Admittedly, we had gotten a little behind in terms of Special Features. However in a time in which many people around the world are stuck in their homes, it also happened to be very convenient for constructing, or perhaps attempting to construct, the Build Your Own Redwall Abbey set.
Released in 1998, the "Build Your Own Redwall Abbey" original packaging contains the tagline "involves no cutting or gluing," which, given my experience with it, is fair. But I do wish it DID involve some taping.
Build Your Own Redwall Abbey comes in what is best described as a giant folder or binder, with a pocket on each inside flap.
The pockets contain the following items:
-The Abbey "board," a foldable mat that is approximately 25x25 - big enough for a large table or the floor. I couldn't help but wonder where people kept their completed Abbey upon finishing.
-The Redwall Warrior's Code, a short story that ties in with the set
-Abbey pieces, approximately 19
-Character pieces (included: Cluny the Scourge, Jess Squirrel, Captain Snow, Matthias, Methuselah, Basil Stag Hare, Constance, Cornflower, Ambrose Spike, Chickenhound, Sela, Abbot Mortimer, Squire Julian Gingivere, Log-a-Log, Foremole, and Queen Warbeak)
From start to "finish," I'd say total building time was a little over an hour. I found the paper engineering to be a bit difficult, and I was concerned the entire time I was going to rip or tear a piece and wreck the whole thing.
Certain pieces that were meant to be formed into a square or rectangle shape refused to obey all of the folding and flap inserting. As such, part of the way through, my Redwall Abbey was clearly developing a tilt to it.
The next picture includes the Redwall Gatehouse.
Unfortunately, that previously mentioned pieces-not-complying-with-forming-correctly really came into play with the wall, which is intended to surround the entirety of the Abbey.
Despite my best efforts, the wall wouldn't straighten out. I tried, really I did. Alas, my Build Your Own Redwall Abbey looks like it survived an earthquake, or a major battle.
I decided at this point it was time to be finished. But let's look inside.
I thought the Great Hall was decent looking. It even has the Redwall Tapestry, which features quite a few of Redwall's enemies.
Given the Build Your Own Redwall Abbey set came out 22 years ago, I'm sure there are now better ways of assembling and putting together a paper/cardboard building that doesn't involve this folds/flaps method. I'd really love to see a Redwall Abbey come together in that way.
Happy quarantining, and wash those hands.
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