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7017 Viking Catapult vs. Nidhogg Dragon
225 elements, 2 figures, US$20, 2005
LEGO > SYSTEM > Vikings
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7017
(Castle) System / Vikings
Viking Catapult versus the Nidhogg Dragon
La catapulte des Vikings contre le dragon Nidhogg
La Catapulta Vikinga contra el Dragon Nidhogg
Ages 7-14. 225 Pcs. (C)2005. 35 page manual: 1 model (1 ballista, 1 Dragon), 79
steps. Building time, around 36 minutes.
Price Range: $20 USD
RATINGS (Scale: Must-Have Excellent Very-Good Good Fair Poor)
Set: Must-Have / Models: Excellent / Playability: Must-Have
DECALS? Yes. 1 Black/White Viking Shield sticker, 1 Blue Yellow Viking
Shield Sticker extra.
SET DESCRIPTION
This set features two main models: a Viking Catapult (which is actually a
ballista), and the Nidhogg Dragon. The ballista is a mix of browns, grays and
blacks and rolls along on four large black wheels. The ballista uses a soccer
stand to launch its projectiles, which are loaded into the ballista like a
handgun clip. The Nidhogg Dragon is mostly dark red, with dark tan claws,
orange highlights on the wings, and splashes of black, gray and red. The
various pictures on the box and in the instruction manual show the Vikings and
Nidhogg in various battle poses, with one alternate model on page 36 depicting a
strange Viking wagon being pulled along by a chained Nidhogg.
SPECIAL ELEMENTS
As with my review of the Viking Warrior challenges the Fenris Wolf, so many of
the parts in this set are new to me that it would be quicker to go read the
piece list at Peeron than to have me list them all out here! A couple of note
are the pre-molded dragon head, multi-colored dragon’s wings, and gray treasure
chest.
IMPRESSION
My second foray into the Viking theme was another happy one, let’s hope this
trend keeps going with the other sets, or gets even better! My initial reaction
to the set was “that isn’t a catapult, that’s a heavy repeating ballista!”, but
a ballista is technically a type of catapult, so I guess it’s ok. I’ll go
through this set as my reactions came about while building it.
As with all system sets, we start with the minifigs. There are two minifigs,
and both are different than the one challenging Fenrir! One sports scale-mail
(great for those of us who use Lego for AD&D miniatures) as well as a chain mail
coif and long-axe. The second figure wears chain mail similar to the Fenris
minifig. Unfortunately he is saddled with a Knights Kingdom sword, but to help
make up for his inferior weapon he carries my first encounter with the new
Viking shields. Using the plunger handle in these shields is interesting, as it
allows the handle to be inserted in two different ways, allowing the shield to
be held slightly differently depending on taste. I think I’ll like these
shields, though the plunger protruding through the front may take a little
getting used to, and I’m not crazy about the decals. Don’t take that the wrong
way, I like the patterns on the decals very much, I just think I would prefer
printed pieces to using decals. Then again, anyone buying the set for parts
might appreciate the 3x3 Technic disc being plain black.
The ballista is a mixed bag. I’m not sure if I like the use of the Technic
beams for the vertical structure of the siege engine, but they do allow for an
easy angling of the protective plating on the front. The wheels are quite large
and black, and I am ambivalent about those. The round 4 x 4 Viking patterned
dish is very nice, and I’ll be happy to have more of those shortly. There are
three things that detract from the ballista for me. 1) The mishmash of colors.
The clip on the soccer base/launcher is green, the only green in the set. Some
of the Technic pins are blue, which stick out against the black pieces they
secure. There are a couple of red pieces in the bottom frame. If viewed from
the front, these aren’t a problem at all, but they stand out from the side or
back. 2) The ballista arms. I had quite a hard time getting one of them into
the tan block to start with, and the design and silver coloring seem a little
out of place. 3) The ‘Viking sidecar’. There is a strange little stand for
one of the Viking figures that attaches to the side of the ballista. Not only
does it not need to be there, but it looks like it was stuck on as an
afterthought. Luckily it can be left off the model with the only side effect
that you’ll have some extra pieces, so I suppose that is a win. To get away
from the negativity, there are some positives about the ballista as well. It is
decorated with four Viking helmet horns and two “animal tail ends”, which are
also monstrous horns or tusks. The soccer stand also works well as a launcher
for the ballista, firing the projectiles a good 4-5 feet. If you ever use this
for war gaming, remember that each consecutive shot will fire a little further,
as there is less weight and friction on the missile’s shaft. Great playability
for shooting at Nidhogg, Knights Kingdom castles, or your kid sister!
The last model to build in this set is also the highlight. When I first looked
at the Viking sets, I thought of the Vikings and their boats, fortresses and
siege machines as the main attraction… I think I was way off base! Sure,
Nidhogg has some issues, but those issues are squashed by his playability!
While there are a few other new pieces here for me, the ones that will stand out
for this model are the head and wings. They look quite specific to dragon
building, but we’ll see what else people use them for in time. 10 Viking helmet
horns, 2 huge horns, and 16 points of articulation (12 of them ball-joints) make
this a fearsome creature indeed! And to make him even more deadly, and allow
him to perform his tree root gnawing duty of mythology, he comes with something
Fenrir could only wish for – a jaw! Nidhogg reigns supreme when it comes to
playability. The first thing I did after he was built was to start posing him.
He can stand on all fours like a cat, lay down, sit up, stand on his hind legs,
curl up around a pile of treasure, or even stand on three legs while puffing out
his wings to look even MORE intimidating while simultaneously swatting one
minifig with his fourth claw and biting one with his toothy maw. I think you
can probably see that I think the articulation is awesome.
The only complaints I have about the dragon are far overshadowed by its
playability. First, a majority of the pieces that give the dragon his shape,
and likely his affordability, are Technic pieces, which LOOK Technic. The
‘Technic lift arms’ (Nidhogg’s legs and neck) and ‘Technic claw’ all look very
mechanical and unnatural, not the best match for a dragon. Unfortunately, as
these parts are what give such great, and cheap, articulation to the model,
only new molds would likely solve the problem while keeping the price point
down, and that is a large expense I don’t see being taken, especially after all
the other new molds that the Viking line has already used! The second problem
with the dragon is with minor aesthetics. Ball joints and the Technic
connectors with the sockets are all out in the open, a very minor thing at this
point. Also, the issue of colors comes into play here a well. The ball joints
for the wings are gray, as is the vertical pin though the head, and various
random pieces are black. There are even more blue pins visible from the front
and back. Nidhogg might look better if he cleaned these splotches off and stuck
to his primary coloration. Again, this is a minor issue, as is the last one.
If the long Technic pin in Nidhogg’s head is pushed all the way down, his jaw
can’t close completely. If the jaw is forced, the pin will get pushed back up
again.
CONCLUSION
Would I buy this set again? Heck yes! Would I recommend this set to anyone?
Let me think about that for a second…. No, no need to think, I would definitely
recommend this set to anyone who might have even an inkling of interest! Will I
buy more than one? That is to be seen, but mostly because I’m not independently
wealthy. I can’t wait to have Nidhogg wreak havoc on unsuspecting minifigs
everywhere, and this set has piqued my interest in Fafnir!
REVIEWER INFORMATION
Review Written: December 29th, 2005
By: Brett Kingery (plucky)
Age 30 Favorite Lines/Themes: Castle, Star Wars
CA++++ #+++ CO LM LS++ P+++ S- Hzl M- YB75mIC17
I buy mostly Castle and Star Wars themes, and always assemble the main model at
least once. What happens to the piece after that is always a mystery. Some
favorites always remain built though.
COPYRIGHT
This review is Copyright 2005, by the author as named above. The author grants
publication rights for all uses, public and private, with the following
exceptions: all information in the document must be published in full; any
for-profit use requires express written permission by the author for publication
in full or in part.
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