The Stonecutters Guild

A Lord of the Rings, Middle-Earth Strategy Battle Game diorama/game board

Going off the dates in my camera roll, this project took a total of about 4 months. There were many periods of inactivity, so I cannot say for certain how many man hours went into it, or how many materials were used (I deliberately did not keep track so I wouldn't know how much money I put into this) It technically isn't complete, the caves and stables are not done, but I've just run out of steam and all the parts left to do aren't very interesting works of art or crafts.

The body of the structure is all 3D printed. Everything was designed very poorly by me in TinkerCAD, which took a lot of time because I don't know how to use a computer (so please don't ask for the stl files because just getting this far was a big enough struggle and there are like 70 different files because I don't know how to do 3D design. Maybe one day I will have enough time to sit down and sort them out🥲 ).

I went with a sort of skeleton of struts and plates and then covered those pieces with either styrene or printed stone work. I found out I could print these pieces face down on the build plate and they would take on the plate texture and look kinda like stone. All the major pieces were joined together using magnets or pin/slot pieces I printed. The support structure is a series of cardboard tubes and wooden posts that have printed caps to provide stability and slots for other wooden pieces to hold the upper parts of the castle. It's not that sturdy, but it's sturdy enough for small plastic models.

The terrain pieces are all XPS foam and plaster rocks on bits of foamboard that are shaped around the walls. The ground panels are foam board covered in a mixture of plaster and modge podge to try and strengthen them. The creek/river/ditch is UV resin. There are also a few fake grass tufts in there to add some green.

Originally, the plan was to create ALL of the castle, including the extensive stables and caves as seen in the Weta diorama, this would require the structure to be placed on the floor, and after setting up the in progress version, my knees decided this was a foolish idea, and I cut the scope of the project back to fit on my 4ft x 6ft table space (and into my storage bins), prioritizing gameplay and ease of accessibility over nerd wish fulfillment. I still have the files for the full stables and throne room, so maybe one day I shall have my complete castle...

This was a long and tiring project, but I consider it one of, if not the best thing I have ever made. I learned a lot of new skills and frequently had to apply myself to some very satisfying problem solving, and really that's what it's all about.

Eltz Castle, Germany 🇩🇪

Eltz Castle is one of the most famous and best-preserved medieval castles in Germany. Hidden in a forested valley above the Elzbach River, it looks much like it did hundreds of years ago.

The castle was built in the 12th century and has remained in the possession of the same noble family, the Eltz family, for more than 850 years. Unlike many European castles, it was never destroyed by war, making it a rare example of authentic medieval architecture.

During the Eltz Feud, the castle successfully resisted a long siege, demonstrating the strength of its defenses. Over the centuries, it was expanded and improved while retaining its medieval character.

Today, Eltz Castle is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions, admired for its towers, treasures, historic rooms, and fairy-tale appearance. It is often considered one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. 🇩🇪