Tumblehome

[cei]

I'm a recent convert to Pirates, although I did own the sets when I was younger (notably a BSB), and have recently picked up the new sets. However, as always I'm not happy with Lego's ships. The sides simply aren't right...

So, I started building my own. However, I've run into the problem of tumblehomes. Without one, Lego ships look too blocky (ie: flat sides), whereas real ships curve outwards and then inwards, as well as bulging towards the middle. However, representing this in Lego is eluding me. There's a few MOCs I've seen where tumblehome has been done really well (such as Captain Greenhair's La Mort Royale), but for the life of me I can't see how it is done - low resolution pictures don't help much either.

So, any tips for tumblehome? I'm building on Lego hulls as I don't have enough brown to build from scratch. My ship is 5 middle sections long...

Also building a huge Imperial fort right now. I may post a WIP ;)

[Lorentzen]

Although I can't help you, I'd still love to see your WIPs of both the ship and your huge Fort

[Fluyt]

Jumper plates or slopes to make the ship slightly wider, then slopes, hinge bricks or hinge plate (+appropriate adition to that piece) to create the tumblehome. Those are the most common ways I think (or best/most logical), there are more techniques to create a tumblehome effect, mostly with SNOT building.

I've never used the tumblehome technique, since I don't have enough appropriate bricks to make it work and I don't build huge ships like "la mort royale" where it is allmost needed to make the ship look good (I build smaller ships, up to 2 midsections and not that high, where the lack of tumblehome effect isn't really a problem).

Edited February 22, 2009 by Fluyt

[Captain Blackmoor]

The tumblehome of the La Formidable:

Is quite simply made.

Hope this might help you creating a nice tumblehome!

[cei]

Pictures? Oh alright then ;)

Stern of the pirate vessel where I've been looking at tumblehome. Mainly thinking about turning it into a single-decker sixth-rate rather than a two decker. This means re-jigging the stern to a lower profile with a lower quarterdeck.

Arr, this be the quarterdeck

The scurvy dogs in position

Here you sort of see how it's built - internal frame holding up the gun deck and the main deck, with the sides simply leaning against.

Now for the Imperial fort. Construction has ground to a halt awaiting a pile of Bricklink orders. The port buildings are from the new set, with an extra addition of my own. There will be more going up once the orders arrive.

This is the main fort from above, showing the courtyard (need more tiles!)

The main tower, used by the Governor and his daughter

And another view of the courtyard!

[Captain Blackmoor]

I must say this looks quite impressive so far! Your ship and fort look awesome. And I see you are planning to tile it all, which makes it very realistic.

I try to tile so much as possible too, man, what would we be without BrickLink?

Keep it up matey!

[cei]

Tiling takes far more tiles than you think! I've got around 200 or so on order at the moment, as well as the parts to finish the port section off. Then it's the rocks/water...

[Captain Blackmoor]

Tiling takes far more tiles than you think! I've got around 200 or so on order at the moment, as well as the parts to finish the port section off. Then it's the rocks/water...

I try to tile so much as possible, the ship is no exception. I have ordered loads of tiles already...

We have to keep this conversation a bit on-topic since this conversation is going a whole different way.

I suddenly realise there is not really a topic about the tiling techniques.

[Captain Zuloo]

I suddenly realise there is not really a topic about the tiling techniques.

Your best bet would probably be the Advanced Building Techniques thread.