Hi, all, hi, Bruce,
I was about to make my debut here with this creation, now you got me
Hello, everybody!
Well, parts of it have been on exhibition before, and even the current setup has been on display once, but now I took the opportunity to take a few pictures of the completed model. It was about time, too, as the MOC will meet the DARK SORTER after this very exhibition.
The Inn at the Olde Road
Designed and build by Christian Treczoks
Building Time: Approx. 3 years, mostly for the acquisition of parts. If I had to start over, I’d propably need 2 to 3 weeks to rebuild it.
Number or Bricks: Approx. 50000 to 60000. The tree alone consists of about 3500 bricks.
Weight: 50 Kilograms.
Size: 144x192 "studs", about 115.2x153.6cm (about 4 by 5ft for the metrically disadvantaged)
The model is based on a map I once drew up for a fantasy roleplaying game. It does not depict any specific historic example.
Description of the buildings
The "Inn at the Olde Road" is the only caravanserai and settlement along the "Olde Road", a trading route that runs through a dreaded forest. The dangerous woods spread a good days way to the east and west from the inn.
1. The Olde Road – An important, yet dangerious trading route. No one travels on this road without guards - for good reason.
2. The Hague – A thick and dense hedge protects the houses surrounding and supporting the inn.
3. The Hague Gate – One of the few passages through the hedge.
4. The Horse Barn – The horses for the royal courier service are stabled here. Upstairs, the innkeeper and his mother[1] have their quarters.
5. The Main Gate – There is quite some traffice in the morning and in the evening hours..
6. The Guest House – Downstairs are the kitchen and the dining room, upstairs are the guest rooms
7. Construction Site – A new house is being built.
8. The Wall – The surrounding woods are quite dangerous, therefor the Inn is fortified. Guards are keeping an eye or two open day and night.
9. The Old Gate – The rear entrance of the inn, used maily as cattle gate.
10. The Corn Barn – Here, the forage for the guests’ animals is stored.
11. The Servants Quarters – Such a big inn needs a lot of manpower for upkeep and service. The house is built atop the ruins of an old castle.
12. The Court – With its own spring and fishponds.
13. The Stables – The building is part of the castle that once stood here. Only two thirds of the old main hall still exist, and the new owners just patched the building up with boards and beams to make it usable.
14. The Blacksmith – Wherever a lot of horses, carts and carriges come along, a blacksmith can be quite handy.
15. The Tree – An old, large oak tree gives shadow to the court and the fishponds.
Setting it all up at Dinger's Gartencenter in Cologne
Setting it all up
PLMKWYT!
Yours, Christian Treczoks
[1] Back in the olden days, when I mastered this gaming session, the name I gave the innkeeper was "Norman Bates". And yes, he talked about his old mother living "up there", and there were tales of a blonde lady travelling alone, and now missing
What a nice red herring... He was mentally totally sound, only a little worried about rumors he heard (and therefor nervous), and his mother may be old, but she was still alive. And the girl was missing - well, all the traders and travellers hire protection for the route for a reason. She did not. Ah yes, and in the next playing session, the players arrived at the harbour city and learned that the only ship going in their direction was the saling ship "Nostromo". And they thought that this was a red herring, too. Boy, were they mistaken...
PS: There were a bunch of questions Bruce sent me:
How long have you been building LEGO?
Since the very beginning. and, after my dark ages, for more than ten years now.
How long have you been building Castle LEGO?
Well, this is my first castle moc, so the answer is: About three years.
Do you have any LEGO affiliations other than 1000Steine.de and Lugnet?
Oh yes! Regular fights with Jake in his blog
Do you have any LEGO website other than the 1000Steine MyImages gallery?
Nope. I'm not really into this web thingy, you know?
Where have you displayed this (I'm pretty sure I've seen pictures of this or of part of this from 1000SteineLand or other festivals)?
Yes, you are right, some parts have been displayed before:
The front part with the Main House, the Horse Stables and the Tree (first attempt) were at TSL2003. The Tree (second version) was at TSL2004, and the setup as it is now was on display in Frechen2005.
Were there any specific inspirations for this creation?
Well, I mastered an AD&D session that was set in this particular building. And I saw the display of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in LL Windsor, and my first thought was: What a horrible implementation of tudor style building!
What's next for you after you disassemble and sort this creation?
Well, there is THE PLAN, of course:
And there is a harbour town, and a hill with 1/4th of a castle, and some other things mangled into that...
Yours, Christian