Has anyone updated the Caribbean Clipper's sail masts for the modern era?

[zinnn]

I'm thinking about creating a Caribbean Clipper MOC/MOD, using some new techniques, to match the updated Eldorado Fortress.

I've never owned the original Clipper, nor I own the sails it came with.

 

Question to the owners of those sails - have you tried redoing the masts for those sails, to match the style of the new Barracuda Bay ship? I guess my question is about scaling, and making the sails connect smoothly with the mast.

Edited July 14 by zinnn

[DonQuixote]

Yes, I have the original Caribbean Clipper.  No, I didn't change anything.  The sails are too small just like the Imperial flagship from 2010. That's why  the modern Barracuda is the best Lego sail ship. It has broad sails. Sails can make or break a ship.

 

Edited July 26 by DonQuixote

[SpacePolice89]

Don't mess with perfection

[Mister Phes]

Saw this the other day by Trikbrix...

 

[DonQuixote]

7 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

Saw this the other day by Trikbrix...

 

Looks fantastic 

But the cabin could have a door 

[GeoBrick]

47 minutes ago, DonQuixote said:

But the cabin could have a door 

...and could use a bit more of length...
I don't own the set (unfortunately, for the sails), but that short&open cabin always annoyed me.

[Mister Phes]

22 hours ago, GeoBrick said:

I don't own the set (unfortunately, for the sails), but that short&open cabin always annoyed me.

Someone else will have to further this design even more!

[SBCMayor]

On 7/30/2025 at 4:33 AM, Mister Phes said:

Saw this the other day by Trikbrix...

 

I saw this recently and love it! I have some extra hull pieces and am on the prowl for a nice CC donor set so I can do something similar. It may not end up a bluecoat ship though, I might make it into a pirate ship. 

[Mister Phes]

On 8/2/2025 at 5:26 AM, SBCMayor said:

I saw this recently and love it! I have some extra hull pieces and am on the prowl for a nice CC donor set so I can do something similar. It may not end up a bluecoat ship though, I might make it into a pirate ship. 

You're going to turn the Caribbean Clipper into a pirate ship?

[Mister Phes]

A version of the Caribbean Clipper by Benefactors 2025 based on the Black Seas Barracuda from Barracuda Bay...

[DonQuixote]

6 hours ago, Mister Phes said:

A version of the Caribbean Clipper by Benefactors 2025 based on the Black Seas Barracuda from Barracuda Bay...

Looks very good! The sails look like real cloth sails. Where did he bought them?

[Mister Phes]

6 hours ago, DonQuixote said:

Looks very good! The sails look like real cloth sails. Where did he bought them?

The original post on Piratebricks.net is in French.

After using the ordinary web browser translation feature we discover the builder states:
"The sails are made by a guy I "met" on FB, Towarzysz Klocek - Sails and Fabrics for LEGO sets"

Towarzysz has a Facebook page named Sails and Fabrics for LEGO sets so I assumed he can be reached via that page.

Hmmmm.... this is inspiring to me write an article with a name along of the lines of "Legend of the Ironram" so something to that effect.

[SpacePolice89]

5 hours ago, DonQuixote said:

Looks very good! The sails look like real cloth sails. Where did he bought them?

I have bought sails from an Austrian guy on Ebay. They quality is great but they are a little bit softer than the official ones.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264848766171?itmmeta=01K26K2ZFR11JF50G3GKMJEGZQ&hash=item3daa3774db:g:JasAAOSwpMdfTBSX

[SBCMayor]

On 8/8/2025 at 3:04 AM, Mister Phes said:

You're going to turn the Caribbean Clipper into a pirate ship?

I already have! I call it the Cutthroat Clipper! Basically anything blue I swapped out for red. 

[Mister Phes]

3 minutes ago, SBCMayor said:

I already have! I call it the Cutthroat Clipper! Basically anything blue I swapped out for red. 

The Caribbean Clipper has been commandeered!

Send in the Ironram immediately!

[Marooned Marin]

@SpacePolice89 I'm fairly certain we have the same guy. Just yesterday I received replica sails for the Clipper, Trading post, and POBB (tattered sails version), from @custombrickstim , also known as Tim Begovic who hails from Austria. 

I'm in the process of restoring Imperial Trading post and Clipper back to full glory. Below is the comparison image of original Clipper sails, which are still miraculously alive after some 35 years, and new replica sails. 

Yes, the material is much softer in new replica sails, but this can be easily adjusted with use of some tough hair lacquer (don't buy the cheapest one).

Anyone in need of replica sails, capes or stickers or anything custom for that matter, can contact Tim via email: tim@begovic.co, or via Instagram account: @custombrickstim where you can see some of his skilfully crafted magic. 

[SpacePolice89]

16 minutes ago, Marooned Marin said:

I'm fairly certain we have the same guy. Just yesterday I received replica sails for the Clipper, Trading post, and POBB (tattered sails version), from @custombrickstim , also known as Tim Begovic who hails from Austria. 

Yes, that's him and I have also been very satisfied with his sails. In the picture below is my Black Seas Barracuda with sails from him, the Imperial Flagship and Lagoon Lock Up have original sails.

 

[DonQuixote]

Looks great! 

[Yperio_Bricks]

49 minutes ago, Marooned Marin said:

Below is the comparison image of original Clipper sails, which are still miraculously alive after some 35 years, and new replica sails. 

Actually I like the old sails much more. The blue is not as striking and overall the sails have a nice weathered look!

[SBCMayor]

7 hours ago, SpacePolice89 said:

Yes, that's him and I have also been very satisfied with his sails. In the picture below is my Black Seas Barracuda with sails from him, the Imperial Flagship and Lagoon Lock Up have original sails.

 

I love displays like this!

[SpacePolice89]

10 hours ago, DonQuixote said:

Looks great! 

 

3 hours ago, SBCMayor said:

I love displays like this!

Thanks! I prefer to display the sets as small dioramas because it's much more fun and looks better.

[AViewToALego]

On 8/11/2025 at 10:10 PM, SBCMayor said:

I already have! I call it the Cutthroat Clipper! Basically anything blue I swapped out for red. 

 

I did the exact same thing!

 

My OCD-brain, however, is not very happy with the configuration. Since childhood I always thought Red = Imperials. Black = Pirates. And later, Blue = Frenchmen. The ultimate confusion was getting the Black Seas Barracuda, as I got it very late in my Pirate journey. At first glance I found it wastly inferior to the Skull's Eye Schooner. Later on, I grew to like it more and more, but it took some times to get used to the color coding of the vessel. The Barracuda could easily pass as a trading vessel, making it more realistic. A large skull on the sail is propably not the best way if you want to approach a ship for a plunder. But my brain thought otherwise. So I tested myself and built another Imperial ship from Scratch, using the Red Sails of the Dark Shark. It was not perfect by any means, but when I built it, I realised that sails does not have to be color coded for a specific faction. I put the Barracuda and the new Imperial Redcoat ship next to each other and experienced the familiar feeling of cognitive dissonance again. And to this date, The Barracuda still has its Red Sails on. It's a marvelous vessel!

[SBCMayor]

On 9/4/2025 at 8:04 PM, AViewToALego said:

I did the exact same thing!

 

My OCD-brain, however, is not very happy with the configuration. Since childhood I always thought Red = Imperials. Black = Pirates. And later, Blue = Frenchmen. The ultimate confusion was getting the Black Seas Barracuda, as I got it very late in my Pirate journey. At first glance I found it wastly inferior to the Skull's Eye Schooner. Later on, I grew to like it more and more, but it took some times to get used to the color coding of the vessel. The Barracuda could easily pass as a trading vessel, making it more realistic. A large skull on the sail is propably not the best way if you want to approach a ship for a plunder. But my brain thought otherwise. So I tested myself and built another Imperial ship from Scratch, using the Red Sails of the Dark Shark. It was not perfect by any means, but when I built it, I realised that sails does not have to be color coded for a specific faction. I put the Barracuda and the new Imperial Redcoat ship next to each other and experienced the familiar feeling of cognitive dissonance again. And to this date, The Barracuda still has its Red Sails on. It's a marvelous vessel!

I can sort of relate though it's less to do with the color of the sails and more about overall color scheme for me. On another recent thread I shared a few pics a couple modified Renegade Runners I have in my collection. While I did order custom sails from a very talented vendor on EBAY, one of the other major changes is swapping out the original Renegade Runner's grey, red, and blue for black and yellow to make them consistent with 1989's Caribean Clipper and Black Seas Barracuda. I figure an imperial force like the Imperial Soldiers would have a few smaller escort/patrol ships while a reputable pirate captain such as Captain Redbeard would have a couple small, light, shallow draft sloops in his fleet. But changing the sails wasn't enough for me, I also wanted the ships to appear more consistent with their 1989 counterparts. Obviously this isn't how a purist would do it, but I'm not a purist!

The same rationale can also explain why the background elements in my display are as basic as they are. I've seen some very elaborate displays and tutorials, but I'm actually trying to keep what I'm doing stylistically similar to the sets from 1989-1994.

I do acknowledge from 1989 to 1992/93 the theme took a significant leap forward with its designs. I love the innocent simplicity of the red and blue striped sails. But the Imperial Flagship does look like a more serious (albeit smaller than its bluecoat counterpart) vessel. And I love the way the Skull's Eye Schooner and Renegade Runner combine for consistently styled "fleet" potential. And of course, while tactically unsound, the skull on the sails with the black stripes makes for a more intimidating appearance! 

And I definitely agree, I think the Barracuda is amazing!