Ship building & Customisation

[Jack Bricker]

You can always stretch out the length and put more guns on the deck. I don't think that outside of spending thousands of dollars you are going to get several brick-built 74s so I would just stick to the hulls made by Lego. If you look around the MOC forum you will see several methods for using the new hulls found the Brick Beards Bound so I would check out those designs. Hope that this helps.

[Captain Blackmoor]

A large 74 gunner does cost money, so I'd say go for the best result. Like Zuloo already said it is possible to build a 74 gun ship on prefab hulls, but to make it minifig scale, or close to, you defenitely need a brickbuilt hull. I'm building a ship with about 54 or 64 guns, close to minifig scale and it is impossible to build it on prefab hulls. Linky.

I hope that helps, and good luck with the build!

[Captain Green Hair]

Oh yes that is definitely possible.

In fact you should hire me to make you one.

[Legokilt]

Thank you all for your responses. You're all probably wondering why I need to make "several 74's". The answer is that myself an a friend who I am helping out of his dark ages have decided to build a fleet, specifically all of the ships commanded by Jack Aubrey in the "Master and Commander series by Richard O' Brian. He and I are both huge fans of O'Brian's work and are both historical re-enactors. It will take a long time (we estimate three years), but it will be worth it. These will be my first ships that are based on Historical ships with more than 6 guns, so it will definitely be a learning experience. We have almost finished a scale MOC of the HMS Sophie and have started the hull on HMS Polychrest. In addition, the HMS Surprise is well on her way (I started her over a year ago), though I hate her current stern. I will be posting WIP photos and completed projects till they all are done.

CGH, thanks for the offer, maybe in the future. However, I will be relying heavily on your "Build a frigate" thread. Thanks for posting it.

[Commodore Hornbricker]

It is totally possible. The Sang Royale is one of the best examples of one that is totally complete. You can see the two 3rd rate 74's I am building (Venurable and Resolution) in my WIP Building a Fleet topic on the Pirate MOC page. I am using Captain Green Hair's model and scaling it up then addressing specific modifications that need to be made as I build them.

[Dread Pirate Wesley]

Master and Commander series by Richard O' Brian.

Uh, you mean Patrick O'Brian? Would love to see WIP pics of the HMS Sophie, I made a wooden model of that ship after reading Master and Commander many years ago and love to see her recreated in any medium. You definately came to the right place to start building! Heres a Link to my first ship the HMS Praetorian that was almost entirely based on HMS Rose (Surprise) in San Diego. Good luck!

Dread Pirate Wesley

[Captain Blackmoor]

The HMS Rose is a very inspirational ship indeed, many members here use it as a reference.

I wish you all the best with your build, and keep us posted about your progress!

[Captain Zuloo]

The HMS Rose is a very inspirational ship indeed,

In honour of her role in the film, she was renamed HMS Surprise after Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was released.

[Dread Pirate Wesley]

In honour of her role in the film, she was renamed HMS Surprise after Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was released.

Indeed sir! Here is an excellent article on the refits needed to change the Rose to Surprise if anyones interested. It is quite detailed but helps with the little details while building!

DPW

[Captain Blackmoor]

I wasn't even aware of her new name! Thanks for pointing out Zuloo, and thanks for that article Dread Pirate Wesley! Very helpful.

[Joey Lock]

Hey, Hey guys! Aren't we forgetting the biggest Prefab ship in the Caribbean? The HMS Unicorn!

It has 144 Guns, Overkill but I don't mind, I want to make sure my enemy has completely gone from reality before I carry on.

It is overhanging the prefab by 4-5 studs, But it remains stable for pick up!

Edited January 29, 2010 by Joey Lock

[Captain Zuloo]

Hey, Hey guys! Aren't we forgetting the biggest Prefab ship in the Caribbean? The HMS Unicorn!

It has 144 Guns, Overkill but I don't mind, I want to make sure my enemy has completely gone from reality before I carry on.

It is overhanging the prefab by 4-5 studs, But it remains stable for pick up!

Yes, but the Unicorn isn't close to historically accurate, she is far too long and narrow. If the objection is to build the ships from the books, they'll need to be historically accurate, and to scale (or at least to minifig illusion scale like Sang Royale).

[Rijkvv]

What is the limit for mid-sections? How many mid-sections can you use to still look the hull right in dimensions?

[Dread Pirate Wesley]

What is the limit for mid-sections? How many mid-sections can you use to still look the hull right in dimensions?

My ship has 8 midsections and maintains a 5 to 1 length to beam ratio, like many frigates of the day. She is a 32 gun frigate but only 24 of those are on the gun deck, so a 74 would presumably have to be longer and accomidate a second gun deck which would require some extra width to look accurate imo. Whether it looks right you may judge for yourself

DPW

[Captain Blackmoor]

The width of the stern six times in the length of the ship, or something close, gets the best result.

[Captain Green Hair]

Widest part of the hull x4 is approx. the length of the ship over the sterns. (Excluding headrails and bowsprit)

[the_green_avenger]

I have seen plenty of great ship mocs out there and thought I might ask this question for all you "experienced" Ship builders.

If you were to point out a few DEFINING attributes of a great ship moc, what would they be?

Edited February 17, 2010 by the_green_avenger

[Admiral Croissant]

I don't know if you consider me an experienced ship builder (ofcourse my ship isn't finished yet) but I think a ship should certainly have these things:

-Capstan

-Helm

-Lifeboat(s) -though not completely neccesary

-Figurehead

-Anchor

-A bell and/or a lantern would also be nice

And masts ofcourse and with all these parts: it also depends on the kind of ship you're building.

[Captain Zuloo]

Well, a hull would be a good start...

In all seriousness, the best quality of a ship MOC IMO, is not physical parts of the ship, it's how much time and effort the builder has put into it. I could see a MOC that looks rubbish, but I'd be impressed by it if it was genuinely the best the builder could do. So I think the best quality defining a good ship MOC is effort.

[the_green_avenger]

Well, a hull would be a good start...

In all seriousness, the best quality of a ship MOC IMO, is not physical parts of the ship, it's how much time and effort the builder has put into it. I could see a MOC that looks rubbish, but I'd be impressed by it if it was genuinely the best the builder could do. So I think the best quality defining a good ship MOC is effort.

A good effort is in fact found in every, great (and some not as great) MOC. Thats a good thing to point out. Its like that quote your couch always tells you before a big game, it doesn't matter weather you win or lose, as long as you try your best.

P.S. I was interested in knowing the physical aspects of a good ship, but thanks for pointing that out anyway.

Edited February 18, 2010 by the_green_avenger

[the_green_avenger]

I don't know if you consider me an experienced ship builder (ofcourse my ship isn't finished yet) but I think a ship should certainly have these things:

-Capstan

-Helm

-Lifeboat(s) -though not completely neccesary

-Figurehead

-Anchor

-A bell and/or a lantern would also be nice

And masts ofcourse and with all these parts: it also depends on the kind of ship you're building.

I'm talking about QUALITIES, not specific Features. And an interior is definately something that adds a lot too a ship's overall quality...

Edited February 18, 2010 by the_green_avenger

[Admiral Croissant]

I have seen plenty of great ship mocs out there and thought I might ask this question for all you "experienced" Ship builders.

If you were to point out a few DEFINING attributes of a great ship moc, what would they be?

You were talking about attributes instead of qualities, or are these the same in English? In dutch, an 'attribuut' is usually an object.

Anyway, with quality I would go with the same answer as Capt. Zuloo.

[Captain Zuloo]

You were talking about attributes instead of qualities, or are these the same in English? In dutch, an 'attribuut' is usually an object.

Anyway, with quality I would go with the same answer as Capt. Zuloo.

Attribute and Quality are some of those words that have multiple meanings in different context. In this context, I would say qualities refer to the effort, and invisible things, where as attributes are more the physical things.

[Captain Blackmoor]

I agree with Captain Zuloo, effort is very important. I also like to see historic accuracy and knowledge of ships.

Realism is a great factor in my opinion to create a great ship, especially the shapes, although they are very hard to do.

Effort is the most important thing though.

[lego fox]

To me the best ships are the ones that demand a second look. Ships that not only is accurate to there name sake or subject matter but also astatically apilling. Although astatics can and are different from person to person an overall harmony to the design and layout is always pleasing. As well as a vessel that is not crowded for its size and may indeed flout if placed in water, all be it if the hall were water tight and complete all the way to Keel.