February 1, 2009

This is the first castle model I've made in 20 years. My wife asked me to build her a castle, so I set out to do so. Now that I'm doing it, I think I'm hooked on the castle theme! I love the creativity involved. It certainly taps into my imagination. As a kid I loved building castle stuff, and I'd kill for my old classic castle sets!

A few notes:

-- I decided to make the model only the "corner" of the castle - so I could conserve bricks and so that the interiors are exposed.

-- I started out with regular blue bricks representing the water (studs on top). I was able to obtain some light-blue 1x2's a few months ago at the Lego store, so I decided to change the water to light-blue smooth-surface (SNOT). I don't have too many, so I had to incorporate the "grass" around the edges. I may have to take apart my Market Street model to use the bricks available in that set! :)

-- The draw bridge is a WIP, of course. I like using the Technic beams (because of the rounded end that allows for only a 1-brick deep hinge, but the rounded end on the top/far end of the drawbridge look too modern (as do the Technic holes on the sides of the bridge).

-- The brown/tan structure on the top is meant to be an "addition" that juts out from the castle wall (which is not complete!). I think that the brown beams are too thick at one brick's height, but I don't have enough brown plates to change it at this point, so the brown bricks are a compromise.

-- If I keep working on Castle MOC's, I'm going to have to buy some more brown bricks/plates! I've got lots of grey/bley bricks (never enough). Because of the low-tech nature of the time period, the more brown I have the better. I actually started dismantling my beloved Cafe Corner to plunder the brown bricks!

-- I'm starting to understand folks' frustration with the change in colors of the grey/bley bricks. I purchased a bunch of Legos second hand last year, so I've got a lot of the old greys. I like that there are, in effect, 4 or 5 different shades of gray, but I'm beginning to see the challenge of making things 'neat' with the variety. I may have to sort them into different piles!

-- I need a bigger workspace! I'm cluttered while I build, and it's a bit frustrating.

-- I'm interested in getting better at 'landscaping'. It's tougher than it looks to make bricks look like rock and grass! I need more green for the grass! I enjoyed working on the rock-base to the castle.

-- I'm glad I purchased the Castle Advent Calendar. It whet my appetite for more. Now I'm hoping to get some vikings as well as the new Medieval village set. (Time to start saving my pennies and sell some books!)

-- I'm so glad I've gotten back into Legos. This is a really great way to unwind, and it's a great creative outlet.







Ideas for the interior:

Writing desk with parchment & pen.

Candles/candelabra

Moose head! (See slyowl's fabuland moc).

Nice sitting area in the "addition".

Skeleton in the closet. :)

Dining area.

Fireplace? Is there room?

Shelving

Books, books, books and more books!




Ideas for the future:

Castle modules. Is there a standard?

Skellig Michael (Irish monks - how would I do tonsure?)

St. Patrick

LOTR?

Monasticism in general?

Scriptorium.

Investigate architecture.

Knotwork tapestry mosaic?