20240122: the History of LEGO Castle day 022. 6074-1 / 10039-1 Black Falcon's Fortress (1986 / 2002, 429 pieces, 93 different parts) The Black Falcon's Fortress was the largest Black Falcon's castle released until the Creator 3-in-1 Medieval Castle in 2021, and it's only slightly bigger than 6073-1 Knight's Castle. The Black Falcon's Fortress is a light gray castle with two towers in the front on either side of a front gate with a black drawbridge. The front towers use the new 3x3x6 corner wall, as do the back corners of the castle. The second floor of the castle has a small covered walkway with the brand new yellow 2x5x6 castle wall panel with black lattice work and a black sloped roof. This is also the first non-symetrical castle so far. The "Yellow" Castle (375-2 / 6075-2), the Knight's Castle (6073-1), and the King's Castle (6080-1) have all had a front gate tower and two matching towers at the right and left corners of the castle, but the Black Falcon's Fortress has the two towers in front making up the larger front gate and the off-center alcove in the rear. The set comes with six Black Falcons minifigures. Four of the minifigures have the standard blue Black Falcon torso with black arms and the silver and black halved falcon pattern on a triangular shield outline with plain black legs and black helmets, though two are archers and two spear wielders. The other two minifigures are both knights, one with a black torso and black arms with the silver breastplate print and one with a blue torso and black arms with the silver breastplate print, and both have black legs with red belts. The knights each have one horse, so one white horse with a red saddle and one black horse with a blue saddle. Unique parts in this set include the blue 2x2 hard plastic Black Falcons flag and the yellow 2x5x6 castle wall panel with black lattice work. The light gray corner wall with dark gray stone print was only found in two other sets, 6062-1 Battering Ram (1987) and 6077-2 Forestmen's River Fortress (1989). While the original 6074-1 was released in 1986, the LEGO Group decided to re-release it as part of the Legends theme in 2002. The only real differences between the sets are: the shiny dark gary sword becomes dark gray swords, switching out the 1x1 plates with thin U clips to thick U clips, and switching out the one clip blue and red saddles for two clip saddles. Probably my absolute favorite part of this entire castle is how this is the one castle so far with an entry gate the carts up until this point will actually fit through, as the drawbridge is wider. Overall, though, this castle is such a beautiful design. It's fun to play with and very easy to close, pick up, and move around. I truly enjoy that about these early castles - how easy they are to move, so you can adjust your kingdom much easier, or even move the castle from active play to a shelf. Inventory lists for this castle can be found on BrickLink or Rebrickable and a free download of the instructions can be found at ToysPeriod. If you want to know more about the designer, Daniel August Krentz, BrickSet did a really nice tribute and has a full list of everything he designed. Additionally, 10039-1 was included in a LEGO Legend Castle Collection (K10039) from 2003 alongside 10000-1 Guarded Inn (re-release from 2001) and 3739-1 Blacksmith Shop (from 2002).