Schloss Linderhof 1:90 & 68% J.F. Schreiber [FERTIG]

Model: Linderhof Castle
Publisher: J.F. Schreiber
Scale: 1:90 and 32% Reduction
Number of Sheets: 7
Size: at 1:90: 36 x 31 x 22 cm high
Size at 68%: 21 x 25 x 15 cm high

Linderhoff Palace is located in Germany, near Oberammergau in southwest Bavaria near Ettal Abbey. This model will be a companion model to Neuschwanstein Castle. Both castles were built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Linderhof was the only castle Ludwig saw completed.

Note: low resolution image released under GFDL free license.

Thanks Mike,
Blue and yellow are common instructional colours to the French kits, but this is the first time I've come across the colour yellow on a German kit - an indicator of 1mm card reinforcement.

Good Morning Ricardo,

You have me seriously thinking about reducing the size of Linderhof. I agree with you totally. It would be much prettier at a scale more in keeping with its plain, linework graphics.

Of course, this means losing the advantages of the offset printing and the permanence of the inks, but the thought of a smaller model is winning me over.

One must also consider that this model will probably be displayed with Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle. Size does matter. Can you imagine Linderhof at 1:90 dwarfing Neuschwanstein at 1:250? I think that argument clinches it.

John

Thank you gentlemen for the input on the scale of this model.

I have decided to try a reduction. I am not concerned at all about achieving an exact scale, but rather a pleasing smaller size that still lets the statuary details be seen. This meant playing around quite a bit with percentage reductions. The end result was a photocopy reduction setting of 68%.

There is an issue with the size of the original parts and the size of the glass platen on the photocopier. The original parts were cut at strategic spots (i.e. an inside bevelled corner) to allow proper copying.

This will make for careful alignment work when copied parts are put back together.

Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained...

Here we go...

The skirting around three sides of the castle has been assembled. At this point it is quite easy to make comparisons between the original parts at 1:90 and the 32% reduction.

The artwork on this model is very well done. Here we see the' Atlas' like strongmen shouldering the weight of what will be a balcony above. The two inner sculptured corbels protrude further than the outer two in order to support the curve of the balcony.

Notice that the men are individually drawn. You will see that three men are carrying the weight directly on thier shoulders, but one has his hand on his waist. One of the fellows lying on the cutting mat (the one almost hidden under the porch) has both hands gripping the lintel above. All their waists are girdled differently.

Good attention to detail here.

Hi Herbert,

Thanks. I think the smaller palace will have much more charm in the smaller scale. It will fit on the server in the dining room! You may recall Old Stuttgart Castle and the water mill residing there.

Now we come up to the six load bearing pillars that mount on plinths. Their bases are built up with disks made out of doubled paper. Rather than try to cut them with a knife, the printed disks will be discarded and new ones punched.

The pillars are supplied with optional bandings. I do not know why anyone would choose to not use them.

Thank you Dalibor.

The perimeter walls of the palace have been closed. The fit of parts on this reduced model has been excellent so far.

I am very pleased that I chose to reduce the size of this model. I was thinking of making the original size as well as a parallel project for comparison, but when I closed the walls of the larger original, I immediately wanted to discontinue building it.

Ricardo, I agree with you. Krantor Danzig would probably fall into the same category as Linderhof at full scale.

Hello Mike and Herbert,
It looks as though we think alike as we have independently reduced our models and chosen almost the same percentage reduction. I guess great minds think alike.

Mike, most are aware of the Micromodels on this Forum. Bruno just completed a very nicely enhanced version of Old London Bridge.

Here is Linderhof starting to come together. When the first cornice plate went on, everything firmed up.

The left and right sides of Linderhof are symmetrical. Each side has a bay that incorporates two columns mounted on extended plinths flanked by two balconies.

The second cornice sets the stage for a very interesting roof.

The roof has many curved parts. The model is now becoming interesting.

I must admit that I have always has some measure of difficulty in creating clean lap joints at the edges of curving roof members. Invariably, one tends to overlap the other more than it should- especially with a sharp curve. Generally, one can get away with these small discrepancies, but when a light shines on the roof at an angle, the shadow cast by the offending member is noticed.

I think I tend to rush the join a bit in an effort to create a smooth, uninterrupted curve. My theory is that if you go one little tab at a time and wait for it to dry before moving on to the next one, a segmented curve is created.

This is a small point, but I guess the name of the game is to always strive for perfection with the next segment...

Time out for a little intervention. Linderhof is sinking.

This photo shows the sag. This is quite understandable considering that there is no central reinforcement in the castle. I think the stresses concentrated around the perimeter of the walls are allowing the roof decks to sink to the unsupported centre of the structure.

The top roof deck (cornice plate) must be flat before the rest of the roof is put in place. I plan to install a 1/4" roof plate of MDF from below. A drastic measure, but necessary.

The purists who refrain from using nothing but paper in their models will shudder, but hey, MDF is made from wood fibres ... which come from trees ... from which comes paper!

Just kidding, we all use what we use to build to the best of our abilities and have fun in the process.

A rather unorthodox, but successful correction to Schloss Linderhof.

The main reason why I chose to build this model was because of the design of the roof. It affords a good challenge and adds so much to the personality of the castle. The curves are quite appealing when you see the whole roof in total.

Thanks Hagen, and congratulations on the completion of your beautiful turbine ship, The Windhuk.

The back half of the roof is on. Quite a colour shift between it and the roofs in the four quadrants. We'll knock that one up to different rates of copper oxidation.

The colour variations on the roof make more sense now that the front gable roof has been added.

The roof sections are on.

I dearly miss the durability and the workability of the professional printing press inks. I try very hard to avoid glue smears, but invariably they happen. With an original model, quick action with a bit of moisture and a tissue cleans things up immediately. The inks are resistant to water and will take a little wear and tear as the offending smear is removed. The paper can actually be polished up a bit to return the sheen of the ink.

Everyone knows what happens when water hits the absorbent ink jet papers. Yes, I probably should spray everything with 'Preserve It' before cutting any parts, so I guess I should not protest too much.

Nevertheless...

Good observations Fred. I use Lee Valley's glue syringe with the #!8 gauge green tip.

One other point I neglected to mention when I was lamenting about the woes of working with ink jet paper; edge colouring. No problems with a Taj Mahal, but it's very difficult to colour a fold line ( i.e. dark green) without having some paint spread. I've found that the watercolour ink pens are much more accurate. You can fold the paper over double and run the firm end of the nylon tip smoothly along the top edge of the fold. However, because of the porous ink jet paper, colours intensify in the fold.

My hat goes off to people who enjoy the wide range of models available through such sites as Canon. There really are some great downloadable models out there. Maybe some bright entrepreneur will buy printing rights to some of them and create plates for offset press printing.

John

Humble comments from skillful hands, gentlemen. You all posses levels of competence that make many drool.

Yu, I recall how much your wife enjoyed your first architectural build. You would enjoy the size and artistry of J.F. Schreiber's little water mill. Small and charming. You would build it in a flash.

Michael, I am intrigued by the dining room table...a lift?

Cheers All...John

Thank you for the link Papercaptain.

Ten very interesting photos. That's a lot of engineering for a table! A dumb waiter on a grand scale. It reminds me of my laundry chute invention. My chute slide is powered with a gear box and a 12 volt car door window motor. I assume Ludwig's table is manually operated with winch and cable. Interesting.

These engineering novelties were common among the rich and famous. At Montecello, Thomas Jefferson had a set of French Doors set up with wheels and cables attached to them under the floor. When you pushed one door back into the wall, the other one automatically responded and retracted into its wall.

Back to Linderhoff...

The chimneys are quite distinctive at Schloss Linderhoff. Each one is topped with a corbelled, copper topped device. The white plastered/whitewashed brick sets them off nicely against the dark green of the roof.

If you look closely, you will see that the castle is sitting on a piece of plain, white paper. This will give you some idea of the scale of the model. It sits comfortably on a piece of US letter paper.

My glasses may be a better indicator of scale...

Some closer views of work to date...