WesternOutlaw

I'd like to invite you scurvey Dawgs into the Trains & Town Forum for a special Halloween review of set 6257 Castaway's Raft. This sort of thing doesn't happen every day.

Happy Birthday Hinckley. Just 32? It must be nice...

Moved from Trains and Town Forum. Strangely, I have the same grey insert as you.

In the twilight of a moonlit sky with only the flickering stars to guide them, three castaways make their way along a vast, never-ending sea. Atop a makeshift raft from the reckage of their pirate vessel, the scurvy crew fight for survival. Their food and water has been depleted; and if things could not be worse, a hungry shark has began to follow them. Will this be the end of the pirate crew, or will they survive long enough for the special moonlight transformation? Halloween 2008 Review #4 Castaway's Raft Set #: 6257 Theme: Pirates Year Released: 1989 Piece Count: 50 Minifigs: 3 List Price: $8.50 (USD) My 4th Halloween 2008 review is dedicated to Pirates in anticipation of the return of the Pirate theme. 6257 Castaway's Raft is one of just a few pirate sets that someone gave me as a gift in the late 80s. I wanted to add it to my Halloween collection as I haven't opened a pirate set in some time. Beginning with the box with traditional Pirate theme boxart: The back of the box provides a few additional scenes with alternate ideas: The set includes three nicely detailed pirates. Whenever I made these; however, I always placed the red cap on the pirate with the red-striped shirt, and the same for the blue. This little set includes two sabres, two muskets, and a rifle - a nice selection of arms: The set also has a wonderfully printed pirate flag and treasure map: I never really liked the raft to this set, although I can appreciate the design now. You'll notice that four white flags are used as sails. Unfortunately, most of the hooks/clips broke very easily after just building thes set a few times: The main raft has a long technic beam running through each side with two barrels and a few round 2x2s. This set was a great way to get 4 brown barrels with lids: Here's a close-up of the makeship mast with one remaining flag (almost ready to break): One old dark grey shark adds to the value of this set: The complete set as our pirate castaways battle the grey shark: And lastly, the same pirate crew with some additional skeleton faces: Final Thoughts: Castaway's Raft is really a nice addition to the Pirate theme. As mentioned above, I never really appreciated this little set at the time, but now I can see the value of what the set includes. With weapons, barrels, three figs, shark, and some additional pirate elements, the set is a great pirate "booster" pack, or can serve as a stand-alone set for some adventures not far from shore. I hope you enjoy this classic review and do try to stay away from shark infested waters.

I always thought "Tabletown" was a generic name for any Lego town on a table. - oops, that's once more. Where's Athos when we need him?

"Spooking-Up" Your Tabletown As the Eurobricks Trains & Town forum creates a haunting Halloween season, EB members share their creative ideas to "spook-up" any Tabletown. Ghosts, skeletons, zombies... haunted graveyards and trick-or-treaters... What spooky ideas have they provided to turn any ordinary Tabletown into a haunting place of mystery and fright? Perhaps you even have an idea that you would like to share to "Spook-Up" a Tabletown.

I'm reading some very creative ideas: - Skeletons in various parts of the town - as if rising from the dead - Skeletons on strings hanging from trees - A graveyard - Harry Potter Graveyard Duel w/ crypt, spooky tree, owls, bats, snakes, cart, and gate/fence. - Skeleton horses from the Castle theme - String of non-Lego jack-o-lantern lights - Pumpkins - Ghosts - Studios Movie Monsters - Batman villains - Joker fear bombs - Fright Knight witch - Trick-or-treaters - Dead guy with a knife (custom minifig) - Spider webs on the buildings - Spooky church - Elements from the Wild West theme for a Ghost Town These are all excellent ideas to "spook-up" a Tabletown.

This review should serve as an example of how to add a high level of creativity and originality to any set review. I love these types of classic town utility sets, but they're not always the most fun sets to review. Right now I'm thinking how I could do a review of this set's exciting counterpart, TREES. But in regard to this set, you've got to love it - useful signs for any town/city. It's really unfortunate that Lego got away from these types of signs replacing them with a cheap sticker variety. This is pure Classic Town, and wonderful additions to grey or green road plates. Sign On! EDIT: That's a pretty small (but gas-saving) vehicle I'm driving there. You could of at least put me in a roadster.

Thanks for sharing the info. I've moved this from the Trains & Town Forum to Other Themes as this is a small Creator set, at the request of Thomas B above.

I have a very small town currently set up on my tabletop (just a few actual Lego-set buildings). I want to "spook" it up for Halloween, but I could use some tips as to what I could do to make it a little more scary. I thought that some tips would not only help me, but others as well who want to invite some ghouls and goblins into their Lego town. Your creative ideas are wanted. If we get a lot, I will edit this message to start a list of what one could do to "spook up" their tabletown. And please, no Post-Apoc Zombies wanted.

Somewhere along the outskirts of the kingdom, there is a place where the road ends, a dark place. A small tower stands with a sinister secret that only a few of the king's most trusted men know. The place is the home of traitors and other dreadful denizens who dare defy the king. What evil sits within the dank walls of the prison cell forming twisted plans as the time goes by, very, very slowly? Dungeon Set #: 4817 Theme: Castle - Knights Kingdom Year Released: 2000 Piece Count: 38 Minifigs: 1 + Skellie List Price: $5 (USD) 4817 Dungeon was part of the first Knights Kingdom collection released in 2000. Although the theme was an average collection of castle sets, this particular set was a neat little addition with a special added twist. 4817 was part of a collection of four sets that each had a silver plated piece of armor/weapon, this particular set containing a silver breast plate. The three other sets included 4816, 4818, and 4819 containing a sword, helmet, and shield. Although I was only able to pick up two of the four sets at a discount store, I did get them at a great value. This little set includes two figs (one skellie), and some useful parts for the Castle theme. Starting with the box: And the backside of the box showing all four of the figs with silver items: The set includes an ornate minifig some Castle fans would recognize as the Blacksmith (from 3739 Blacksmith Shop) , and a skeleton with black helmet (a great piece): Where else have I seen that minifig? The set includes a brown treasure chest with four gems - a real plus for such a small set: Also included is a polearm, a wonderful printed lion shield, and special silver breast plate: The Dungeon isn't anything spectacular, but can serve as a few extra pieces for an existing castle: The backside displaying the use of a black ladder that serves as the dungeon cell: The blacksmith as he fights the skellie with only a shield. One or two more weapons would have added to this set: Lastly, the complete set: Final Thoughts 4817 is a small set that serves as a great parts pack for a bigger castle collection. For the price/value, it's an excellent little set providing a lot of very nice elements including the silver breast plate, black helmet, and KK Lion Shield. The Blacksmith minifig is also a very nice design that makes a great addition to any set of castle figs (soldier or civilian). I wish I had the other two sets in this four-set collection so I could make the silver knight. Hope you enjoy this Halloween review. Comments welcome, esp. considering we don't usually talk about Castle sets in the Trains & Town Forum.

But this Big Mack was unlike any other McDonald's soy-bean with Thousand Island sauce product. This Big Mack had a very special ingredient, an ingredient that...

In the dim light of an Egyptian sunset, burried within a sand-covered tomb, something evil will soon awaken. The decayed remnants of a great Pharaoh, burried within the secret crypt guards a precious treasure, yet a trap awaits all who dare desecrate the tomb. Will the brave archaeologist team discover where the Pharaoh's gold is really hidden before it is too late? Halloween 2008 Review #2 Oasis Ambush Set #: 5938 Theme: Adventurers - Desert/Egypt Year Released: 1998 Piece Count: 76 Minifigs: 2 + Skellie List Price: $8 (USD) My 2nd Halloween 2008 review will be this small Adventurers set from 1998, and a classic for those who enjoy stories about the Curse of the Mummy. Starting with the box, I've always liked the Adventurers Desert boxart, a nice combination of tans and oranges: The back of the box has two distinct pictures. The first is this picture of the remains of an unfortunate Adventurer: The 2nd, an alternate model with chained skellie: The set includes two stickers that are to be placed on each side of the tomb (shown later): Scanning these stickers a few years ago, I was able to change the background color and use them in this MOC: Three figs include Johnny Thunder and company: The set includes one rifle, a pistol, and a wonderful little Egyptian map tile: A multi-piece trunk palm tree adds a nice outdoor element to this set. I always thought it could have been a little taller though: And the neatest part of the set, the small Tomb of the Pharaoh: On the side of the tomb, a 1x4 tile warns adventurers who desecrate the tomb and gazes into the mummy's eyes. Also pictured is the chain attached to a spear that serves as a lever: Atop the tomb is a black statue of a jackal/Anubis. Notice that a black chest serves as the body: When the spear/lever is pulled, the top of the tomb lifts open easily, a very easy, yet clever design. Inside is the skeleton Pharaoh: The Pharaoh's treasure is not hidden in the tomb, but rather the Anubis statue chest, four gold coins: Beware the Curse of the Pharaoh! The complete set: Final Thoughts: Oasis Ambush is one of the best small sets within the Desert Adventurers theme. With three figs, one palm tree, and a tomb with trap and chest, this set has a great value. I always liked the Anubis statue on the top of the tomb, a simple, yet very effective design for a hidden chest. Although a few gems would have made the treasure a little more valuable, four gold pieces isn't bad at all. Although a Mummy would have been a nice addition, at least the classic skeleton has a Pharaoh's head dress. This set is a must buy for any Adventurers fan, and also a pretty spooky set if you like stories about the Curse of the Mummy.

Yet something remained...

only to land in a big pile of...

The door to the time machine slowly opened and through a thick layer of fog, out came a...

when he stopped, all were compelled to continue the story without getting off track or too silly . Suddenly, a strange knock was heard at the door. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

yet had a strange intoxicating effect that caused...

yet had never paid for. The strange hole had a slimy green substance that...

was knawing at a mysterious hole in the...

despite the howling in the distance. Bob peered out the window.

Back in 2006, we had a thread "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night...", and it was pretty fun. I'd like to start one again for this Halloween/Fall season. The rules of the game are pretty simple: Each person/participant adds a single line to the story. The story goes anywhere and it's a lot of fun. One thing to remember: try to be witty, but try not to get too crazy/bizarre. You want to keep the story flowing and give the next person a lead to add something creative. Check out the 2006 link above if you're not familiar with how to go about adding good content. So, to start the story: It was a Dark and Stormy Night...

At my local Target today (10/18/08), they had an end-cap stocked with 8636 Agent's Deep Sea set, and the new Coast Guard Platform.

I added a story to mine- in case some of you enjoy the Legends of Grave Stone.

Nice blending or the orange and black bricks. I really like Dr. Inferno's hair piece - makes for a perfect Halloween-style character. The various tools for his hand are a nice detailed addition.