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General => Report & Review => Topic started by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 20:36:43

Title: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 20:36:43
It was brought to my attention that no one has ever reviewed the micro sets. So since I now have six out of eight, and am very much in love with them, I thought I'd take some time to review them

We start with the front of the box:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1712.jpg)

And the back:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1713.jpg)

The box is actually more of a sleeve, containing the plastic box. There is a nice sticker to put on the end of the box for easy identification, if you were to throw away the sleeve. :0
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1714.jpg)

Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 20:37:16
The castle itself comes in four pieces.
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1716.jpg)

Here it is assembled, and it looks almost exactly like its larger counterpart, so cute!
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1718.jpg)

Here is a view of the box itself, featuring a "footprint" of where the castle should go, along with a nice moat and drawbridge, and a neighboring castle showing in the distance.
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1720.jpg)

Here it is with the castle:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1721.jpg)

Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 20:37:48
Now for the smaller pieces.

Mine came with two dragons, obviously a mistake, but I don't mind. :love:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1723.jpg)

Guards wearing two different colors... i think I may have gotten extras of those too, which is good; I need extras to fight off two dragons!
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1724.jpg)

Jousting knights -- amazingly detailed for being so small!
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1726.jpg)

The children and accesories that came with the set:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1728.jpg)
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1730.jpg)

Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 20:38:05
And we'll finish with an overview of the children playing with their toys:
(http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/yy289/bonniebeth2/microsets/100_1733.jpg)

Of course, the board has metal under it and all the pieces have tiny magnets that hold them to the board so they don't get lost. The other half of the box, with the backdrop, does not have any metal, so the pieces don't stick there. All in all, it's a great set, highly recommended! My only complaint is that in these first-year micro sets, the children do not have magnetic feet, so the do not stick to the metal board, but that is corrected in later sets. Also, one minor inconvenience is that the castle is slightly too tall for the box, so it must be disassembled to close the box.
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: tahra on July 09, 2011, 20:54:34
Thanks for the great review... I want that one!
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: tonguello on July 09, 2011, 21:08:02
aaaaawwww that's so cute! I want all the micro sets!!!!  :hissyfit:
Thank you bb for the review. Can't wait for the rest  ;D
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: playmofire on July 09, 2011, 21:12:42
Excellent review, Bonnie; thank you.  (I did actually do all the photos for this set, but then found the ones of the knight figures were out of focus and never got round to doing them again, so thanks for saving me a job!).

You did well getting two dragons and extra footmen.  I just had one dragon, the standard six mounted knights (3 per livery) and two of the pairs of footmen (one pair per livery).

I always thought that the micro sets were a very clever idea and was surprised that they didn't sell better.  As well as the castle, I've got the airport (reviewed here http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=3183.0), the farm, family house, and the harbour.   (I can't remember if I've bought the others!  ???)

Look forward to your reviews of the other micro sets.
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 21:15:57
Thanks guys... out of curiosity, are all the pictures coming out the same size? On my computer some of the pics are showing up huge, even though they have been resized like the others. ???
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: tonguello on July 09, 2011, 21:16:44
yeah all the same size
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: playmofire on July 09, 2011, 21:17:53
Thanks guys... out of curiosity, are all the pictures coming out the same size? On my computer some of the pics are showing up huge, even though they have been resized like the others. ???

Yes, all the same size but some differences in colour where you've used flash or artificial light.
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 21:27:16
Yep. The lighting is strange because these pics are taken in my closet ::).... the reasons why are a long story! :lol: The flash doesn't do well with the close-ups, but is neccessary with the other shots, so that's why it's inconsistant.
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: Wolf Knight on July 09, 2011, 21:58:08
I really like how the structuresa are seperated in three or four pieces, like the fairytale castle!!! and I can't believe how many items, especially knights this set has!!! WOW!!!

Thank you Bonnie for another excellent review and pictures!!
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: playmofire on July 09, 2011, 22:15:39
Yep. The lighting is strange because these pics are taken in my closet ::).... the reasons why are a long story! :lol: The flash doesn't do well with the close-ups, but is neccessary with the other shots, so that's why it's inconsistant.

I figured that was it.  If you have photo software, it will almost certainly have an option to auto adjust a picture and that will restore the pics taken without flash to look as if they were taken in standard lighting.
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 09, 2011, 23:25:09
I'm using kodak easyshare... it does have scene balance options, but only ones that make it look more yellow! :o BTW, the reason it looks yellow isn't the lighting -- the lighting is very good LED track lighting -- it's because the walls are yellow. ;) I take the pics in there because all my furniture is dark wood and my counters are black, so the pieces just don't show up well. In my living room the walls are chocolate brown, and the shelves are black. ::) And there isn't a good place outside to do them, either. So I'll just have to deal with the yellow until I one day have a playmoden with the right backgrounds for taking pics.
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: Gustavo on July 10, 2011, 00:11:10
This wooden sword is much cooler than the one I have ... (Mine is the one below.)
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: Playmoholics on July 10, 2011, 02:01:36
A very excellent and thorough review  :wave: This is Collin's favorite (and the only micro set we have). He pretends it is a movie theater, and he says he is watching his castle movie  :P
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: bonniebeth on July 10, 2011, 02:10:43
Aw, that's so cute! It does kind of remind me of a theater!
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: Lindama on July 10, 2011, 03:37:07
Thanks Bonnie. I think I need this!
Title: Re: 4333 Knight's Castle Micro Set
Post by: Luis on July 10, 2011, 16:38:48
great review, Bonnie!  :thanks:

i have both this and the pirates one and i absolutely love them both :love:

the accesories are very neat 8-)

makes me want to get more micro sets now :)