VicLUG

Steve · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:42 am Post subject: Review: 7036 – Dwarves' Mine

All it takes is one quick look at my creations and it’s fairly clear what kind of stuff I am into. The themes and styles are obvious and recurring.
Castle, fantasy, and fig-scale building are NOT among them.

…So why on earth did I feel so desperate to get a hold of 7036 – Dwarves' Mine ?
In a word, figures. As most of us know all too well, each LEGO enthusiast has a personal sorting style that works for them. My own happens to include an almost completely subsidiary spin-off collection of Minifigs. Strange perhaps for someone who never builds in that scale, but there is just something about the little guys…
I love them for their diversity and attention to detail. More and more in the recent sets, the figures do not just inhabit the scene, they are characters with real back-story and a life of their own.
It is in this department, detail and story, that 7036 – Dwarves' Mine delivers.

The introduction of the new Dwarf figs themselves was a huge part of this set’s appeal. With the braided beards and all new helmets, they practically ooze attitude. A new torso would have been nice, but the recycled Vikings ones are almost completely hidden behind the flowing facial hair anyway, so no biggie there. As introductions go, my personal favourite from this set was the Orcs. Although they include nothing new element wise, the Orcs are maliciously cute. (The imagery took me back to endless hours playing Warcraft 2. I caught myself grinning and saying “Zug zug” more than once while I put this one together.) Our new friend the Troll was a tad disappointing, especially in his lacking articulation. In fact, his only saving grace was the forethought that his hands can hold standard rods on the top, for weapon wielding etcetera, but also hold a minifig leg on the bottom, allowing him to toss his little bearded buddies around like, oh I dunno, dwarves.

The mine itself was a very clever build.
This set is beautifully designed, and packed with play-value.
Its overall look quickly speaks to classically depicted and characteristic elements of dwarfish life: Industry, militancy, and secrecy. The huge heavy doors, massive machinery, and glinting arms all lend to the message. “This is ours, we have labored for it, expect resistance”. This operation is part factory, part fortress, all strength. Once the build is completed you have story waiting to be told, complete with heroes and nemeses.

The parts assortment is quite appealing too. Highlights include 9x brown 2x2 round bricks, 14x dark-blue cheese wedges and another 4 in dark-green, obvious new elements such as the dwarves, troll, etcetera, plenty of armaments, plus a nice assortment of plates and bricks in brown and dark-green. Another odd bit is a two-tone dark-green/dark-bley BURP.

This set has it all. A fun build, a great looking set with lots of play value, and a nice part assortment that will augment any collection. The best news of all, is that 7036 – Dwarves' Mine appears to be the herald of a new era for LEGO Castle sets. For the first time, the line has my attention, and it looks like it will only continue to get better.

Steve
My: Brickshelf - MOCPages - Flickr

tedward · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 8:26 am Post subject:

Thanks for the review. It certainly bumps Dwarves Mine higher on the list of sets I want to own (assuming they ever re-stock) for much the same reason you had: I want the minifigs. I have not bought a lot of the recent Castle theme sets until and unless they are on sale/discounted because the sets themselves are not that interesting and I cannot justify full price for the figs or specific bits I want. I think you have convinced me it is worth grabbing.

J1A3L5 · Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks Steve, I can't wait to see it.

It will be back in stock when the rest of the lineup is released.

-John.

joseph · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

you've brought this set more alive with the description, very intrigued! I'm a fan of the troll actually, especially in comparison to other large humanoid offerings like the potter troll and the rock beast. my expectations were hovering around there, and the new troll more than exceeded them. I bl'd a few of the dwarfs and was really pleased with the detail and proportions. still havn't seen the orcs ( are they actually called orcs on the box?? ) first hand and have been figuring out the most effective way of introducing this castle goodness into the fold. are you bringing the set to the next meet?