Weekly Set Review: Blacksmith Shop

[architect]

Join the weekly Classic Castle set review discussion. Please post your opinions on the set play ability, piece selection, design, etc. Which sets stand up to our catapult of critique and which ones crumble in shame!

This week’s set is 6040 Blacksmith Shop.

Blacksmith Shop, released in 1984 for the Lion knights, was the first modular castle shop. Along with 6061 Siege Tower, this set could increase the size and change the shape of your 6073 Knight's Castle or 6080 King's Castle.

It has a horse, a forge, an anvil, a blacksmith, and various tools. A Lion axeman guards the top of the wall. Rare pieces such as the brown cape and pitchfork can be found in this set. Instructions are included for a tower and cart alternate model.

[JoshWedin]

I have always really liked this set. I am not sure but, it may have been the first civilian castle set. I never got it (darn it), I have everything to build it except the brown cape/apron. It came with some rare pieces, the brown cape, the pitchfork, and the two red double slopes. Quite a good medium size set. Still wish I had gotten one...oh, well. Maybe some day.

I give it a 10/10.

Josh

[Jojo]

Hello!


Together with 6022 this was my very first Castle set so I am biassed. I got it in the advent calendar 1984.

The model wouldn't be too great if it didn't come with great pieces. The pitchfork and the red corner slopes are the important parts in this set. And of course a blacksmith is essential for a castle.

This is the only classic Castle set that comes with an official alternative model in the instructions:



Bye
Jojo

[Webrain]

I don't have much to add really. As Ben said, a small set that can be connected to 6080 or 6073, got 2 minifigs, one of them really unique one but simple. The brown cape is pretty unique of course. I just have to emphasize the fact that it's the only castle set that had alternate ins. for a model and the alternate model could have been easily a set by itself. Thats why I still need to buy one day another one.

Great set: 10/10.

[TwoTonic Knight]

I've always felt this was an over-rated set. It has a nice chimney stuck to some wall sections, and some parts that turned out to be rare, but let's face it, it ain't much of a shop or much of a blacksmith's workplace.

On the other hand, it's good to have a slice of medieval life however thin that representation might be, and it can form the basis for expansion. So I'll salvage it's rating to:

7/10.

[Luís]

A fantastic set15/20-10

[Formendacil]

I wasn't even born when this set was released.

It's a unique set. It's civilian oriented set, in spite of the wall and soldier. It's got a nice assortment of pieces for its size. And, of course, the unique fig.

Playablility is quite good.

Parts: 8/10
Playability: 8/10
Figs/Accessories: 9/10
Design (then): 6/10 (Sorry, but it's really unoriginal, and this was 1984. Sets were supposed to be GREAT back then.)
Design (now): 8/10

Overall Score: 7.8/10

[JoshWedin]

Design (then): 6/10 (Sorry, but it's really unoriginal, and this was 1984. Sets were supposed to be GREAT back then.)

Just so you know, this is the original. This is the first modular wall set where there was an interior. The siege tower set came out the same year with a modular wall but had no interior. That, in my opinion, is what makes this set great.

Josh

[MaxiVisVires]

I like the set. It may be limited, but it was designed to be added on to castles. And I think it would be a fine addition to any castle.

7/10

[Robin Hood]

A very nice set. Apart from the fact that it is an old castle set it has a fair assortment of pieces, like the horse the guys, the wall, everything.

Actually it has a fair bit of playablilty. There is a story there, like how the soiilder and his cart broke down and how the blacksmith fixed it for him, and how the blacksmith robbed him, and how the soilder attacked the blacksmith, and how the blacksmith turned out to be a disguised soilder, and how the soilder was a disguised Dragon master and how............ok I will stop.

Dan

[Dragon Master]

My only question is why is he doing a wheelright's job?

[The Josh]

This set is perfect in my book. It has great pieces, it is geared to show the civilian side of medieval life, and its size made it a decent small stand alone model or a solid addition to any larger castle.
-The Josh

[TheOrk]

Not my first choice to buy, but definitly a second or third.
There are good peices to make a blacksmith shop and to add on to a castle wall.

[Loneranger]

I have the parts from this set from a pile of bricks I won on ebay (Without minifgs parts in it ) so I didnt get the brown cape or pitchfork. I got the red slopes which are rare in themselfs

And I'll be willing to sell the slopes on my store or trade them

LR

[Silent Arrow]

Very good set. Simple but beautiful as all the other sets which have been produced between 1984 and 1992.