I accidentally put this in the scratch build forum! Can a mod please move it to the kit sub-forum? Thanks!!
Hello everyone,
This will be a small, slightly alternative, build log of this LEGO set:
I am not sure exactly where to put this build log, but to me, it looks like a late 18th century frigate, but it could have been in one of the other 18th century sub-forums as well!
First a word about Bricklink: Bricklink started out as an online marketplace for second hand LEGO bricks - both full vintage sets, but mostly individual bricks. There is a network of sellers around the world and buyers can create lists and baskets and have the Bricklink algorithm put together the cheapest option of buying the bricks from multiple sellers, factoring in the cost of the bricks, shipping, etc. This is widely used for MoC (My own Creation in LEGO lingo) creators, to obtain the bricks needed instead of purchasing expensive sets to get a specific brick.
Some of these creators are very advanced and a few years ago, Bricklink launched a crowdfunding event where creators could submit designs and users of the platform could vote for them. The 5-6 most popular was put up for s proper crowdfunding session where, if enough people pre-ordered the set, they would be produced.
The key here is that the production of the sets are done in collaboration with LEGO. While the LEGO Group takes no responsibility for the designs, they run the production. So this is proper LEGO, not a knock-off!
They have now done 6-7 series and this lovely frigate design was just released. In the meantime, Bricklink has been acquired by the LEGO Group , so it is now entirely run by LEGO. I purchased it as part of the pre-order crowdfunding event back in February. They almost always sell out so it is not possible to purchase the set anymore, though the list of bricks are available and can in principle be purchased from Bricklink, but not as a complete set like this.
The set itself is quite large at more than 4000 bricks. It is also very advanced from a building perspective. I am a quite capable LEGO builder, having both grown up with it, but lately I have gotten back into it due to my childrens interest and I have, amongst other things build the 7000+ brick, 13 kg Millenium Falcon and in terms of technical complexity, I can already tell that this is the most advanced LEGO set I have tried!
There are no printed instructions, but a pdf is available - this is to keep the cost down, and as the pdf is almost 800 A4 pages, I can understand that decision!
There are 38 bags of bricks plus 5 bags of odd size bricks.
These are images from the first few bags:
Bag 1:
Bag 2:
Bag 3:
Bag 4:
The base is extremely sturdy and mostly made from Technic bricks. It is cross-braced across the the layers in all directions. There is also an advanced, geared mechanism that enables the anchor cables to wind in and out individually with only one input shaft.
This will take quite some time to build as these first few bags took more than an hour!
It promises to be good fun!
BR
TJM
By
TJM ·
