Random set of the day: Forest Ambush
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 70400 Forest Ambush, released during 2013. It's one of 5 Castle sets produced that year. It contains 90 pieces and 4 minifigs, and its retail price was US$11.99/£7.99.
It's owned by 7,284 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $32.50, or eBay.
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37 comments on this article
Ambush the forest!
@Maxbricks14 said:
"Ambush the forest!"
Or is it the forest ambushing you?
Castle version of 9489.
"I swear, officer, those trees just jumped out at me!"
That tree is almost as good as the one in the Shire.
Forest Ambush? Where? I can't see it through that tree and shrub.
@MCLegoboy said:
"Forest Ambush? Where? I can't see it through that tree and shrub."
Can't see the forest for the trees? That's how ambushes work.
I don't care what anyone says. Castle 2013 was awesome and I wish LEGO wasn't too afraid to try it again.
@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I don't care what anyone says. Castle 2013 was awesome and I wish LEGO wasn't too afraid to try it again."
Yeah, it was great. They need to bring Castle and Pirates back. The sets would sell like hot-cakes.
@WolfpackBricksStudios :
100%. I wish I would've picked up some of these when they were out, and would love a new wave of (affordable) Castle sets.
@Maxbricks14 :
I remember buying 9489 for myself at a grocery store a couple of years after it had already retired. It was really cool for what it was, and that balaclava face is easily my favorite Stormtrooper head print, hands-down.
@WolfpackBricksStudios said:
"I don't care what anyone says. Castle 2013 was awesome and I wish LEGO wasn't too afraid to try it again."
Agreed. 2013 Castle knights are cool and we need more. Love set 850888. Castle 2013 ranks alongside 1990s Dragon knights and 2009-2012 Kingdoms soldiers as some of best all time!
If all the treasure is laid out on the ground like that…what’s in the treasure chest that they feel the need to guard it so?
@Miyakan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Ambush the forest!"
Or is it the forest ambushing you?"
There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of men for this treachery!
@Miyakan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Ambush the forest!"
Or is it the forest ambushing you?"
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him
Great part pack and I wish I had bought 3-4 more of this sets. Not the pinnacle of Castle theme (classic era's and red lions vs "green dragons"'s were my favorite years), still better than nothing I guess. Fast forward to present and TLG still hasn't come up with a proper line of castle sets price-wise (impulse buy sets like this one or 850888, mid range ones and extravaganza one, like 10305).
Those pearl gold round tiles just can't hold a candle to the chrome coins :/
A great simple army builder
@Brickbuilder0937 said:
"That tree is almost as good as the one in the Shire."
It's also the only Lego tree my wienerdog ever ate.
It was on a low shelf.
A very low shelf.
@Rimefang said:
" @Brickbuilder0937 said:
"That tree is almost as good as the one in the Shire."
It's also the only Lego tree my wienerdog ever ate.
It was on a low shelf.
A very low shelf."
Did it... eat the dog too?
Unbeknownst to the bandits, the treasure chest contained fake gold loot, for the real treasure - chrome gold was stashed deep down in dragon's lair (lego hq).
When this set came out I recall thinking it was a bit expensive for what it was. I'm pretty sure it was above 9,99 in the stores in my area for sure. Boy, if only I had known what the Castle-less void after this theme concluded would do to aftermarket prices...
Anyway, I like it but it kind of feels like two small sets instead of one. I only now realize that this is basically the castle equivalent of a Battlepack. Complete with an 'outpost' and a vehicle. with four minifigs.
@Arnoldos said:
"Unbeknownst to the bandits, the treasure chest contained fake gold loot, for the real treasure - chrome gold was stashed deep down in dragon's lair (lego hq)."
I thought the real treasure was the enemies we robbed along the way?
We want...
...a shrubbery!
@bnic99 said:
" @Miyakan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Ambush the forest!"
Or is it the forest ambushing you?"
There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of men for this treachery!"
"My business is with Isengard tonight.... with rock and stone."
The 2013 Castle theme felt like a bit of a downgrade compared to the previous (2 of my all-time favourite themes) excellent themes: 2010 - 2012 Kingdoms Castle theme, and the 2007 - 2009 Fantasy Era Castle theme, but in and of itself it was a nice little theme, and I am glad I bought all 5 sets. Even multiple ones of the 3 smaller ones.
The minifig printing was very good, and came with a nice assortment of comical facial expressions. Personally, I did not like the shield heraldry of the Lion knights with the full-frontal lion head/face. It looks juniorized and not impressive, certainly compared to the Kingdoms heraldry/coat of arms of both the Lion & dragon knights.
On the other hand, a big plus was that the Lion knghts came with 3 different torso prints, and the King had a unique torso and leg print and colour scheme.
This little set was a good army builder and parts pack to complement your other castle sets.
I really miss these type of small sets.
TLG ought to have released a few small sets like this alongside 10305
@bnic99 said:
" @Miyakan said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"Ambush the forest!"
Or is it the forest ambushing you?"
Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him"
That bit is why Tolkien created the Ents. When he first saw Macbeth, he was disappointed that "Birnam Wood" turned out to just be guys wearing branches to disguise themselves.
@TransNeonOrangeSpaceman said:"Those pearl gold round tiles just can't hold a candle to the chrome coins :/ "
At least a minifig can actually hold one of these. Although they were definitely improved by the addition of printing.
@Ridgeheart said:"I have trouble 'reading' the sword held by the Lion Knight, especially when blowing up the picture. Every time I do so, it just looks like a big wrench to me, which - honestly, pretty cool.
Swords are boring. A wrench is an awesome weapon."
It's not a sword, it's a flail: https://brickset.com/parts/design-59232
Bought 16 of this for around 8 bucks each during sale. Sold 3 in 2019 for 10 bucks to friend so left with 13 sets.
Anyway what's with the inflated price? Don't see any special parts, could it be the minifigures?
@alLEGOry_HJB2810 said:
" @Rimefang said:
" @Brickbuilder0937 said:
"That tree is almost as good as the one in the Shire."
It's also the only Lego tree my wienerdog ever ate.
It was on a low shelf.
A very low shelf."
Did it... eat the dog too?"
Just the tree.
Tasted like parsley, I am told.
Wowowowow!
Hold on, wait up people, don't get all sour now!!!
Four foliage pieces, plus a carrot top, and a granny smith apple, that is definitely a forest.
(in Lego terms)
Got to love this set!
This premise has repeatedly been used in Duplo Castle sets for some reason.
The real question here is that a wolf or a guard dog? And whose side is she on? Or maybe She is the spiritual manifestation of the forest ready to exact revenge on these careless interlopers!
@Ridgeheart said:
"I have trouble 'reading' the sword held by the Lion Knight, especially when blowing up the picture. Every time I do so, it just looks like a big wrench to me, which - honestly, pretty cool.
Swords are boring. A wrench is an awesome weapon."
A giant pipe wrench was Batman's first weapon.
I remember getting this set back in the day. It was a great little castle battlepack. As others have already said, the lion knight emblem was a bit of a downgrade compared to the Kingdoms line. I also remember being bothered that the Kingdoms lions and 2013 Dragons both used red. Hopefully we will see factions that are not red or blue again. Also for the record, green dragons are the best faction.
Regarding the set contents, I actually was quite happy with the little tree, cart, and selection of treasure! They were excellent builds that could be massable. Who doesn't need more trees?
@Ridgeheart said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
"It's not a sword, it's a flail: https://brickset.com/parts/design-59232 "
We're not talking about the same guy. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has trouble reading this picture."
Blue arms with the cowboy helmet, by the neatly arranged loot? Definitely a sword, but from the second generation of shortsword that they switched to in 2009. Blades a bit awkwardly posed so it covers the uppermost part of his legs, but this is pretty obvious even on the first level of zoom. Second level is clear enough on a computer that I have to wonder _how_ you're viewing the image.
@Ridgeheart said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
"It's not a sword, it's a flail: https://brickset.com/parts/design-59232 "
We're not talking about the same guy. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has trouble reading this picture."
I see the one you were talking about now, and while his sword does sort of blend with his outfit, I'm with @PurpleDave in wondering how you're viewing the image, as I don't see *how* it looks like a wrench to you.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"Castle version of 9489."
Or the Castle version of 2258.
@Binnekamp said:
"When this set came out I recall thinking it was a bit expensive for what it was. I'm pretty sure it was above 9,99 in the stores in my area for sure. Boy, if only I had known what the Castle-less void after this theme concluded would do to aftermarket prices...
Anyway, I like it but it kind of feels like two small sets instead of one. I only now realize that this is basically the castle equivalent of a Battlepack. Complete with an 'outpost' and a vehicle. with four minifigs."
I'm really agreeing with you here! I thought it was a bit overpriced but ended up getting 2 on sale. Still I feel like I missed out with the huge castle void afterwards. Now we only have the massive castle sets (like 10305) or unique GWP (like 40601) or non-lego castle (like LOTR or D&D). I like them, too, but hope for more Lego Castle sooooon...