Carney's new castle

Jansen · Post by **Jansen** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:12 pm

He's made another one. Be sure to check it out: http://www.carneycastle.com/Mantua/index.htm

Aragornn45 · Post by **Aragornn45** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:27 pm

He never ceases to amaze me. This latest castle of his is freaking sweet. I really like the crenelations on the towers I also like how the castle has the feel of not just being a fortification but also a residence. He gets an A+ from me

Post by **Bruce N H** » Fri May 02, 2008 11:58 pm

Hey,

Kinda boxy, but you can't really fault that as he accurately reproduces the historical castle. My favorite architectural details are the awesome machiolations, which match the original very well. Also the details on the arched gallery in the courtyard. I've got my usual critique that these would be more fun if he added more "life" details. There are a few figs, but it seems largely empty. I wonder why he didn't put roofs over the other three towers, as there are in the photos of the real castle.

Bruce

Spongey · Post by **Spongey** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:05 am

This is, once again, an excellent Carney creation. Although it doesn't necessarily have the subtle architectural details of some MOCers here, I echo Bruce's words when I say that it is a flawless reproduction of a beautiful historical castle. The design is great, and I like the solidity that is present in all of his castles. Definitely a top builder, and definitely a top build!

Post by **Bruce N H** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:22 am

You know, it is a really good lesson to remember. A lot of times the things we praise in MOCs doesn't reflect real historical castles, which could often be boxy and suffer from BGW syndrome.

Bruce

castlebuilder100 · Post by **castlebuilder100** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:31 am

I saw this a few days ago. His castles are amazing.

I always look forward to a new castle coming out and check his website every day.

Lamanda2 · Post by **Lamanda2** » Sat May 03, 2008 2:34 am

Wow, that thing is pretty darn huge if you ask me! Must have been quite a build.

While it isn't the most detailed in design, it certainly is very accurate.

~Amanda

Heir of Black Falcon · Sat May 03, 2008 6:29 am

WOW!!! The Plinthing is great. I have always been impressed by the amount of detail he puts in these structures he builds. The way the crenulation is looks very nice. I like the history he places of the castle as well. It looks like a very formidable structure. What could he do next? It is incredible.

You know, it is a really good lesson to remember. A lot of times the things we praise in MOCs doesn't reflect real historical castles, which could often be boxy and suffer from BGW syndrome.

This is a good point. One of the first things I noticed on the forum was the low view of the BGW. It has never really bothered me. Mostly because I stare at castles and other medieval fortifications on a fairly often basis and see it there as well. Medieval castles are often of the BGW because if you had to defend yourself that is what you wanted a big wall. The decorative aspect came second, perhaps distance second. Though this can be taken too far. Town walls and castles are often built over great lengths of time so some differences would be common. In York there is one length of wall that for several hundreds of feet the wall is basically exactly the same with the same crenulations and towers. The section after is totally different, square, rectangular and round towers at random intervals with some crenulations that is 4-6 feet long and others half that to twice that. In the end the function was key. Of course they also could be status symbols so as time goes on decoration clearly is a part of civic and noble design a times.

One of the main ways to tell about rebuilds and restoration to fortifications is by the breaks in color in stonework actually. If something looks like it is really mottled with various colors you can at times see mortar lines that are also different meaning it was a later addition. This is not always the case as some were done intentionally. Here in Southampton there is a type of green stone used as decoration around doors, windows and loops.

Good point Bruce. I still plan on putting my castle and fortification pictures up some day when I get hosting etc for those interested.

R

RebelRock · Post by **RebelRock** » Sat May 03, 2008 6:39 am

It's very big and accurate and impressive but I'm more of a fantasy castle kind of guy. Honestly, big sections of it are boring. That goes for the real castle as well as the Lego one. I guess I'm not a fan of real castles in general. Most of the inhabitants of real castles were real jerks anyway.

One thing it does do is once again make me wish Lego made an arch brick to duplicate the kind of style used on the towers.

Blueandwhite · Post by **Blueandwhite** » Sat May 03, 2008 8:57 pm

Dr. Carney does big boxy and beautiful fortifications justice.

The thing that really stands out for me about Dr. Carney's castles are some of the smaller details. The good Dr. has been using some pretty innovative building techniques for a long time. I think there are a number of fans who have become quite dismissive of his work simply because it is big. Personally I still feel he is one of the premier LEGO castle builders out there.

RebelRock · Post by **RebelRock** » Sun May 04, 2008 3:52 am

Blueandwhite wrote: Personally I still feel he is one of the premier LEGO castle builders out there.

Oh, I totally agree. My opinion only differs on the style he chooses.

raginalbino · Post by **raginalbino** » Sun May 04, 2008 11:53 am

I'm just wondering why he isn't a member on these forums?

Norro · Post by **Norro** » Sun May 04, 2008 2:33 pm

A nice classic castle! With some landscaping that could be beautiful. As to the BGW syndrome, one difference (in my mind) is that since real castles are composed of stone there is a definite texture and interest to the eye even on a flat surface composed of homogenous stone, a level of detail hard to capture in lego at anything even remotely close to fig scale... which is why I tend to exaggerate other features in a MOC to imply intricacy.

God Bless,

Nathan

DaleDVM · Post by **DaleDVM** » Mon May 05, 2008 12:47 am

I think this is another masterpiece by one of the great builders I see on this site every week. You all just amaze me! I especially appreciate the work in progress photos as I often wonder what bricks people make their walls out of. I see a bazillion light grey 1x2s can come in handy. Do you all use mostly 1x bricks or do some of you use 2x thickness walls.

Kinda boxy, but you can't really fault that as he accurately reproduces the historical castle.

I agree with all of the points made so far. Historically correct castles are almost all very boring. In fact very few castles/fortifications historically had much in the way of window dressing at all. There are plenty of elaborate castles that survive to this day but most were made long after the period which I presume lego castle to be set in. Most of the beautiful castles we see nowadays were constructed after the gunpowder age came into being. Obviously I understand my era of lego castle does not = everyones era.

I tend to be a fan of fantasy castles as well because of historically bland castles. That is why I say thanks lego for taking the castle system the way of fantasy. Now I feel justified making crazy magical castles. I just hope I can make one as nice as rebelrock's recent wizard castle!

Congrats Dr. Carney on a job very well done!

MrTS · Post by **MrTS** » Mon May 05, 2008 7:22 am

Man thats a huge castle! And he has a real sh*t load of these:
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=3684
Haha, i wish i had that much lego. (hope you read this Hob Took, LOL)

The castle itself looks very nice and is also very accurate. I do agree it could use some landscaping and some more life (minifigs etc) though.