REVIEW: 7949 Prison Carriage Escape

[Rumble Strike]

Back when I was a small child my top 3 LEGO themes were Town, Space and Castle, probably like most little kids!

Since coming back into LEGO fandom at the end of last year, I have been eagerly revisiting the successors to those early 1980s lines. LEGO introduced the Kingdoms line in 2010, and this is a review of one of the smaller sets, the Prison Carriage Rescue.

BASIC INFORMATION:

Set Name: Prison Carriage Rescue

Set Number: 7949

Number of Pieces: 50

Minifigs: 3

Price: USD 9.99, GBP 9.99, EUR 9.99

Theme: Kingdoms

Year Released: 2010

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:

LEGO Shop @ Home

Brickset

Peeron

My photo set on Flickr

THE REVIEW:

BOX:

Front:

We start with a lovely colourful box, showing off the contents and the inherent playability of the set very well.

Back:

The back shows how the soldier might well escape, it's handy that the door folds down, isn't it?

Side:

The side of the box shows off the included minifigs, with the 1:1 picture turned awkwardly on its side.

IN THE BOX:

Contents

Two bags, folded instructions and no sticker sheet! Woohoo! The horse is loose in the box, no separate baggie for him.

Pieces of interest:

Gotta love the horse armour piece with the horn. It comes in a separate baggie inside one of the other big bags. It's a very detailed piece, sculpted with overlapping plates and even rivets. And I know it's not a new piece but it's always nice getting a horse!

MINIFIGS:

Front:

The front of the three minifigs. I have the terrified expression showing as default on the soldier as that's how he's depicted in the instructions. Check out those incredible detailed torsos!

Back:

Back printing on all three minifigs, although only the soldier has an alternate expression.

Accessories:

The soldier comes with no weapons but does get a helmet, the style of which I remember fondly from early Castle. The King's knight and the Dragon Knight soldier get swords and shields in their respective faction colours, as well as helmets, including a new knight-style helmet for the King's knight. Let's take a closer, individual look at the minifigs with their accessories.

King's soldier:

This guy is called a King's soldier in the blurb on the LEGO site, but he doesn't have the lion faction badge anywhere, and despite his chain-mail, he would fit in pretty well as a civilian-type character. The dual-expressioned head works very well in the context of the set.

Dragon Knight soldier:

This is the Dragon Knight soldier, he drives the prison carriage but does have armament to protect himself from ambushes. The print on the shield is awesome, and overall the detailing apparent on this minifig is superb. The expression on the face is an appropriate scowl.

King's Knight:

As nicely detailed as the other two minifigs are, they pale in comparison to the King's knight. He has so much detail, including leg printing! The look is enhanced both stylistically and colourfully by the shield and the plume on the helmet. This guy is definitely one of my favourite non-licensed figs I've seen.

Here he is without his helmet. He is unshaven but with a slight smile. I'm glad he has a different face to the other two.

THE BUILD:

Build:

At stage 5, the base of the carriage has been completed.

At stage 10, the prison walls are starting to take shape. You can see how cramped and small the prison will be.

By stage 15, the prison carriage is complete. See how nice the horse looks with the head armour.

From the back you can see the ineffective gate piece that hinges down as well as the tiny size of the prison itself. A figure barely fits in there! The carriage is well finished off with the spear and the fire, though.

These were the extra pieces, a couple of cheese slopes and spare fire and plume.

COMPLETED SET:

The nature of the set does allow for playable scenarios to quickly develop:

Oh no, a soldier of the King has been captured!

But wait, here comes a valiant King's knight, stepping bravely in front of the thuggish Dragon Knight soldier and his unwilling prisoner.

The mortal enemies duel as the terrified prisoner realises how to escape.

After a brief skirmish, the tables are turned as the Dragon Knight soldier is imprisoned.

The King's knight makes sure the Dragon Knight soldier doesn't even think about trying to get free!

Totals:

Design: 5/10 – The prison is tiny and looks unfinished. Obviously the design was hindered by its price point. I'm sure it'd be pretty easy to modify into something bigger and more prison-like.

Parts: 6/10 - A low amount of parts and nothing really exciting apart from the horse and the armour. Like the design aspects, this is to be expected at this price point, and with the focus on the minifigs.

Build: 5/10 – A very simple build. No real interesting techniques and it's all over and done with very quickly. Good for kids though, who will be able to get the set up and running easily!

Minifigs: 10/10 – The standouts of the set, and the main reason this was considered to be one of the “army builder” sets of the first wave of Kingdoms. Three quality figures with great accessories.

Playability: 8/10 – For all the design flaws, this is still a very playable “battle in a box” set, with two factions able to duke it out over the prison carriage. A nice addition to the other sets in the wave, for sure.

Price: 6/10 – This retails for the same price as the licensed battle packs from the likes of the Star Wars line, but it would have been nice to see this set a bit cheaper than those, due to it being an in-house Lego theme. I actually paid 25% less than retail for my set, so was pretty happy with the price.

Total: 40/60 – A solid set for the price, the design of the carriage is underwhelming but the set is rescued by the minifigs and the horse, and the opportunities and scenarios that can be created.

I hope you enjoyed this review; it is my first review as part of the Reviewers Academy. I would love constructive comments and feedback below. Thanks!

Edited June 30, 2011 by Rumble Strike

[de Gothia]

Thanks for the nice review!

A great set in my opinion. 3 minifigs and one horse for that price is really nice these days! As close as you get to a battlepack! (I missed to buy the B.P... , the dragon knights would have been great!)

de Gothia

[Ogre]

Nice review. Love the pics.

I agree that this is a great 'army builder' set. Three figs, plus horse and small cart for not even twice the current price of an 'impulse' set. Not bad. Especially when you consider that awesome looking 'Kings Knight' with the Great Helm. Sweeeeet!

[run4sci]

I just picked up my 3rd copy of the set, it was only $8 at Target. Want to modify the cart to have four wheels and hold more prisoners.

[rriggs]

Nice little set with great minifigs. I'm a bit out of touch with Castle (my newest Castle set is from 1989!) and the minifigs are awesome. I might have to treat myself at the weekend after reading this review!

My only criticism (I don't mind the simple carriage - remember the old 1980s treasure wagon and maiden's carriage?) is the brick on the horse should be dark bley like the harness. And you used to get a horse coloured brick and tile to make the horse complete when unharnessed....

Also, what does the king's knight's face look like without his helmet?

Cheers

Rog

Edited June 29, 2011 by rriggs

[Rumble Strike]

As it was my first review, I didn't take a pic without the Knight's helmet. Apologies!

I'll see if I can get one taken to add to the review.

[Rumble Strike]

Hi,

Here is a pic of the Knight without the helmet. I'll add this to the review too.

[Mr. Gray]

Great review. I have loved this set since I bought it first, over 16 copies ago! :) Cheap, comes with some very nice minifigs, and of course a nice black horse!

[fred67]

Great review. I have loved this set since I bought it first, over 16 copies ago! :) Cheap, comes with some very nice minifigs, and of course a nice black horse!

Yeah... I got four. I figured you could make a decent carriage with four; the figures are great for what you're paying. The only problem is you end up with twice as many Lion knights.

[Hoboman]

I bought six of these for the horse and knights. Nice review with good pictures.

Well Done.

[Ogre]

Yeah... I got four. I figured you could make a decent carriage with four; the figures are great for what you're paying. The only problem is you end up with twice as many Lion knights.

I don't really see that as a problem, though. Since the Lion Knights are 'the good guys' and the Dragons are the 'invaders' (who don't even have much of a 'base of operations'), I've always pictured the Lions as having the larger force.

But, maybe that's just me.

[TheLegoDr]

I don't really see that as a problem, though. Since the Lion Knights are 'the good guys' and the Dragons are the 'invaders' (who don't even have much of a 'base of operations'), I've always pictured the Lions as having the larger force.

But, maybe that's just me.

As much as I want more dragon knights, I agree completely. The lions should have the larger force and the dragons probably just hit them in small waves to try to break them down. But I have bought multiples of this to build up the armies. I'm only at 13 lions and 10 dragons or something, so not too far off.

[r1chard]

What I hate about this set

[TheLegoDr]

What I hate about this set

Actually Justin still can't grow any facial hair...

[Big Cam]

Good looking review, I find myself wanting to stretch out to more and more themes to get more and more of these good looking fig's and parts. I have to draw the line somewhere and I will live through reviews.

[TheLegoDr]

Good looking review, I find myself wanting to stretch out to more and more themes to get more and more of these good looking fig's and parts. I have to draw the line somewhere and I will live through reviews.

You never have to draw the line anywhere

[Ogre]

You never have to draw the line anywhere

I've tried to "draw the line" time and time again and I always fail. I tried to not collect PQ. Failed. I tried to not collect AC. Failed. I tried to not collect Kingdoms. Failed.

*sigh*

I'm destined to be broke forever.

[Tria]

Thanks for the review!

The only reason I would buy this set is for the minifigs (especially the lion's knight!)

You have right about the inflated price, but still you get a horse a mask for a horse and three good minifigs (two fully equipped)... Maybe adding an extra weapon (beside the spear) and an extra shield would balance the price...