[ENTRY] Caribbean Clipper 2015

[Elephant Knight]

I know I said I wasn't planning any boat builds.... but things changed. When thinking about what I wanted to build, I wanted to do a MOC in the style of every era of Pirates. Classic, 4 Juniors, 2009, and 2015. Most of the ideas for each era came easily to me, but I had to think about what 2015 needed. I realized 2015 had large and small, connectable bases for both the pirates and bluecoats, but the bluecoats were left without a ship to battle the Brick Bounty. So I built them a ship. I went big, like how the 2009 wave had 10210 Imperial Flagship. That is also why I used the name Caribbean Clipper.

Updated!

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

I've done a few changes. Shortened the nose on the hull so it's smaller, and less blue. Continued the gold stripe on the cabin as well as changed the windows from black to white. It's also removeable now with a brig for those unwilling sailors.

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

I didn't change anything on the interior of the cabin, as I felt it perfectly fine. Nor did I change the minifigures, as the current line up fits with the official sets of that year.

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 V.2 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

 

Version 1:

Spoiler

 

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Trying to build in the style of 2015 I actually found harder than any other era, and I don't think I succeeded too well. Not to mention the Brick Bounty is very brown.

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

There's even some play features, with a crane and some treasure chests.

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Had to have a hidden compartment in the cabin, just like the Brick Bounty

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

The deck is quite removable, so one can access the interior.

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Under the cabin at the stern is kinda empty, but I reason it because you can't access it too well. Plus, I just wasn't sure what I wanted to put there.

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

10210 is a beautiful, wonderful set, but it lacks sailors, so I made sure to give this ship some. and they can double as pirates, if you are so inclined.

 

Caribbean Clipper 2015 by Elephant-Knight, on Flickr

Next to the Brick Bounty. I don't like that ship. The sails just aren't positioned in a way that looks good. Same sails as the Black Pearl or Queen Anne's Revenge, but the yardarms aren't built the same, and it just doesn't look as good.

This is likely my last entry, but I do have one more idea up my sleeve. I dunno if I'll get around to it though. It's a small one, so maybe.

EKnight

Edited July 29, 2023 by Elephant Knight

[thewatchman]

This is super super cool! 
I’ll do a proper review on it later but just wanted to give some early insight!

[Yperio_Bricks]

Where can i buy that ship?!  If Lego would produce a ship like this as the next Pirates set, many people would be very happy!

[Horation]

Theme

This is hardly a set that would fit the small and simplistic builds from 2015's wave (that's a plus, BTW). I will however point out that this space is poorly used ; the cabin could use a little more detail and I would make the front and back have removable roofs (see 10210 for inspiration) so that the space underneath can be put to good use. Finally, I dislike the sailors, they look, feel, smell and quack like ducks pirates, I'd keep 'em (as pirates to be fought) but would make the three soldiers wear a tricorn and have no backpacks (like the sailors from the original clipper).

 

Build

The colour scheme is excellent ; blue and white fits the bluecoats really well. I like the details on the outside and the inside but I must again insist on the lack of inside space, which is both bad for play AND display. I would also consider making the golden lining on the cabin go all the way around said cabin.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Horation
it was already complete

[Rogue Redcoat]

This looks great, here are my suggestions, first I think your problem with the 2015 look could be fixed by swapping some of the light blue with the dark blue. Second, although I like how the crew double as pirates I think they should stay pirates and not crew members. I think a nice jail cell to lock the pirates up in for the storage hold in front and back would be a nice touch. And as @Horation said, the cabin needs a bit more gold to "spiff" up the cabin. Overall it's a nice build and I think the only reason Lego did not come out with this set is because they already had a big redcoat ship a few years earlier (but Lego is always looking to make money so Idk). Anyway, Happy building :)

[RichardGoring]

Wonderful build!

[Captain Braunsfeld]

Very playable = excellent 

[iragm]

This is far better than any of the 2015 sets -- once again, you've created something marvelous.

The "pirates" as crewmen don't bother me, as I recall 6271 Flagship included a crewman, as did the Imperial Trading Post.  (Admittedly, neither are 2015 sets, but who cares...)

The main weakness here is that nothing about this feels like the 2015 pirates -- the build has too many details, the admiral's quarters are too well furnished, and it's too cohesive in design overall.  Quite hard to complain about that, though -- as a MOC, it's excellent stuff.

My only real complains about this design are related to the colors:  First, I do feel that there's a bit too much blue in some areas.  It might benefit as @Rogue Redcoat noted, from a switch to dark blue.  Also, there's a lot going on with white + brown + blue + black + gold + tan all so close together.  I wonder if you could reduce the amount of brown on the upper part of the ship, get rid of the tan stripe caused by the deck, and move the gold only to the bow and stern sections.  Just a thought.  The white and blue color scheme is great, again, there's just a bit too many colors used next to each other.

I do wonder if you could put some more play features in the forecastle, it seems like there might be some empty space there.

Very clever use of the airplane window as a hawsehole.  And I'd love to see more pics of the figurehead.

Well done building a full original ship so quickly!

[Elephant Knight]

20 minutes ago, iragm said:

This is far better than any of the 2015 sets -- once again, you've created something marvelous.

The "pirates" as crewmen don't bother me, as I recall 6271 Flagship included a crewman, as did the Imperial Trading Post.  (Admittedly, neither are 2015 sets, but who cares...)

The main weakness here is that nothing about this feels like the 2015 pirates -- the build has too many details, the admiral's quarters are too well furnished, and it's too cohesive in design overall.  Quite hard to complain about that, though -- as a MOC, it's excellent stuff.

My only real complains about this design are related to the colors:  First, I do feel that there's a bit too much blue in some areas.  It might benefit as @Rogue Redcoat noted, from a switch to dark blue.  Also, there's a lot going on with white + brown + blue + black + gold + tan all so close together.  I wonder if you could reduce the amount of brown on the upper part of the ship, get rid of the tan stripe caused by the deck, and move the gold only to the bow and stern sections.  Just a thought.  The white and blue color scheme is great, again, there's just a bit too many colors used next to each other.

I do wonder if you could put some more play features in the forecastle, it seems like there might be some empty space there.

Very clever use of the airplane window as a hawsehole.  And I'd love to see more pics of the figurehead.

Well done building a full original ship so quickly!

2015, having so few sets, and only one ship, didn't have much to go off of. The dark tan stripe is there to stay, unless I change the deck colour entirely. Trying to go for a set aesthetic, even the 10210 di it similar, just much better blended. Definitely too much blue in some areas. I will for sure go and tinker around to try and get a better balance.

7 hours ago, Horation said:

Theme

This is hardly a set that would fit the small and simplistic builds from 2015's wave (that's a plus, BTW). I will however point out that this space is poorly used ; the cabin could use a little more detail and I would make the front and back have removable roofs (see 10210 for inspiration) so that the space underneath can be put to good use. Finally, I dislike the sailors, they look, feel, smell and quack like ducks pirates, I'd keep 'em (as pirates to be fought) but would make the three soldiers wear a tricorn and have no backpacks (like the sailors from the original clipper).

 

Build

The colour scheme is excellent ; blue and white fits the bluecoats really well. I like the details on the outside and the inside but I must again insist on the lack of inside space, which is both bad for play AND display. I would also consider making the golden lining on the cabin go all the way around said cabin.

[To be completed later today]

Hmm, one use thinks cabin is too detailed, one thinks it's not enough. I've always had a hard time filling out cabins, so I think I'll average out and say it's good 

6 hours ago, Rogue Redcoat said:

This looks great, here are my suggestions, first I think your problem with the 2015 look could be fixed by swapping some of the light blue with the dark blue. Second, although I like how the crew double as pirates I think they should stay pirates and not crew members. I think a nice jail cell to lock the pirates up in for the storage hold in front and back would be a nice touch. And as @Horation said, the cabin needs a bit more gold to "spiff" up the cabin. Overall it's a nice build and I think the only reason Lego did not come out with this set is because they already had a big redcoat ship a few years earlier (but Lego is always looking to make money so Idk). Anyway, Happy building :)

Thank you all for your insight. I had a lot of troubles getting a colour scheme to look half decent. My choice for regular blue was to balance the regular red of the Brick Bounty. In regards to the copious amounts of brown in some areas, I felt that the brick bounty was the same, so I tried to emulate that. I do agree that as a whole, the color scheme needs improving.

I will definitely go and try to make the cabin removable and add something there. A prison, for one of the rebellious sailors, perhaps?

Thanks again for all the feedback, this was one MOC I really wanted it.

EKnight

[TheCosmicTravelers]

Great model! Perhaps some of the upper deck rails/woodwork could be made black (or more white)? I am also wondering if replacing the white with yellow would look better.

Regarding the use of “pirate” minifigs as sailors, this is perfectly fine as most pirates wore the same clothing as other common mariners and sailors when at sea (with the possible exception of the captain). A ship during the age of sail would not have been solely crewed by uniformed officers. I second the suggestion to replace the shakos with tricorns as shakos did not become common headgear until the 19th century.

[Elephant Knight]

I went and made a few changes, added a brig below, changed a few colours. Go look at the first post for pictures!

EKnight

[Rogue Redcoat]

18 minutes ago, Elephant Knight said:

I went and made a few changes, added a brig below, changed a few colours. Go look at the first post for pictures!

EKnight

It looks great I love all the updates, I would just change the 1x6 plate in the cabin to the same color as the floor, that's it :)

[Horation]

The cabin exterior looks much better! I like the added touches on the front bow (but it's still too blue to my taste...)

[US_Army_Tom]

Hello, my name is Tom and I am a new member! I've been looking through the entries trying to make helpful yet humble comments. I have no points of improvement for this one! Beautiful build--I've had my Caribbean Clipper since it came out back in the day, and while I love it to death, I always wish it had a more robust gunline, and was always puzzled by the pointless rear mast. I also didn't like how the quarterdeck was inaccessible from the main deck.

Your remake of it may very well be my favorite one so far--the 1990s version of myself would have absolutely treasured this ship! well done.

[durazno33]

This would be a great ship to add to a diaorma display to go up against a pirate armada. Looks good.

My feedback might be a bit more of a personal opinion. The mixed colors of the figure head appear a bit odd. I'd suggestion going with either all blue or all black. All black would stick out from the rest of the blue of the ship and highlight it nicely but all blue would work as well. (Also I suggest no printing on the figure torso)

[Mazin]

Wow, what a monster! And this might be the most historically accurate vessel in the series, because You were the first one to provide a RAT, obligatory passenger no crew during the are of sailing ships could leave the port without ;) 

Might be a bit creppy for others, but i like it. Always an another playable element. Tho, with the size of this craft... i guess no animals are even needed ;) I'm worried if it's not to big for a kids toy tho. I mean, i'm aware that there was even a bigger vessel released but in my humble oppinion toys main goal is to be playable, and all those ships should be able to actually "sail" on carpets, and kids should do that with ease, instead of being forced to stay at anchor most of the time ;) This one might be a bit too heavy. But maybe i'm wrong. And maybe it could be targeted at adult clients.

Another thing i'm not sure if i am a fan of are those removable elements of the ship. A very original idea, i hae to admit, but it might be too original as i do believe kids would prefer to keep all those vessels in one piece... that it unless they would like to dissassemble it and reuse tho parts according to their own will ;) I mean, i do like it if all areas are easily accesible, like openable sides, roofs, hatches etc, but the way Yout did it, it might be a bit too much. Honestly, i wouldn't like to go that far if i would have that ship. Adn then, i wonder if it wouldn't make those elements too loose, wether they would hold togetger. 

Lastly, i'm not sure about Your color choices. It seems to be just too monotonous with all that brown and blue reigning tones. And after all, You did name it Carribeab Clipper, so i'd put a bit more of yellow here and there. It's just that tight now it looks kinda lifeless, it needs more fun, right now it is a great moc and a great model of a ship, i'll give You that, but it still could use a little more magic dust here and there to make it look like a proper Lego toy :)  ... especially that it would have to be an exspensive one ;)

Tho, maybe i'm completely wrong and i'm too focused on enforcing esthetical rules, and kids would love it simply because it would be BIG and too expensive for them to put their hand on it, and kids usually dream about all that stuff they can't get ;)

[omby54]

Que dire de plus sinon que ce bateau est superbe !!!

Que ce soit d'un point de vue global ou dans le détail, tout y est. Les proportions sont bien respectées, la jouabilité est là également avec les différentes parties "détachables".

Félicitations !

[Elephant Knight]

8 hours ago, Mazin said:

Wow, what a monster! And this might be the most historically accurate vessel in the series, because You were the first one to provide a RAT, obligatory passenger no crew during the are of sailing ships could leave the port without ;) 

Might be a bit creppy for others, but i like it. Always an another playable element. Tho, with the size of this craft... i guess no animals are even needed ;) I'm worried if it's not to big for a kids toy tho. I mean, i'm aware that there was even a bigger vessel released but in my humble oppinion toys main goal is to be playable, and all those ships should be able to actually "sail" on carpets, and kids should do that with ease, instead of being forced to stay at anchor most of the time ;) This one might be a bit too heavy. But maybe i'm wrong. And maybe it could be targeted at adult clients.

Another thing i'm not sure if i am a fan of are those removable elements of the ship. A very original idea, i hae to admit, but it might be too original as i do believe kids would prefer to keep all those vessels in one piece... that it unless they would like to dissassemble it and reuse tho parts according to their own will ;) I mean, i do like it if all areas are easily accesible, like openable sides, roofs, hatches etc, but the way Yout did it, it might be a bit too much. Honestly, i wouldn't like to go that far if i would have that ship. Adn then, i wonder if it wouldn't make those elements too loose, wether they would hold togetger. 

Lastly, i'm not sure about Your color choices. It seems to be just too monotonous with all that brown and blue reigning tones. And after all, You did name it Carribeab Clipper, so i'd put a bit more of yellow here and there. It's just that tight now it looks kinda lifeless, it needs more fun, right now it is a great moc and a great model of a ship, i'll give You that, but it still could use a little more magic dust here and there to make it look like a proper Lego toy :)  ... especially that it would have to be an exspensive one ;)

Tho, maybe i'm completely wrong and i'm too focused on enforcing esthetical rules, and kids would love it simply because it would be BIG and too expensive for them to put their hand on it, and kids usually dream about all that stuff they can't get ;)

In regards to playability, and 'sailing' it, it's actually quite light, compared to most my ships, easily comparable to all the official sets of it's size. having removeable sections seems to me to be a very important play feature. I know as I kid, I loved doing stuff inside of the sets, so being able to access the inside is important. Obviously some sets can still have accessibility without having to remove large sections, but some do, like 10210 Imperial Flagship, though that set is as much for an adult display as it is a toy, I guess.

Colour choices, yeah, i'm not completely sold on it either, but I was trying to match the 2015 Pirate way. The ship from that wave had a lot of brown, too much in my opinion. I tried to tone it down a bit, but not too much. I still wanted it to fit the line. 

10 hours ago, durazno33 said:

This would be a great ship to add to a diaorma display to go up against a pirate armada. Looks good.

My feedback might be a bit more of a personal opinion. The mixed colors of the figure head appear a bit odd. I'd suggestion going with either all blue or all black. All black would stick out from the rest of the blue of the ship and highlight it nicely but all blue would work as well. (Also I suggest no printing on the figure torso)

I would have preferred to go all blue as well, but my blue options were limited. I used what I had available, and I totally agree it's not the best. I had a couple variations, and this was the most cohesive one I came up with.

 

And just a reminder to everyone, this is NOT a remake of the original Caribbean Clipper. It is a 2015 style ship. I used the same name because in 2009, Lego reused the name Imperial Flagship for the, well, flagship set. Other than the name, it bore no resemblance to the 6271 Imperial Flagship of the early 90s.

EKnight

[Mazin]

8 hours ago, Elephant Knight said:

In regards to playability, and 'sailing' it, it's actually quite light, compared to most my ships, easily comparable to all the official sets of it's size. having removeable sections seems to me to be a very important play feature. I know as I kid, I loved doing stuff inside of the sets, so being able to access the inside is important. Obviously some sets can still have accessibility without having to remove large sections, but some do, like 10210 Imperial Flagship, though that set is as much for an adult display as it is a toy, I guess.

Colour choices, yeah, i'm not completely sold on it either, but I was trying to match the 2015 Pirate way. The ship from that wave had a lot of brown, too much in my opinion. I tried to tone it down a bit, but not too much. I still wanted it to fit the line. 

I would have preferred to go all blue as well, but my blue options were limited. I used what I had available, and I totally agree it's not the best. I had a couple variations, and this was the most cohesive one I came up with.

 

And just a reminder to everyone, this is NOT a remake of the original Caribbean Clipper. It is a 2015 style ship. I used the same name because in 2009, Lego reused the name Imperial Flagship for the, well, flagship set. Other than the name, it bore no resemblance to the 6271 Imperial Flagship of the early 90s.

EKnight

As i said, and i said it many other entries, accesibility is one of the most important thing with Lego sets to me :) But i'd do it by using more open spaces ( if possible ) more openable walls, openable sides, openable roofs etc. Removable parts seem to work better in all those builds with rocks or houses, than a ship. But i guess i'd have to buy to try it to be sure ;)