Plate Hulls

[Captain Ka-Boom]

Does anyone know how you can make the bow of a ship out of plates instead of bricks. I am planning on constructing a fairly large man o war ( trying not to be like the other tried and failed ones) I have seen plate hulls before but can anyone tell me.

Edited November 14, 2007 by Captain Ka-Boom

[Col. Whipstick]

Does anyone know how you can make the bow of a ship out of plates instead of bricks. I am planning on constructing a fairly large man o war ( trying not to be like the other tried and failed ones) I have seen plate hulls before but can anyone tell me.

I don't have much in the way of ideas but thought it was time someone replied to this. My only thought would be that you'd need a hell of a lot of plates and use the wider ones more to the centre of the hull then as you move outwards use plates of increasingly diminishing width to add curbiture and height - accentuating the hull. The tricky part will be in creating the bow as the stern doesn't really have to narrow considerably. Perhaps if you build the mid-ships section first then use the plates onto that section in a syncronised pattern whereby they tapper and form a point. I know you could do with some illustration but it's near impossible for me to illustrate. First try make a smaller scale model so you can get the building concept nailed down and then use that as your inspiration for the larger model. Frankly you are going to need a hell of a lot of plates to create real subtle curbiture otherwise bricks between the plates will make the ship look clunky and boxy.

[Captain Ka-Boom]

It will pretty much be fully out of plates. Thanks for your advice.

[Mister Phes]

Don't we have a thread on this somewhere?

[Capn Frank]

Don't we have a thread on this somewhere?

There is a very similar thread right here:

Similar Thread

This one was about brick built hulls (pretty much X-D )

P

[Col. Whipstick]

It would have been nice to offer some kind of illustrated explanation here but as I don't have any lego with me it's hard to contruct an example and photograph it.

[Voodoo Hand]

ill make a mid-hull section in MLCAD soon and upload this to my brickshelf account. Make it both for small hull and wide hull, I know already how to since I did so since the ships first came out :p

[Mister Phes]

There is a very similar thread right here:

Similar Thread

This one was about brick built hulls (pretty much X-D )

P

Oh yes. I see. Very well then. Carry on lads...

Dum de dum de dum da da

[Capn Frank]

Personally, i wouldn't recommend using plates for your bow.

The rest of the hull might be alright. :-$

Check out ZCerberus's Leviathan and Phantom.

These are 2 ships that may be the most successful @ using plates for hulls. *y*

For the bow i'd recommend 3x3 wedges, piece # 30505 on BL.

They're exactly the same shape as facets, only they're almost always a lot cheaper, even in tan.

That's what i'm using on the bottom portion of my Constitution and used a lot more on my Dame du Loup.

It's easier to make a lot stronger using bricks than plates, just a thought. X-D

P

Edited November 19, 2007 by phred

[Voodoo Hand]

I finished the ones I used to make, changed it slightly now so it looks better and added the orriginal mid-hull plates aswell (grey parts on pictures). Brickshelf takes forever like usually but ill release a single picture and for the rest you got to wait (including instructions for both small mid hull and wide mid hull!)

Mid Hull folder (Ones Released)

Comparisons

EDIT: Brickshelf folder has been released!

Edited November 19, 2007 by Voodoo Hand

[Captain Green Hair]

There are different techniques making plate hulls i believe...

You can stack them, but it is also possible to use larger plates with hinges on the back.

Wich technique do you mean?

[Voodoo Hand]

there are more ways to make hull parts yeah, but 100% plate based ones won't look pretty bot the official hull parts. Thats why i thought about my solution.

[Captain Green Hair]

there are more ways to make hull parts yeah, but 100% plate based ones won't look pretty bot the official hull parts. Thats why i thought about my solution.

Yes, but how are you planning to make the wider bow and stern based on the prefab hulls?

[Voodoo Hand]

Yes, but how are you planning to make the wider bow and stern based on the prefab hulls?

I never said anything about making a bow or stern part, but it is possible. The 2 mid-hull parts i made fit on the orriginal pre-fab parts that are used on pretty much every ship. My parts can be concidered replacements for the official ones. How ever, I will try to make a bow and a stern to complete it. Could take some time tho.

[Captain Green Hair]

I never said anything about making a bow or stern part, but it is possible. The 2 mid-hull parts i made fit on the orriginal pre-fab parts that are used on pretty much every ship. My parts can be concidered replacements for the official ones. How ever, I will try to make a bow and a stern to complete it. Could take some time tho.

Should be a nice challenge!

[Voodoo Hand]

lol, sure will be, ill go to work tomorrow. kinda late now

[Mister Phes]

Late! Never! You don't sleep.

Sure you may be fatigued and become more liable to fall over board but that's never an excuse for not building a huge ship.

Oh wait... Yes it is...

[Voodoo Hand]

trust me, don't want me around when im that tired ;)

[Mister Phes]

Ok, I'll take your word for it. Surely you've had some sleep by now though.

[Voodoo Hand]

lol, yeah. been busy with the stern aswell. I noticed it's harder then it looks but ill get it eventually ^_^ Adding in the rudder is the hardest part, the rest is fairly easy so far. Bow looks equally difficult becouse of the front end. I have a feeling it might be nearly impossible with the regualr LEGO's to make, doesn't mean that I stop trying tho ;)

[Mister Phes]

You got any progress pictures yet?

[Voodoo Hand]

ill make a progress picture before dinner tomorrow, but im affraid i wont have a lot time comming few weeks. I'm moving around 17 december, so packing things etc. atm. Ill try anywayz tho.