Castle Port Cullis

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:20 am

Being the person who puts contest entries online, I have the unique opportunity to review all of the entries rather closely, making sure that they fit into the contest. I also have the opportunity to learn from those entries and to see what I like and what I'd like to use in the future.

Such is the case with Jim Foulds and Aaron Sneary's port cullis. I think it's an awesome alternative, and while it may not be the best thing to use, it works really well.

So here is a link to their port cullis they made:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=623443

I liked what I saw, but it wasn't quite for me. I wanted something a bit more closed off, and smaller. I also wanted a spikey look to the bottom of the port cullis.

So I sent off for a quick $10 Bricklink order and was able to make this:

This thing is STURDY. It does not move, flex, bend, anything. It's also pretty heavy, so it'll go down nicely.

I think it looks FAR better than the port cullis LEGO has been using lately (those big ladder... things) and while I like the look of the Black Monarch's Castle's port cullis, I want to use more Tudor than I can afford to lose by using that port cullis in black.

I also have invisioned placing those technic plates in the floor of my next castle's entrance, so the port cullis will slide down into them when closed, thus further closing off the castle to attackers.

Its also quite handy that the technic plate only allows for 7 tines to do down through it, thus allowing my 9 wide port cullis (to be inserted into an 8 wide door by means of a 10 wide groove where perhaps two SNOT 1xX tiles will keep the port cullis in line) to have two tines that are raised up higher than the rest, easily allowing for string to be strung through them.

So anyway, I just thought I'd share, and give kudos to Jim and Aaron for thinking up the idea, or at least for giving me inspiration.

--Anthony

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 6:28 am

I really like this design as well, I placed a BL order with some parts for mine a bit after I saw that on Brick Shelf. I don't really like the Lego peice either, looks like a Jail door or something, and making one out of various 1xX plates makes a pretty weak structure.

Post by **Bruce N H** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 9:49 pm

Very nice idea, guys! There are so many contest entries that I often only have time to look at the thumbnails, so I missed this detail.

Bruce

groovyd2001 · Post by **groovyd2001** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:28 am

Really great idea I just started on creating one to thanks for sharing this with us.

Barbapple · Post by **Barbapple** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:02 am

it is cool

verneer · Post by **verneer** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:28 pm

Anthony,

That's a great design! I really like the idea of it coming down and into some technic plates. It almost seems like it's the way to go from now on ...

Kudos on taking it to the next level!

-- Pawel

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 5:04 pm

verneer wrote:Anthony,

That's a great design! I really like the idea of it coming down and into some technic plates. It almost seems like it's the way to go from now on ...

Kudos on taking it to the next level!

-- Pawel

Thanks Pawel! I've actually gone even farther, and improved upon that idea, I think.

You see, having the port cullis go down into technic plates like that means that the port cullis is off-set by a half stud. In such a case you either have to have a 2 stud wide groove in the walls (if you're going to use grooves, which I plan to) or use SNOT to close the groove up or move the technic plate around.

A 2 stud thick groove is just unacceptable for me, it allows for too much play for the port cullis to move in. And I'm just too darn lazy to do SNOT.

However, I think I've come up with an even better solution. By using studless Technic Lift arms, such as this one:

You can have the portcullis be in line with the rest of the castle's gate, and allowing for a 1 stud thick non SNOT groove. I chose this size as it is the only thick lift arm I have in stock, I'll be using two of them.

What's even better is that the studless lift arm's technic holes snap onto normal studs, and when when a plate is placed underneath it, it sits just a little shorter than the studs on a normal brick. However, it does require that my port cullis be an even number of tines wide, not a big deal though.

I'm also not going to be able to use the liftarms with a plate underneath them because the two liftarms I'm using are wider than the port cullis and the entrance to my future castle. Thus they're going to have to fit underneath the walls to my entrance, which means they'll have to be sunken in. But that's ok, I think it'll still look good.

I'd show off a picture but, well, there's that lazy thing again. (plus I haven't even begun working on building the castle yet)

--Anthony

Dan_BL · Post by **Dan_BL** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:33 pm

Wow! Its amazing how the more detail, effort and thought you put into just one small aspect how *cherishing* it is to a person.

I would curious to know Anthony, what is your BL username? I mean-being the master castle builder (or at least one of them), you have to have a feedback rating well over 500!

So C'mon! Admit to all that spending!

Dan

verneer · Post by **verneer** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:00 pm

"I call it a Port Cullis - it keeps the enemy from coming into the castle. It's very sturdy and locks down solid. All for under $10.00!"

"Brilliant!"

"Brilliant!"

-- Pawel

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 4:34 am

Dan_BL wrote:Wow! Its amazing how the more detail, effort and thought you put into just one small aspect how *cherishing* it is to a person.

I would curious to know Anthony, what is your BL username? I mean-being the master castle builder (or at least one of them), you have to have a feedback rating well over 500!

So C'mon! Admit to all that spending!

Dan

http://www.bricklink.com/feedback.asp?u=AggieSava

--Anthony

Dan_BL · Post by **Dan_BL** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:39 pm

But....but...but...those must have been some pretty big orders! Considering you bought from Ninja Princess-looks like there is a lot of good cheap parts there!

Dan

timber_wolf899 · Post by **timber_wolf899** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 4:03 pm

couldnt really make out the pic.

how was that thing put together? it looks like 1x1 rounds but i cant quite tell how its all tied together?

Post by **SavaTheAggie** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 4:32 pm

timber_wolf899 wrote:couldnt really make out the pic.

how was that thing put together? it looks like 1x1 rounds but i cant quite tell how its all tied together?

No 1x1 rounds. Check out the picture from Jim Fould's creation for a better contrasting picture.

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=623443

The port cullis is made entirely out of:

Black Technic 12 long axles
Black Technic 1x2 thin liftarms
Black Technic Angle Connector #1

A reasonably affordable build from brickshelf if you want that effect.

--Anthony

Post by **rogue27** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 9:01 pm

I made a similar portcullis for an unfinished creation that has been on hold for several months now. Seems like somebody has beaten me to the punch.

Still, that is a really cool portcullis and it uses some ideas I had not considered or didn't have the parts for.

Barbapple · Post by **Barbapple** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 11:12 pm

l like the gate, but one problem when i made it, for my castle. How do u get it to go stright up insted of flip-flopping around and spinning, and not goin in right?