Andy D Posted September 20, 2014 Posted September 20, 2014 I just ran across the term SHIP (yeah I know late to the party) which is usually used for ships (ocean and space). But the definition is " Seriously Huge Investment in Parts". It seems to me that anything could be a SHIP. Now my question... Not in size, but in cost... How much is a SHIP? I may be approaching a SHIP for my Halloween build. Thanks, Andy D Quote
Lind Whisperer Posted September 20, 2014 Posted September 20, 2014 The formula for pretty much every A/TFOL who wants to build a SHIP(there are a few exceptions, but assuming you have other expensese in life): How big you want it to be +How many details +How many cool ideas you see others using at the last minute and you want to include them +How you have to completely rebuild it after it turns out that a two stud connection doesn't hold up ten pounds x How expensive the parts are at the moment /How much you realize your wallet can't afford your building a SHIP right at the moment. Quote
Andy D Posted September 20, 2014 Author Posted September 20, 2014 The formula for pretty much every A/TFOL who wants to build a SHIP(there are a few exceptions, but assuming you have other expensese in life): How big you want it to be +How many details +How many cool ideas you see others using at the last minute and you want to include them +How you have to completely rebuild it after it turns out that a two stud connection doesn't hold up ten pounds x How expensive the parts are at the moment /How much you realize your wallet can't afford your building a SHIP right at the moment. Very simple, yet complex formula. One I believe we all go through for every MOC, whether we realize it or not. I don't think I want to admit the cost of my project, I will just say I believe it IS a SHIP worth. Andy D Quote
splatman Posted September 21, 2014 Posted September 21, 2014 The definition of a SHIP is a ship that is at least 100 studs long or wide. Such is called Class 1. Class 2 = 200 studs long/wide, and so on. No word on height. Do not recall where I read this. Probably Lugnet or Classic-Space.com. Quote
Lego Otaku Posted September 21, 2014 Posted September 21, 2014 mega SHIP would be: You have so much parts some tubs storing extra hasn't been opened or even needed for a few years. ---> has like 8 or 9 5-gal tubs that is filled, around 50 pounds each tubs. Some haven't seen sunlight for maybe 4 or 5 years now. Quote
alois Posted September 21, 2014 Posted September 21, 2014 Long OR wide?? I assume every ship that's more than hundred studs wide is a couple of hundred studs long, and otherwise the width is automatically the length. Quote
Lind Whisperer Posted September 21, 2014 Posted September 21, 2014 Long OR wide?? I assume every ship that's more than hundred studs wide is a couple of hundred studs long... Not if it's a Flying Wing. Quote
ShaydDeGrai Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 I just ran across the term SHIP (yeah I know late to the party) which is usually used for ships (ocean and space). But the definition is " Seriously Huge Investment in Parts". It seems to me that anything could be a SHIP. As with most things, I think various parts of the AFOL community interpret this differently. For LEGO Space fans, it specifically refers to vehicles that exceed one hundred studs along its major axis ( length, width, height - do any of those conventions really matter if there's no gravity or other "natural" orientation to tell you which way is up?) In most generic terms, however, I think you're right, a "seriously huge investment in parts" could be anything ( swooshable or not ) and conversely, I've built vehicles over a 100 studs long that really weren't that demanding by part count (my attempt at the Discovery from 2001: A Space Odyssey comes to mind, a meter long ball on a stick with engines - it was probably less than a thousand pieces - not counting technic pins) Any question of what constitutes a "seriously huge investment" must also take into account the economic situation of the builder as well. What I consider "huge" might be someone else's idea of "recommended daily allowance." Money was tight when I was growing up, so my threshold for a huge investment was measured in lawns mowed, driveways shoveled and newspaper routes delivered. Back then, I might spend more than half a year trying to get the money to buy the LEGO to realize an idea I wanted to build. These days, my situation is better so my idea for what is "huge" has really changed. At least with respect to my own MOCs, my definition of "huge" has grown steadily over time. When I was building my Argonath, I thought I'd never finish it and that somewhere along the line I'd lost my frugal scotsman gene because I just kept buying more and more parts to "get it right". With some of the stuff I've done since then, I look back and think, maybe that MOC was more of a gateway drug than an achievement. The biggest thing I've built to date is my Barad Dur MOC and while I don't even know how much money I've sunk into it at this point, I can say it's swallowed 2 Tower of Orthanc kits, 6 Black Gates, 7 K-Boxes of parts, the better part of a year's worth of Bricklink orders and roughly 50 trips to local PaB walls to amass the parts (and I'm not done yet). When you get to the point where you can't even remember how much you've spent and are rounding off the piece count to the nearest 10,000 quantum - THAT'S a seriously huge investment in parts. I didn't set out to spend more on a MOC than I do on my monthly mortgage - it just worked out that way (and I'm fortunate to have an understanding spouse and a good paying job). I think we all (rightly) take pride in our MOCs (otherwise, why would we post them?) but when you reach the point where you feel genuinely uncomfortable admitting exactly how much you actually spent on your "masterpiece" to other AFOLs (even though you're very pleased with the outcome) and you can think of dozens of other, more practical, things you _could have_ spent that money on, you probably have a SHIP on your hands. So how much does a SHIP really cost? I'd say the short answer is: more than you ever thought you'd spend on a MOC when the idea first came to you. Quote
Andy D Posted September 25, 2014 Author Posted September 25, 2014 I think we all (rightly) take pride in our MOCs (otherwise, why would we post them?) but when you reach the point where you feel genuinely uncomfortable admitting exactly how much you actually spent on your "masterpiece" to other AFOLs (even though you're very pleased with the outcome) and you can think of dozens of other, more practical, things you _could have_ spent that money on, you probably have a SHIP on your hands. So how much does a SHIP really cost? I'd say the short answer is: more than you ever thought you'd spend on a MOC when the idea first came to you. @ShaydDeGrai This is how I feel about a SHIP! I really think I am approaching a SHIP with my Halloween build. I'm not sure I really want to admit to myself how much I spent... Much less to anyone else. Andy D Quote
Bob De Quatre Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 I'd say that a SHIP cost always a little more than what is in your wallet, no matter how big is your wallet. Quote
rodiziorobs Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 (edited) ...[when] you can think of dozens of other, more practical, things you _could have_ spent that money on, you probably have a SHIP on your hands. So how much does a SHIP really cost? I'd say the short answer is: more than you ever thought you'd spend on a MOC when the idea first came to you. This is the exact reason I told myself that for my first ever SHIP, I would not allow myself to make any special orders for it. I almost caved, but was able to fight that temptation. Of course, I also did not budget my time accordingly, as it is right now about 75 studs long with zero cabin pressure. In my case, it is not a question of how much a S.eriously H.uge I.nvestment of P.arts costs, but a S.eriously H.uge I.nvestment of T.ime. Edited October 1, 2014 by rodiziorobs Quote
alanyuppie Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Woah i was pondering over this term mere 10 minutes ago while having my instant noodle and ipadding this site. Before i plan to hit google , the link to this thread hovered over my screen on the first page of this subforum. How convienient. I would wanna coin a new term that applies to me but seriously huge investment in time doesn't sound too well acronymed. Edited October 2, 2014 by alanyuppie Quote
dr_spock Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 Probably more than I really should spend. You could get in Seriously Huge In Trouble with your wife. Quote
Andy D Posted October 3, 2014 Author Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) My Halloween build just keeps getting bigger. I think (to me) it was already a SHIP worth of parts and I just ordered a bunch more on BL and I don't think it's going to be enough. I guess I'll know it's enough when I finish. Oh, we'll back to my SHIP! Oh yeah, and I do agree, a SHIP is also a Seriously Huge Investment in Time as well. Andy D Edited October 3, 2014 by Andy D Quote
dr_spock Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 I think a SHIP should also be swooshable. https://www.flickr.com/groups/1614553@N25/pool/ Quote
m0dulo Posted October 7, 2014 Posted October 7, 2014 Probably more than I really should spend. You could get in Seriously Huge In Trouble with your wife. Excellent post! Quote
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