It's been a while and I have actually completed the build, I just didn't get around to posting about it until now.
Because of this, I have lost track of bags, but here is how the last part of the build went:
Boomkins added, as well as anchors.
The headworks and figurehead is built as a seperate piece and added. A nice little subassembly.
Ready for the quarterdeck and the base of the mizzenmast is added.
The lower part of the mizzenmast and the mizzen shrouds. These are soft rubber pieces.
Lower part of the main mast, made from barrels and round plates.
A similar construction for the foremast
Look at that lovely stove!
Lower shrouds are up.
Bowsprit added! And the lower stays and yards with folded sails.
Here you see the quarterdeck with wheel, barnacle and a poultry pen!
And here are some shots of the finished model:
It is a stunning model as LEGO models go, and a very respectable ship model with the constraints of the medium in mind. It is by far the most realistic LEGO ship ever produced as a kit.
There are after market cloth sails available, but I don't think I will get those as it will not be a play set (see below).
Very much an advanced and mostly enjoyable build. There are are few difficult spots where things don't go together so easily, and I made a few small mistakes that needed correcting later when I noticed and that was quite difficult to do!
I have one complaint: while most of the structure is very sturdy, despite the advanced and unorthodox techniques employed in this set, there is one area of the ship that is extremely flimsy: the very lower part of the bow. The rounded lower pieces are very precariously attached with just a few studs and they are under a bit of strain as well from the weird angles. I had one come off just as I had finished the model and it was a massive pain to add back in! It is not possible to take apart the section to get access so I had to lie on my back with the bow of the edge of the table and work like a car mechanic 😅. And it was very, very difficult.
This little issue is actually a great pity. While it will not really be a problem for me, as I will just leave the model on the shelf, it means it doesn't actually work as a play set. My kids will not be allowed to add it to their LEGO pirates games, even if it would be really fun to play with. It would break immediately and having fixed it once, I don't want to do that again!
As an exhibition model, it still gets the highest recommendation and as a technical LEGO challenge as well.
Thanks for following along with me on this different kind of build!
BR
TJM
By
TJM ·
