Qasr Albahr

[LittleJohn]

Built for the large miscellaneous category of the 14th Colossal Castle Contest. The scene was inspired by this image. It took about 2 weeks to build, and weighs 24.8 pounds, making it my largest solo build ever. Setting up the buildings layout and connecting them via bridges was the most challenging part, though the rockwork was most time consuming to build.

Qasr Albahr is a large trade citadel in the Spice Islands of Kaliphlin. It serves as a hub of the trade between the islands and mainland Kaliphlin. Its climbing bridges and ornate walls are well known throughout Historica.

Lots more pictures on Brickbuilt
Thanks for looking, all C&C appreciated 

[Lord Vladivus]

This is awesome! I love the architecture! Those floor mosaics are great too!

[Kai NRG]

Very nice dio, LJ, the unique rock formations, the waterfalls, and the bridges add a lot.  The palm trees also look really good.  I just kind of wonder if such a dark background was the best to photograph it against... the MOC feels bright and sunny, with the white, tan, green, blue, and lavender, but the background really seems to throw a damper on that.  Otherwise, however, an excellent build; great interior and the little details are fun to spot!

[The Maestro]

This is just too good to be true. The detail leaves me speechless and your style in this area is unrivaled (IMO). There is too much detail to highlight in a comment  Definitely my favorite build from you and is one of my favorite Kaliphin builds ever   

[Blufiji]

Looks like something put of POP. Great architecture and rock work. That split formation is very nice!

[TitusV]

Gorgeous! The top-notch rockwork combined with the arches makes for a great combo!

[Garmadon]

Excellent build, LJ, as I said on Flickr, probably my favorite detail is the bridge in the back with the white turn-table bottoms, but the two-colored rock-work is superb as well, and the architecture is great! - especially on the largest building!   The waterfalls, palm trees, and sand and dark green accents complement the rest of the build wonderfully, but I do think that the lavender leaves look a tad out of place...

And as usual, of course, it's great to see interiors to your buildings! 

[Slegengr]

This is a fantastic build, LJ!

There are certainly more details than can be gleaned from photos and covered in one comment!  To note a few:
The color scheme is wonderful!  The earth orange and medium flesh mixed with the tan make the buildings and architecture very interesting.  The variation in rock color for wet and dry is nice.  The whole picture has beautiful contrast with the light buildings, green foliage, gray rock, and dark-trans blue water!  The mosaics and details in the floors are well done, also with a beautiful color scheme.  I particularly like the details like the white turntable bases on the bridge, the small leaning plants over the seat/throne, and the hints of lilac foliage around the build!

This is definitely one of my favorite Kaliphlin builds!

[don leopold]

For this kind of MOC's i joint Kaliphlin last year, medieval building style with arabic influence.

The composition of the buildings is great and i like the two colored rockwork.

Great job !!!

 

Edited November 23, 2016 by don leopold

[Leonardo da Bricki]

Beautiful castle! The rocks and cliffs are excellent.

[mrcp6d]

Completely beautiful LittleJohn.  

[soccerkid6]

That guard is about to get an unpleasant surprise  
Stunning layout, the composition is perfect, and I love the numerous waterfalls flowing through  Tremendous detailing on the buildings as well.
A build to be remembered

[Henjin_Quilones]

So many great details, LJ! This is one of the best builds I have seen out of Kaliphlin in some time (Blufiji's Qar Riwa being excepted, of course). Just wow! My favorite aspect of the whole thing is most evident in your overhead shot, where one can see the many different angles that you have used to connect everything together. No simple 90 degree connections here! The spinner-base bridge is a highlight, as well, since the simple detail of that part adds so much wonderful complexity. Mosaics, interiors, minarets, islands, bridges; this build has it all. My one complaint is that your domes are too angular, but that is difficult to remedy, since SW planet halves only come in one size, and do not come in quarters. But extraordinarily well done!

[TheLordOfBricks]

Awesome job John! This is awesome! As I have said before, I love the Bridges and the waterfalls! Keep it up!

[en_zoo]

oh my... ! o.o as I 'said' on Flickr, I'm speechless, this is just epic. Easily one of my favs ever. And well, I'm actually speechless - I'm gonna have to literally study this build for a while..

[Gunman]

Amazing details mate... those mosaics are lovely... Beautiful work 

[Kayne]

Great build LJ!  Thank you for keeping Kaliphlin alive and obviously very well!

[BrickCurve]

Brilliant job- one of my favourite MOCs (from any builder) of the year!

[Niku]

This is beautiful, I dont know what else to add of previous moments. Fantastic job.

[Mpyromaxos]

Awesome creation with great architecture!! Loved it and faved it!
I like the rock work and the connection with the sea underneath them!
The Citadel  looks very much with a christian church (without the coloums of course) and you gave me inspiration with it with a creation that i want to create sometime!
Also another great photoshooting from you!
Well done!

[LittleJohn]

On 11/21/2016 at 5:11 PM, Lord Vladivus said:

This is awesome! I love the architecture! Those floor mosaics are great too!

Thank you, Lord Vladivus! 

On 11/21/2016 at 5:26 PM, Kai NRG said:

Very nice dio, LJ, the unique rock formations, the waterfalls, and the bridges add a lot.  The palm trees also look really good.  I just kind of wonder if such a dark background was the best to photograph it against... the MOC feels bright and sunny, with the white, tan, green, blue, and lavender, but the background really seems to throw a damper on that.  Otherwise, however, an excellent build; great interior and the little details are fun to spot!

Thank you very much, Kai! You might be right about the background color, but this is really the only option we had for this build, as all our other backgrounds are too small. Definitely a good point though, and I'll keep it in mind for next time 

On 11/21/2016 at 10:14 PM, The Maestro said:

This is just too good to be true. The detail leaves me speechless and your style in this area is unrivaled (IMO). There is too much detail to highlight in a comment  Definitely my favorite build from you and is one of my favorite Kaliphin builds ever   

Wow, thanks a lot, Maestro! Though I personally think I still have a ways to go before I reach the level of the likes of Gideon, Gabe, etc., I'm glad you like it 

On 11/21/2016 at 11:01 PM, Blufiji said:

Looks like something put of POP. Great architecture and rock work. That split formation is very nice!

Thanks Blufiji! 

On 11/22/2016 at 1:59 AM, TitusV said:

Gorgeous! The top-notch rockwork combined with the arches makes for a great combo!

Thank you, Titus! 

On 11/22/2016 at 9:10 AM, Garmadon said:

Excellent build, LJ, as I said on Flickr, probably my favorite detail is the bridge in the back with the white turn-table bottoms, but the two-colored rock-work is superb as well, and the architecture is great! - especially on the largest building!   The waterfalls, palm trees, and sand and dark green accents complement the rest of the build wonderfully, but I do think that the lavender leaves look a tad out of place...

And as usual, of course, it's great to see interiors to your buildings! 

Thanks Garmadon! The white turntables in the bridge was one of my favorite details too, even if Isaac was the one that suggested it...  

On 11/22/2016 at 10:44 AM, Slegengr said:

This is a fantastic build, LJ!

There are certainly more details than can be gleaned from photos and covered in one comment!  To note a few:
The color scheme is wonderful!  The earth orange and medium flesh mixed with the tan make the buildings and architecture very interesting.  The variation in rock color for wet and dry is nice.  The whole picture has beautiful contrast with the light buildings, green foliage, gray rock, and dark-trans blue water!  The mosaics and details in the floors are well done, also with a beautiful color scheme.  I particularly like the details like the white turntable bases on the bridge, the small leaning plants over the seat/throne, and the hints of lilac foliage around the build!

This is definitely one of my favorite Kaliphlin builds!

Thank you very much, Slegengr!  It was fun getting to use a lot of the dark orange and MDF we've collecting over the years. Glad you noticed the plants over the throne too, it was a little tricky getting them to curve over the chair the wayI wanted 

On 11/22/2016 at 7:02 PM, don leopold said:

For this kind of MOC's i joint Kaliphlin last year, medieval building style with arabic influence.

The composition of the buildings is great and i like the two colored rockwork.

Great job !!!

 

Thank you!

On 11/22/2016 at 10:12 PM, Leonardo da Bricki said:

Beautiful castle! The rocks and cliffs are excellent.

Thanks, glad you like it 

On 11/22/2016 at 10:52 PM, mrcp6d said:

Completely beautiful LittleJohn.  

Thanks mrcp6d! 

On 11/23/2016 at 8:14 AM, soccerkid6 said:

That guard is about to get an unpleasant surprise  
Stunning layout, the composition is perfect, and I love the numerous waterfalls flowing through  Tremendous detailing on the buildings as well.
A build to be remembered

Haha, yup!  Thanks Isaac, glad you like how it turned out 

On 11/23/2016 at 9:46 AM, Henjin_Quilones said:

So many great details, LJ! This is one of the best builds I have seen out of Kaliphlin in some time (Blufiji's Qar Riwa being excepted, of course). Just wow! My favorite aspect of the whole thing is most evident in your overhead shot, where one can see the many different angles that you have used to connect everything together. No simple 90 degree connections here! The spinner-base bridge is a highlight, as well, since the simple detail of that part adds so much wonderful complexity. Mosaics, interiors, minarets, islands, bridges; this build has it all. My one complaint is that your domes are too angular, but that is difficult to remedy, since SW planet halves only come in one size, and do not come in quarters. But extraordinarily well done!

Thanks Henjin! All the angles was something I definitely wanted from the start, so I'm glad you like them! Yes, the domes are definitely a bit tricky to get right. I'll try to make them less angular in the future 

On 11/24/2016 at 9:50 AM, TheLordOfBricks said:

Awesome job John! This is awesome! As I have said before, I love the Bridges and the waterfalls! Keep it up!

Thanks, glad you like it! 

On 11/24/2016 at 10:13 AM, en_zoo said:

oh my... ! o.o as I 'said' on Flickr, I'm speechless, this is just epic. Easily one of my favs ever. And well, I'm actually speechless - I'm gonna have to literally study this build for a while..

Haha, thank you en_zoo! 

On 11/24/2016 at 11:14 AM, Gunman said:

Amazing details mate... those mosaics are lovely... Beautiful work 

Thanks Gunman!

On 11/24/2016 at 1:45 PM, Kayne said:

Great build LJ!  Thank you for keeping Kaliphlin alive and obviously very well!

Thanks Kayne, hopefully we'll see some more builds from you soon too! 

On 11/24/2016 at 5:17 PM, BrickCurve said:

Brilliant job- one of my favourite MOCs (from any builder) of the year!

Wow, thank you BC! 

On 11/24/2016 at 5:59 PM, Niku said:

This is beautiful, I dont know what else to add of previous moments. Fantastic job.

Thank you!

On 11/25/2016 at 7:44 PM, Mpyromaxos said:

Awesome creation with great architecture!! Loved it and faved it!
I like the rock work and the connection with the sea underneath them!
The Citadel  looks very much with a christian church (without the coloums of course) and you gave me inspiration with it with a creation that i want to create sometime!
Also another great photoshooting from you!
Well done!

Thanks, Mpyromaxos 

[Gideon]

Fantastic build! I especially like the bridge with those white turntable bases

[MassEditor]

My goodness, a truly capital build! Such lovely architecture and rockwork, and I really dig the irregular base. It'll take many views to truly appreciate all the details, but some quick highlights are the bridge with white turntables on their side, the whole throne room scene and the brick-built domes. And I can't say enough how well composed the build is. The first pic in particular shows how epic this is. I would have to agree with Kai that a lighter background (particularly white) would have done a bit better job highlighting the colors 

[soccerkid6]

@MassEditor: Whenever we photograph tan buildings on white, the colors get thrown off for some reason. Also, the domes would have blended into the backdrop on white. I think a neutral gray shade would be a good option, we just have to get some cloth in that color big enough

[LittleJohn]

On 11/29/2016 at 1:11 PM, Gideon said:

Fantastic build! I especially like the bridge with those white turntable bases

Thank you Gideon! 

On 11/29/2016 at 2:18 PM, MassEditor said:

My goodness, a truly capital build! Such lovely architecture and rockwork, and I really dig the irregular base. It'll take many views to truly appreciate all the details, but some quick highlights are the bridge with white turntables on their side, the whole throne room scene and the brick-built domes. And I can't say enough how well composed the build is. The first pic in particular shows how epic this is. I would have to agree with Kai that a lighter background (particularly white) would have done a bit better job highlighting the colors 

Thanks, ME! I almost went with a square base, but Isaac convinced to do an irregular one; glad you like it!