76 replies to this topic

[Phred]

Phred and Dukeschunke present:

The Black Seas Barracuda is commonly referred to as the BSB on Eurobricks.  This ship was originally released in 1989 with the Caribbean Clipper as set #6285; these were the first System Pirates ships to be released by Lego.  Then again the BSB was re-released as a legend in 2002 as set #10040.  There are 865 pieces and 8 mini-figs included in this set.  The BSB features a working anchor able to be raised and lowered and a working crane to get the plunder in and out of the ship.  A small rowboat also is included, being towed in the rear.  

Here�s a close up of the gun deck, rowboat and center portion of the ship.  
Never mind the wench beating up the rest of the crew. :-D

Here�s the front and back view of the Black Seas Barracuda.  I was thinking of the movie Master and Commander for the front view. X-D

On the back view, notice the high level of detail and design of the captain�s quarters in the back of the ship.  This pic also shows how the rowboat gets attached on the stern of the BSB.

The interior of the captain�s quarters seems rather plain with only a map on one wall. :-/
Although it is very easily accessible and it�s real easy to place furniture inside once the ship�s built. *y*

For the pic on the left, it�s a close-up of one of two cargo areas. There is a cargo area in front and behind the gun deck.  Also this is a closer view of the reel or �capstan� that raises and lowers the anchor.

For the pic on the right, it�s viewing the two entrances into the captain�s quarters and the stairs that lead to the quarter-deck.

Below are pics of the 8 included mini-figs.

The weapons that came with the BSB include:
8 cutlasses
5 pistols
3 Muskets
4 Cannons*

*According to Imperialshadows, in the first release of the set in the U.S., the BSB came with shooting cannons.  Then shortly afterwards, it came with the non-shooting version.  And finally around 1992 in the U.S., the BSB came with non-shooting cannons with the cross-cannons.
Here is the parts inventory from Peeron for the BSB.
Here's the Brickshelf folder where the review pics are located.(already moderated)

I gave this set a 5 out of 5.  Considering this is the first pirate ship made by Lego, this ship is very well built!  In my childhood, I�ve spent countless hours playing, modifying and rebuilding this ship.  It�s one of my all time favorite Lego sets.  This ship is a definite must have for any serious Lego Pirates collector.  I own two of these sets, although one is not fully complete.

The actual Lego model in this pictorial review is dukeschunke�s.  And finally, thank you Mr. Phes for the photo editing done for the first picture. *y*

Enjoy!
Phred

[dukeschunke]

This is a magnificent ship! *y*  *y* (its technically a cutter) I gave it a 5. It is my second all time favorite of all the pirate sets, and so I bought two of them.
I like the overall look of the vessel. It has great color, excellent cannon arrangements, and is very realistic. One of my favorite aspects of the vessel is that you can change the flags along with the crew and wulla a larger Imperial vessel. *sweet*

Duke

[Paradosis]

My favorite Lego set of all time.  *y*

[Shadows]

An absolute winner! ... She was the set that almost kept me out of my dark ages.

The year was 1989 and I was 'too old for LEGO' but then I saw the new Pirates and picked up both ships, Eldorado Fortress to give the Imperials a base, Forbidden Island so the Pirates could stop somewhere safely and Harbor Sentry because it was a cheap way to get another officer and a cannon. I was in love, but it wasn't enough to stop the inevitable and my dark ages began the next year.

Whatever the case, I'm back and the BSB sails again in my heart (and one day I'll reassemble her when I have space).

Build: 5
Parts Assortment: 5
Minifigs: 5
Enduring Appeal: 5
Shooting Cannons: 5! (ok, so this is a big deal to us US fans).

Only thing I'd correct ... from what I've read, the US lost shooting cannons in 1989, shortly after the early shipments of sets went out. All of my original sets have them, but then they switched to the disabled cannons and eventually the ones without any mechanism at all (and then those crossed ones much later).

And of course, solid stud heads *sweet*

All in all, a highlight of my early LEGO days and destined to be a highlight of my future MOC efforts as I work on my ports and islands.

[simonwillems]

This ship got me back into pirates.

I never had many piratesets: the harbor sentry 6245, the raft 6257 and the 6251 minifig pack along with the 6235 burried treasure.
That was all, until in 2002 the rerelease of this beautiful ship came out. Around the same time I discovered Bricklink and the Caribbean Clipper (in a dusty old German Toystore).
So my piratecollection started growing and growing. I have every ship (but the Crossbone Clipper) and am a piratefan ever since.

5/5 what more can I say...

[Dreamweb]

The best ship in the whole Pirate theme, period. A bit smaller than the Skull's Eye Schooner, but a lot more realistic and prettier!

I really wanted to have one when it was released. I couldn't afford it, so I asked my mother to buy me one for Christmas. But she considered it too expensive for a gift and bought me the Caribbean Clipper, which is also a great set. But I still kept looking at pictures of the ship in catalogues and dreaming of having one :) One day I went to the shop and asked the seller to give me the box so I could examine it. I opened the cover and looked at the parts, I looked at the pictures on the box, and I wanted the ship even more :)

But it wasn't until 2003 when I finally got one - from a friend of mine who wasn't interested in Lego anymore and gave me his for free (the 6285, not the re-release)! My first impression was "It's even bigger than on the pictures!" :)
Some time later, I bought myself two more and now I have 3, but only one of them is assembled, with some minor changes though.

This is one of the best sets Lego has ever made, Pirate or not! I like a lot of things about it - the opening cabin with the sloped back wall, the 4 hatches! - they make this ship so realistic and they're one of the things I miss the most in other big ships. It's also the only ship to feature separate gun deck and upper deck extending from stem to stern.

Of course I gave it a 5/5, I'd give a 6/5 if I could  X-D

[Bonaparte]

First of all, great review!

I voted 5/5 for this phenomenal set. This was the first pirate set I bought when I returned from my dark ages.
During my youth I never had the funds to acquire this set so I was happy to finally get one.
Some months ago, I bought a second BSB on ebay which is still in the box.
My conclusion: This set is one of the best Lego sets ever!

[Mister Phes]

Mister Phred and Duke Schunke you've both done a great job with this review!  I shall frontpage it on Eurobricks and Classic-Pirates.com within the next couple of days.

I'll also write my own personal thoughts on the Black Seas Barracuda at a later date.

[Phred]

imperialshadows, on May 1 2007, 11:58 PM, said:

...
Only thing I'd correct ... from what I've read, the US lost shooting cannons in 1989, shortly after the early shipments of sets went out. All of my original sets have them, but then they switched to the disabled cannons and eventually the ones without any mechanism at all (and then those crossed ones much later).

And of course, solid stud heads *sweet*
...

I had gotten the cannon information from this thread called what sets came with what pieces.  Sounds like we were close to what when what canons were actually available in the US.  I'll try to tweak that part soon.
Also you may want to take a look at thread to see about the solid studded heads too.  You seemed more informed than most of us on such things.
Thanx.

Dreamweb, on May 2 2007, 03:04 AM, said:

...
But it wasn't until 2003 when I finally got one - from a friend of mine who wasn't interested in Lego anymore and gave me his for free (the 6285, not the re-release)! My first impression was "It's even bigger than on the pictures!" :)

That's awesome! *wub*   I got my second mostly complete BSB for free too X-D  *y*
I was really really happy *wub*

bonaparte, on May 2 2007, 06:29 AM, said:

First of all, great review!
...

Mister Phes, on May 2 2007, 08:20 AM, said:

Mister Phred and Duke Schunke you've both done a great job with this review!  I shall frontpage it on Eurobricks and Classic-Pirates.com within the next couple of days.

I'll also write my own personal thoughts on the Black Seas Barracuda at a later date.

Thanx guys.

P

[Maedhros]

I have always found it hard to decide which is the best of this and the Skulls Eyeschooner, but since I own this one and not the other I like it better  *sweet*

I gave it a 5/5 anyway, up until the Caf� Corner came this was the best LEGO set ever.

[jonwil]

I too LOVE the Black Seas Barracuda. When I was a kid, I got the original as a reward for learning to ride my bike. (that set is long gone). Then when the Reissue hit Toys R Us here in australia, I HAD to have it :)
I even managed to trade the 4 non firing "crossed cannons logo" cannons for 4 proper firing cannons. (not a 1:1 trade though IIRC)

One of these days I intend to take the boat bits (including the sails and such) and turn it into the Black Star Barracuda, a new ship for Captain Blackhole, the scurviest pirate ever to fly the spaceways.

[Tomcat]

I gave this set a 5/5, I now it have as the rerelease.  I missed the era of the BSB and the Caribbean Clipper.  But I did luckily recieve the Imperial Flagship and the Imerpial Trading Post for Christmas one year.  But after discovering a catalog with the BSB in it I have always wanted one and now I have it. :'-)

[Holodoc]

The BSB...
...even for a non Pirates fan a fantastic ship.  *wub*
I�m more into Towns and Trains, but this is a set I will never disasemble. It only had to move on top of the shelves because I needed space for the CafeCorner.  :-P
It�s the only pirates set I own and I gave it a 5/5, of course.
Great review, by the way, I did not expect the BSB to be reviewed right now, but you definitely chose the right set.

Errr, why are the crossed cannons called "crossed"? 8-|

[Captain Roger]

I have said in other threads what i think to that ship, i'll repeat once more: is cool, but not as cool as SES. I voted 4

[Athos]

Who gave it a three and why?

5/5 here.

Steve

[Phred]

Holodoc, on May 3 2007, 11:52 AM, said:

...
Errr, why are the crossed cannons called "crossed"? 8-|

Cause there's a small pattern of two cannons crossed on a lot of the american cannons.



I don't know why Lego would have different cannons sent to the U.S. cause i have hardly any shooters and they're my favorite. *y*

Um, err, cannon on? :-$

Athos, on May 3 2007, 08:28 PM, said:

Who gave it a three and why?

5/5 here.

Steve

Don't know steve |-/
That vote was done within the first hour and half of my posting of the review.
Wish that individual would have posted why he gave it a 3.



I figured it was a good time to have a review of the BSB.
There have been a few Black Seas Barracuda inspired MOCs here on Eurobricks in the last couple of months.
For instance:  Admiral Wig's Escort Frigate, Bonaparte's HMS Hotspur, and dukeschunke's HMS Expedition.

P

[Landlubber]

I had to give it a 5 as well......    you all know why.

Another reason is cause that's how many I have (I think) , including this modified 3 master with working lanterns behind the ships wheel, and a MISASWB (mint in sealed and shrink wrapped box) of the original 6285.

[Mister Phes]

Landlubber, on May 4 2007, 07:41 PM, said:

Another reason is cause that's how many I have (I think) , including this modified 3 master with working lanterns behind the ships wheel

It would be interesting to see those latterns close up and exactly how they work.  So maybe you could create a a new thred whith some close-up pictures one day - if you'd like to share that kind of thing.

[Scouty]

5/5. Such a wubbable boat!

Mister Phes, it may be LED lamps, which are small and convieniently fit into a 1x1 cylinder brick. Most likely to be attached to on of those flat batteries. Just what I think it is :capn: .

[Corvus]

Even though this ship has no place in my 'modern' dock, I proudly keep it there anyway.  :) It's just too beautiful- it deserves a place in my fleet. Though I must admit: I made a deck to go over the cannon pit so I could have some room.

[Landlubber]

ImperialScouts, on May 4 2007, 11:28 PM, said:

5/5. Such a wubbable boat!

Mister Phes, it may be LED lamps, which are small and convieniently fit into a 1x1 cylinder brick. Most likely to be attached to on of those flat batteries. Just what I think it is :capn: .

Nope, your thinking way too hard into it.  That ship is 100% lego.

You know the 4 gray hatches that open up on the deck of the BSB? And how there is a bit of empty space under there.  Mine has a 9V light and sound box placed under the hatch so that the switch is easy to get at.



there is then a 9V cable

running up through the cabin to the back of the upper deck with a 9V light assembly

stuck on top with 2 yellow round cylinders over the lights.

I'd get some more closeup pictures but the ship is in storage out at the farm right now. (there isn't enough room in this house to store it all.)

[jamtf]

I give it a 5 as well. It is a great ship. I used to have 3 of this set but recently sold a copy. Keeping 2 of this is enough for me since I decided to gradually downsize my Lego pirate collection. Within a week I sold a 6285 BSB, a 6278 Enchanted Island and a 6262 Kahuka's Throne. Last mentioned sets were sealed copies.

Besides, from the big hull ships I also still own 3x 6286 (1 used), 3x 6289 (1 used) en 2x 6290 (2x MISB).  |-/

[Bonaparte]

Mr. Mandalorian, on May 5 2007, 12:48 AM, said:

Even though this ship has no place in my 'modern' dock, I proudly keep it there anyway.

The HMS Victory (Nelsons ship) is also still in active service in the British navy. Nowadays it is used as a museum.

[Tanotrooper]

I was lucky enough that I discovered lego pirates in 2003. I went to LEGOLAND billund that vacation, and saw this ship (legend version). I prefered it over the black falcon's castle, and I still do now. I also bought 30 brown rowboats, wich I don't have a use for now...

I was surprised how long it took to build this ship... It's a magnificient exemple from the time when LEGO used a whole lot of plates instead of the now chunky blocks of plastic... My version also got the new shooting crossed cannons, I like them more than the shooting ones.

I'm going to break it apart, (well, I'm actually already stealing pieces from it...) for MOCs.

The special thing is... it has 4 places for cannons, and they are all filled up. This is missing in most of the other ships.

Gaetano

TT

[Scouty]

Landlubber, on May 5 2007, 12:07 AM, said:

Nope, your thinking way too hard into it.  That ship is 100% lego.

Well, I'm still partially right. Those lights are LEDs. No, are they lanterns? I dunno. Quite ingenious design!