PICTORIAL REVIEW: 6274 Caribbean Clipper

[WesternOutlaw]

Caribbean Clipper 6274 Image Review

Released in 1989, the Caribbean Clipper was my first Pirate set.

It includes 372 pieces, four minifigs, and sold for around $54 in the US.

It was rather fun to build today as I have not put this set together for a few years. The set took me about 45 minutes to build. Here it is displayed on a desk table:

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The most stunning aspect of this ship is its vivid blue-striped sails:

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The front sail has a series of holes every one inch or so for you to inter-weave a black string from the front to the back of the ship:

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I've always liked the front of the ship which has a yellow parrot prominently displayed:

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The ship has two masts, the front being the tallest. The mast in the rear (shorter of the two) has the large 6x4 crossed cannon flag. I've always loved this flag, but shortly after building this set a few times, most of the hooks on all my flags broke (see the bottom hook).

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And the taller, front mast with smaller flag:

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The ship has two cannon windows on each side but includes only two cannons:

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If built like the instructions, inside the ship is a chest with map and yellow goblet - a single cup for a crew of four:

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A wider view of the inside deck of the ship:

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Near the front of the ship next to the front mast is a latch with compartment. I never knew what this was for other than maybe a place to store a small cargo/treasure:

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Same angle, right side of ship:

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Wider view:

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Climbing the front mast, figs can reach the crows nest. It is rather scary as it has no walls/barriers:

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At the rear of the ship is the ship's wheel:

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A larger view of the whole ship so that you can see the rear:

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A closer view:

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Back angle:

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I love the back section with these great windows:

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A bird's eye view of the entire ship:

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And the figs:

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Standing in front of the Clipper:

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Some of the great accessories:

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A closer view of the map:

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I lost the cover of the box several years ago, but here's a shot of the back of the box:

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And the instruction book:

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And the final image:

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I hope you enjoy this review. It's a great set and I would highly recommend buying if you are considering a purchase from Ebay or Lego Pirate collector.

[Scouty]

Nice review TheBrickster! It took me at least 2 and a half hours to build mine. The pieces were so incredibly dusty and dirty, I had to clean them, had to. So, I soaked them in hot soapy water for fourty five minutes to an hour. Then individually brushed every...single...piece till it was clean. That took me another 20-45 minutes. Overall, the washing made the bricks look squecky and shiny clean, but unfortunately, I think they may have expanded or something because the pieces don't stay on very well. Some of them stay, but some aren't so the ship is fragile . Also, my sails got wet and are pretty dirty, but they still look ok. From afar atleast, if your really close they're not so nice. Anyway great review! A 5.....out of 5.

[WesternOutlaw]

Mine's a little dusty as well. Did any of your flags break (the hooks)?

[Scouty]

No, they're shiny and new cause I washed them. But the hooks aren't broken, unfortunately the post connection to the mast is loose and goes everywhere if you move the Clipper around.

[Capn Frank]

for such a small set, it came with 3 blue coats and a governor or admiral

most other imperial sets this small would have had only 1 or 2 blue/red coats

[El Bucanero]

Good review! Your CC is in a good condition compared to mine! Oh, and those holes for the cannons aren't called cannon windows but gun ports. My flags aren't broken but they are schratched. 5 out of 5!

[WesternOutlaw]

those holes for the cannons aren't called cannon windows but gun ports.

I was looking for the correct name but couldn't come up with it even after searching the web. Gun ports.

Your CC is in a good condition compared to mine! My flags aren't broken but they are schratched. 5 out of 5!

Other than a little dust and the flags which have hooks that have snapped off, I would say that it is in mint. Believe it or not, I only put the set together a few times.

[jamtf]

Yeah, great review and great pics. I have an incomplete Clipper in my collection (the only one I have!) that needs rebuilding. I managed to find the sails but mine are not as good as the ones on your ship, brickster. My imperial flags and their clips are OK though.

I always wonder why Lego put less cannons on ships. This is a good example but also look at 6289 red beard runner. I mean, it has 3 cannons! Why 3 and not 4? Besides that, the ship can hold a total of 6. Why did TLC do that? Was it so expensive to add a few more. Does it have anything to do with Lego wanting to sell more loose cannons or more service packs or so, I don't know. Is this supposed to be an attempt to mislead the enemy by leaving the flaps closed and to let them believe that there is a cannon behind each flap while there is not?

Anyway, congrats on a great review.

[Section8]

Great review. I'm still in the hunt for one to compliment my BSB. It always confused me why there were 4 gunports on both the BSB and CC, but only 2 cannons on the CC. I guess with only three sailors (the admiral wouldn't stoop to firing a gun!) there would be no reason to have four. Still an amazing set, way better than the two good guys ships that came after it, partly because of its wider hull.

[Berry Syedow]

Excellent review, Mr. Brickster. Is it the lighting or are those blue bricks faded? They appear to be teal for goodness sake... (Was there a color change?) One of the more striking characteristics of this this set is the fact that only a single "whatchyamacallit" is attached to the mast. TLC seems to be a little stingy with the mini-figs in a set that costs $54. Everything else is good. 4.5/5

So, I soaked them in hot soapy water for fourty five minutes to an hour....

...I think they may have expanded or something because the pieces don't stay on very well. Some of them stay, but some aren't so the ship is fragile.

Isn't the recommended temperature "lukewarm" to prevent this from happening? Hmm, is there way to shrink LEGO bricks? Maybe freezing water?

[El Bucanero]

According to my ....how is it called....Physics? Teacher, something expands if it get's warmer and it will shrink if it gets colder..

Freeze on!!!

[Berry Syedow]

According to my ....how is it called....Physics? Teacher, something expands if it get's warmer and it will shrink if it gets colder..

Freeze on!!!

Wait, not chemistry? This freezing water idea though, is something that very few have posted topics about concerning the great LEGO brick. We need an intrepid investigator willing to take chances and to risk it all in the name of science!

[Scouty]

K, that'll be me. I'll be willingly to use a couple of pieces from my Clipper. I'll try :capn: .

[Capn Kirk 911]

thank you soooooooooooo much I really needed thism cause I'm thinking about buying one! *sweet*

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[WesternOutlaw]

Is it the lighting or are those blue bricks faded? They appear to be teal for goodness sake... (Was there a color change?)

No, the actual is exactly like the 1st image. It's my digital camera or the lighting in the room. It's a much more vivid blue.

[El Bucanero]

Wait, not chemistry? This freezing water idea though, is something that very few have posted topics about concerning the great LEGO brick. We need an intrepid investigator willing to take chances and to risk it all in the name of science!

Chemistry! Or... Sience! Whatever! That's the one I mean thanks!

[Khorne]

Chemistry! Or... Sience! Whatever! That's the one I mean thanks!

I think you meant the Fysica teacher, but I don't know the exact name in English either :-/ . Probably Science teacher like Berry said.

[WesternOutlaw]

Phes: will this message be moved to the Image Review section or stay here?

[Bonaparte]

That's a very nice review!

What I like about this ship are the large hull pieces.

But it looks a bit unfinished. Also the rigging is unrealistic. I voted 4.

[Captain Roger]

i gave it a 3...is good but i don't like the rope of the mast inside the ship...and the sailors look silly....more silly than soldiers

[Capn Kirk 911]

buy the way how much did you bye your carribean clipper for....?

[Scouty]

RESULTS ARE IN!!!!

After leaving the select lego pieces in plain cold water, and cold water with lots of ice in it. Tests show that the lego in the water with ice were better than the lego in the cool plain water. So, there you go. Icy, icy cold water wins :capn: . Cold water works. But I believe icy cold water is best. But please don't be dumping all your legos in there because of me X-D .

[Norrington]

lol mr. scouts! and anyways, great reveiw Brickster! it kinda reminds me how much i want two caribbean clippers...

[oo7]

Thanks for this nice review Polls--I mean Brickster.

I gave this set a four but I would give it a 4.5 if I could. I like the overall look and the minifigs and accesories are great but the interior detailing is lacking.

[WesternOutlaw]

I never do my set reviews as polls, but did so because of all the others in the Set Review section of the Pirate Library (where I had intended to post this but was unable).

In regard to the price, I honestly can not say because it was a gift from a friend at the time. I'm sure it was around $50-$55 USD (from a toy store that I visited). Interesting enough, I was seriously going to buy more pirate-themed sets at the time , but decided my age was past the Lego standard. Now, some 10-15 years later, I would gladly spend double the price for classic pirate sets.

I'm glad the ice water worked. I had a similar issue with my old yellow castle after washing the bricks in just luke warm soap water. I thought it was an issue with the fact that they were still a little damp when I put them back together. They seemed loose as well but I've since destroyed and not used the bricks since.

I would think that rather cold or hot water, the plastic would go back to it's normal size through normal temperature variations. I can't imagine that water fluctuations would cause bricks to expand/contract permanently. Strange.

Thanks for your comments re. this review. It's a great set and I hope those of you looking to buy one can find one in new or like-new condition.