A little over eighteen months ago, Clemens Fiedler’s LEGO® Ideas Submission ‘Medieval BlackSmith’ reached 10000 supporters on the crowd-sourcing platform. Finally, we can reveal the official details about this set. Last year, 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay saw classic Pirates given the LEGO Ideas/ AFOL Audience Treatment. This year, the 21325 Medieval Blacksmith sees the same treatment meted out on the Classic Castle/Medieval Market village style sets.

With 2164 pieces, and costing 149.99 USD/ 199.99 CAD 146.99 EUR / 134.99 GBP /249.99 AUD, this set will be released through LEGO Branded Retail on February 1st.

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The model is set over three levels: a ground floor workshop, kitchen/ dining floor and a bedroom/writing desk in the attic. As you can see in these shots from the box, the interior is remarkably detailed. Certainly beyond what we might have seen in medieval sets previously.

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We have four minifigures in this set: The Blacksmith, his wife and two Black Falcons Knights. there is also a dog and a horse. I do not think I have seen this design of horse in tan, previously.

Compared to the original Black Falcons, the updated versions feature much shinier armour, and also appear to have silver printed torsos and shields, compared to the old white printing. Certainly a sign of how the production techniques have improved over the years.

When The first image of this set was accidentally revealed a few weeks ago, fans of the original design were concerned that there was a dramatic departure from the original design, both in terms of the roof design and scale. Now that we have better images to compare the original concept with the final product, let us see how they compare…

The original submission is slightly taller, although the final footprint appears to be quite similar to the original. The chimney is preserved, as is the feeling of the stone walls, although there appears to be slightly more walls in white /tan/with exposed beams in the final release, compared to the veritably stone clad submission I feel this change results in a brighter final result, as does the roof. That said, the overall layout, with the lower level/living level, arrangement of forge and stone stairs are essentially the same.

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The roof has possibly been the most devisive aspect of the final design: replacing a roof that was essentially dark blue times, with an almost flagrant disregard for the order in which they might be places. Don’t get me wrong: it looks great as a moody, poorly maintained medieval building, but I can see difficulties in transposing this to instructions in a qualitity controlled sets. The final result here, using NEXO shield tiles was the mainstay of the roof tiles, is very effective. The variety of colour might provoke some who prefer the gloomy look. The sand green gives a great mossy look, while the bright blue is a great nod to the roof of the 3739 Blacksmith Shop, from 2002. The roof tiles appear to mantain the change in angle that we see in that model too.

When it comes to internal details, the final product has paid great attention for furnishing: from details in the forge and workshop, the kitchen and the bedroom, including colourful bedspread and chairs.

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I love the level of detail shown in the kitchen area, while there is more to be seen in the attic. Could that possibly be a bearskin rug?

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Overall, I think this set is well and truly worth of the 18+ tag for the tratment, and attention to detail included within.

Here is the Press Release:

1^st February 2021: LEGO Ideas has taken a leaf out of the history books with the design of its latest set, a charming Medieval Blacksmith’s house. The new set is based on an original design by an avid LEGO builder, which achieved over 10,000 votes from LEGO fans worldwide – giving it the green light to go into production. 

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LEGO superfan Clemens Fiedler originally submitted the concept to LEGO Ideas; a LEGO initiative that takes new ideas that have been imagined and voted for by fans and turns them into reality. The LEGO Ideas®Medieval Blacksmith set harks back to a time when cottage industries and artisans were the cornerstone of society and was brought to life by LEGO designers Wes Talbott and Austin Carlson.

When thinking of medieval times, the focus is normally on the kings and queens, knights and ladies, their castles and the battles between good and evil, but this new medieval set has an unexpected twist showing the unsung hero of those epic battles and adventures – the humble Blacksmith.

True to the era, the LEGO® Ideas Medieval Blacksmith set includes bold period design features from the timber framed walls to the gothic lattice windows, providing much intrigue and interest to fans of medieval architecture.

The LEGO® Ideas Medieval Blacksmith set is positioned in enchanting grounds, featuring a well-stocked cottage-style garden complete with squash patch and a gnarly apple tree, while the brickwork is tinged with moss for added realism.  

The inside is set over three separate floors which are fully furnished and equipped with everything a medieval blacksmith would need. Interior items include stocks of raw materials, coal to keep the furnace hot, and a bellows complete with lightbrick to make the coals glow. The roof and top two levels can be removed for easy viewing of the inside.

Further setting the scene, the LEGO Ideas® Medieval Blacksmith set is completed with the inclusion of four minifigures: a blacksmith, an archer and two Black Falcon Knights with four swords, three shields and a halberd. Several animals can be found in the grounds outside the house, including a horse to pull the knight’s supply cart, a pet dog and a small tree frog.

Clemens Fiedler commented: “I love building classical house designs and honouring all the great attention to detail you can recreate with LEGO elements – especially medieval architecture styles, colours and design. I hope fellow LEGO fans will enjoy traveling back in time; sense the heat, sounds and smells from the forge and anvil and soak up the atmosphere of this classical creative craft as they build the set.”

Samuel Thomas Liltorp Johnson, Design Manager at the LEGO Group commented: “Designing the LEGO®Ideas Medieval Blacksmith set has been an exciting journey, taking us back hundreds of years to celebrate one of the true heroes of the Middle Ages. Telling the story of the blacksmith caught our imagination, and the rest was history.

“We loved the idea of creating a small blacksmith’s house on the outskirts of the medieval world, where every knight goes for a set of shining armour. Without doubt, fans will be fascinated by the workings of the forge, the architectural details and the characters they find there when they build this set.” 

The new LEGO® Ideas Medieval Blacksmith set is the latest example of how the LEGO Group aims to inspire builders of all ages to build, rebuild and get excited by the process of creation.

The LEGO Medieval Blacksmith Set is on sale on LEGO.com and in LEGO Retail stores from 1^st February.  

There are some definite differences between the original submission of to Ideas, and the final product 21325. Overall I quite like the look, and I will present a review of the final product as soon as I can. I am intrigued by the final part count, and would like to compare its scale to the Medieval Market Village 10193 from 2008; as well as a modular building:some of these have both a similar part count and price point.

Of course, does it matter that the final model is different from the original submitted? Perhaps a little, but there is a difference between a MOC that you can display, and inspire others with, and a model that needs to be able to be produced in mass quantities, as well as having a positive building experience. To be honest, I probably prefer the brighter tones of this model over the original Ideas submission. But it would not have come into being without the original submission being put forward. And both versions of the model, pay homage to the 2002 blacksmith house, but on a dramatically different scale:

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I am sure people will be delighted to see the a new fresh, adult focused medieval build, and especially excited to see the return of the Black Falcons who were a regular faction between 1984 and 1988.

What do you think of the look of the final Ideas design compared with the original submission? why not comment below, and until next time, Play Well!