This is a PM I received today,

 

Hello Ralph,

Saw your post reply this morning. I tracked you down because of the harsh words you posted on COTW.  It seems you prefer to continue that way mentioning "banned" in bold.

Still, I am curious if you are really building a castle now, planning to, or just a computer genius.  It is hard to tell from here. Would appreciate a kind private answer.

Roger

 

What I have stated in the topics is the truth, how you interpret it is up to you.

 

Harsh words in COTW?... No! Not on this topic.

My openion... yes!  

As you also read Merlin gave you his.

 

You went to COTW, which has a long history of problems, to discuss folly castles which is the longest running problem topic of them all.

In many of the forums you will find locked topics, or even deleted ones, some by the writers and some done by the mods, even some done by COTW's owner Ted.

I and the other mod's there try to ward off any trouble that might come up.

Thats not saying you were going to cause any, just that the topic has in the past, many times leading to others being banned

 

I hope this sheds  enough  light on any misunderstandings you may have had.

 

My being a computer genius of any sort can't be further from  the truth.

Duncan

Hey folks!  Wow, have I been busy - still am.  Im about half way through all the stuff I need to hack through before things can return to "normal" ... if there is such a thing.

   Wanted to give the good news that the embers under the pot of my castle building project have been blown into brightness once again as I have joined forces with a Chef who is quite enthusiastic about taking on the tavern and entire food end of the deal.  We were up till 2am discussing all the possibilities and details... :biggrin2:

 So mentally, I have been able to better envision the whole and thats a good thing as now the goal line is more deliniated.

 

  Some time ago Ralph told me that I could expect my plans to change and transform as time goes on and/or while mid the project.  This is quite true.  I started out thinking that I would do the minimum in order to achieve a  "castle effect" then it moved towards realism and today it continues to creep more and more towards authenticity. :D

 

Ive got upgraded plans.  More later.  Mainly Im thinking bigger and broader with more authenticity involved in it.

 

Happy belated holidays to all.

Talk to you again soon.

 

Scott drinks moat*#@er

Glad to hear that things are going well, as to the normal, not around here, the only normal we have is the abnormal.

 

Where the heck did you find a chef that would do that?   :beerchug:

Next question, who bought the rounds and paid the bar bill?  

 

So mentally, I have been able to better envision the whole and thats a good thing as now the goal line is more deliniated.

Thats a very good thing.   :thumbs-up:  You as a builder have to be able to invision the project, the intire project as well as the indeviual sections.   :eek:

 

I started out thinking that I would do the minimum in order to achieve a  "castle effect" then it moved towards realism and today it continues to creep more and more towards authenticity.

The love of castles is what does that,    it's some then strange that comes over us and makes us do things we would never have dreamt possible or feasible, was I talking about Love or castles??

Any way,  :sigh:  yeah I don't even know.

When you get ready to post those updated plans we have a new Picture Gallery that would be good for this sort of thing.

Put them in both places and have a photo album.

 

Looking forward to seeing them.   :laughlong:

I've had scanner problems and was only able to put up in my album a few which I translated from my blueprints.

The Gallery is still under going some skin changes but is usable now as it is.

We also have a on site chat room if you ever want to get into a real time question and answer kind of talk, or to just BS, I'd be interested.

Just let me know when, how ever you can get in touch with me, shouldn't be hard around here LOL  :spin:

Nice to be back in touch.

The chef is an old friend of mine.  I spent a litle time telling him about the idea and he pretty much jived wll with it and so we continued to talk it over and it just happenend to turn out well that he run the tavern and food issues and all of that.  Ive seen his work nad if you remember how I am about professionalism,  I was more than satisfied with the products he produced (made killer thanksgiving stufing too  :eyebrow: )

 

Might be a while before I get fully back on the horse here.  But heck, Ill accept the welcome.... adn while Im at it... just to make it feel like home... :beerchug: ...ahhhh.  thanks.

 

Check this out:  The chef and I went up on mountain tops and to the top of skycrapers as a practical exerceise to figure out how much land was really needed - then we went home and figured out that whereas I used to think Id need 30-40 acres, really the figure is 60 and it could be as large as 80 acres; that would be the largest, though.

 

Currently, we have a real estate agent researching prices of lots of land in its intended construction site.

Cant wait to see the price tag... :shocked:    Im going to have to find a way to knock down the price that isnt illegal...

more later when I know.

 

Scott drinks moat*#@er.

 

 

  "... if you build it... they will come"

News resulting from research:  the "faux stone" idea apparently is a little more common than I thought.

 Cleave and I went out last night examining buildings and their architecture to get ideas and look at the way the things were put together.  There wwere two buildings we were looking at wich we discovered were made from cement-cast stone veneer.  One was a church, tthe other the academy of arts building.  Both appeared to be constructed hewn rock pieces - until upon close inspection we noticed it was too perfect - and then we spotted the patterns.  The academy of arts building had me fooled prior to this inspection.  I had always thoughtt it was made of local bluestone.  It was harder tto detect because the blocks were made from several different molds, thus obscuring the faact thatt they werent real.  

  They must have used a metal or stiff plastic box (I think it was metal) wich had fold-down sides enabling the block to be removed without destroying the block.  These were similar to mine though the detail wasnt there as finely - they were more coarse, larger and thicker.

  Cleave and I saat and chewed on it for a bit talking pro's and con's about their use and I once again am stuck between using ashlar or these.  

 Ive come to somewhat of a conclusion that I would be satisfied in using these manufactured tiles if they were overall convincing enough to pass scrutiny by the untrained eye.

 Im not the master mason, but I do have years in the field dealing with different building materiels and , from a distance, these had me fooled twice.  I had even gone to the building and looked at its exterior as a new journeyman painter 7 years prior and hadn't spotted it.

 So for what its worth, Im fairly sure that by making slightly different colored batches, ensuring that there are sufficient different size molds to give a range of different shapes and sizes and by faux-staining water runoff stains etc, the effect could be pulled off very satisfactorily.  Still have some research to do on the ashlar side, though.

 

Scott drinks moat*#@er

The commercial stuff has alot of air pockets to keep it lighter in weight and they also use chemicals to reduce the amount of cementitious material which helps keep the cost down for them. Most manufactures used to or still do use auto clave's to bake the finish and to dry the blocks.

 

I make several types of light, thin, and very strong roofing tiles that resemble slate and so far have tested out to withstand over the equivalency of 50 years of natural weathering.

and yes the mix is patented.

What follows is a jumble of thoughts that got lost in several topics somewhere when every thing was going on, I'll place them now for your perusal,

 

 

Speaking of a moat, it's all most certain you will need a pump and filtration system unless the thing is going to be as deep as mine.

One of the thoughts of having a pumping system is to turn that action back onto it self and provide electrical power.

Now I will tell you that I have spoke to many of those who say it wont be economical and it will use more electrical then it will produce but I differ with them on this if the system is set up right and certain formulas are used.

 

It took us a while to get used to the thought of having strangers in our home as guests too but the income would be steady to off set the cost of finishing the other rooms.

 

I've been trying to get info on a machine I've heard of lately that will smooth a flag stone floor. It's not a buffer or sander but more a kin to a grinder similar to a floor polisher with four wheels. I hope the operator rides the thing instead of tries to guide it, scary thought!!

 

If either of you want to talk about a cheap way of making roofing tiles or even simulated floor flag stones I'm willing to share my formula and give what tips I can.

Yeah.  Im intrested in the roof tiles materiel discussion.  

I already know that the options are 1)slate or  2) something that looks close enough to it that it will pass inspection.  I prefer the lighterweigth stuff as long as it can be durable etc.

 I also want to  look into manufacturing the stones as I have seen enough of the end result that all I think I need to do now is do the math on  the economics and see what kind of price spread were talking about.  then Ill compare that to the other data and make a decision.  

 Im having some personell problems in my company right now so i have had to "downshift" and take control and push the jobs along personally again.     sometimes the lack of responsibility of  others makes me want to gnaw the rug.

Any way, im sure things will work out in the end.

Looking forward to some recipies or whatnot.  talk again soon.

Scott drinks moat*#@er

Yeah.  I'm interested in the roof tiles materiel discussion.  

I already know that the options are 1)slate or  2) something that looks close enough to it that it will pass inspection.  I prefer the lighterweigth stuff as long as it can be durable etc.

 

Sand stone flags will work also. You can get them pretty thin straight from the ground in many areas of the country.

 

There is always thatching using wheat straw specially grown for that use. I can tell you where to go for classes or I've read some where that back east are several company's that do that work.

 

 

sometimes the lack of responsibility of  others makes me want to gnaw the rug.  

Any way, I'm sure things will work out in the end.

 

Oh that problem.....you might try a temp service for hiring personnel. You can go through as many as necessary until a good one who's hungry comes alone. Often times this works best because you don't pay the taxes and comp.

 

If we need extra help we have several places we can call and others I wouldn't touch, period.

I've had my fill of workers showing up intoxicated or under the influence.

 

Yes things get better, right after they got worse.    

Keep in there and the circle will turn for you.

Thanks for the input.  I have taken this advice well.  

 

The roofing materiel, wether slate, sandstone or synthetic is up in the air for me until such time as I discover what the properties are of each (mainly wich lasts the longest and is most durable) thatch is something i have thought about and then said to myself "..uhhhh....-nah.) Just because of flamibility and whatnot - doesnt it start to smell and/or collect mildew?  I can, however see its place if the castle is to take a warmer tone or have more wooden structures (forgot the names of those overhanging buildings that crop out from curtain walls - but whatever- you know whwat i mean, huh?)

 Nonetheless, I have logged this data mentally and will call on you if and when I deam that it is appropriate.

 

Once again I wish to express my honest thanks for the assistance you have provided for me and the quickness of your responces.  I have decided that there should be some good turn that "magically" returns to you shortly.

 

Scott drinks moat*#@er    :)