8_3 (tower)

Constructing with Anchor Stones is a hobby which can inspire the imagination of a child. This castle tower was built using set 8 and lots of creativity. The construction can be tricky. But when complete, it makes a solid and stable fortification. All this design needs is a dragon and a captive princess.

It's very satisfying when a design is complete. Some designs I work on for a long long time. I'll build something and like what I see, but often, there's something about a design I just don't like. It could be as trivial as uncoordinated block colors, or cracks in a wall. I'll sit and think, and change, and think, and change again and again. Sometimes I'll feel a design will never be complete.

Then it happens. A new adjustment is made and all the blocks seem to fall into place. Very much like a puzzle. It's as if the design was meant to be. It's a nice feeling.

I've been stuck on a new design for a few weeks now. It's an awesome start (at least I think so). Two towers. The one is all red with three peaks and odd angles. The other all yellow, tall and ornate. There's a bridge to connect the two and a pile of bricks to finish the job. But there it sits like an unfinished ruin. Someday, yes someday...

As a diversion, I scaled back my plans to work with a smaller set of stones. As a result, I've been able to complete this set 8 design. The feeling of accomplishment has been sweet. I hope you enjoy this latest creation. It's my attempt to design something majestic on a smaller scale. But perception is relative. Which is why my theme for this model is about imagination.

8_2 (school)

This school house was constructed using set 8. Note the placement of stones and how they overlap.

Careful placement can compensate for irregularities in stone size. Thus creating a more stable structure. George Hardy mentioned this in his monthly e-zine this month.

In this model, I payed special attention to stone placement. I didn't want any cracks in the structure. The end result is not only a stable construction, but a model with visual appeal.

8_4 (church)

Does this model look familiar? It's a redesign of the last model found in book #6.

It's really a set #8 design. Richter books often entice readers with a final model that can be built when the next block set is purchased. It's that teasing which prompted me to create my own designs.

I hope you enjoy building these models as much as I like creating them. I only wish I had more time to play.

In other news, I see the factory is producing new Ankerstein sets. The new Märchenkasten set appears to be marketed towards young children. Well, I suppose all Ankerstein building sets are geared towards children. Some of us just happen to be a little older. I've only seen an image of what these new sets look like. Anyone care to comment?

My first impression was that the block assortment is a bit odd. The block sets also include a few wooden pieces, but I have no idea what these wooden bricks(?) look like. The set includes what appears to be a nursery book of fables. Very cute!

This got me to thinking. If I was to design my own block set given a limited box size, what block assortment would I choose? For added challenge, make the box size be that of a set #4. I've not compiled a complete assortment, but I would have a mix of #1, #3, #4, #5 followed by #15, #17, #19, and #31. I would round out the selection with #110 and #112/113 arches and sufficient #208 and #210 roof tiles. Although I do not use pillars much, I would include four #181 pillars.

My assortment sounds similar to what you get in set #4 and the Heinzelmännchen set, but in those sets, you don't get any #3 or #17 blocks. I always felt that was a missing element in those sets. From what I can see, that issue has been addressed with the Märchenkasten. I not only look at Anchor Stones as building blocks. I like them for their Mathematical properties. One of the things my kids like to do with the blocks is pack them in various ways. Many of their structures consist of building a larger cube from blocks availible. I always found this an interesting project for them. Building cubes from #3 and #17 blocks posed no challenge for them, which made me wonder why these blocks (I call them thirds) were left out of the children's sets.

Another idea would be to creae a large mini set (ala Kleine Gernegross). The block assortment would closely follow that of set #8 but using the smaller scale of a KG set. One could probably get close to the assortment of set #16 in mini scale to fit within a single set #4 box size. Due to the number of blocks, the set might cost upward four times that of a set #4. However assortment wise, you would have something close to eight times the size of set #4. Smaller caliber blocks are harder to build with due to their size, but they're nice in that they take up far less space. It'd be interesting as a special limited edition.

8_5 (fortress)

Here's a fortress constructed using set #8. OK, maybe not a fortress, but it's a fine structure with a view.

The inspiration for this building comes from the plan booklet that accompanies set #12. There are several fine structures found in that book.

The interesting thing about this construction is that it's modular in design.



The structure consists of three symmetric buildings combined to form one asymmetric design. The buildings could be combined in a variety of ways. This is just one possibility. If you don't like the door at the base of the tower, rotate that building a quarter turn towards the passageway.

Here's the plans. Enjoy!

8_1 (barn)

As a child, I had chores to do. Every day after school, I'd put my muck boots on, grab my runner sled and hike to the barn. It was a short trek across the yard and through the woods. I'd cross a small chasm balancing on a one foot wide plank spanning an eight foot wide stream of swiftly flowing water. Believe it or not, I never fell in. Not once!

As I walked along, I'd see the summer garden to the right.  It was a large field of dried vegetables and rotting fruit. Spring was coming, and that would be work for another day. Turning to the left, I'd maneuver beneath the electric barbed wire fence and climb a large, a very large hill on which our barn was perched.

There was an old stone well at the top of the hill, from which we'd gather water to quench the horses. There was no pump on the well. Water was retrieved by straddling the well with a bucket and a string. One would take aim dropping the bucket such that it would hit the water with a deep thud, thus producing a full load. Water was drawn by hand. It was a tiresome job. Sometimes the string would break. At which point, I'd climb down into the well, ten feet or so, and use my foot to fish the bucket out. The challenge was climbing out using only two hands and one foot, while hoisting the bucket with the other foot. It was more difficult in winter when the rocks on the the inside of the well were covered in ice.  Again, I never fell in.  Nor would I want to, the water was fridgid cold.  Even in summer!

After feeding the horses and mucking the stalls, I would begin my journey home. The sled ride down the hill was fast and furious. On a good day, I could make it all the way to the stream. Life was hard, but I look back with fond memories now.

This model is a tribute to my growing up on the farm. I hope you enjoy.

Creating this model was a two step process. The barn was created first and the silo was added second. Here's a few images showing the process. The barn could be built as a stand alone construction, however there's not enough 208B/210B roof tiles to cover the complete structure. That was the motivation behind the silo.

There was no silo attached to our barn, but having one sure makes the construction look more like a barn.

Here's the building plans.