Forestmen Outpost

[Sir Dillon]

Hello all.

Here is my latest MOC. It's based off the book Robin Hood, by L. Rhead. It's supposed to be an old abandoned Roman tower with no door, the only way in is a old hollowed out tree, which has a tunnel from it to the bottom of the tower.

Gallery

I wanted to make more trees, because now it doesn't really look like it's in the middle of the woods, but ran out of pieces. :-(

Well, enjoy! And please let me know what you think. :-)

-Dillon

[Mister Phes]

Lets see... What have we here...

Did you use any picture references to create this MOC Sir Dillion, or is this generated entirely in your imagination from what you read in the book?

[Sir Dillon]

There were a couple pictures in the book, but none of the hideout (they're mostly of the characters), so this was generated entirely in my imagination. :-)

[Mister Phes]

So is this an image of the tunnel between the tree and the Outpost? (With the tree removed of course) My next question was going to be "is there actually a tunnel" but it appears I might not need to ask that now.

[Sir Dillon]

Yes there is. I knew I forgot to take a picture of something.

You can kind of see it in this picture:

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/Dillon/F...Hideout/011.jpg

[Norro]

Forestmen, Hideouts, Tunnels, my faviourite! This is a nice MOC. The tower is well done and the 'forest' ;-) is great (I hate part shortages). The pics are also good (unlike most of mine ;-) ). Keep them coming!

God Bless,

Nathan

[Kikuichimonji]

Whoa! That's one cool MOC you've got there. I really like MOCs with 'hidden' elements, like the tunnel you have here. The tree itself is simple yet nice, and the same goes for the tower. It's a shame those bricks have yellowed so much though.

Will you be updating the interior? It looks a bit plain, but there's quite some space left. And interior decorating is something I always find to be quite enjoyable...

[JoeMI6]

That looks great Dillon, I really like it. So much green, and it's simplistic design hides that awesome tunnel. Ver well done, I look forward to seeing more Robin Hood work.

[Jacob C.]

because now it doesn't really look like it's in the middle of the woods,

Well, we can pretend its on the edge of the woods instead.

I really like this Moc a lot.

The hidden entrance built in the ground and connecting to the tower basement is awesome.

The interior looks fitting for a band of forestman. (weapons, supplies, and beds...what more could they need?)

I also like the sloping landscape around the tower.

Very nice work!

[Sir Dillon]

Whoa! That's one cool MOC you've got there. I really like MOCs with 'hidden' elements, like the tunnel you have here. The tree itself is simple yet nice, and the same goes for the tower. It's a shame those bricks have yellowed so much though.

Thanks! The bricks aren't all that yellow, but some of them are a little dirty. I think it may be the lighting in the pictures, and that I had to mix bley with grey, as I don't have enough of just one colour for the whole thing.

Will you be updating the interior? It looks a bit plain, but there's quite some space left. And interior decorating is something I always find to be quite enjoyable...

Probably not. I thought maybe it was a little empty too, but couldn't really think of much more to add.

That looks great Dillon, I really like it. So much green, and it's simplistic design hides that awesome tunnel. Ver well done, I look forward to seeing more Robin Hood work.

Thanks! I hadn't thought about making more, but I might...

because now it doesn't really look like it's in the middle of the woods,

Well, we can pretend its on the edge of the woods instead.

Yeah, or maybe in some kind of clearing...

I really like this Moc a lot.

The hidden entrance built in the ground and connecting to the tower basement is awesome.

The interior looks fitting for a band of forestman. (weapons, supplies, and beds...what more could they need?)

I also like the sloping landscape around the tower

Thanks! Food might've been good to add, but I don't actually have any minifig food, so I can just pretend it's in the barrels.

Thanks for all the replies! *sweet*

[JoshW]

Excellent MOC! A lot of "ruins" in MOCs just look like a pile of bricks but this tower is perfect. The tree is good and the landscaping is very realistic. One question, before the tower was a ruin, how did people get into it?

Josh

[Sir Dillon]

Excellent MOC! A lot of "ruins" in MOCs just look like a pile of bricks but this tower is perfect. The tree is good and the landscaping is very realistic. One question, before the tower was a ruin, how did people get into it?

Josh

Thanks!

I wondered that too, as it didn't explain in the book, I was thinking maybe the Romans seal it up when they left it, so that no one could use it after them?

[xwingyoda]

What a great moc here Dillon 8-

[Sir Dillon]

Thanks for the reply, Yoda!

I really love the general setting and where the tower is situated. Also I love the general shape of the tower and the fact that its made of different greys (which increases the "ruin" feel).

As I stated earlier, I didn't mix the greys on purpose, but I guess it does make it look more 'ruined'.

You also added some great details inside. On a side note, its fun to notice that no one ever adds toilets in their mocs (toilets being an overated word here, its just a whole in a part of a tower, on a stone "bench" blink.gif ).

Who needs toilets when you live in the middle of the woods? :-P

I don't agree with you regarding the number of trees blink.gif I think it looks way better like this because it put into perspective the tower and the front tree (and especially with the nifty secret passage).

Thanks, I'm glad you think it looks good without more trees. Though, I still would mind a few more...

The only thing I would modify on the landscape is add some water pond or stream (yeay I love water in sceneries blink.gif ) and add a couple of these (Green Plant, Flower Stem 1 x 1 x 2/3 with 3 Large Leaves).

Yeah, water is a good idea, I'm not sure if I'll change anything on this though, I think I'd rather build something new.

I would've added some of those leaf pieces if I had them, but I don't. I used up pretty much every green piece I have.

[Evil Willy]

Wow. Simply put wow. It is beautiful in every way. Except for those lighter grey pieces, but really who cares? The tunnel is amazing...Everything is amazing. I dont know how to comment exactley but Ireally really love it. Hey this aint gonna help you but I hope it will make you happy. If this hasnt been said (i didnt read everything) then you need more trees everywhere...Smaller ones you know. Well keep on MOCing, thats amazing!

Edit: Kept on reading and you said...I wanted to put more trees but ran out of pieces. So yah thats fine I can imagine it with more, its still amazing and doesnt take away from your talent :D

[JoshW]

Hey Dillon,

I just realized that the Robin Hood book I have is the same one that inspired your MOC. Its been a while since I read it and, not remembering the Roman tower bit, I wanted to reread that part. Can you tell me where in the book, it mentions this? I don't feel like reading the whole thing over right now, I just want to compare the MOC to the original description. ;-)

Josh

PS. Who illustrated your copy? The illustrator in mine is Frank Godwin

[Athos]

Very cool. I especially like the broken part at the top. Give it a very nice aged look.

Just one question:

It's supposed to be an old abandoned Roman tower with no door

Why would the Romans build a tower with no door? Or is that why they abandoned it? ;-)

Steve

[Mister Phes]

Yes, Mr Athos has a good point: Why would Romans build a fortress with no door?

I was wondering this earlier but was too busy asking other questions to get the question out, but now seems like a wonderful time!

[SuvieD]

*wub* Oh my. *wub*

Very nice. The tower looks weathered and old. It is odd that there is no door though. I doubt the Romans would have not included one but your idea that it was sealed makes sense.

Landscape is good but it might need more variety in colors. That is hard to do with a limited brick supply but some other greens, browns or tan could give it the little variety it needs. Also I didn't see any birds or owls which would have take residence in such a tower. Another little thing that could be nice to include.

*y*

MOC on!

[snefroe]

that's a cool moc!

i like the combination of different greys. Such a combination often doesn't work very well, but you've seem to be able to bypass that...

the gateless roman tower is probably just fantasy tho... but nice...

[Black Sparrow]

AWSEOME MOC!

I Like The Tunnel UnderNeath The Tree The Most! :)

[Sir Dillon]

Thanks for all the replies :'-)

I just realized that the Robin Hood book I have is the same one that inspired your MOC. Its been a while since I read it and, not remembering the Roman tower bit, I wanted to reread that part. Can you tell me where in the book, it mentions this? I don't feel like reading the whole thing over right now, I just want to compare the MOC to the original description.

Hey Josh,

The description is on page 29 I believe. In that, it says that the treasure room is below the tree, but I decided to just put it in the bottom of the tower. There's probably a better description sometime later in the book, but I can't remember, the last time I read it was a few years ago, and I just started re-reading it, and haven't got all that far.

PS. Who illustrated your copy? The illustrator in mine is Frank Godwin

Yeah, he did mine too. My copy is a hardcover, with a picture of Robin Hood and Little John fighting on the front, and a picture of a archery match on the back.

Why would the Romans build a tower with no door? Or is that why they abandoned it?

Yes, Mr Athos has a good point: Why would Romans build a fortress with no door?

It doesn't say. Like I said earlier in this thread, my best guess is that the Romans sealed it up after they were done with it.

Landscape is good but it might need more variety in colors. That is hard to do with a limited brick supply but some other greens, browns or tan could give it the little variety it needs. Also I didn't see any birds or owls which would have take residence in such a tower. Another little thing that could be nice to include.

Those are some good ideas. I don't own any birds though...

Thanks again the replies! :-)

[WesternOutlaw]

Very nice SD. This is one of the best castle MOCs that I've seen in a long time. I love the tree, tower, and tunnel. The pictures in the grass really add to the forestmen look. No suggestions for improvement. It's easy to critisize when the MOC is a SEC "someone else's creation". Very nicely done with great detail!

[Sir Dillon]

Very nice SD. This is one of the best castle MOCs that I've seen in a long time. I love the tree, tower, and tunnel. The pictures in the grass really add to the forestmen look. No suggestions for improvement. It's easy to critisize when the MOC is a SEC "someone else's creation". Very nicely done with great detail!

Thanks! I actually took the pictures outside because the lighting is really poor in my room... I never thought about the grass adding to the 'Forestmen look', but I guess it does.

[RememberTheLittleGuy]

(Note: Sorry for bumping an old thread back to life :-$ )

This got to be one neat set and must of took quite awhile to build. By the way, weren't there a set already named, "Forestmen Outpost"?