6036 - Skeleton Surprise

Rating:
Pros: Nothing outstanding, but it's worth the few bucks.
Cons: Nothing outstanding, but it's worth the few bucks.
Contents: 72 pieces including 2 mini-figs
Price: $8.29 - Discontinued
Reviewed: 19-Jul-1996
Reviewed by: Joseph Gonzalez

Charles has forever lived in the shadow of this father. It was his father's aspirations that thrust him into the royal academy and that man's influence with the king that made sure he stayed there. Charles was there when an attempt was made on King Archibald's life. (Well, actually he was trembling nervously behind a tapestry.) And Charles was present when the Dragon Masters' forces launched a full-fledged night-attack on the castle (if you consider hiding in the kitchen being present). The final insult came when poor Charles overheard what he thought to be a conspiracy only to find it was a surprise party plan for the king (that was after he gave the details to the entire royal court, including the king of course).
Now his assignment has been the everyday vigil of the old chapel vestibule in the most remote end of the castle. (The chambermaids say it isn't even considered part of the castle). It was a shameful and boring existence for the first few weeks until Charles met Sir Rodney. A keen and cunning opponent at chess if ever there was one, and always with a new tale of worldly travels just for Charles. Now Charles arises each day and almost runs to be at his post to share more time with his new-found friend. And it doesn't bother Charles a bit that Sir Rodney has been dead for more than forty years.

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Another interesting castle set, and though I tend to gripe about the way Lego overdoes it including a skeleton in every kit, they are still an impetus for me to buy if I haven't quite made up my mind about a set. (My phantom army of ghosts and cadavers is growing and growing).
This is a simple what-you-see-is-what-you-get set with mostly black and grey pieces making up a small castle segment. They've come up with a new type of trap type here though. Just over the doorway to the section, a rod is suspended through the hole of a 1x2 lateral-hole brick and sustained on the other side by an axle insert at the end of the rod inserted into a similar 1x2 brick. The rod is stationary, but can be turned. A 1x1 clip-top tile is then clipped onto the rod and with another 1x1 tile, then attached to the top of the skull of the skeleton. (If there wasn't an arch over the door or a roof top, your skeleton could spin around and around like an Olympic gymnast at this point.) The rod is then turned, and the skeleton is rotated up and into the recessed portion of the roof of the castle section. A second "flagpole" rod is then inserted just under the skeleton's feet and holds him unseen in the roof's cavity. When the flagpole rod is removed, the skeleton swings down (still held by his head to the rotating rod) and into your face. (Where's a good medieval cardiologist when you need one?). I've probably made it sound more technical then it really is, and it isn't, but it does serve its purpose.
Mini-figs include a royal guard and a skeleton. No particularly new pieces here, but I haven't seen this strange axle-insert-end rod before. This set isn't really a must-have, but its pieces will always help you add another section to a larger castle (or build up a medium size set).