Thoughts on WIP

MalSnay · Post by **MalSnay** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 2:57 am

I've been working on a castle for awhile now -- still more work to do -- but I've been perusing this forum off and on for awhile now and have always thought the advice offered on MOCs to be constructive enough to help me. I'm about halfway finished and would appreciate any constructive criticism you could throw my way ...

Front:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Snay/ ... cn1137.jpg

Left:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Snay/ ... cn1138.jpg

Right:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Snay/ ... cn1139.jpg

Rear:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Snay/ ... cn1140.jpg

Lord_Of_The_LEGO · Post by **Lord_Of_The_LEGO** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:17 am

Oh, wow, that's impressive. And welcome to Classic-Castle!

I have really nothing to critique. I really like all the tan, and the molding of the rock face (and the intergration of BURPs) is great. I like all the arches -- makes me think of Rivendell as seen in the movies. There is only one thing I don't like: the use of a town window in this picture:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Snay/ ... cn1138.jpg

But that is only a minor nitpick. Great work so far, I look forward to the finished product!

MalSnay · Post by **MalSnay** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 3:32 am

Yeah, the town window was a trade-off -- I was looking to do a greenhouse, and figured the light-gray could pass as a molded steel frame.

Post by **JoshWedin** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:08 am

It looks excellent so far. Very impressive. I like the whole concept a lot. However, I am curious as to how you are going to finish the top. Is that what you want suggestions/advice about?

Josh

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:42 am

Holy...

That is very nice. Ok... you want criticisms though... yikes, that is tough.

I guess I would want to know what your planning for the top, like JoshWedin suggested. Are you going to do a sloped roof or a flat one with battlements?

I guess you could also consider putting more pillars in, or chopping the ones you have down a little - they might be a little to tall and few to support much... but then again, I think that is all personal taste. I'd love to see more figs, and maybe a boat or two? I like how you made it only accessible by boat.

This is a great MOC - original in many ways, and a solid design too.

MalSnay · Post by **MalSnay** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:50 am

There isn't going to be one roof -- the round towers will have turrets, but I'm thinking of putting a garden atop one of them. I'm not sure how the squarish-tower in front is going to top out, but I want to do something gothicy with it ... maybe a roof with four spires?

I'd like to have additional towers emerge from the roof of the Great Hall (that's the structure supported by the pillars in the "left" picture), and the Entry Hall (hard to see -- it's hidden by the Great Hall).

Also: some background on this model? It's an interpretation of Hogwarts. I'm taking a bit of artistic license with it, but my building style is guided by my vision of the model -- one, that it should look pulled from the very rock itself, and two, that it should look "magical"

Infyrana · Post by **Infyrana** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 9:02 am

Not much criticism from me. I just think it's brilliant and look forward to seeing it completed!

Jojo · Post by **Jojo** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 11:43 am

Hello!

This is a great looking castle so far. I like how it is built on top of the hill, and I like all th pillars and turrets.

Like Nate I don't like the greenhouse. I would change that definitely to something more fitting. As it is now it just looks out of place and takes from the good overall impression. That is: It would take from it if you intended to build an actual mediaeval/mediaeval-fantasy model and not a modern/townish model.

Bye
Jojo

lemon_squeezer2 · Post by **lemon_squeezer2** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:54 pm

This is a truely impressive MOC you are constructing. I really like how you have made the structure seem to be built into the rock itself - it looks very convincing.

This is just my opinion, but in regards to finishing it, maybe you should try doing a combination of towers and steeper roofs - in favor of roofs. In a way the castle as it stands reminds me of Mont St. Michel Keeping an overall look of height would make this already amazing MOC into something better

Kanduu · Post by **Kanduu** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 1:49 pm

Looks great, I really like the design. If it were real, it'd be a fun place to see. Constructive criticism, you say, hmmm, give me a minute....

Post by **Robin Hood** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:20 am

I am sorry, but I cannot offer critisism on such a great achievement. It goes against my nature. To break such a thing might permanetly harm me. I am sorry, but you must live with the fact that its perfect.

Dan

Recluce · Post by **Recluce** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:07 pm

That is a beautiful castle! Wow..... the only thing to possibly change... the greay is all one shade, as is the tan. Makes it a little...blah. If you were to add a little bit of mottling to those two you'd be golden. I'd suggest some light grey or bley for the rock.... and I'm not even sure what for the tan.

babyjawa · Post by **babyjawa** » Wed Aug 24, 2005 2:08 pm

man that is awesome

I wish I had enough pieces to make that

The Blue Knight · Post by **The Blue Knight** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:09 am

This is a very impressive MOC thus far. I have few tan, so these tan MOCs I like very much and am envious.

My only criticism would be a warning. And that is that it is aleady very tall, much more and will look odd. That said, a large cool roof design covering something like an observatory would really "cap" it off. Lame pun intended.

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:40 pm

The Blue Knight wrote: Lame pun intended.

Heh heh heh...

I agree with the idea of an observatory or telescope balcony. That would be sweet.