[MOC] or, perhaps, a [RECREATION] CASTLE HAWKMERE

[Mr. Elijah Timms]

So last year I went through a bit of a nostalgic period and fell super hard for Classic Castle again. I was also looking for something of a pet project while waiting for the Horse Knight castle and the Vending Machine to drop. It was then when it hit me: I would rebuild a classic set using available modern pieces from Pick A Brick, and with some modern details as well. And it didn’t take very long to settle on a set to work from. It would have to be 1984’s epic 6080 King’s Castle.

As a boy I owned 6073 Knight’s Castle, and it obviously created a lifelong loyalty to the beloved Black Falcons. But the larger, and wonderfully perfect King’s Castle eluded me. So why not recreate it using modern pieces? It wasn’t a huge piece count and plus I would fit in perfectly with the lore I’d invented for my still growing Black Falcons faction.

I like to develop a story for each of my factions, then give some of the more flavorful characters their own name and motivations. In my world, the Black Falcons rule over a mountainous region and control the Peregrine Pass, the only gap through the mountain chain that separates the east from the west of the realm. On one side is the region known as Kestrel, and on the other is Osprey. My Black Falcons are a faction composed of two houses, one from each region, and control the pass via two strongholds on either side. The House of Osprey are more aggressive, and a bit more ruthless, and face the west from Castle Harrier (aka Knight’s Castle). The House of Kestrel value virtue and honor, and would need a stronghold to keep watch from the east, and so it was that the stage was set for me to create…

The snowbound Castle Hawkmere.

To create Hawkmere, I studied the instructions of 6080 faithfully to create a stud grid drawing, and actually extended the depth of the original castle’s footprint by about five studs. Don’t ask me how many pieces I used; if I’m being honest I kind of lost track along the way. I also worked in some additional details, such as a proper walkway around the castle walls, some timber supports, some thatched roofs, a great bonfire in the courtyard, and of course lots of gargoyles!

I also chose to set everything up on a white foundation and built up some drifted snow along the walls. I also used a variety of plates and pieces to create a layer of snow across the top of the ramparts.

Finally, I used some rounded plate pieces to create a system that enabled the bonfire to center on the two opening plates of the courtyard and yet still slide off when the castle opens. It took some experimentation, but the end result works well.

All in all I’m very happy with the end result. All pieces were bought from Lego’s Pick A Brick, including a second round of ordering when I realized I hadn’t sufficiently prepared for how different the castle wall piece is today from the 80’s. It still wasn’t that costly in the long run. And honestly, it was all worth it when I was finally able to populate the castle with the knights, men at arms, archers, rangers, and squires of the House of Kestrel.

 And to bring it all full circle, I thought I’d wrap up this presentation by depicting a special occasion at Hawkmere. After spending the autumn at Harrier, the Osprey Falcons, led by Sir Nigel of Osprey, have escorted King Alus Peregrine to winter at Hawkmere. And for those of you that may have actually owned 6073 Knights Castle, you will recognize that both Alus and Nigel are the original knights of that set, on their original steeds.

Thanks for reading my little love letter to the Black Falcons all the way to the end. Black Falcons forever!

Edited 5 hours ago by Mr. Elijah Timms