[ENTRY] Caribbean River Soldiers (Mini Set)

[Rogue Redcoat]

As we have seen there have been Starwars battle packs but never true pirate or imperial soldier ones so here we are... I present the Redcoat Battle pack...

Ah, hem there have been some small large changes, due to the very controversial tree and if it was allowed into the contest because it was a battle pack, anyway here are the new images it is now under the small set categories, (somehow I got it down to 50 pieces, not without killing off one of the figures first)

Only the box, but creative critics are welcome to leave comments :)

Edited August 22, 2023 by Rogue Redcoat
New design

[Mazin]

I'm totally buying it, i like it ;) I totally love that the packaging and dark horrorish vibe, but i've always liked a coctail of history and monster-hiding-in-the woods genres ;)

And realy it's hard to be picky about anything in here - You've got a nice set of faces, all interesting pieces, tons of play value, everything seems appealing, tho, if i'd grab a whole bunch of these, then i'd probably have to get rid of most of those spiders, but that's just me, i'm scared of spiders ;)

And i guess some folks will complain about the lack of backpacks for soldiers and that there's no feather for that officer's hat, or that an officer should have a different waste, but i don't mind that, never realy cared about those first two elements, especially feathers which are always falling out or, for worse, tend to get lost. They all look good in here and i wouldn't change a thing.

There's one thing tho that i believes in unnecesary in here, cant what it is, as its kinda hidden and visible only on the first photo, but i guess it;s just some eart that You've let that tree grow from? I don't think that it's needed in there, that tree would be perfectly fine it it was just alone, BUT, it's always an extra element that could be used for building right? 

Weapon choices are fine, if You'd use some sort of camp, fortress background, then a gun rack could be in place, but since they are just on a trip in a forrest i guess it;s not needed, and those benches are quite cool actually. No idea were did they take them from, but do we need to know that? I guess not. Maybe one of them could have an axe to be able to cut trees, but then again, that's not how benches are made, and adding more equipment would make this set a bit crowded ;)

I personaly would like to see an officer with a partisan some day in a Lego set, it would be a small change from the usual obligatory side arms they carry, but then, nothing will replace a good old pistol and sabre duo ;)     

[Mister Phes]

9 hours ago, Rogue Redcoat said:

As we have seen there have been Starwars battle packs but never true pirate or imperial soldier ones so here we are... I present the Redcoat Battle pack...

It certainly does look enticing!

Except for the pine trees...  need more tropical plants instead.

But is there enough design in there to avoid violating this rule?

Quote

Can I submit a minifgure or parts pack?
No. While some of these sets contained less than 50 pieces the emphasis is on building a new design.

 

[Elephant Knight]

Modern battlepacks tend to have some equipment nowadays, so I suggest giving them a cannon of sorts.

EKnight

[Rogue Redcoat]

8 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

Can I submit a minifgure or parts pack?
No. While some of these sets contained less than 50 pieces the emphasis is on building a new design.

Aye, I see, now don't mind me as a go back in the next few days and swap the pictures :)

[Mister Phes]

1 minute ago, Rogue Redcoat said:

Aye, I see, now don't mind me as a go back in the next few days and swap the pictures :)

Let's see what the Creative Critics have to say...

[Mazin]

8 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

It certainly does look enticing!

Except for the pine trees...  need more tropical plants instead.

But is there enough design in there to avoid violating this rule?

 

Maybe they are simply guarding Hudson Bay or other part of northern America incase pirates would try to attack in there? ;)

Then again there's plenty more seas to plunder than just goold old Carribean, pirates worked some colder areas as well, so i guess Lego could extend their universe into those uncharted waters. Then again, maybe Pirates should stay in their classic neighbourhood, but with tendency to add new faction into a succesfull franchise i do believe some of them should end up being placed in different cornerw of Earth, real one, or Lego-themed. But i'm well aware that would take Pirates from their stereotypical environment everyone associate them with.

So should changes be neccessary i say maybe it would be wiser to add some water-friendly elements, rather than change trees. A small army canoe perhaps? One that could carry their gear and supplies on the waterways, along their landroute, just like armies used to do it back then. And if he should add a cannon to make it more appealing, then maybe it could be simply fixed onto that boat. 

Maybe those are canadian reinforcements on their way to Jamaica, since boys from the local garrison can't deal with scourge of the sea, and they need to be replaced with tougher men from the north ;) 

 

 

[Mister Phes]

17 minutes ago, Mazin said:

Then again there's plenty more seas to plunder than just goold old Carribean, pirates worked some colder areas as well, so i guess Lego could extend their universe into those uncharted waters.

While this is true, the contest briefing stated to design a classic-style LEGO Pirate set and those classic sets had a very Caribbean setting... or at least tropical setting.

But it's up to the Creative Critics to decide how much geographic innovation and interpretation should be permitted.

 

[Mazin]

9 minutes ago, Mister Phes said:

While this is true, the contest briefing stated to design a classic-style LEGO Pirate set and those classic sets had a very Caribbean setting... or at least tropical setting.

But it's up to the Creative Critics to decide how much geographic innovation and interpretation should be permitted.

 

That's a fact. Well, maybe we could just pretent their went that far north to get a chrismas tree for a governor? After all, christmas can be celebrated everywhere, even tropics, and it doesn't count as proper christmas if there's no christmas tree... nor christmas presents... and what better present to put under that tree than a Pirate Lego set? ;)

Oh, i got it! I figure it out. Let's turn it into a special chrismas edition battle pack, we'll just give those soldiers an axe or two, to cut that tree, perhaps a colorful chain to decorate it too, and all it still needs is a miniature box of a classic Pirate Lego set under it to make it legit :)

And a roasted turkey over that fire perhaps.  

And then, since Christmas is a time of peace and reconciliation, maybe they could invite a pirate to feast with them? ;) 

And there You have it, best pirate lego set ever, ranked #1 among most seeked christmas gifts in 2023 ;) 

[iragm]

This is a nice little collection; the grunts need rucksacks though!  I like the recreation of modern redcoat uniforms, they look great.

Having two benches is a bit repetitive, I would get rid of one and replace it with something else.  Perhaps supplies?

Now, there's one thing about this that really stands out to me as "out of place", and that's the pine tree.  I know this has been touched on in other comments here, but that just does not fit the classic pirates feel at all.  I know that a lot of ship masts came from New England, and it's quite likely that the crown had some presence there, but by including that tree, you've completely changed the setting of the theme from the Caribbean to a colder climate.  Whether that's North America or the Redcoat's homeland in the old world I'm not sure, but it just doesn't fit.  If you want a one-piece foliage, add a bush, that was at least included in some of the original sets.

On 8/13/2023 at 2:23 AM, Mister Phes said:

But is there enough design in there to avoid violating this rule?

Quote

Can I submit a minifgure or parts pack?
No. While some of these sets contained less than 50 pieces the emphasis is on building a new design. 

I think I can look the other way for this, given that the minifigure torsos are a completely original design.  That's a non-trivial amount of work, and they look great.

[MstrOfPppts]

A dream set come true! Forget the pine tree or the lack of any side builds, we get four soldiers of the same faction in a set for what 15€? Priceless!

But that aside, I do agree that the build is a bit lacking for the rule I didn't even remember was there - I was playing with the idea of remaking the 6251 ...
Though I do find it challenging to make a functional build with only 25 pieces for the soldiers take up the rest.

21 hours ago, iragm said:

I think I can look the other way for this, given that the minifigure torsos are a completely original design.  That's a non-trivial amount of work, and they look great.

I guess I would agree with that, but as it looks like it's just the design from the new eldorado bluecoats on the red torso. Although still someone - presumably the author - had to do them in stud.io, I'd much prefer an original design for the set of this category! Also maybe some new design for the prints on the shakos and an edge line on the tricorne. 

[CollinsAnimationStudio]

I would definitely buy this, were it on shelves as my pirates army consists of few redcoats. The only two changes I would make have already been said so I’ll just add on to them

On 8/13/2023 at 2:23 AM, Mister Phes said:

It certainly does look enticing!

Except for the pine trees...  need more tropical plants instead.

But is there enough design in there to avoid violating this rule?

 

Tropical plant life is definitely needed, as the pirates line had a very tropical setting but it’s hard to include it within the parts limit.

On 8/13/2023 at 10:47 AM, Elephant Knight said:

Modern battlepacks tend to have some equipment nowadays, so I suggest giving them a cannon of sorts.

EKnight

Absolutely agree with giving the pack some sort of heavier artillery, perhaps replacing one of the benches with a simple cannon?

 

Great pack overall! 

[Mister Phes]

7 hours ago, CollinsAnimationStudio said:

Tropical plant life is definitely needed, as the pirates line had a very tropical setting but it’s hard to include it within the parts limit.

Are ye kidding?  It's just a matter of including a palm leaf instead of a pine tree.

 

[CollinsAnimationStudio]

7 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

Are ye kidding?  It's just a matter of including a palm leaf instead of a pine tree.

 

Exactly my thoughts

[Rogue Redcoat]

 

On 8/14/2023 at 3:46 PM, iragm said:

I think I can look the other way for this, given that the minifigure torsos are a completely original design.  That's a non-trivial amount of work, and they look great.

I did not make the torsos in stud.io they must have been added by some other person, which I am grateful for :)

On 8/15/2023 at 12:52 PM, MstrOfPppts said:

But that aside, I do agree that the build is a bit lacking for the rule I didn't even remember was there - I was playing with the idea of remaking the 6251 ...
Though I do find it challenging to make a functional build with only 25 pieces for the soldiers take up the rest.

Hmm, 6251 I was thinking the same thing but I was over the piece count in two seconds hence the no backpacks, anyway, I'm still playing with the idea :)

On 8/18/2023 at 2:45 AM, Mister Phes said:

Are ye kidding?  It's just a matter of including a palm leaf instead of a pine tree.

I get it, the pictures are coming soon yall :)

[durazno33]

I miss these old minifig packs. We get too many star wars ones and not enough good ones for other themes.

One suggestion on the accessories is adding some backpacks. As a kid only a few of my soldiers had backpacks which would be necessary if marching on land.

Additionally, the epaulettes on the soldiers are all the same color. From what I understand epaulettes are used to signify rank so maybe changing the color of the epaulettes on the soldier with the tricornered hat to be yellow or green might add some variety while making the leader stand out a bit more.

[Rogue Redcoat]

@durazno33 some changes have been made the pictures are up now :)

[Mazin]

I see that You did decide to go with a canoe and a river theme :) Cool. Very nice changes with simple but very attractive build. We get a jetty, a palm tree, a canoe, a bunch of soldiers, and even a spider somehow got into that box ;) Wow. I'm starting to think that You've managed to turn this almost-not-allowed set into a almost-a-winner in this category ;)

Oh, and I hope You will keep those originals pics stored somewhere, would be a shame to throw them out, after the weren't bad at all ;) 

[Rogue Redcoat]

16 minutes ago, Mazin said:

You will keep those originals pics stored somewhere

There still on my Flickr, and thanks for your kind words, as for the canoe I figured even though only the islanders used them the redcoats could use it to go where their boats couldn't :)

[durazno33]

3 hours ago, Rogue Redcoat said:

@durazno33 some changes have been made the pictures are up now :)

I like the changes. It's a nice way to have it be a battle pack and sneak in a build element. Though do feel sorry for your loss. He was a great soldier.  May his soul rest in pieces. ;)

[MstrOfPppts]

Nice changes, definitely an improvement from the previous entry! I'm not too sure about the tan grilled 2 plates brick under the palm tree though.

Yet still this is one of the few if not the only mini build containing 3 minifigures. As such I'd say that the focus was on the minifigures and would still expect a unique torso design since it's quite easy to make it look good building digitally. 

[Mister Phes]

On 8/13/2023 at 6:30 AM, Rogue Redcoat said:

Ah, hem there have been some small large changes, due to the very controversial tree and if it was allowed into the contest because it was a battle pack, anyway here are the new images it is now under the small set categories, (somehow I got it down to 50 pieces, not without killing off one of the figures first)

That certainly is an overhaul!

But realistically, a set containing less than 50 pieces would not have 4 minifigures, unless it was a minifig/Battle Pack.

So 3 minfigs is very generous for the size.

[MstrOfPppts]

Also forgot to mention that finally someone uses the green bar thingy to attach the leaves rather than the ugly tan one!

[Yperio_Bricks]

One officer and two soldiers with accessories, a canoe and a palm tree! I'd buy such a set   This is the type of set i would like to see on shelfs. A small army builder with some useful minifigure utensils, weapons, a rowing boat or canoe and some useful parts.

[iragm]

This is a great improvement over the original!  The mini builds are nice, and look great.  The only issue I have here is that I associate a canoe (without an outrigger) with freshwater streams in northern climates, whereas I think of a palm tree as Caribbean.  I'd swap the canoe for a rowboat.  But, I suspect I may be alone in my opinion; it's not a huge deal either way.