Building a Motte-and-Bailey Castle: MDF Kit Guide
By Sarissa Precision Ltd – Sarissa Precision Limited | Published: 2026-10-25
Category: How-to Guides
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a laser-cut MDF motte-and-bailey castle kit, with tips on terrain, painting, and avoiding common mistakes.
Quick answer
Assemble your laser-cut MDF motte-and-bailey castle by dry-fitting parts, using PVA glue, and painting in layers for a realistic medieval wargaming terrain piece.
Why choose an MDF castle kit?
Laser-cut MDF kits offer precise, repeatable parts that save hours of scratch-building. The Motte-and-Bailey Castle from Sarissa Precision includes a Norman keep, raised earth palisade sections, and a rampart – everything you need for a stronghold that fits 28mm wargames. The trade-off is that MDF requires careful gluing and sanding to hide layer lines, and the flat-pack assembly can feel repetitive if you rush.
Painting and finishing tips
MDF soaks up primer, so seal the wood with a thin coat of PVA glue or spray primer before painting. Use earthy browns and greys for the palisade, and a stone or timber finish for the keep. Dry-brushing with lighter shades will bring out the laser-etched wood grain. Avoid thick acrylic layers that obscure detail.
Step-by-step assembly guide
- 1. Dry-fit all parts: Lay out every MDF piece and test-fit the keep walls, palisade sections, and rampart without glue. Check that tabs align with slots and that the base sits flat on your gaming table. Forcing a misaligned part can split the MDF. Sand tabs lightly if they are too tight.
- 2. Glue the keep first: Apply PVA glue to the tabs of the Norman keep walls. Press together and hold for 30 seconds. Use masking tape to hold joints while the glue sets. Wipe away excess glue with a damp cloth. Too much glue creates visible beads. A thin, even coat is stronger and cleaner.
- 3. Assemble the palisade sections: Glue the short and medium raised earth palisade pieces to form the outer rampart. The flat base of each section should sit flush against the table. Let the keep dry completely before attaching the palisade. The palisade sections are modular – you can rearrange them to create a different layout for each game.
- 4. Attach the keep to the palisade base: Once the keep and palisade are dry, apply glue to the bottom of the keep and position it on the raised earth mound. Press gently and check alignment from all sides. If the keep wobbles, sand the base of the keep or add a thin shim of card to level it.
- 5. Seal and prime the model: Brush a thin layer of PVA glue mixed with water (1:3 ratio) over all MDF surfaces. Let it dry for 2 hours, then spray with a matte grey or brown primer. This prevents the MDF from absorbing too much paint. Skipping the seal step can cause paint to peel later, especially on edges.
- 6. Paint in layers: Basecoat the keep in a stone colour (e.g., light grey) and the palisade in a wood brown. Dry-brush with a lighter shade to highlight the laser-etched texture. Add static grass or scatter to the base for a finished look. Paint the interior of the keep before gluing the roof on – it is hard to reach afterward.
Kit contents at a glance
- Motte-and-Bailey Castle: Contains 1x Norman Keep (J008), 1x Raised Earth Palisade Short straight (x2) (J053), and 2x Raised Earth Palisade Medium straight (x2) (J054). You get a complete motte-and-bailey layout in one box, with separate palisade sections to create the raised earth rampart and outer ditch described in the kit.
Motte-and-Bailey Castle
