Over at Eurobricks Luke Hutchinson (Derfel Cardarn) is running a ‘live’ how-to guide to building a medieval village. It’s a great way to learn some new tricks and follow a builders approach to construction. Just be ready to buy a lot of 1×1 rounds if you want to build as you read.
Marko Velic posted this amazing trebuchet a week ago. Today I finally get around to posting it. It’s exceedingly clever because it works, is only 120 pieces and you can vote for it on Cuusoo.
Each year, Classic-Castle runs a number of contests. Right now we’re in the middle of the Mini-Castle Contest, a sort of precursor to the massive Colossal Castle Contest. You’ve still got until October 31 to enter!
In the meantime, I invite you to check out some of the competition. Ru Corder has posted this lovely micro-scale landscape/castle mix-up. I’m in love with the timber fence-line.
I have to say that Castle totally rocked this year. This was my sixth year being involved in the Castle section at the Con and I think this was the best so far. Everyone involved really stepped it up this year and they all deserve a round of applause.
The quantity of creations was overwhelming and we had to beg, borrow and steal more area (Many thanks to Steve Walker and Wayne Hussey for making that process virtually painless and to Scott Fowler for graciously giving up part of the neighboring Pirate tables). But quantity doesn’t really say much about a section. It was the quality of the creations that really blew me away. I knew that the builders who were coming had skills but they all out did themselves.
Our collaborative layout was packed with so many builds, flowing from one to another, that it was difficult to see everything and the section of stand-alone models was outstanding.
We had three categories for which builders could win a trophy and a LEGO set. The voters were very hard pressed to make their selections, but they finally did and the winning models and builders were:
Best Overall Castle Creation:
Hogwart’s Castle by Alice Finch
Photo of Hogwart’s by Bill Ward
Best Community Contribution:
Al Wahat by Sebastiaan Arts
Best Fly-in Dragon:
Whiskers by Myself
Hearty thanks also need to go out to the following people and companies: To Will of Brickarms for the awesome contributor packs and prototype weapons that he made especially for us, to Ryan of BrickWarriors for the sweet fig packs he donated and to Learning Loft Toys for the Lego set prizes they donated to our winners.
We all had a great time and plan to make next year even bigger and better. So if you want to ‘Go Medieval’ at BrickCon next year, please join us! BrickCon!!!
As we speak, this new set is being unveiled at BrickCon in Seattle, and probably the Great Western Train Show in the UK. While most of the Brothers Brick are at BrickCon enjoying seeing this in person, the honor falls to me to share the set with our readers.
Before I saw the photos, I found myself wondering how a joust set could possibly command a price of $119 US. Now that I’ve seen them, I understand, this is more than a joust, it’s an entire medieval scene. There are little bits of buildings, some wall, and a nicely detailed royal viewing gallery (with some nice furniture and figures, shown below). There’s also a nice array of figs, and what looks like an update to the Black Falcons.
Frog legs anyone?
Here’s the official LEGO word on the set:
10223 Kingdoms Joust
Ages 12+. 1,575 pieces.
US $119.99 CA $149.99 DE 119.99 € UK 99.99 £ DK 1099.00 DKK AU 199.99 AUD
Watch the Knights battle it out at the Royal Joust!
It’s the most exciting event on the LEGO Kingdoms calendar! Join the King and Queen at the Royal Joust as the knights on horseback battle it out for the hand of the beautiful Princess. This detailed set recreates all the majesty of a medieval pageant, from the large, 6-roomed castle with linked wall extensions, 2 knights’ weapons tents, royal viewing box, jousting fence and of course 2 magnificent jousting horses. Combine 2 Kingdoms Joust sets for a scene that is truly fit for a King! Includes 9 minifigures: king, queen, princess, lion knight, falcon knight, young squire, nobleman and 2 soldiers.
• Includes 9 minifigures: king, queen, princess,, lion knight, falcon knight, young squire, nobleman and 2 soldiers!
• Knight minifigures include armor decoration, helmet, jousting pole, shield and 2 extra weapons!
• Features castle with 6 detailed rooms with lots of accessorie and 2 knight’s tents with weapon holders!
• Open back for easy access to linked wall extensions!
• Also features royal viewing box with flags and coat of arms!
• Includes 2 knight’s horses with detailed decoration, weapon holder and armored headgear!
• Explore the castle rooms!
• Battle it out for the hand of the princess!
• Combine 2 Kingdoms Joust sets for a scene fit for King!
• Castle measures 20″ (51 cm) wide and 12″ (30 cm) tall!Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning
January 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone
I think that it’s now safe to say that I’ll be lining up to get one in January.
What brings a traveler this far, you might ask? What a fabulous question. Wealth? Power? Prestige? In the long run it doesn’t matter, but a respite is always appreciated.
Though, knowing Sebastiaan Arts, I’m fairly sure there’s something hidden. A portal to another dimension, perhaps?
Even bandits need to take a break now and again. David Leest bursts back on the scene with this lush little gem. The waterfall, foliage and general landscaping are very nice, but the posing of the figs put the topper on this for me.
…or something like that. Perhaps not necessarily noble, but the idea of re-purposing something certainly isn’t new.
Matthew Hurt‘s done an excellent job of illustrating just how enterprising some folks can be. His crumbling tower has become a hideout for two unsavory characters.
Apparently even a castle can be greebly. This fortress, by ErykCoa, packs quite the visual punch. So many different pieces, techniques, angles and colors all vie for attention, but somehow it melts together for a very interesting effect.
Naturally Brickbucki’s latest creation brings up thoughts of Sauron, although the builder doesn’t say that he was thinking of Lord of the Rings when this was built. Regardless of the inspiration, this is a nicely constructed effect.
This scene, by Teruel211, actually creeps me out. I think it is the feeling of suspense and the sense of anticipation among the vampires. Notice there is virtually no gore in this? Many people try to build a scary scene by including blood and gore everywhere. That never works for me because the action has already happened. It’s the suspense that gets to me.
Sean and Steph Mayo tap into the hive mind and summon these stunning creatures. Look but don’t touch. They don’t look happy.
