Just Saying X+1 (10)

This year for my alleged birthday, i got another castle.  One that i have to use a spell checker to ever spell correctly.  Go figure, i actually spelled it correctly on the first try.  Germany and their compound words...

Introducing newest installment in the Just Saying series

Neuschwanstein Castle (famous as the inspiration for Disney's Cinderella's Castle and various movies including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Great Escape, and Monuments Men).  Unfortunately, King Ludwig II died before the castle could be completed.  Of course, my pictures all cut off the top of the highest tower.

If i were rich and much younger, i would love to have my own castle.  More like a mini castle.  King Ludwig II's scale was too ambitious.  Maybe a mix of multiple styles a little from Neuschwanstein, a little from Himeji, some other castles, and modern conveniences.  A secure outer perimeter, large open courtyards, a living area with a grotto and waterfall, towers/turrets, undercroft, and a great hall/ballroom.

This is the most expensive addition to the LEGO Architecture line to date.  Like the Notre Dame Cathedral last year, this is kind of a "shotgun" model (thin and long).  It is about 18" long by 8.5" wide. This set comes in at 3,455 pieces - that number is inflated by 1x1 window pieces (can see in the first picture if you look at the tower past the red gate) and landscaping elements (trees and bushes).  In fact, i didn't even open the last bag (23) which is basically Autmn tree/bush colors.

There are 3 or so types of printed pieces.  Several of the 1x1 window pieces shown above were a little blurred/smudged.

This build took me 5-6 hours.  There do not seem to be any new construction techniques in this build.  It is an ok build, but i don't think it is worth the price i had to pay for it.

Did i mention that the newer manuals suck (printed on worse quality paper with worse binding)? Instead of the cardboard type of sleeve manuals have been coming in, it now comes in a cheap garbage thin paper thing shown on the right side of pictures 2 and 3. This eco garbage makes packaging so much worse.  The sets used to have real boxes.  At least this set doesn't have "punchouts" but tape on a side you have to cut to open.