h16

A Heinzelmannchen design.

Hints:

h15

A Heinzelmannchen design.

Hints:

h12

Constructing a building with the Heinzelmannchen set is difficult due to the lack of roof tiles. Therefore one must rely on imagination. This Heinzelmannchen design doesn't use any #21R blocks, so this structure can be built with a Gernegross set.



Hints:

h14

This Heinzelmannchen design is my attempt at an apartment building.

h10

Here's a Heinzelmannchen design resembling some kind of temple.

h9

A Heinzelmannchen design. A similar design built with the Gernegross set is seen here.

h7

A Heinzelmannchen design.

h6

A Heinzelmannchen design.

g20

This is one of my favorite Gernegross designs.

g19

Here's a monument made with the Gernegross set. It's construction looks similar to this lighthouse, but there's some minor differences.

Hints:





A larger version of this monument built with the Heinzelmannchen set is seen here.

Hints on navigating this blog

To ease the usage of this blog, I've been labeling each model based on the set it was created with. All Labels are listed in the margin. If you only want to see Heinzelmannchen designs, then select that Label in the margin and only messages containing Heinzelmannchen designs will be displayed.

g7

This bridge was built with the Gernegross set. An almost identical version of this bridge is seen here.

This model may not need hints, but I created them anyway. I'm practicing on how to make level diagrams. What do you think?

Hints:

g11

Here's a lighthouse constructed with the Gernegross set. This model can be built with the Heinzelmannchen set using design h13. An image of this construction can be seen here.

Hints:

g3

This Gernegross house design was the basis for the h17 Heinzelmannchen house design. It's one of my favorite Gernegross designs. I like the simplicity.

g14

Here's an example of a Gernegross design based on the h2 Heinzelmannchen design.

h18

This school building design started out as a port of the Gernegross g5 design. As you can see, a few extra #21R blocks in the Heinzelmannchen set can make a difference.

h22

This church design is similar to the h5 church design. I was experimenting with other ways to make a cross symbol. It's an interesting embossed effect.

h5

Here's a church design (use your imagination) built with the Heinzelmannchen set.

Where are the #4 designs?

Here's a nice image of set #4 from the manufacturer's home page. If you have set #6, you can build all the set #4 models. This holds true for all the Anchor sets. A higher number set can build all the models of the lower numbered sets. This is nice. So why don't I have any #4 models?

The simple answer is I haven't gotten around to it. I was sent a Heinzelmannchen sample set a while back, so I was encouraged to build Heinzelmannchen models. I'm very grateful for the gift...thank you, thank you, thank you! The same with the Gernegross models. I was sent a Gernegross sample set (bonus gift!). I didn't think there was interest in Gernegross models, but I made them anyway.

Most folks start their Anchor Stone collection at set #6 under the impression that nothing useful could be made from a set #4. Based on my experience with the Heinzelmannchen set, I do not think this is true. In hind sight, I wish I started my collection with a #4 + #4a combination. Jumping into a set #6 was more cost effective, but having the extra storage boxes would have been nice for alternative packing plans. I think there's much more potential to set #4 than what book #4 reveals. Someday, I hope to make some #4 models. I've not had requests to make any, so the sense of necessity isn't there. However, if a set #4 was to show up on my door step, I would surely make it a top priority.

g5

Here's a Gernegross construction. I don't think many people own a Kleine Gernegross set. One has to look hard for a retailer that sells it. I've noticed the manufacturer's web site doesn't list it as one of their current products. For anyone who might own one of these sets, I hope you enjoy these extra designs.

h25

Here's a Heinzelmannchen structure that resembles some sort of building. Building house structures with the Heinzelmannchen is difficult due to the limited number of blocks. In particular, there's never enough roof tiles. In general, the Heinzelmannchen and Gernegross sets are better suited for building arch structures or silhouettes. This is an example showing another possibility.


Here's a view of the back side and some hints.

Hints:

Where are the #6, #8, and #10 designs?

I do have several #6 designs and a couple of #8 designs to share, but I've not created building plans for them yet. Unlike the Gernegross and Heinzelmannchen designs, the #6 and beyond require layer plans. It's a continual work in progress. I have shared several of these designs with members of the CVA. Some of them have been published in the form of a PDF document. Many are possibly waiting to be published. In the interim, I started this blog as a means to share the designs with everyone.

I have one sheet PDF documents of the Gernegross and Heinzelmannchen designs. If anyone is interested, leave a comment and I'll see about getting the documents hosted.

The model above was constructed from set #8.

h1

Here's a cross monument. It could also be used as a pedestal for a figurine such as a diecast soldier. I probably should leave a few hints as to how this model is built.

Hints:

g15

Here's another Gernegross design. Although you can not directly see how all the blocks are placed, the arrangement can be deduced given the limited number of blocks in this set. I have not produced formal design plans (or hints) as to how the Gernegross and Heinzelmannchen models are built. I leave it as a brain teaser to the viewer.

g17

Here's a Kliene Gernegross design. Gernegross and Heinzelmannchen designs look very similar. The difference is in the block colors and usage of #21 stones. I generally port designs between the two sets. Sometimes I create the design with a Gernegross set, then make it compatible with the Heinzelmannchen set, and sometimes I go the other way.

Where are the photos?

Photos of Anchor Stone construction look much better than the CAD images, so why do I use CAD images?

To be honest, it's easier for me to create a CAD image of these models than to take a photo. The purpose of this blog is to share the designs with others, and I felt the CAD images do a better job at presentation. As you browse these images, know that the actual construction look's better (at least I think so).

So why do I think CAD images are easier?

All these images are created using a free CAD program called AnkerCAD. It's a great little program. If you care to download it and give it a try, I highly recommend getting it from Burkhard Shultz's web site. He created all the block definitions used in this program and his website contains the latest version. The site is in German, but you can grab English instructions.

h11

And yet another Heinzelmannchen set design.

Yes, there's a common theme going on here. If you Google Anchor Stones or Anchor Blocks, you're bound to find several fascinating images of Anchor Stone constructions. What many don't realize is that some of those constructions are built using several thousand stones. I'd like to show the possibilities using only a few stones. The Heinzelmannchen set is only 42 stones total. That's not much by any block set standard. Normally, one would start collecting Anchor Stones starting with set #6. The initial cost being over $100. The Heinzelmannchen set, however, is a great gift idea when cost is a factor.

h2

Sometimes a construction doesn't resemble a common structure at all. However, they're still fun to create. Here's a monument creation using the Heinzelmannchen set.

h24

Churches and monuments are a common theme with Anchor Stone constructions. Several of my models contain a religious element as well. This is not an expression of my faith or religious belief. I present them as an example of construction possibilities.

h8

Castles are my favorite Anchor Stone constructions, however one needs many blocks to create a substantial structure. This small castle tower was built using the Heinzelmannchen set.

h13

Building towers is one of the more satisfying constructions to make. Every now and then, you make one that actually looks like something. Here's a tower made with the Heinzelmannchen set. I think it looks like a lighthouse.

Hints:

h4/g9

This well is a simple construction. Anchor Stones are often used to make great and complex structures. However, simple constructions can be appreciated as well (bad pun).

h3

This bridge was constructed with the Heinzelmannchen set. There were no #21R stones used in it's construction.

h17

Here's a simple house constructed using the Heinzelmannchen set.

Kleine Gernegross/Heinzelmannchen

In addition to set #10, I've also played with a Kleine Gernegross set and a Heinzelmannchen set. These sets are not expansion sets, meaning they're not used as part of a sequence to build a larger set. However, the blocks are compatible.

The Kliene Gernegross set is a miniature version of the Heinzelmannchen set. Other than scale, the only difference between these two sets is some blocks vary in color. The Heinzelmannchen set also contains four extra #21 stones. These stones were added so the Heinzelmannchen set could be packaged using the wooden box of a set #4. Although these two sets are small, in that they do not contain many blocks, I greatly enjoy their simplicity.

Unlike other Anchor Stone sets, these two sets do not come packaged with an instruction book. They do include a small sample sheet of models that could be created, however only a handful of idea's are given. To show the merit of these simple (and most affordable) sets, I've come up with several constructions that can be built.

I hope you enjoy them.

Welcome

I'm relatively new to the hobby of Anchor Stones. I started my collection in 2007 with a set #6 and have since expanded to set #10 (ie: #6 + #6a + #8a). I've also played with the Kleine Gernegross and Heinzelmannchen sets. Each set came with a small instruction book of several models that could be created. While these models were fun to build, I wish there were more.

I then began building my own creations using inspiration from the supplied books and other resources found on the internet. I've been trying to document my constructions for some time. It's a continual work in progress. This blog is a means for me to share my work with others. Enjoy, and feel free to leave a comment.