Hello fellow AFOL

I finally ordered 10237 Tower of Orthanc and I was thinking if it would be possible to build a complete castle/fortress around it.

Currently I have many ongoing projects so I'm unable to start a MOC about it but I was wondering if, in the meantime, there is a way to do it using existing sets or by modifying them.

My first thought went to 79007 Battle at the Black Gate. Would it look too much "out of scale"? (Orthanc is extremely high)

Also I guess I'd need several of them.

I'd say Helm's deep would another nice choice but since it's a sold out set it's getting difficult for me to find it a reasonable price.

Thank you very much for any suggestion and help

This is my suggestion for getting Helm's Deep. I am too going to get it and I found several stores on Amazon selling it for around $180 which is still a lot but I think it's better than other offers.

As for the fortress you could also use several black and grey pieces. You could modify the Black Gate to fit your structure, too!

If I was to build around it I'd use mostly black. I think the Black Gate would work if you had a few of them, but you may want something a bit higher. You could use the parts from another Orthanc, or use Vladek's Fortress. (If you can find one of those!) Unless you have a lot of black or go to Bricklink, it is probably going to cost a bit.

This is my suggestion for getting Helm's Deep. I am too going to get it and I found several stores on Amazon selling it for around $180 which is still a lot but I think it's better than other offers.

As for the fortress you could also use several black and grey pieces. You could modify the Black Gate to fit your structure, too!

Well it's less than the prices I saw. The "cheapest" I found is on Amazon UK at about 175£ and I can't find it in my country or in € (so there will be a little more for the conversion etc)

I think the most needed modification would be to rise its height, just to keep the scale "consistent"

If I was to build around it I'd use mostly black. I think the Black Gate would work if you had a few of them, but you may want something a bit higher. You could use the parts from another Orthanc, or use Vladek's Fortress. (If you can find one of those!) Unless you have a lot of black or go to Bricklink, it is probably going to cost a bit.

I too think the Black Gate needs to be made higher. It's logical for a tower to be higher than the fortress walls but if it's too higher the fortress offers no protection

I know it is going to cost a lot. I start to believe starting a MOC from scratch would cost less. Black Gate is not very cheap. Btw how many of Black Gate sets would I need for "decently sized" fortress? My instinct tells me several of them.

I too think the Black Gate needs to be made higher. It's logical for a tower to be higher than the fortress walls but if it's too higher the fortress offers no protection

Btw how many of Black Gate sets would I need for "decently sized" fortress? My instinct tells me several of them.

Not from projectiles anyway.

At a guess, probably 6 or 8 in a circle/polygon and maybe 2x high? Ouch!

Not from projectiles anyway.

At a guess, probably 6 or 8 in a circle/polygon and maybe 2x high? Ouch!

It seems a second Orthanc for "salvaging parts" would be cheaper but I suppose I'd need even more pieces.

A very ambitious project that sadly would require a lot of resources :( and that means... decisions ahead. I think I should list my project pee priority and then decide which ones to start first

Like I said this is a very ambitious project: If successful it could be a very impressive diorama, though.

Not from projectiles anyway.

At a guess, probably 6 or 8 in a circle/polygon and maybe 2x high? Ouch!

You could probably work with something like this. Take a look at the outer ring from the Helm's Deep set, you could draw inspiration from that. It's all what works best for you!

You could just build the forges and outer wall around the Orthanc like in the movie

I'm with Dr. Cogg on this... the "castle" around Orthanc should be the Ring of Isengard.

I've started planning something like that, but never finished. In my case, I was using two modded Black Gates as the gate and a lot of black pieces (including DUPLO) for the rest of the ring. The height of the wall didn't bother me because Orthanc is supposed to be a lot taller anyway. I was more concerned about the area within the walls being too small - I was going for a 96x96 stud setup (using 4 large baseplates), but it felt too crowded with just a few orc forges in there.

good,As for the fortress you could also use several black and grey pieces. You could modify the Black Gate to fit your structure, too!

Edited December 8, 201410 yr by tatchonset

You could probably work with something like this. Take a look at the outer ring from the Helm's Deep set, you could draw inspiration from that. It's all what works best for you!

If I only could find Helm's deep. I also have difficulties in finding large quantity of "loose bricks". All the reliable stores I heard about ship from USA. Is there some of them even in Europe too?

You could just build the forges and outer wall around the Orthanc like in the movie

That was the plan I don't want to make the castle/fortress LOTR only but that was the concept which seems to be a colossal endeavor.

I'm with Dr. Cogg on this... the "castle" around Orthanc should be the Ring of Isengard.

I've started planning something like that, but never finished. In my case, I was using two modded Black Gates as the gate and a lot of black pieces (including DUPLO) for the rest of the ring. The height of the wall didn't bother me because Orthanc is supposed to be a lot taller anyway. I was more concerned about the area within the walls being too small - I was going for a 96x96 stud setup (using 4 large baseplates), but it felt too crowded with just a few orc forges in there.

I suppose even I won't finish it

So you suggest to go with a larger area. 6/8 large baseplates, maybe?

good,As for the fortress you could also use several black and grey pieces. You could modify the Black Gate to fit your structure, too!

Several Black Gates and a second Orthanc should be the best option but many gates are need.

Thank you everyone for your advices It's a very ambitious project but if successful it could really show a immense "Wow factor".

If you went for the style of wall shown in the movies, the Black Gate set would actually be only slightly short, if not about the right height. The only problem is, as Preuss stated, that the ground space inside the ring would be too small unless you used about 50 Black Gate sets .

MOCing your own wall will probably be the best option. Basic black bricks could be purchased off BrickLink for reasonable prices, though a large-scale build will still require significant monetary input even for cheap parts due to the quantity needed (I would guess about 2000+ each of 2x4, 2x3, 2x2, 1x2, 1x4, etc.) for a reasonably sized courtyard around the tower.

If you went for the style of wall shown in the movies, the Black Gate set would actually be only slightly short, if not about the right height. The only problem is, as Preuss stated, that the ground space inside the ring would be too small unless you used about 50 Black Gate sets .

MOCing your own wall will probably be the best option. Basic black bricks could be purchased off BrickLink for reasonable prices, though a large-scale build will still require significant monetary input even for cheap parts due to the quantity needed (I would guess about 2000+ each of 2x4, 2x3, 2x2, 1x2, 1x4, etc.) for a reasonably sized courtyard around the tower.

Thank you for the info

Like I suspected it is a colossal endeavor. It could be a quite interesting project, though

Congrats

Post some photos of the box and Bags :)

Congrats

Post some photos of the box and Bags :)

I'll do. I just got Orthanc one hour ago and even though I probably won't be able to build the fortress project, the set is impressive even alone. I suppose it will see a lot of scenes

I just realized it also reminds me of those Stargate episodes with Merlin and co where fantasy and Sci-Fi met bt perhaps it's just my vidid imagination

I've found an early picture of what I was planning to do with the 2 modded Black Gates, just to help visualize the proportions. The rest of the wall was all DUPLO at this point, but the plan was to cover it with regular System pieces for a finer look.

I've found an early picture of what I was planning to do with the 2 modded Black Gates, just to help visualize the proportions. The rest of the wall was all DUPLO at this point, but the plan was to cover it with regular System pieces for a finer look.

It looks an impressive design

With enough Black Gates (or a proper number of "loose" system bricks) it would be truly amazing. There would even be room for a little army inside (It never hurts to have an army inside your fortress )

Do you plan to complete your project?

In my mind I didn't think the Black Gate set would work as well as it does in your picture, but that looks pretty good just right there. Enjoy the Orthanc set, they went beyond the lore in the movies in designing this one!

In my mind I didn't think the Black Gate set would work as well as it does in your picture, but that looks pretty good just right there. Enjoy the Orthanc set, they went beyond the lore in the movies in designing this one!

I didn't being its construction, yet but from the box it looks truly amazing

I want to complete few little sets I have around and then I'll enjoy this wonderful piece of art.

I truly believe it's a must for any Lego fan and collector, not just for fans of the movies or the historic themes. It's one of those sets you know they won't disappoint you

As for the Black Gate, I'm impressed too. I think I could buy few Black Gate sets and start to build something. I know it's expensive but, thinking positive, we also get 5 Minifigures we can Mod/Moc into other characters (just to not have several copies of the same characters) and build a little army (which never hurts) a Great Eagle and a horse. It's not bad.

Also, I was wondering if 79018 The Lonely Mountain could have a role in the "fortress assembly". Not as "walls" but as an inside structure.

Any idea?

Perhaps its style is too different compared to Orthanc.

I've found an early picture of what I was planning to do with the 2 modded Black Gates, just to help visualize the proportions. The rest of the wall was all DUPLO at this point, but the plan was to cover it with regular System pieces for a finer look.

I very much like you design!! I plan on "borrowing" your idea for my tower and black gates.

Just bricklink the parts for the wall. Itll be the cheapest option for a ton of bricks. That way you can do what you want. If you buy a bunch of offical sets you will pay alot of money and it wont even be worth it. Rather then pay 180 for a retired set I would bricklink the parts and minifigs if i really wanted it. Especially something like helms deep where most all the parts can be cheaply bought.

Just bricklink the parts for the wall. Itll be the cheapest option for a ton of bricks. That way you can do what you want. If you buy a bunch of offical sets you will pay alot of money and it wont even be worth it. Rather then pay 180 for a retired set I would bricklink the parts and minifigs if i really wanted it. Especially something like helms deep where most all the parts can be cheaply bought.

The black gate set is only around $60 or so on Bricklink, you really think it can be bought cheaper than that, with the minifigs, if bought piece by piece?

I have yet to actually buy a set by bricklinking the pieces yet, that's why I ask. How much savings have you experienced on average by doing this? Thanks.

I've found an early picture of what I was planning to do with the 2 modded Black Gates, just to help visualize the proportions. The rest of the wall was all DUPLO at this point, but the plan was to cover it with regular System pieces for a finer look.

Question???

How many big grey baseplates do you have in this picture? 4?