Motte & Bailey Castle Model Guide

Building Your Own Motte & Bailey Castle Model

Constructing a Motte & Bailey castle model is a fantastic and engaging project, often undertaken for school history projects. This guide will walk you through the process, from understanding the components to adding the finishing touches. We'll cover the materials needed, detailed construction steps for the motte, bailey, and surrounding walls, and provide tips for painting and detailing to bring your model to life. Whether you're a student or a hobbyist, this guide will help you create an impressive representation of these historical fortifications.

Understanding the Motte & Bailey Castle

Before we delve into the construction, let's briefly understand what a Motte and Bailey castle is. Popular in Britain during the 11th and 12th centuries, these castles typically featured two main parts: the motte, which was a large mound of earth topped with a wooden keep or tower, and the bailey, a fortified courtyard enclosed by a wooden palisade and ditch, usually situated at the base of the motte.

Materials You'll Need

To build your model, you will require a range of materials. These are conveniently available in kit form, but understanding each component is beneficial. Here's a breakdown:

Motte & Bailey Castle Kits

• Full Kit (TG00021): Contains most of the products needed to complete the model, excluding brown and green gloss paints.
• Basic Kit (TG00022): Includes the more specialised items for creating the baseboard and landscaping.

Essential Materials for the Base Board and Landscape

• Motte & Bailey base & building plans (BL00000)
• Foamboard (e.g., Westfoam white 5.0 x 594 x 420mm Pk3 - RF50034W)
• MDF sheet (e.g., 3.0 x 300 x 500 Pk2 - RW11020W)
• Expanded polystyrene foam (e.g., 300 x 300 x 50mm thick - RF10003)
• UHU Glue stick, 40g (AG00051)
• UHU all-purpose glue, tube 20ml (AC00009)
• PVA glue, 170ml (AP00036)
• Fine hair paint brush (FB10008)
• Steel safety Rule (e.g., 304mm long - TR10009)
• Retractable Swann Morton craft knife with blades (e.g., TK10080)

Materials for Path and Moat

• White acrylic paint (FO10701)
• Black acrylic paint (FO10700)
• Green gloss paint (not included in full kit)
• Brown acrylic paint (not included in full kit)

Materials for Grass and Foliage

• Flock adhesive (green) (AG00015)
• Flock grass mix (LG20022)
• Mid green coarse texture (LG30059)
• 9-11mm green deciduous trees, packet of 10 (LT20002M)

Step-by-Step Construction Guide

Making the Motte Mound

1. Prepare the Plans: Glue the three A4 sheets of the plan together using a glue stick as indicated on the plan.
2. Attach Plan to Foamboard: Glue the assembled plan to the foamboard using the glue stick. Ensure enough glue is applied so the plan adheres firmly for cutting, but can be removed later.
3. Cut the Moat Outline: On a cutting mat or thick card, use a craft knife with a new blade to carefully cut through the foamboard around the outside of the moat plan. Safety first: always be mindful of the blade's path and store the knife safely after use.
4. Create the Moat Slope: Cut through the card on the top layer of the foamboard only, following the outline of the outside of the moat. Do not cut through the foam.
5. Form the Bank: Holding the knife at approximately a 45° angle, follow the cut made in the previous step. Cut all the way through the foamboard to create the sloping bank of the moat.
6. Check and Separate: Examine the back of the board to ensure you have cut all the way through. Make any necessary extra cuts. Then, separate the cut pieces.
7. Cut the Motte and Bailey: Repeat the cutting process to cut out the Motte and then the Bailey shapes from the foamboard.
8. Remove Plans: Carefully peel off the paper plans from the foamboard.
9. Attach to Base: Stick the foamboard pieces (Motte and Bailey) to the MDF base using UHU glue as a contact adhesive. Apply UHU to the edges of the foamboard first, then apply to the MDF base. Allow the glue to become touch-dry on both surfaces, then press the foamboard firmly onto the base. This method provides a strong bond. Alternatively, PVA glue can be used, but it requires drying time with weight on top (e.g., books) to ensure a secure bond.
10. Shape the Motte: Glue two plans of the Bailey onto the top and bottom of the expanded polystyrene foam. Roughly cut through the foam, staying close to the plan lines but not aiming for precision at this stage. Make multiple cuts to work your way through the foam.
11. Refine the Motte Cone: Cut around the smaller circle in the centre of the Motte, removing the outer paper but leaving the inner circle. Then, repeat the cutting process, removing small pieces of foam working towards the centre to form the cone shape of the motte.
12. Paper Mache the Motte: Remove the paper from the foam cone and stick the cone to the foamboard base using PVA glue. To create a smooth surface, paint watered-down PVA glue onto the cone and cover it with strips of tissue paper or newspaper until fully covered. Allow this to dry completely, which should take approximately 3 hours.

Colouring Your Model

Once the basic structure is complete, it's time to add colour and detail to make your Motte & Bailey castle model realistic.

1. Mark Paths: Using the plan as a guide, mark out the roads and paths on the model with a pencil.
2. Paint Paths: Paint the marked roads and paths in a light brown-grey colour (a mix of brown and white acrylic paint works well).
3. Paint the Moat: Paint the bottom of the moat with a browny-green colour to represent water. Using a gloss paint here will enhance the watery effect.
4. Paint Grass Areas: Using a matt green acrylic paint, paint the grass areas. Apply to the Motte, then the Bailey, and finally the surrounding area, allowing each section to dry before painting the next.
5. Add Realistic Grass (Optional): For a more realistic look, instead of paint, use 4D modelshop flock adhesive. While the adhesive is still wet, sprinkle on the flock grass mix through a sieve. Allow it to dry for a couple of hours, then gently tap off any excess flock onto some paper before moving to the next section.
6. Detailing Roads: To break up the flat appearance of the road areas and add realism, use a stippling technique with white and brown paint. Dip the end of a stiff, flat-ended brush into the paint, remove excess on a piece of paper until only a small amount of paint remains on the brush. Then, use a gentle stabbing motion to apply the paint across the road areas until they are covered with small dots of colour.

Constructing Walls and Buildings

The final stage involves adding the defensive structures that define the castle.

1. Prepare Walls: Cut out the perimeter wall sections from the plans. Glue them back-to-back using PVA glue for strength.
2. Shape and Attach Walls: Carefully shape the walls to follow the curve of the moat. Cut them to the correct size and glue them in place using PVA glue. Continue this process around the entire model until all walls are attached.
3. Assemble Buildings: Cut out the building components from the plans. Glue them together according to the design and then stick them to the model using PVA glue.
4. Achieve Clean Folds: For crisp folds on paper components, place a ruler along the tab or fold line. Then, use the edge of a knife blade or another ruler to push the paper upwards, creating a neat crease.
5. Add Foliage: Using PVA glue, stick clumps of the mid-green coarse texture onto the grass areas to represent longer foliage or bushes.
6. Colour Fences: To cover any visible white edges on the fences, carefully paint them with a mid-brown paint.
7. Add Trees: For extra detail, stick small trees around the model. Cut them to your desired length and glue them in place with PVA glue, pushing the base of the tree through the card or foamboard base.
8. Paint Model Edges: Finally, paint the outer edges of the model base with a neutral colour, such as grey, for a clean, finished look.

Completed Projects Showcase

Many have successfully created impressive Motte & Bailey castle models. Here are a few examples:

• This model was completed by Kara Payne for her Year 7 school history project.
• Kathryn Somerton completed this model when she was 11 years old.
• Amanda Valenzuela of St Peter's CoE Old Windsor also created a fantastic model.

Frequently Asked Questions

What products are included in the Motte & Bailey castle kit?

The full kit (TG00021) includes most of the products listed, such as the base and building plans, foamboard, MDF sheet, polystyrene foam, various glues (UHU stick, UHU all-purpose, PVA), paint brushes, safety ruler, craft knife, flock adhesive, flock grass mix, mid green coarse texture, and trees. It notably excludes brown acrylic paint and green gloss paint.

What is the difference between a motte and a bailey?

The motte is the large mound of earth, often artificially constructed, which typically supported a wooden keep or tower. The bailey is the enclosed courtyard area, usually at the foot of the motte, protected by a wooden palisade or wall and a ditch. The bailey contained various buildings such as barracks, stables, and workshops.

Building a Motte & Bailey castle model is a rewarding experience that combines history with practical crafting skills. Enjoy the process!

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