I was looking around on Amazon for model castles and the like. I found a bunch by a Spanish company called "Aedes Ars" (Latin for Building Art). They make a ton of really beautiful medieval buildings for a more or less reasonable price:
Above is one kit with 2 models for about $70, nice looking and approximately game appropriate scale (a little smaller).
Then I looked at the "approximate number of pieces" which clocked in at like 3400!!!!!
Wait, what?
It turns out that you get cardboard pieces that assemble to the shape of the building, then glue on tiny ceramic pieces, shaped almost to fit (you have to sand some of them) that mimic the look of the stone. Apparently, from checking around, they give you just enough pieces, so don't drop any (but they're apparently cool about sending extras).
Even dedicated scale modelers say "these take a long time".
Maybe when I retire I'll get one to build, probably take the rest of my life.
