Castle MOC

I'm attempting my first larger MOC using Lego Digital Designer. My plan is to build a decent size castle which actually has 4 walls etc.

Anyway, I've completed the front wall, the basics anyway, and am after any ideas that people have to make it not look so plain. I'm ok with the general building, but my skills do not lie in the decoration/detail aspects so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Please ignore the different colour, that's just so you can see the archs into the internal rooms, it all just looks like a solid wall otherwise. I will put a gate/drawbridge on the front too, but LDD doesn't have those pieces to select from, I probably should find another program.

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I really like the shape of this, it is a great start. I can't wait to see how it progresses.

There are a few things you could do it break up the grey, you could have vines growing on the wall (see the bottom pic of this example http://legocastles.blogspot.com/2009/06/modular-castle-section-gatehouse-aerial.html ).

Otherwise, building the castle on a darker grey rock base (see the example of this amazing castle by Rocko: http://www.brothers-brick.com/2008/11/26/kings-castle-a-crowning-achievement/ )

Or adding random bricks and different 'materials'. (see example by Lolino: http://www.brothers-brick.com/2011/02/12/eon-castle/ )

This site also has some stuff on building castle walls http://home.earthlink.net/~crazylegoman/LEGO/tallwalls/tallwalls.html

But I really like it so far, excellent work.

Thanks for the advice Anita. I had seen similar castles before, but I don't want anything of that scale, I want more of a playable size, but the different coloured bricks at the bottom work well. I have also decided to change my walls from the standard bricks to panels. Although reducing the ability to add odd colour bricks here and there, it sure will help reduce the price if I decide to actually make it. I'm going to have to order pretty much everything as my collection is sadly lacking.

I've added a moat and an internal ground as well as the drawbridge. Once I work out how I will include a gate in it too. I should just be able to copy the one like the set that I do have and hopefully it will just draw up into the centre room. Then I'm going to have to plan the inside of the castle, along with a decent size room at the back for the King and Queen.

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I thought I'd actually give building it a go, just to see how it looks for size etc.

Unfortunately I had to use yellow as that's the colour I have the most spare bricks of, plus the panels from the LEGO truck came in handy.

Its taken about 2.5 hours so far, but I have to stop now to get the housework done. Hopefully I can fine enough bricks to do the side towers, then I'll have to design the rest of it.

Once completed, the front centre tower will hold the raising gate and drawbridge gear.
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Redesigned the front a bit to break up the flat wall, now to move on to designing the back section rooms.
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That angle doesn't really do it justice, but you get the idea.

After a visit to Russell today to pick up the cool cruiser set that I missed out on, I grabbed some extra pieces so that I could give my castle a proper go, even if it is yellow instead of grey.

So after a few hours of work I've fixed up the front and put in the gate, only to then realise that the whole thing isn't high enough and a knight on horseback can't ride through. I have to raise it another 2 bricks now, I'll have enough bricks to finish off the front, but the sides and back will have to wait.
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Looks great.

It is just like the original Lego castle.

Well, the front is finally done, but that's pretty much all my pieces gone, only a handful of yellow bricks left.

The gate works well too, now for the drawbridge.

Well, I've finally finished the first draft of the castle in LDD and its sitting at just over 2400 pieces.

Keep in mind that this castle is designed for play and the main section levels do separate for inside access. If I ever get around to actually building it, I will add more details so it doesn't look quite so flat.

Wow, that has grown quickly. Looks brilliant. I am really liking how the area inside the walls is looking (balconies and walkways).

Thanks Anita,

I wouldn't say its grown quickly, I've been working in it 2-3 hours a day. The build, if it ever eventuates, will take longer still.

You probably can't tell from the angle of the shots, but the area between the top walkways and the arched areas on the sides is only about 3 bricks high, not quite enough room for another level. I've done this to create storage areas for equipment and to make the side arches just high enough for minifigs below for the stalls that I will create later.