Expanding the range of pirate headgear

[Legeaux]

Ahoy,

I posted this on LUGNET, but thought I should share it here as well.

I'm a fan of 7075, Captain Redbeard's ship, and have found uses for most of the odd pieces therein. I finally decided to do something with the figures....

It's quite a task to seperate the hats from the heads (and a dangerous one - I had to wash my blood off the hats afterward... those craft knives are sharp!). But I think worthwhile.

[Mister Phes]

How did you manage to seperate the hats from those awful maxi-figures?

[Berry Syedow]

Mmm, glad to see someone expanding the pirate wardrobe, and finding a use for those awful maxis, simultaneously (beside cannon fodder, ha!). I was hoping they would be genuine customs, but these are equally good! Can't say I'm partial to either.

[Legeaux]

How did you manage to seperate the hats from those awful maxi-figures?

I broke the figures apart at the hips (twisted the legs sideways) - this also seperates the head from the torso, then clamped the head in a vice and hacksawed the head in half. Easy so far.

Then, carefully (more or less) with a craft knife, I cut and prised the remnants of the head away from the hat. I put a few scratches on the hats in the process.

The maxifigs are very securely assembled - the heads secured to the hips inside the torso, and the heads are open topped with the headgear secured inside and out to the heads.

It took me about ten minutes work with the knife for each hat, though I think I could do better or quicker (or possibly both) now. I only had one minor cut in the process.

The rag hats will probably be a little more difficult, being smaller, and I think more delicate, but I intend to have a go at them on the weekend and will report back.

[Mister Phes]

Might the hats be slightly big for mini-figure pirates? Although if they were going for the Barbossa look...

[Legeaux]

Might the hats be slightly big for mini-figure pirates? Although if they were going for the Barbossa look...

Possibly, but it gets very sunny on the quarterdeck in the Carribean, no?

Actually, my bigger concern is the 'chimneys' that these hats seem to have!

[Mister Phes]

The bit where the bat or parrot is supposed to perch? Would adding a plume minimize its appearance?

[Captain Roger]

about your "MOC" only 3 words:

walk the plank

[El Bucanero]

about your "MOC" only 3 words:

walk the plank

What bothers you Captain Roger??? Tell us what you don't like about it and let your anger go free!! *pirate*

[Evil Willy]

Hmm now I may sound drunk, but what are these maxifigures I here of, nice hats though :D

[El Bucanero]

This is a maxifig Willy, that rum is too strong for you *pirate*

[Sir Dillon]

Lol. That looks rather funny, but in a good way... The only thing I don't really like is the stud part on the corners of the hats (I they're for connecting plumes) is there anyway to remove those?

[SkaForHire]

Lol. That looks rather funny, but in a good way... The only thing I don't really like is the stud part on the corners of the hats (I they're for connecting plumes) is there anyway to remove those?

I think the captain hat makes a good 19th century admiral hat, have you seen how aweful those things are? lol.

good work, but i don't think i am as skilled with a knife, did you have to glue them onto the minifigs?

[ghoulrealm]

The fact that the hats were not removable was as big a gripe as the figure design alone.

I wanted to remove the hats from day one, but believe it or not, I wanted the figures intact! Maybe my little brother could play with them. The hats are a bit big, but still reasonably in scale for my taste. Looks like I'll be cuttin' up figs tonight. No big loss for me or my brother. He's 6, and If I recall even he said he didn't care for em.

[Captain Roger]

about your "MOC" only 3 words:

walk the plank

What bothers you Captain Roger??? Tell us what you don't like about it and let your anger go free!! *pirate*

ok. Well, one one hand i hate the figures of Lego +4...they are terrible, the +4 pirates is probably one of the world toys i have seen and i thought that photo is a sacrilege.

On the other hand seeing the Captain fig with that hats as a MOC...I found it a stupid thing which should't be considered as a MOC...is only a stupid joke with no sense, i think a MOC should be a building, a ship, even a custom minifig...but not that.

[Legeaux]

Lol. That looks rather funny, but in a good way... The only thing I don't really like is the stud part on the corners of the hats (I they're for connecting plumes) is there anyway to remove those?

I think the captain hat makes a good 19th century admiral hat, have you seen how aweful those things are? lol.

good work, but i don't think i am as skilled with a knife, did you have to glue them onto the minifigs?

No, but I did use a bit of blutac. The hats stay on the figs, if you don't move the figs.

If I find the blutac unsatisfactory, rather than gluing the hats on, I'd be tempted to carve a bit more of the inside of the hat away, and glue a 1x1 round (or possibly part of a 1x1 round) inside.

[SuvieD]

I like the overly large hat sizes and I will now be tempted to hack at all of my numerous 4+ pirates.

It's nice to see that you found us here Mr. Dulin.

Perhaps you could post a a little montage to help builders get aquainted with your LEGO works up until now. Or as Phes recommends spread them out a little and make a post about your MOCs one a week or so.

Have a veteran ship builder and all around pirate theme guru will help this be an even better forum.

See you around.

[Legeaux]

Well, I said I was going to try the rag hats. So here they are:

They are hard work. My fingers are sore (not because I cut them, just from gripping and cutting). About half an hour a hat. The big hats are much nicer to work with, because they're easier to hold.

Oh, if you want the more dramatic version of getting the hats for the minifigs, here it is ;):

Oh, and thanks for the warm welcome everyone. I've got a few things inb the slipway to post about soon.

[SkaForHire]

Oh, if you want the more dramatic version of getting the hats for the minifigs, here it is ;):

LMAO. That is great. The green hat looks really good! i don't want to say you wasted your time with the blue one, but it didn't seem that different from what we have available. but then again i would probably have to see it in person to be a better judge... however i have not become daring enough to start ripping things apart right now LOL.

These hats are all pretty cool though. I am glad you did it and showed us!