The Moldy Rock

Welcome to „The Moldy Rock“, a stunning LEGO model that showcases a castle rising from the depths of a misty swamp. This detailed creation captures the essence of a forgotten realm, where the fortress stands resilient amidst creeping vines and murky waters.

Many different influences served as inspiration for the castle, from Arthurian legend to the comic 'The Swamp Thing.' As a fan of fantasy, it was particularly important to me to give the 'Castle' theme a more fantastic touch. To achieve this, I placed the castle in the middle of a monster-infested swamp.

Furthermore, it was important to me that the castle looks like a product of its surroundings. As the many tree stumps in the area suggest, a lot of wood was used in the construction of the castle. The decor of the castle is also inspired by the surrounding flora and fauna. Golden frogs, fish, and leaves are used as decorative elements. The gold needed for this can be found in the surrounding rock.

All in all, I would say the castle has a very „nordic“ feel.

The Build:

"This intricate castle comprises 3,799 parts and is divided into three distinct sections:

The Outer Bailey: Constructed almost entirely of wood, this area includes a small smithy and a rudimentary cooking space.

The Main Gate: Featuring two lookout towers, a small hidden cell block with an escape function, and the primary entrance.

The Inner Castle: Housing the throne room, quarters, a small armory, a side gate, stables, and an observation tower.

The castle opens up in the middle for enhanced playability. The entire castle was constructed with an odd number of studs, allowing for the implementation of some sophisticated building techniques, such as the construction of 3-stud wide arches.

Additionally, the three bases of the castle are angled to create a visually captivating appearance.

Oh, and I also built a boat because THEY took it from me!

The Play Functions:

The set contains several play functions that are waiting to be discovered.

Folding Design: The castle is cleverly constructed to fold open, revealing the detailed interior rooms and hidden secrets within its sturdy stone walls.

Removable Roofs: Each section of the castle has removable roofs, allowing easy access to the detailed interiors.

Fold-Out Bay Windows: These allow a peak into the exciting interior. At least as long as you don't disturb anyone…

Working Trap Gate: The main gate is fully functional, with a mechanism to raise and lower the gate, protecting the castle from unwanted guests.

A Dangerous Axe Trap: Intruders watch your head! The side gate is equipped with a trap featuring swinging axes.

Literally Breathtaking Wildlife: The swamp is home to a variety of harmless animals, like insects, frogs, snakes, bats and birds, but wait there is more…

Attack Of The Giant Octopod: The Dock is in danger. This wild beast causes nothing but chaos with its moveable tentacles.

Swamp Creature: Something evil lurks beneath the castle, deep in the swamp. Sometimes in the dead of night you can see his red eyes glowing.

The Minifigures

The set includes a total of 11 minifigs that inhabit the castle. I tried to keep each minifigure unique and give it its own personality.

Trevor, The Swamp King: Every castle needs a King. With his golden battleaxe and his pet toad Slippy, he watches over his kingdom.

Harald, The Barbarian: The king's eldest son. With boundless courage and 2 hand axes, he faces every danger.

Joan, The Wise: The king's second-born, is a master of the crossbow and also rich in intellect. She is the only one who can read and write.

Arthur, The Boy: As the king's youngest son, he has nothing but mischief on his mind. His favorite hobby is fishing.

Wallace, The Warrior: The king's oldest friend and advisor. This gray-haired warrior has been teaching fear to his enemies for decades.

Tuck, The Forrestman: As a Forrestmen diplomat and tradesman, Tuck is a welcome guest on Moldy Rock. He rarely finds peace on his long journeys

Bron, The Wolfman: Beware, The Wolfpack is on the move again. They rob and plunder everything they can get their hands on.

Wieland, The Blacksmith: Known for his sharp axes and robust shields, he has mastered the art of blacksmithing like no other.

Epona, The Cook: Epona cooks the heartiest stews and mixes the strongest potions. After every battle, she gets the fighters back on their feet.

Two Random Crossbowman - Not every story is told. These two can be anything you want them to be. Radiant saviors or miserable traitors. You decide.