Derfel Cadarn

Well, it seems like the world map idea is good, and a themed community build would definitely be great fun. So it makes sense to combine the two. It would allow everyone to join in and build in their favorite faction, creating a world with all the different factions and all the mocs/submissions placed on a world map. This would also mean we would be able build on this in future events, like maybe organize a 'Falcon's vs Crownies tournament or forestmen vs Green dragons etc. Lots of possibilities are on offer with this idea. I do like the idea of a separate page for tutorials, indexes, inspiration threads, general historic discussions etc, with a separate page for just mocs. I have a few more ideas, but I don't like to ask for too much

I'm liking the idea of a community castle build, but this time let's make it themed. We could have some people building black falcons, some building forestmen mocs, etc. Could be interesting. Put me down for some more individual guides on specific structures. If there's any particular thing people want help with and want to see, let me know and I will do a write up and show ways to do it. I can also do a reference page with lots of examples of historical stuff and the best inspirational pictures. Whatever you think?

Thank you all for your comments! The whole ship is just one big bricklink order, as I don't like to build them out of my main collection as I plan to never take them apart. I planned this out before I started building and ordered every part for the ship 2 weeks prior to building. This one was a bit cheaper to build then the last one as its mainly all reddish brown, the only pricey parts were the pearl gold parts and the dark brown tiles I use for decking. Its the same with every ship I build, I will always buy the whole ship off bricklink. Thanks for the frontpage, glad you like it. I've actually grown quite fond of this one and prefer it myself now. Thanks Z, and for the blog. Yes its the same type of ship as CGH & Boney's one, I have always loved Galleons more than any other type of ship. Plus we don't see many here at EB. Thanks, I always forget the frontal shot, must remember to take some pics. Thanks again! DC

Thanks all! I have finally got round to posting another update, and will hopefully be adding some more this week. The new section covers some more rock work, landscaping and a weeping willow. Work will soon start on the main village. Thanks, I will try and change the thread tittle to make things easier. DC

Time to complete the stream and hill, then we can start laying down the land for the main village. To start, we need to lay down the final part of the stream. This is done the same way as before, using rocks and clear plates on top of the blue plates to make some more small water falls. You will also need to start laying some plates and rocks at the side of the river. Then we need to build up some more of the rocky cliff. As you can see, I use the BURP pieces as a frame to build the sloping rocks over. Next I have started to add the green plates. This is done by simply laying plates at different random heights, but to keep things from looking to blocky, I try to make sure that the plates are always only 1 plate higher or lower than each other. Note that I have also added some patches of sand green for variety. I have used sand green bricks for this as they are easier to get hold of. These are used the same way as plates, but remember to lay them at a lower level then you lay the plates so they end up being the same height. Then we add some foliage the same way as before. Next we need to finish off the corner. This is again done by laying plates and adding some rock formations. The rocks are very important, because we have built a rocky cliff, we also have to build various over small rock formations here and there, to show that the whole area is rocky. Otherwise it would look a bit odd if there was just a random rocky cliff with no other rocks in the area. Note how I have also continued to build up the black base to give a nice simple border round the moc. Then, on the other side of the stream, we can build a weeping willow type tree which will look good overhanging the stream and also enclose this back area a bit more, to give it a more natural over grown look. The willow is built using the same tree method that I showed earlier with the hinge bricks. Its just a case of folding the hinge bricks in a downward arch and attaching lots of tree pieces to them to give the weeping willow effect. Then i've just added a couple of witches sacrificing a frog in the corner Now we need to finally finish the hill, so first we need to give ourselves some more land to build on. This is done the same as before, by laying out supports and then placing a green base plate on top. Again, on top of the green base plate I lay a few plates and sand green bricks here and there. The main thing you have to remember is to cover the edges of the base plate with green plates so you don't see the distinct line of the edge of the base plate. Then we continue this process down to the other end of the moc. Note how I have added in different patches of green in other shades. This breaks up the standard green. Now we need to start coming down again with another row of base plates, but for now, I will just lay enough so I have space to finish the hill. Next, we lay out some BURPS as a guide and frame to build the cliff up on. Note that I have left a gap to build up some grass and a path. Next I have placed some large green bricks to start forming a basic frame of a slope of grass. Now I have started to add some plates and build more of the rock work. There are many ways of building rocks, I have chosen to use slope pieces as these are very common, easy to work with and come in most Lego sets. I have now started to add some brown plates to form a path. Once these are in place we can build the rocks up around them on either side. Now we can carry on building the rocks to finish of the cliff. Once we have built up the rocks to the chosen height, we can then lay down some green plates to finish of the hill. The green plates should be mixed around the rocks at the edges of the cliff to give a more natural effect, rather then a plain border of gray with green in the middle. Finally we can add some plants and foliage around the edges making a nice area where villages can go and relax under the weeping willow. We now have the start of a nice natural area which will make a great background to the village. The reason I have ended the hill there, is so I can add a road coming into the village from the back. I can then build up another hill on the other side of the road which is where the windmill will be. This will give a nice raised backdrop for the village. Next we will start laying some more land and work on some more buildings. Thanks for reading. DC

I think there are enough pictures for reference to easily build this version, but I wouldn't attempt it as when I spoke to Carl he said he is really tempted to build it in the brick himself. As for the parts, they are all legit, its just a lot of them are not yet available in those colours, but Carl said he would spray them and he's an expert at that, so I hope to see this one day in brick form, as its the best version i've seen yet!

Thanks Admiral, yes the beam sticking out the stern is a good idea, I forgot all about that. As for the bracelines, I will add the extra ones tomorro. Thanks for the tips

Nice work and congrats on your frontpage This has a nice clean look, the arches over the windows are a great touch. The rock work is also nicely done and fits around the castle well. Look forward to seeing some more great creations from you. Thanks for sharing DC

Nice one Taz, this looks really good. I like what you did with the windows and the apple tree overhanging the water is a nice touch. Maybe add some climbers up the brickwork? Stacking 1x1 round plates is a chore ain't it! Just remember to keep them stacked. You have definitly captured the look, I hope to see more pictures of this! DC

110C Hello there! Well, I've been really busy building different things the last month, plus I've also started a guide over at the History forum. Due to this and the fact that I am already well under way on my third ship, I kind of pushed this one aside and she became a bit forgotten. She was starting to gather dust, so I figured it was about time I took some photos and posted her before she gets covered by it(although dust on a ship gives a neat effect). She was a very quick build, I needed another ship for my display at STEAM this year and I only had 3 or 4 days to build her. So she was a bit rushed, but luckily I know the design off by heart and could build her pretty quick. This is the last ship of this design, as I am currently working on a newer style sloping stern shape which looks a lot better. 10 of these will make up the bulk of the English fleet, with a flagship that will be 4 masted. Unfortunatly, the final battle display needs some cannon fodder, and this ship will be one of the ones that will be blown apart, which will be fun Until then, here she is in her prime, and there are also some pictures of her with my other ship. Enjoy Thanks for reading. DC

"British Grand Master" I wouldn't go that far. Still, that is really cool and good to know, plus a good bit of advertisement for EB. Thanks for finding this Blackmoor.

I see the base design, but you had to go one step better and use 3x3 roof pieces didn't you!!!

Really liking this Taz! It has a great detailed look and definitely something I would use. Never really tried making a new type of rock technique, this is a great effort.

Great thread Rufus! This is of course, THE classic castle set, but one that a lot of castle fans don't own, mainly due to the price. The closest I got to this set was the town set that had a parade and a section of yellow castle, which I used to used to pretend was this set. Its interesting seeing how different the boxes where back then, with just a nice shot of the model on the front and nothing else. I don't remember the old white box colour like these, I just missed that era, my memories are of the classic yellow boxes with light blue 'Legoland' written across them. Growing up, I went off this set, as I didn't like the colour and much prefered the new gray look that came along in the eighties. Of course, now that Im older, things have changed and its a set that I've come back to love and want in my collection. Unfortunatly for me, its also a set that falls into that catagory of sets that I had the chance to buy ages ago brand new for a cheap price but didn't bother! I hate having those regrets!!! I shall be following this thread closely. DC

A truly amazing and realistic moc, so much great detail! I want one of these now!

Great creation, he looks mean! Nice to see something different here, good use of parts and a MUST for any castle army

Derfel is a character in Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles, which is a 3 book version of the whole Arthurian saga, and the best version of the story told! Derfel is Arthur's main champion and Cadarn is a title he earns which means 'The Mighty'. So there you have it. Derfel the Mighty!

Right now I'm listening to a leaked copy of the new Megadeth album 13!!!! Pretty damn good, Dave, You are the man!

Glad to hear you are all finding the guide useful in some way or another. I apologize for not posting any updates over the last few days, but i have been doing late shifts at work and have not had the time. The next post will hopefully be Thursday and will focus on laying out some more of the landscape and how to make it more interesting by adding marshy areas, ponds, ruins etc. Like I've always said, I will do my best to post as regularly as I can. Ive still got a ship gathering dust that I havn't posted either yet Well, the part I have built at the moment would make a nice stand alone scene, but that is just the mill. The main village will be to the left of the mill, as I hope to cover various other medieval buildings like a Forge, Inn, Windmill etc. That's the aim, to try and cover all the main parts that go into creating this sort of setting. Its weird as I've been using that technique for many years now, when ever I've needed to, and I never noticed that there was a difference in height untill I actually read about the whole 'Stress' thing. But it doesn't bother me, if I need to use that technique I will. Someone once said "if you're not stressing the bricks, then you're not using them to their full potential" I like that Thanks Matn, and the difference between those bricks is ever so slight, that's why you don't tend to notice, but take a closer look. I was off to a good start with the guide with daily updates, but then late shifts at work have slowed down. At least I can get back to building tomorro!

You do realise that's officially an illegal technique Z, you can get in trouble from that! I only just recently read Jamie Berard's illegal brick technique list. I went back and tried it again and those bricks do actually not sit level once connected, but it's such a small difference it's hardly noticeable. I've used it many times and it's never caused a problem. You should check out that JB list, it's in the EB tutorials somewhere. Interesting what Lego counts as an illegal move.

These are interesting, I like how you have tried a few different techniques out like the shape of the roof on the house and also the ship has some nice features. It would be nice to see some more mocs from you in the future. Thanks for sharing DC