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REVIEW: 7079 Drawbridge Defense

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Drawbridge Defense

Set #: 7079

Theme: Castle

Year Released: 2009

Piece Count: 335

Minifigs: 7

List Price: $39.99 USD

So, for me, this was a highly anticipated set. Unlike the King's Battle Chariot this set features figures you can't get your hands on anywhere else. For those who weren't able to scoop up the Castle Advent Calendar you'll finally be able to get your Jester. The Queen and the Gold Knight are entirely new additions to the line, and both are quite impressive in their own right. So, I present to you the first review of the last Castle sets of 2009, #7079 - Drawbridge Defense!

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This is the front of the box most everyone had seen by this point.

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On the back we see the Gold Knight apparently failing to secure the queen, who is being escorted away by skeletons. The Jester, in a last ditch effort, is going for the crossbow snipe. And of course, atop the tower we have the historically accurate representation of flick-fire missiles. Another photo prominently features the Gold Knight. Also, I found the artwork on the back to be quite epic and pretty well designed. The water and waterfall going between the tower and bridge were pretty neat looking.

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On the top of the box we get a look at this sets great figure lineup! Two exclusive figures, and one rare figure, with three skeletons and a Crown Knight make the price tag on this set extremely reasonable.

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Inside the box we get four bags of parts, and two BURPs. Unfortunately, having made a joke in my last review about the mangled instruction manual, I likely brought on the karma of what this box held. Due to an extremely bent and wadded manual, I was unable to photograph it. But for the point of the review, I will share that the box contains a single manual of average book size with, as one might expect, the usual box art displayed on the front.

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The initial stage of building will use up the first two bags to construct the base of the main structure and the seven splendid figures in this set. Mixed between the two were all the various parts, rather than having one hold the tower parts and the other hold the minifigure parts.

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Here's the bad guys in the set. Three skeletons, two white, one black. I honestly have, like most Castle collectors, an abundance of these guys, but I'll always take an extra hood piece and skeletal horse. So all in all, not a bad inclusion.

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But, here is what most of you came for no doubt. These figures, are in my opinion, absolutely fantastic. I can never have enough Crown Knights, honestly. And though it may seem an odd point to expound on, the Crown Knight in this set need not be added. This siege could have been a one man defense on part of the awesome Gold Knight figure, but TLC no doubt went the extra mile and threw an extra knight in the set. That being said, the Jester is phenomenal, as those who bought the Castle Advent Calendar are aware. The Queen too is an absolutely great figure.

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Here is a better look at the knight and all the detail he has. Leg printing, a great chest print, armor, helmet, sword, shield, and the plume in his helmet make for one phenomenal figure. And, that's not to mention---

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He also has back printing.

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Next up is the Queen. Another wonderful figure included in this set. All of her details are phenomenal, including---

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The detail in her back printing as well as---

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That she has a dual sided head.

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Then there is of course the Jester himself. Initially, I assumed him to be exactly the same as the Jester in the Castle Advent Calendar, except for the fact that he has---

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A dual sided face in this set. Which is pretty appropriate for the fact that he's facing a deadly invasion. I could hardly imagine even the most jovial fellow laughing his way to the grave as an army of skeletons march their way into his only safe haven.

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The bottom half of the tower presents us with nothing noteworthy in terms of building, and the second half of the build gives us the top half, and the connection for the drawbridge, as well as a ramp descending down to ground level.

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Here is a view of the completed tower with bridge lowered.

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And here is a view of the tower with the ramp attached and the bridge lowered.

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And a second view of the entire construction from the side.

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This is the mechanism for raising and lowering the drawbridge with the technic lever holding the bridge up when raised by wedging between the teeth on the gear. Though I can't recall which sets this mechanism appeared in, it is quite familiar to me and something I can recall building at least a couple of times.

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Here is a shot of the drawbridge raised up, the moat exposed.

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"You SHALL NOT pass."

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A final shot of the completed set with figures in place.

In closing, I have to say that any self-respecting Castle fan would have to get this set. The parts are entirely unremarkable, granted, but with a simple modification, this set could easily be incorporated into the King's Castle Siege. The figures in this set make this one impossible to pass up. And at the price tag of only $39.99 USD, 7 figures make it a steal. Remember, the King's Castle Siege only had figures more, but cost an extra $60 USD and those figures sported none of the diversity seen in this set. At the time, the main sell of that set was the King minifigure, but it has been thrown into enough sets as to have saturated the market at this point. I think this set is fantastic, though the construction is for the most part unremarkable. For anyone who has built the Fantasy Era Castle sets up to this point you won't find yourself stunned by innovations in design, as the techniques are nothing new.

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Wow! What a great set, and a great review, too! Are these even out yet?

Thanks for the extra-look-in on this fabulous set, mania3, and that gold knight is just :cry_happy:

He even looks amazing without the breastplate!

~A.S.

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Wow! What a great set, and a great review, too! Are these even out yet?

Thanks for the extra-look-in on this fabulous set, mania3, and that gold knight is just :cry_happy:

He even looks amazing without the breastplate!

~A.S.

Yes, I should reiiterate that I found all three Castle sets at LEGOLAND, California. The two other sets, King's Battle Chariot and Troll's Mountain fortress have reviews that I will be producing soon.

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Yes, I should reiiterate that I found all three Castle sets at LEGOLAND, California. The two other sets, King's Battle Chariot and Troll's Mountain fortress have reviews that I will be producing soon.

Ah, lucky you!

I'll be looking forward to those reviews :classic:

~A.S.

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Wow, great to see a review of this set! It's quite fantastic, and I will definitely get it as soon as possible.

My main selling points in this set are the minifigs (obviously), but it also provides a great source of castle parts for a person who doesn't own the King's Castle Siege, like me.

I would've liked to see a full photo of the backside of this set, and of the building process. Is that really a prison I see in the bottom of the tower? Is there no treasure chest included at all? Castle sets usually have at least a small treasure for the baddies to get, but I guess in this set, the queen is the prize. :wink:

Also, even though the printing on the Golden Knight is phenomenal and gorgeous (I expected a blank golden torso underneath the armor), I don't like the fact that part of his belt crosses to his leg-piece. It kinda prevents the legs from being used separately from the torso, since it would look a bit silly. But this is really a very minor issue, and it doesn't take away from the outstanding rating I gave the set.

Thank you, again! :wub:

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Yes! It's beautiful! What an elegant design, and so many different storyline possibilities. However, I must say that the figures make this set, they're all so perfect. :cry_happy:

Great review as well.

I wish they have these at the LEGO Store at Disneyland California, where I will be leaving for in exactly two days (it's 11:45 p.m. here)

Oh, in totally unrelated news, this is my 100th post!

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Yes! It's beautiful! What an elegant design, and so many different storyline possibilities. However, I must say that the figures make this set, they're all so perfect. :cry_happy:

Great review as well.

I wish they have these at the LEGO Store at Disneyland California, where I will be leaving for in exactly two days (it's 11:45 p.m. here)

Oh, in totally unrelated news, this is my 100th post!

It's not a far drive from Anaheim to LEGOLAND, honestly. About an hour, at the worst. You'll be so close to all these sets! You should rent a car and head down! LEGOLAND is a fun place to visit, with great retail options.

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A perfect review for a near perfect set. Thanks for taking the time to show all sides and combinations of the minifigs, it's greatly appreciated. I'll b eaddin gthis set to my collection when it arrives down under.

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It's not a far drive from Anaheim to LEGOLAND, honestly. About an hour, at the worst. You'll be so close to all these sets! You should rent a car and head down! LEGOLAND is a fun place to visit, with great retail options.

Two little problems:

1. I'm not in charge of transportation :hmpf_bad:

2. I'll only be in California for about a day at the most (leaving 11:45 wednesday night, returning around 8:00 friday morning)

Thanks for the suggestions, though. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for them to be at Disneyland.

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Thanks for the review. Not having the advent calendar or indeed any female minifig, this set is very attractive to me. I will probably be looking to buy it with a higher priority than the troll fortress, if a get the opportunity.

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A great review of a great set, I am waiting for this to be available on Shop at Home now!

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Awesome! Just awesome...

7 minifigs? 3 of which are unique. The queen even has a new hairpiece. a truly great set.

This maybe the only castle set for me among the summer release. Just beautiful.

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Thanks for the excellent review, Mania3! I was sort of waiting for a review of this since I was debating with my wallet wether to get this or not. I guess the exclusive figures alone have won me that debate.

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Thanks for the review!

The figs are great - so clever of TLG to add a double-side to the jester face to encourage AFOLs buy it :laugh:

The drawbridge tower looks really nice, and not too hard to replicate for people who have the parts, which is rare in a lot of new releases.

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On the top of the box we get a look at this sets great figure lineup! Two exclusive figures, and one rare figure, with three skeletons and a Crown Knight make the price tag on this set extremely reasonable.
Of course you could just add yellow hands and a head to your Harley Quinn fig. (I also added a staff.)

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Of course you could just add yellow hands and a head to your Harley Quinn fig. (I also added a staff.)

Though the colors are wrong.

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oh My God.... :cry_sad:

this set too good to be skipped. Definitely must buy. I just imagine make golden knight army.. so fantastic.

I hope this set will release soon in my country. :thumbup:

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Great review Mania, This looks like a must have set for me. Great figures and a nicely designed drawbridge add up to a win in my books!

Cheers

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Though the colors are wrong.
I don't mean 100%, honest to goodness Jester. I just mean a substitute for he people that don't get it. If you don't have the Motorcycle Chase set and you don't want this, YOU'RE DOOMED!! (Well, unless they release a Jester impulse or something.)

Goodbye...

*The substituter*

Edited by YG-49

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Ok, there's a Gold knight? A Queen ( :cry_happy: )? A Dual faced Jester? Be sure I buy a couple of those if I can get my hands on it! The drawbridge itself seems to be a decent structure aswell. Excellent minifigs + great parts = must buy.

I'm saving up because I've a feeling this Troll Fortress is gonna be immens and I probably want to buy a couple from those aswell :tongue::cry_sad:

Pricetag seems to be very fair tho, thanks for the review!

Edited by Perterz

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Thanks for great Review!

This set is amazing, reminds me old good sets.

The Gold knight is really beautiful. And now Jester has a brother!

I can't stop laughing, when I see queen angry face xD This are the Best Crownies for now!

Can't wait for next Review!

Edited by Lordofdragonss

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I was planning on just buying the Queen fig off of bricklink and let this set slip. But after seeing a close up of the gold knight and the new jestlers face.. It may be cheaper buying the set considering that the building is quite good too!

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*%&^$#@! (not really)

Can't see the pics here at work. Any chance someone can make a Brickshelf folder with the pics and deeplink them?

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