the imagination of design in this era of LEGO's history than any redeeming values the set itself had. The creativity excercised with such a small pallette is outstanding.
Thanks my opinion of this set is greatly increased now that I know the alternate set design possibilities.
l wonder why LEGO settled on the “Twin catapult” that knight practicing against the quintain and a supply wagon conversion would have been a great additional Knight Challenger set to go with the larger set 1584 Knights Challenge of that year?
From parts inventories of this set, all the parts appear highly useful for fine detail Castle and Town MOC building, no wonder the good alternate design possibilities.
The red horse barding with yellow Lions pattern, two round shields and black hinge plates are highly desirable for me.
When I first starting collecting Lego minifigs I found myself improvising shields also, I like that how the designers have explored many possibilities here like the flaming bolts.
Just another example of the "good ole days". I liked this set, I know that I bought at least one, possibly two. Nice figures, it was perfect back then for my growing army.
-Tower
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