Hello from Boston, Massachusetts

[Zeev]

Hi!

I'm Benjamin from/in Boston, Massachusetts. Loved LEGO's as a kid, getting back into them now.

When I was younger, in the 1990s, I was mostly in Pirate sets, with the Black Sea Barracuda being an all time favorite. Though I also had a more than a fair share of the other sets. After looking around the internet for LEGO ships, it seems that this may be the place to be to learn about building and modding.

Non-LEGO interests include tea, ceramics, history, computers, and games (mostly of the table top or board verity).

[dr_spock]

Welcome aboard, Benjamin. Good time to come back as LEGO is releasing new pirate sets next year. There are some good resources and tutorials on building ships in the Pirate forum. Check out the Pirates Master Index. Doesn't Boston (or was it Charles Town?) have the USS Constitution in the harbour? It might be a good ship to build.

[Zeev]

The USS Constitution is in Boston, that reminds me that I wanted to see it again. I saw it as a kid, but have not been back as an adult. Though I did see the HMS Victory and HMS Warrior not too long ago. A frigate would be an attractive build, but I do not know how up to something that size I am. I think for my first serious LEGO ship MOC I will stick to more traditional LEGO style than realistic style, though I am thinking of a Red and Black color scheme.

I have seen some of the resources. I have been playing with gun and mounting designs for ships in LDD and with the few bricks I had, but I managed to go pick up all my childhood bricks yesterday, there must be nearly 50 lb of bricks, but all unsorted. I must have spent 5 to 8 hours just separating useful bits and red/black bricks from the filled tubs.

[Slegengr]

Welcome to Eurobricks, Zeev!

I also love the BSB and am interested in seeing your MODs or other ship MOCs! Used parts tubs can be excellent sources for building up a supply of loose pieces for MOCing.

[ShaydDeGrai]

Welcome Zeev,

You'll find we have some wonderful LEGO shipwrights here and most people here are more than willing to share tips and advice. Being in Boston also gives you a handy selection of real-life inspiration to draw from; as has been mentioned the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" lives over at the Charlestown Navy Yard. She's the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat and is an excellent example of a square-rigged heavy frigate. She saw organized combat action in the War of 1812 and is a veteran pirate hunter.

On a smaller scale, Boston also hosts a century old reproduction of the mercantile brig Beaver (one of the three ships raided during the Boston Tea Party). The Beaver is moored in the Fort Point Channel near the Children's Museum and is also open to the public (with admission to the Tea Party Museum).

In the summer months, a pair of schooners, the Liberty Clipper and the Liberty Star sail from Central Wharf (near the New England Aquarium) as part of Boston's array of tourist trap activities. Over on Fan Pier, a red sailed historic schooner named Roseway makes frequent port and also offers fundraising cruises to support the World Ocean School.

If you're like most city dwellers (Boston, New York, where ever) with wonderful touristy things in your own back yard, you probably haven't done any of them since that school field trip in 6th grade, but if your shopping for inspiration, its hard to beat actually getting on a real ship, seeing, not just how she looks, but how she feels and functions. There's nothing like a sail on an historic tall ship to get the creative juices flowing (just not in December, it's way too cold out there right now )

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Welcome aboard!

[Balbo]

Welcome to eurobricks, Zeev

[Zeev]

It would be interesting to see just how cramped the old frigate is. The 1st rate HMS Victory was pretty tight and that was a huge ship in its day (HMS Victory is much roomier).

I'll have to check out the Tea Party Museum's ships, I do not think I ever have been there. I have seen them in the harbor but didn't know anything about them.

As for what I come up with, I have been working on a number of things both with brick and in LDD. Mostly feasibility, scale, and aesthetic studies. So far it looks like my planned build is going to be a galleon.

Thanks everyone. This is turning out to be a pretty friendly place.