Matn

Thanks! Here is the last update for this month. In the beginning of February the first part can be seen at Brick Tricks in Tielt (Belgium). I will then add lots of figures and make a couple of photographs to update this topic. After that I can begin with the second part consisting of the actual village of Hogsmeade! So what has changed? A lot. A lot of plants, to be exactly. And I now can say for sure adding flora to a creation is the hardest part. Some people can make a beautiful natural environment with plants, but when I try I never manage to make it look so natural. I would have loved to make the greenery very dense, but I didn't have enough plants for that. Also, if it were very dense, wouldn't it look a bit too chaotic? So you have to make a couple of patches without plants, just green plates. And you have to make that look good with a natural transition between dense and open landscape. Even now I'm not 100% content with the looks of it, the part I mostly like is the waterside by the docks. In the future I'll probably adjust all of the plants to make it look better. I've also been thinking about the second part. I'll probably add a part of a mountain (the mountains where Sirius lived for a while), with the interior of it open. So you can see the train going into the mountain, but the interior will be King's Cross station. Big plans, but it's just an idea. I'll first have to get my hands on lots of green parts, plants, plates and of course parts for the buildings of Hogsmeade! Ideas and comments (especially about the greenery) are welcome as usual!

I have always wanted to watch Doctor Who. I knew what it all was about, I saw much about it by browsing on the internet and it really sparked my interest. I also saw a couple of episodes of Torchwood some time ago, knowing it's a spin-off of Doctor Who, but it seems Doctor Who is much lighter. I was going to watch a few on BBC, but never did (and I also would have fallen in the middle of a story). Internet was the second option, but then I never thought about it much until a fantastic channel in Belgium, started with broadcasting Doctor Who this week. And after watching the first five episodes of the fifth series (for reasons unknown they started with the fifth series, but it's a new Doctor anyway), I must say I love it already. Yes, it's over the top and often things happen by coincidence, it's awesome. It's almost as it doesn't take it self very serious at times and that makes it a refreshing new series I have discovered. I love it when I discover a new awesome programme. The Doctor is great and so is Amy, the stories are almost magical fantastic. I can't wait to see more of it!

When I have all of the new train wheels for the steam engine, I'll redesign it and upload photographs of it. My first attempt to make Hogwarts castle was broken down. I decided to first start with the magical village of Hogwarts and maybe expand in the future to the castle. And thanks for the comments.

Thanks for your comments. It's been three months since my first post, and here I'm back with a new update. Much, much later then I had planned. I hadn't had much time in the weekends, but in the holidays I'll have the time (although I have to study). But building with LEGO is the perfect thing to do in the breaks between studying. I finally managed to order plant pieces, you never can have too much of them. I think when this part is ready, I'll probably have run out of them. I have always used plants, but I always let a big part of the green plates not being covered in plants. Inspired by Derfel Cadarn, I am using as many as plants as possible because it really helps to create a natural look. So what has changed? Quite a lot: added a part of the train track with ballast, lots of plants and a couple of trees, the road to Hogwarts, added better trees next to the station and a few rocks as I thought they were a nice touch. Anyways, enough of them words, here are some photos: Next up: even more trees and plants (with more colours to make it more magical and less green), the train track and a couple of details. This part should (and will) be ready by the first weekend of February as I'm then attending a LEGO event in Belgium, bringing the station along with me (and another project). Maybe I'll post a new picture this weekend and perhaps it will be ready by then. Tips and ideas are welcome!

Words almost can't describe how beautiful this is done! Awesome job, Derfel Cadarn! Everything looks so naturally, lovely (and big) buildings, luscious greenery. It's very inspiring for my own medieval styled village/Hogsmeade. You convinced me that having lots of plants and trees with a great variation does make the creation fantastic. Keep up the amazing work.

No problem, I'll happily take the southern part then. I'll also announce that I won't build for Avalonia until February. I'm really busy with the exams coming up in January and when I'm not studying I still have to finish a couple of (large) creations for a LEGO event in February. I'll do my best to contribute afterwards.

Judging by only the preliminary pictures this already looks like an awesome theme. It looks like LEGO Studios with a bit of LEGO Time Cruisers. I was going to cut down on the LEGO in 2012... But 2012 is going to be an awesome year, albeit a tough year for my wallet, with LEGO Superheroes, LEGO LotR and now LEGO Monster Fighters. Not that I'm going to collect them all, a couple of sets from each theme. But it looks like Monster Fighters has the best sets with great vehicles and good looking buildings (that castle).

Good work and a great update it seems: the website loads extremely fast now.

I finally finished my watchtower: Also I'd like to claim a patch of land (if it's not taken already), called Arcadonia in the Enchanted Forest:

Arcadonia occupies a patch of land in the Enchanted Forest of Avalonia. Near the coastline lies a watchtower to warn and protect the inhabitants of Arcadonia of approaching danger. More pictures at Brickshelf. A pity I'm too late for the challenge, but my ordered parts came in too late. Nothing to do about it, I'm still glad I was able to finally finish my Avalonian watchtower I had in my mind. EDIT: Added more pictures.

Awesome news! Of course I though the films were awesome, and I still have to read all of the books (one day!). I'm looking forward to the Hobbit films (Martin Freeman is great). Looking at the current set design of the licensed theme I have high hopes for this theme. Summer 2012 can't come soon enough.

My shipments have finally arrived, but as I'm away from home now, I won't be able to complete my watchtower in time. A shame, but I'll just upload it this weekend then. And great progress, Andonii, it looks very different from your usual buildings!

I'd like to build 7, I'll make a wizard shop for it. I'll think about a fitting name when it's build.

The first shipment of building materials for my watchtower has arrived. Unfortunately, the second and most important one hasn't even been send yet... This means it'll arrive next week. And I'm not at home in the week. So I won't be able to finish it by the 15th of December. I would be asking to much to extent the first challenge by a couple of days I think.

Pride comes before the fall. Don't think you're the greatest wizard of Avalonia yet. I have received word that one of the two ships containing building materials for my watchtower has arrived. Now let's hope the second one arrives by Friday. (So I can finally finish my watchtower this weekend )

In the western region of Avalonia lies a great Enchanted Forest, known to be the home of the Avalonian Elves. On one of Mattheus travels through the region he once encountered the Elven princess. She is know to be the rebellious daughter of the High King of the Elves. Their encounter was the first step to friendship. They stumbled upon each other near the ruins an old Elven gate, out of use since the Elves decided to move deeper into the forest a long time ago. With this creation I apply for the High King of the Elves title. Eurobricks topic I made it on Sunday, but only now had the time to upload the pictures. Parts for my watchtower have still to be ordered, but I still have hope to have it finished before the deadline.

In the western region of Avalonia lies a great Enchanted Forest, known to be the home of the Avalonian Elves. On one of Mattheus travel through the region he once encountered the Elven princess. She is know to be the rebellious daughter of the High King of the Elves. Their encounter was the first step to friendship. They stumbled upon each other near the ruins an old Elven gate, out of use since the Elves decided to move deeper into the forest a long time ago. Full gallery when moderated. With this creation I apply for the High King of the Elves title of our guild.

Meet Dekster, also know as the Dark Passenger of Avalonia, one of Avalonia's executioners. After a confirmation of their unforgivable crimes, he himself hunts down his victims. Say goodbye to your life when you happen to end up on his table. With this creation I apply for the Lord High Executioner title.

Great work Derfel Cadarn! I think it was nice to be selected for a new title, but this get things faster done. And the prizes involved are an extra push to build. This whole guild idea is really good for inspiration and it's been a long time ago since I wanted to build so much things, but unfortunately I'm separated from my bricks from Monday until Friday. Man, I can't wait for the weekend and build all these things. The Avalonian entries are really good, great work everyone! I'll comment separately on them some time later. Although I'm away from my bricks until the weekend, I'll try to make a drawn map of Avalonia to contribute to our guild and I'm placing a couple of Bricklink orders to complete my tower. My watchtower is halfway done, but I'm missing some pieces and my collection of grey pieces is not what is used to be (because they are used in other creations). I hope to have it finished soon.

Thanks for the link to the demo, I've played it last week and I enjoyed it. Nice graphics and very nice level designs. The Tale of the Three Brothers was extremely well done. I still haven't bought the first game yet, but I just think there'll be a complete years-edition or something like that. I almost bought it for the Wii once, but looking at the more beautiful version for the PC, I'll probably get the latter.

Great scene, Yatkuu. I like the fact that you didn't just build a road, but even a part of the bridge to have the figures standing on it. The figures are instantly recognizable, the car is also nice. The scene and photography fit the mood of the film very well. The Road is a good film, I always like a good post-apocalyptic film, definitely the more realistic ones.

Would it be possible to also have a list of who's working on which title? Just next to the guildsmen, the title in a colour to show they are now working on that. I think it would be useful to know who's working on what and to see if something is available to work on.

I don't think it's really necessary to have custom flags in our creations, splashes of the colours of our guild (Sand Green and Dark Green) should do it I think. If we do use the flag idea, de Gothia has made some very nice flags with a dragon's head on it. Anyways, I'm up for a building task. *hint*

Mattheus of Avalonia lives on the edge of the Enchanted Forest. You won't find him much at home, as being one of the few wizards in the Sacred Paradise makes him much needed all over the land. Rumour says he is a descendant of the Druids, the founding fathers of Avalonia. Mattheus is at one with nature and its animal inhabitants, something well appreciated by the Elves. Because of his good connections with the Elves, he often acts as a messenger between them and the Guild of Avalonia. As a wizard Mattheus prefers the wand for battle, but he also handles the sword pretty well. Finally Mattheus joins the Flight of Dragons. No henchmen for Mattheus, he works at his best alone and gets enough help from his animal companions. Forgive me for not making an example army, the look of the army has already been decided and it looks perfectly fine for me.

Awesome tasks, Derfel Cadarn! It's very nice and it pushes us builders in directions we wouldn't have gone otherwise. My character hopes to join the Avalonia Guild very soon, he awaits a dark green flag to be delivered, but it seems the delivery man doesn't find his forest home yet again.* In other words, I have yet to get me some Kingdoms sets (tomorrow).