Scorpion Castle

[Stiel]

I wanted to make a good stand-alone castle for scorpion knights, starting out from 8802 Dark Fortress Landing. I started making changes; its current form is still not final, but close, and I thought that I would share it at some point. Biggest change is the addition of a third wing, but there is a number of other minor changes as well. (How many can you spot? ) I also added minifigures with different weapons (archers, yay!) and a king.

Here is the castle:

(Large version of the same picture.)

Some close-ups of the separate areas of the fortress. The king and archers:

Archer's gallery:

Entrance:

I also added some interior (cell, ladder and a furnished basement):

The interior basement separately, from the other side:

Brickshelf folder when public.

Comments and critiques welcome! I am also looking for some more ideas on the interior.

[lightningtiger]

Excellent castle - perfect for an evil ruler !

His knights look the evil part spot on !

Just watch your step walking in, that first step is a Lu-Lu !

Excellent towers for defence of his darkship !

Great work 'Stiel' and I'm a conformist! !

[ZO6]

I am a big fan of Vladek's Dark Fortress. I rushed out to buy it the day I found out it was available for sale. I've gotten a lot of mileage out of that set, and always wished I had picked up the Dark Fortress Landing when it came out to go alongside the big castle.

I really like the mods that you have done here, as your creation has a much stronger presence than the stock fortress landing. The interior that you have made really finishes things off nicely and is a fantastic addition. I really wish TLC would add more details and accessories to their sets, as you've proven that you really only need a relatively small amount of pieces to make some nice furnishings.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

Great smaller scale castle. I really like the square shape and the colors. It certainly seems like it would be home to a bad guy.

[Dan the Brickman]

I would say, switch the archers to the towers, and put the knights in the doors that are lower down. It would be realistically better for its defense.

Even a short ladder can get at the low balcony, and a knight would be better there, while the archers have a better firing arc available up high on the towers.

Very cool hideout for a villain!

[xilefsson]

This is great!

I own this set too and I always hated the fact that it was just a piece of wall. Lego should have done it your way!

[Stiel]

Thanks for the comments!

Great smaller scale castle. I really like the square shape and the colors. It certainly seems like it would be home to a bad guy.

I actually don't mind if it's smaller, as I have limited funds and display space. Size of the closed fortress is 24x16 studs, not counting the stairs in front (+6 studs) and the galleries (+2 studs on each side).

I would say, switch the archers to the towers, and put the knights in the doors that are lower down. It would be realistically better for its defense.

Even a short ladder can get at the low balcony, and a knight would be better there, while the archers have a better firing arc available up high on the towers.

Yeah, that's a good remark. I remember now that at some point, it used to be the way you describe. I think I changed it to better display the armored knights, but it's true that the current arrangement is not so good from a strategic viewpoint. I'll change it back.

Edit: new pics!

I added the ship (I simply forgot it last time around). Also, archers and armored knights swapped.

Large version.

Tower with scorpion archer and spearman.

Gallery - this time with armored knight!

And a shot of the various types of defenders. Almost like a battle pack or something. I like to give each of them clear identities, so each weapon class got a different helmet. I love the hooded archers; the armored knights are as cool as ever, and I also equipped the halberdiers with shields. A couple of spear guys fill up the ranks.

Edited June 12, 2010 by Stiel

[Hive]

Awesome! I really need to get some of those scorpion soldiers and shields, they're great.