Minas Tirith from Hirst Arts blocks!

DM · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:06 am

Well here goes... I am going to try and attempt to build some of Minas Tirith using Hirst Arts blocks. I have seen other people do various Gondorian themed buildings so this isnt an original idea! I thought I would start with the gate houses and buttresses.

I have several different Hirsts molds and have used them for quite some time now, the blocks are fantastic, they are very versitile and with a little imagination you can pretty much make them do anything! If you have nenver heard of Hirst Art's check them out here: http://www.hirstarts.com

One of the most important things to me (apart from it looking great) is play'ability, yes it has to be practical and roomy enough to play SBG on.

The first thing to do is lay out the floor plan... this elevation picture shows the basic floor plan of the main gate house.

This elevation picture show where the tower will rise from the forward butress...

The last show for this the first of many posts shows a sense of scale using GW models.

Elros of Numenor · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:22 am

Cool!!!!!!!

Can't wait to see how this turns out!

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 4:29 am

That is going to be a cool model. :yay:

SamuraiPainting · **Joined:** Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:18 am **Posts:** 16

WOW!

That thing will look amazing when it is finished!

Dorthonion · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:35 pm

It will look amazing and weigh a ton...

DM · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:04 am

On refelction I decided to build this as a multipart model due to the shear size of the thing!! I have started with the main gate tower, it's slightly rectangular in shape and a bit bigger than first planned. I have been thinking about where the floor level should be for the forward protruding bastion, so any suggestions on height there would be appreciated. I need to know this height so I can make a floor level in the tower to match. I think I might leave the tower at the moment and start on the basition itself to figure out the height then build the rest of the tower to match?

Below is a progress shot of the Tower thus far, Minas Tirith bowman for scale.

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:30 am

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=16347
I can only suggest review this link and pm Gondors Finest for measurements.

hero of gondor · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:28 pm

Ambitious, I warn you it is a very hard to finish project my minas tirith also lies somewere half finished in some old boxes so be sure you have the time to finish it

DM · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:42 am

One never knows how much time this will take, or what may or may not be completed. I know what your saying though, I too have unfinished models!!

General Elessar · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:40 pm

Looking good so far, I'll certainly keep an eye on this thread...

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 5:04 pm

Quote:

One never knows how much time this will take, or what may or may not be completed.

I think the issue with this project will be work space and storage.I had to stop working on Helms Deep when I brought the plants in for the winter. I start work again when the weather turns nice.
Are you going to have an interior for the bastion? I don't recall any one doing something like that. I think you should at least think about it while you search for the measurements. :idea:

DM · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:07 am

Oldman Willow wrote:

I think the issue with this project will be work space and storage.I had to stop working on Helms Deep when I brought the plants in for the winter. I start work again when the weather turns nice.
Are you going to have an interior for the bastion? I don't recall any one doing something like that. I think you should at least think about it while you search for the measurements. :idea:

Lukily I have plenty of space - I have a dedicated 6m x 5m games room, all I have to do is share it with the kids for play space and playstation when I'm not playing games myself! Lots of shelf and display space as well. It truly is my sanctuary, and its out of the house so it keeps wifey happy too

As for the inside space, I have definately been giving it some thought, for the large tower section (currently under construction) I was thinking about putting in a wide starcase up to the bastion level with archways leading out to the upper level. Also have a removable top so you can get inside.

Thoughts????

Oldman Willow · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:39 pm

Quote:

I was thinking about putting in a wide starcase up to the bastion level with archways leading out to the upper level. Also have a removable top so you can get inside.

Sounds good. An armory, guard room and some jail cells might be nice details. It is a large construct. You could utilize the archways under the stairs as rooms.

This is an inspirational post http://hirstarts.yuku.com/topic/5086/Cr ... -2-28-2011
You might also want to join the Hirst Arts Forum lots of friendly advice there too.
I am looking forward to more photos :yay:

DM · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:21 am

Sorry no update this weekend, I tried to do a bit of building yesterday and had my daughter out to 'help' unfortunaly she managed to spill the cup of water we were about to make plaster in all over my dry blocks laid out for assembly!! :roll:

Meh ..what can you do ahye? :puppy:

Necromancer7 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:42 am

This is a really inspiring project, and now that you've got everyone's attention you have an added motivation to complete it!

The balance between aesthetics and playability is always important, and I think Hirst blocks seem ideal for that purpose.

Good luck!

Cyndra the Grey · **Posted:** Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:33 pm

All I can say is, good luck

it will take a lot of work.

Cyndra the Grey

edge67 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 13, 2011 9:23 am

This looks like an awesome project. Can't wait to see the progress. I'm hoping to build ruined Osgiliath with Hirst blocks so will watch your thread with interest.

DM · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:40 am

I have made some progress with the main gate basition. You can see the shape comming together and where the forward tower will rise up. The main gate tower block is comming along also. Now its a matter of deciding how tall to build it??

picture from the front showing models for scale and the forward tower.

This shot shows the door entry to the forward tower.

Another angle to show size and scale. The corner and end section have since been completed

edge67 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:00 am

Progress looks great.

How tall to build? Hmmm. There are more experienced people on this forum that will give better advice than me. If you want to be particular I imagine there are dimensions for the models used in the movie - or maybe even something in the book. MT is imposing so the outer walls at least have to be big relative to the minis. If you work to realistic dimensions then a forklift may be required for lifting

Can I ask what you are casting your bricks with?

RangerofTheNorth · **Joined:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:54 pm **Posts:** 483

very cool to see how these things work, are you finding it more of a pain in the ass having to go brick by brick though instead of using foamcard or something else? Or is it more advantageous at this point for you?

Minas Tirith from Hirst Arts blocks!

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