Wrought iron portcullis & new building techniques!

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justin2576
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Wrought iron portcullis & new building techniques!

Post by justin2576 »

Hi everyone,

I finally got around to taking some photos of my latest creation that I built in early December: a castle gate with working portcullis. It also has seamless removable walls built with panels instead of tiles, and new "historically accurate" windows. The gate has gears at the top and can be opened and closed by turning two cranks in the the room with the murder holes. Oh, did I mention there are murder holes?

Wrought Iron Portcullis.

Seamless removeable wall:
Back wall
Back wall removed

New historically accurate windows:
Several people have told me that the windows on Castle Bley are not historically accurate because they are backwards. I did this on purpose so people can see that they are sloped inward and I just think it looks cool. The new windows are sloped on both sides, making them more historically accurate and yet still cool.
A backwards window from Castle Bley
New "historically accurate" Gatehouse window

Here is the brickshelf gallery of the gatehouse.

Justin
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MaxiVisVires
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Post by MaxiVisVires »

Wow, I really like this creation. The windows are done very well, and it's a great use of SNOT. I will definately be borrowing some ideas from this. The Portcullis is also done very well. The gatehouse itself is very simple, but I like it, gives it a very classic castle feel. The ladder you set up, I'm not sure I would use or not. It looks good, but that's a lot of brown bars for that. All in all, I like it. Great work!


Whoa! I just looked through the rest of your Brickshelf folder. You got some nice stuff in here. Love some of the micro scale models you have made. :D
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footsteps
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Re: Wrought iron portcullis & new building techniques!

Post by footsteps »

Wow, your windows are great.

A couple of years ago we had a lot of discussion about building techniques for arrow loops and yours look like an excellent addition to the list. Can you give us a peek at how you put those windows together?

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smcginnis
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Post by smcginnis »

Wow (am I an echo? :) ), that's an amazing portcullis. Better than anything I would be able to think of. What did you use to connect the technic pins in the upper half? I'm thinking 4L bars (lightsaber blades), but maybe it's some sort of tubing. Everything else is great too.

~smcginnis
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SavaTheAggie
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Post by SavaTheAggie »

Very nice portcullis, I like the spears on the end. It's rather reminiscent of a portcullis design I've been using for awhile.
viewtopic.php?t=521

As for the windows, they may 'look cool', but having the slopes on the outside, regardless of whether or not there are slopes on the inside, would be a death sentance to a soldier in real life. You see, with the slopes on the outside, the stones act as a funnel, channeling arrows into the window opening from the outside. The whole point of having a flat outer facade to the windows is to deflect incoming enemy fire.

In any case, great work all around.

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wunztwice
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Post by wunztwice »

Crazy cool portcullis! The spears-for-tips is a good idea, and the way the technic pins have that rim around the middle adds a nice iron feel. The cross-shaped windows are great too. I'll have to pick up some more double 45 slopes and take a stab at that.

I also really like the way the back peels off, and how you used the short panels to look like bricks fromt the outside, rather than tiles.

Nice work, keep it up.
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Post by Norro »

Nice work! I particularly like the portcullis... and those windows are excellent!

Thanks for sharing and God Bless,

Nathan
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Lord Felix
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I like the WHOLE thing!

Post by Lord Felix »

I created a gate house but it looks HORRABLE! I'm going to build one like yours. I only have one question, and it isn't where did you get the bricks! I can't figure out how to do the sticking out bricks, um, I donno how to explain it, but the "popping out bricks" and the "layed back bricks." How do you do those? I can't figure them out. :cry:
I love everything about this creation, especially the portcullis.

Gotta finish the roof on my blacksmith shop!
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Post by bannear »

I really like the work you are presenting. The Portcullis is excellent. I immediately tried to envision a way to add more rows of the "crosses". The removavble wall is also cool. Have your determined a limit to size of wall that can be removable? great building techniques - thanks for sharing.
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Modesty
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Post by Modesty »

This is great! The windows use great SNOTwork, it's so seamless and smooth, and the arches look really good! I like things like this...

-Lukas
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Post by Cat »

I also really like the work, especially the windows. The gae is interesting as well. I will definately be working on some ideas that incorporate similar designs. Thanks!
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Post by JPinoy »

:shock:
That is the best looking iron gate I've ever seen. Awesome job!
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Troy T. Moore
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Post by Troy T. Moore »

No doubt, the most artistic and lethal porticullis I have seen. Excellent. The other architectual details are also well done.
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Anubisconq
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Post by Anubisconq »

I love the Portcullis!

How many studs across is it?
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Post by The dark tide »

very well done, I like the design.I made one similiar to this but it wasnt as good.lol
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