Random set of the day: King's Catapult
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 1480 King's Catapult, released in 1991. It was the only Castle set released that year. It contains 33 pieces and 1 minifig.
It's owned by 1395 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
Help me come to life! If you like the set I've chosen for you today, please pledge your support for me on LEGO Ideas so I have a chance of becoming an official LEGO set!
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18 comments on this article
Gonna admit, I'm one of the few here who is a fan of the various projectile shooters LEGO has made. I don't have this exact set, but I do know I have a catapult part. Provided, this is actually a backhoe/excavator bucket attached to a hinge.
And my favorite projectile shooter--I picked up a Batman polybag for a six-shooter stud launcher, and seeing as how it worked by a technic axle attached to a gear, I decided to attach a PF motor to it. Talk about a machine gun! Threw out all six 1x1 round studs in a second!
And not a stud shooter in sight, just Castle guys living in the moment...
You'd think a king could spring for something a little more impressive, especially if he's going to stake a public claim on it.
This catapult wants so badly to itself be a castle... maybe someday when you grow up, little guy!
Actually the trebuchet is the superior siege weapon
Next voting competition should be cutest set ever released. This one gets my vote.
Where is the king!? Some knight has stolen his catapult!
Part of a special 5-pack that included Blacktron II, MTron, Castle, Pirates, and a Town race car. Lots of great playability in those little sets! And how many polybag-style sets (today's equivalent to this one) contain 3 weapons, a shield, and a sizable building plate? Great value for so few pieces, the early 90's were good Lego years.
^ Yup, that 5 pack is why I have one random Castle set and one random Pirate set. The Pirate set was especially a bargain: came with a fig, a parot, actual chromed gold pieces, and one of those cool sharks. Good years indeed--and best of all, it came with -two- space sets!
@GSR_MataNui:
He may have slunk off in shame, after seeing this "grand catapult" that he'd been promised. You know, like when someone promises you a Ferrari and delivers a Fiero with a knock-off Ferrari body strapped to it with bungee cords and duct tape.
@GSR_MataNui said:
"Where is the king!? Some knight has stolen his catapult!"
Though a number of Crusaders sets included "King's" in the name – including castles 6080-1 and 6081-1 – the first identifiable king minifigure didn't come until 1995 (Royal Knights).
The only Castle set of 1991. I bought this set a few years ago. A funny little thing. The only problem with this set is the minifigure. The shield indicates that the figure is a Crusader/Lion Knight, but clothing says it is a Black Knight.
It's times like these make me wish I had collected classic Castle, too.
@sanderkoenen said:
"The only Castle set of 1991. I bought this set a few years ago. A funny little thing. The only problem with this set is the minifigure. The shield indicates that the figure is a Crusader/Lion Knight, but clothing says it is a Black Knight."
Or hé is using the spoils of war as gear and/or to Throw of the Enemy.
That 5-pack is burned into my memory. I was OVER THE MOON when I received it as a kid. Those sets were loved for a long time.
The catapult worked surprisingly well up to several meters if hit just the right way. Just needed more ammo as difficult to find again afterwards. Whatever happened to the hinge plate 4504 that connected to the bucket, went the way of the knights I guess.
@ambr said:
"The catapult worked surprisingly well up to several meters if hit just the right way."
It did work great! The only issue was the bucket (part 4626) that would hinge forward/upward after each shot - if you didn’t reset its position each time, the knight would end up shooting himself in the foot! Kind of charming, actually.
Regarding the question as to where the “king” is... when you’re king, you can get other people to stand beside your catapult... ;)
My first LEGO catapult set was 6032 Catapult Crusher from Knights' Kingdom I. Not sure if I prefer the 2x2 projectiles that one used for their greater hitting power or these 1x1 ones for their appearance though!