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Here is a link to the paint plans for this build:
http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/1405322-neuschwanstein-castle-mc-plans-paint-rar-zip/
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Firstly; I know that this building is and has been popular amongst MineCraft players and builders since the beginning. So all props, once again, go out to each of you who have either finished or abandoned their own particular variation on the challenge. The following is simply my take, in my fashion, with my artistic license, and my personal preferences for play method. I am in no way intending to one-up anyone's work... I just happen to like big challenges and tough circumstances with no short-cuts.
This is my second attempt at this project. My first failed attempt is chronicled: HERE
Here is the goal:
Here is a page of [Google Images]of the structure.
It has taken almost a month from when I abandoned the first attempt to reach the point where a second 'restart' thread was in order.
Lessons learned from failure:
1) Absolutely HAD to have one mod; a height limit adjuster... the Main Tower is 155 blocks high.
2) Need to draw a complete set of plans before even selecting a place to build.
3) Monster Defenses (fences, torches, temp-houses and workshops built of stone not dirt) need to be a higher priority.
4) MASSIVE amounts of wool will be required so a huge farm is needed(4-6 times the size of first attempt).
5) A 300+ length means that much of the action will be a LONG LONG ways from the craftsmens' village, so a railway is needed (I know nothing of rails).
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FIRST STEP: Find dimensions / plans to work from
I found a guy who built this structure out of legos, and after a few emails back and forth we negotiated a deal on a physical copy of the plans that he created and used. The plans are too big to scan, so they had to be photocopied at a blueprint shop and mailed to me. I do not believe that I purchased rights to post or distribute the plans, so I've taken a few concept photos of them that are just low res enough to not be used by anyone else.
On his website four of the smaller of the elevations. Here is one:
This is a direct linked jpg so I'm not worried about copyright on this one.
You can contact the creator of these plans [HERE]if you would like a set of your own. FYI, he has plans done in square grid graph paper, for about 60 or so historical castles. I plan to build a few of them from his plans over time.
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NEXT STEP: MineCraft Plans
From the Lego Plans, I extrapolated a set of my own in MS Paint... The scale is appx 1block = 1ft.
These are just the outside walls, the interior walls and the courtyard are yet to be translated.
From the four exterior wall elevations (as well as the lego plan for the layout) I created what I call a footprint
These are my creation and you are welcome to them.
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Step 3: Create a world and find a place to build
First challenge)
This particular height limit adjustment mod makes you spawn at the top of the sky... that means I needed to keep creating worlds until I found one that spawned me withing 7-8 blocks of deep water so that I could 'fly sideways' on the way down and not spawn-fall-splat-rinse-repeat.
Second challenge)
The foot print of this structure including the approach ramp is 308 X 128. For those of you who play in MC edit or whatever the mod is that creates flat featureless worlds to build on... 308 X 128 is fantastically HUGE according to the map generator. I created around 40-45 maps before I found one that had BOTH a spawn by deep water, and anything approaching a flat and dry spot that size. But, I'm a stubborn you know what, so I stuck it out till I found one.
Here is a map screenshot:
As you can see, the back two corners are hanging over a river and a sea that will have to be filled in at some point.
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STEP 4: Clear the land
It just so happens that the entire footprint was covered in trees that will all have to be cut down. Here are a before and after shot of clearing the first third of the foot print taken from a 128 block tall pillar:
In order to clear that many trees I had to build little woodcutter's huts spread around the forest, so I wouldnt have to keep running 200+ blocks back to the bass every night:
There are four of them scattered around in the pillar pic above but they are hard to see. Look for the 20 block tall dirt pillars that I built right next to each hut so that I could find it in the trees.
Yeah, some may say that cutting down ~800 trees so far and another 2000+ to go seems like grinding, but I will probably use at least that much wood in a project this size anyway. Besides, the trees are NOTHING... its the earth moving that is going to get grindy
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STEP 5: Get stoned.
Although Neuschwanstein Castle is mostly white (wool), the gatehouse foundations are block and the gatehouse towers and the two courtyards are grey stone. I will be building the gatehouse first (and then moving all storage / workshops etc into it). The towers alone will require about 1700 blocks of smooth stone each... so its time to start the mining ops:
This is the diagonal drop shaft that goes from ground level all the way to lvl 17 (will mine down there from 17 down to 1). From the shaft alone, I have been able to generate enough cobble and make enough stone blocks to build the gatehouse foundations.
Remember all those trees? They will go to good use fueling the brick/block ovens:
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STEP 6: Get food.
The first thing I built in my mine was a massive wheat farm. Hold on to your butts... it is planted with 16 rows each 64 blocks long:
I have been cutting all the tall grass in my tree clearing efforts, and I still only have 2/3s of the seeds I need to plant the 1024 block wheat patch, LOL.
So the world is built..., plans are drafted, clearing, cutting, mining, planting are all well underway. Still havent started the sheep operations yet, but I cant wait to get started building.... so lets lay this thing out.
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STEP 7: Foundations
After many many many runs back and forth all over the general building stie to verify elevations and distances. I did some fancy pencil and paper math and determined where the gatehouse will be built, and then where the center point will be.
After another dozen trips around the footprint area, I selected the height:
Soooooooooo Let the building begin.
Here is a screen shot with the basic foundations laid to elevation for the two towers and the front wall of the gatehouse.
And a shot of the completed gatehouse foundations including the basement floor for the space underneath the main entry arch. This basement room will become my main operations center for the first third of the project; the gatehouse, the guards tower (see big square to upper right) the courtyards and the bailey wall for the never built inner keep:
And a shot from ground level of the front of the gatehouse foundations taken from what will be the second to last phase, the future approach ramp.
Tonight I will be building the towers, putting floors on the ground floor rooms of teh gatehouse, and moving operations into the gatehouse basements!..... finally.
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The last two weeks of Dec are ALWAYS tough in my professional life, so it is good to be back in the computer chair with a few days of vacation to play.
As always, your comments, both critical and suggestive, will be MOST WELCOMED
Peace
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I hope you guys can give some suggestions on how to fix this non-connection problem,
-Thanks, Trashcat
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Age: 13
Ever been banned, if so why? Not at all, not ever.
Experience with Minecraft? Lots
Experience with Minecraft Servers? Lots
What race would you like to be(need two race options)? 1) Murk if that's a option when this is accepted otherwise Elf or Werewolf
Extra info, want to tell me anything about you? I'm very mature for my age, I would be a good addition to any faction, because I'm loyal and very active on the server if I'm having fun.
Are you willing to change you skin to match your race? Sure, I'm always looking for new skins anyway
Oh also, ~@~ @~@. Hope I'm accepted! Looks like a lot of fun! :smile.gif:
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Also, one more story I was running back from my mine, after collecting a nice load of diamond, about 9 diamond, if I remember correctly, and I at the time was in a habit of just hitting the blocks as I ran by them, not meaning to break them I would just hold down the left mouse button as I ran, then I must have stop for just a moment or I must have lagged because I broke a block, and to my luck there was a fine little lava pool right under where I broke the block, I didn't have enough time to react I was screwed, there went my 9 diamonds, a large amount of iron tools and ore, about 2 stacks of coal, and a stack of redstone, now after I mine some diamonds I run right back to my house and put them in my chest. :biggrin.gif:
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