The Ticonderoga Project

[TaltosVT]

It was suggested in the Interesting Cannon thread that I start a new topic for my Ticonderoga Project.

Though it's not really a Pirate related project, it probably fits in this theme better than any other. Basically my goal is to create a minifig scale version of the fort at Ticonderoga, New York, here in the U.S.

I haven't gotten far on the project so far, and I'm estimating that it'll take a few years to complete. I'm keeping track of my progress on my web page located at The Ticonderoga Project.

Comments are always appreciated, and helpful tips are always appreciated more. Especially if anyone has any advice on how to fund a large-scale project. That's probably my largest hurdle at the moment. My wife is fully supportive of the project, as long as the bills get paid first.

By fully supportive, I mean that she thinks I'm crazy, but she hasn't said no. :-)

I'll try to remember to post here when I have major updates, though the web pages should always have the latest update if people want to follow along.

-Elroy

[EXO-CHAMP]

From the site:

"While his men were dragging cannon up the side of the mountain, it is said that British Major General William Phillips quipped, "Where a goat can go, a man can go. Where a man can go, he can drag a gun!"

:-P Good one.

The fort looks awesome so far. Can't wait to see more.

[Mister Phes]

Though it's not really a Pirate related project, it probably fits in this theme better than any other. Basically my goal is to create a minifig scale version of the fort at Ticonderoga, New York, here in the U.S.

The Pirate forum also caters for colonial life too - given that the Golden Age of Piracy took place during those times.

I'll try to remember to post here when I have major updates, though the web pages should always have the latest update if people want to follow along.

The users at this forum are more likely to visit your website if you post updates here. There are many websites, MOCpages and Brickshelf folders that pass through this forum so I can't image the users checking all of them regularly for updates, instead they need a little reminder in the form of a post. So if you'd like to promote your website then by all means post when you have an update! Also it would be good if you dropped by occassionally to answer questions because the users here are an inquisitive bunch and like to know what was running through the mind of the creator when the MOC was being built.

Anyway, lets have a look what we've go so far...

[Captain Ironhook]

From the site:

"While his men were dragging cannon up the side of the mountain, it is said that British Major General William Phillips quipped, "Where a goat can go, a man can go. Where a man can go, he can drag a gun!"

:-P Good one.

The fort looks awesome so far. Can't wait to see more.

But how can this be for mountain goats have be borned to walk up steep mountains but men have not.

[EXO-CHAMP]

There's no arguing with the logic of military leaders. Trust me on this one. ;-)

[Mister Phes]

There's no arguing with the logic of military leaders. Trust me on this one. ;-)

Considering this particular military leader was on the losing side perhaps arguing with his logic would be recommended, although he did die of typhoid before the final battle so maybe that's the reason the English lost.

Here's a portrait for your enjoyment!

There was also an English pirate of the same name...

[Captain Ironhook]

so this major general William Phillip was a real man?

[EXO-CHAMP]

What I meant to say was, that a court martial in those days were quite severe.

[TaltosVT]

so this major general William Phillip was a real man?

He was indeed. There is a nice article about him here: William Phillips

They don't mention Ticonderoga though. :-(

-Elroy

[Mister Phes]

From your website it says:

Fort Ticonderoga sits on the western shore of Lake Champlain, where it served to cover the water route between New York and Canada.

Originally built between 1755 and 1758 by the French, Fort Carillon, as it was then called, withstood an attack by the British in 1758 during the French & Indian War. The following year the British returned, laying siege to the fort until is was abandoned by the French. The British took possession of the fort, renaming it Ticonderoga.

Where did that information originate from Mr TaltoVT?

[TaltosVT]

From your website it says:

Fort Ticonderoga sits on the western shore of Lake Champlain, where it served to cover the water route between New York and Canada.

Originally built between 1755 and 1758 by the French, Fort Carillon, as it was then called, withstood an attack by the British in 1758 during the French & Indian War. The following year the British returned, laying siege to the fort until is was abandoned by the French. The British took possession of the fort, renaming it Ticonderoga.

Where did that information originate from Mr TaltoVT?

The information comes from a few different sources. One is the fort's website, which has a nice outline of its history. The early days of the fort are outlined here: Fort Ticonderoga History: 1700's Timeline

Another source was the book Fort Ticonderoga - Key to a Continent by Edward P. Hamilton.

I've also read a few first-hand accounts by men who fought at the fort. These references are probably my favorite, as they give you a sense of what was really happening, as opposed to the usual dry information of dates and names that most American schools give us.

I would actually love to find some British and French sources. If anyone knows of any, please pass along the names to me. It would be incredibly appreciated.

-Elroy

[Mister Phes]

What has inspired you to take on this project, Mr TaltosVT? Is it purely out of interest or is it part of research for something else?

[TaltosVT]

What has inspired you to take on this project, Mr TaltosVT? Is it purely out of interest or is it part of research for something else?

I became interested in American Revolutionary War history after attending a battle re-enactment earlier this summer. I started doing some reading, and quickly realized that school had taught me nothing about what really happened. They taught dates and names, but there was no information about why people felt the way they did. Also most of the information we were given came from the American perspective (it's the old "Victors write the history" sort of thing), so I started looking for references from the British perspective to get another view.

As far as Ticonderoga itself, I was raised in Vermont, which is where The Green Mountain Boys were from. When I was young, we were always told stories about how Ethan Allen and The Green Mountain Boys stormed the fort. Ethan Allen is sort of like the Robin Hood of Vermont. I also remember visiting the fort with my father when I was young. I've been sort of fascinated with the structure since then, especially after studying architectural design for a few years.

I'm hoping that when I complete this project, I can display it in various public settings. It might be a way to help kids become interested in our history a bit.

Thanks for your interest!

-Elroy

[Mister Phes]

Which public settings will these be?

[TaltosVT]

Which public settings will these be?

I'm not really sure yet. The LEGO group that I'm in (NELUG) occasionally displays at public shows, so I'll probably start with one of those.

-Elroy

[Mister Phes]

That seems like a good idea to gain more exposure for your MOC. Will you be able to take pictures at these NELUG shows that you could share with us?

[El Bucanero]

That is a very nice fort mate, good job!

[Mister Phes]

Here's the latest update on October 16th

So to compare with

I'm thinking the latest looks much better - what's everyone else think?

[El Bucanero]

The latest looks better, it is completly gray and that is the right colour for stone...

[Mister Phes]

Although do you think it might look a bit bland? He seems to achieved a very nice "brick" effect using the 2x2 bricks but is that enough to keep it interesting?

[oo7]

I'm thinking the latest looks much better - what's everyone else think?

Is the Pope Catholic?

But I agree with you about being a bit bland except my reasoning is not becuase it's too boring, it's because it's less realistic, I've been to Fort Ticonderoga twice and the walls are alot more textured;

but that is exetremely hard too acheive in lego without using one of the multiple stone wall peices;

[TaltosVT]

Apologies for taking so long to reply to this thread, and thanks for the continued interest.

Mister Phes, to answer your last question about photographing events, I most definately will take photos when I can. :-) I don't expect to display the fort in public until at least next year though. Hopefully by that point I will have enough built to make it more interesting than just a single blank wall.

Although do you think it might look a bit bland? He seems to achieved a very nice "brick" effect using the 2x2 bricks but is that enough to keep it interesting?

I've been questioning this myself, so I'd also be interested in people's opinions. The use of 2x2 bricks to create a brick effect was a conscious decision, and I decided to use a single color to keep the costs down. Now that the wall is almost finished though, I'm thinking about possibly adding in some darker bricks in spots to break up the "blank wall" effect. One thought that I've had is to add in small sections of 1x1 plates, to simulate stones in the wall. As oo7 states, the walls of the actual fort are much more textured. The 1x1 plates might help simulate that.

-Taltos

[Mister Phes]

Its good to hear from you again Mr TaltosVT! What does the VT stand for anyway?

It'll be interesting to see the effect that 1x1 plates will have, what colour will these plates be? The darker shade of traditional gray?

[Scouty]

I have a bunch of 1x1 plates grey and drk gray, i put them together and they look really good. I like the new wall :-) . I'm wondering, would the Fort have less diferiential in color when it was built and now, I'm pretty sure age had alot to do with changing the color of the bricks, would it?

[TaltosVT]

Its good to hear from you again Mr TaltosVT! What does the VT stand for anyway?

The VT stands for Vermont, the state that I live in. Taltos was a more popular user name than I expected on a lot of websites, so I added the VT to make myself a bit more unique.

It'll be interesting to see the effect that 1x1 plates will have, what colour will these plates be? The darker shade of traditional gray?

I may try it with a mix of grays. I think maybe I'll build a sample wall to see how it looks.

I'm wondering, would the Fort have less diferiential in color when it was built and now, I'm pretty sure age had alot to do with changing the color of the bricks, would it?

That's an interesting question. Most of the original stonework was carried away by settlers after the fort was abandoned in the late 1700's, so it's hard to tell if it was all the same. I would assume that the stone was originally quarried from the same area, though, so it stands to reason that the original stonework would have been a more uniform color. The fort as it stands today is a replica of the original, so the stone for the walls could have come from most anywhere.

-Taltos