SleeplessNight Posted April 6, 2021 Ahoy! The Barracuda has set sail and Redbeard is threatening the shipping routes once again! So the Bluecoats had to up their game to protect Imperial trade. For the start they have hastily restored the tower on the Sabre Island. What do You think about their effort? I designed this MOC as a tribute to my second Pirates set, that I think I got in 1990 and loved like hell. But I also wanted it to closely match the style of the new Barracuda. I also didn't want to use too many fancy and exotic elemens but efficiently use the stuff that most of us already have in our inventories. It's not too big with 1443 elements (excluding minifigs). The build is rather sturdy (maybe except for the furniture) but it still empoys some techniques and tricks that you might find interesting. I have published the instructions on Rebrickable: https://rebrickable.com/mocs/MOC-71657/SleeplessNight/sabre-island-anno-domini-2021 There are also a few more pictures on flickr: Stay safe and fair winds! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evancelt Posted April 6, 2021 Great build! I saw it on Facebook and loved it there too. So many great details and textures @Mister Phes - I think this build would do better in the Pirate MOCs subforum. You? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caiman0637 Posted April 6, 2021 That's a beautiful build, I love it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JintaiZ Posted April 6, 2021 Amazing! I will be blogging it eventually. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes Posted April 7, 2021 3 hours ago, evancelt said: @Mister Phes - I think this build would do better in the Pirate MOCs subforum. You? Right you are! @Faladrin will get onto that right away! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOD Posted April 7, 2021 A very beautiful and elaborately built tower. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brickander Brickumnus Posted April 7, 2021 Amazing build! The slope in 2 sides of the lower part of the structure is a great idea and implementation! I'm trying to understand the technique. Can you show us some photos of the inside towards the slope side? How did you do it to have slope on the outside and straight wall on the inside? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tezclatipoca Posted April 7, 2021 8 hours ago, Mister Phes said: Right you are! @Faladrin will get onto that right away! Indeed. And Moved to MOC Pirates subforum ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rotbart Posted April 7, 2021 (edited) Beautiful! If I ever get caught, I want to be transferred to this prison cell, please! Edited April 7, 2021 by Rotbart Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elusys Ra Arwal Posted April 7, 2021 Truly wonderful. Congratulations! the colours, the decorations, the sloped walls, the interior details, everything comes together very nicely and balanced. Bravo! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PxChris Posted April 7, 2021 I really love this one! I feel it has a great level of detail and charm without going completely overboard on size, actually making it more like a typical LEGO set. This would be a great Imperial addition to Barracuda Bay. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SleeplessNight Posted April 7, 2021 Thanks Everyone for your comments! I'm very happy that You like it! First of all, sorry for posting in the wrong place, I only found out when it was too late! 17 hours ago, JintaiZ said: Amazing! I will be blogging it eventually. Wow, that would be awesome! 5 hours ago, Brickander Brickumnus said: Amazing build! The slope in 2 sides of the lower part of the structure is a great idea and implementation! I'm trying to understand the technique. Can you show us some photos of the inside towards the slope side? How did you do it to have slope on the outside and straight wall on the inside? This is how it looks inside. It's a WIP image, a few things were changed since then. Anyway, while the sloped walls take some space, I made this space accessible through the arcades. The technique behind it is pretty simple: It holds really well. By adding bricks and plates here and there, you can achieve basically any angle you like. Just remember that the height on both sides must be equal. The whole difficulty is to find the right dimensions to make it fit (almost) seamlessly into the vertical wall above and below. A similar trick was used in a few places in the new Barracuda, notably for the angled ladders on the sides of the hull. I could align it almost perfectly with the dark grey slopes on the corners, but I think it looks more interesting the way it is now. 3 hours ago, Rotbart said: Beautiful! If I ever get caught, I want to be transferred to this prison cell, please! Sorry, it's not the best of ideas, we're keeping there gunpowder, and won't allow in any desperate prisoners. We have enough trouble with drunken guards! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VaneStream Posted April 8, 2021 This is beautiful! I love the parts that make it look a bit run-down: the crumbling brick segments and also at the top the different ways to build the bannister. Very nice! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes Posted April 9, 2021 On 4/7/2021 at 7:27 AM, SleeplessNight said: What do You think about their effort? I think they have done a fantastic job! Their photography is also superb - they've captured the fort right a magnificent angle to take advantage of the sunrise! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SleeplessNight Posted April 9, 2021 27 minutes ago, Mister Phes said: I think they have done a fantastic job! Their photography is also superb - they've captured the fort right a magnificent angle to take advantage of the sunrise! Not so easy to take a photo in poor light, from a wobbly boat, with a 18th century equipment 7 hours ago, JintaiZ said: Check it out! That's great! Thank You! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes Posted April 9, 2021 4 minutes ago, SleeplessNight said: Not so easy to take a photo in poor light, from a wobbly boat, with a 18th century equipment It's quite good photo editing, I must say! How was the background and water actually achieved? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jan kusters Posted April 10, 2021 (edited) Argh! That looks great! Way to good! I am just thinking about buying an old Sabre Island set from Bricklink, and modifying it a little bit (from a 5x5 to a 8x8 tower so I can give it some interior). And than this comes along! I was already in doubt between buying or fully mocking it. This does NOT help! Anyway, this is a fantastic build! Edited April 10, 2021 by jan kusters typo's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SleeplessNight Posted April 11, 2021 21 hours ago, jan kusters said: Argh! That looks great! Way to good! I am just thinking about buying an old Sabre Island set from Bricklink, and modifying it a little bit (from a 5x5 to a 8x8 tower so I can give it some interior). And than this comes along! I was already in doubt between buying or fully mocking it. This does NOT help! Anyway, this is a fantastic build! Thanks! And sorry for making trouble On 4/9/2021 at 11:36 AM, Mister Phes said: It's quite good photo editing, I must say! How was the background and water actually achieved? Very simple - it's a rendering from Bricklink Studio (a.k.a. Stud.io) with transparent background (png), so you can just add your background in any graphic program (Photoshop, Gimp, Corel, ...) - no skills required. This bakground is my photo, which was far bigger that the final image, so I could move it around and place it fittingly and crop everything that didn't exactly match (like the beach that was in the foreground). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes Posted April 11, 2021 1 minute ago, SleeplessNight said: Very simple - it's a rendering from Bricklink Studio (a.k.a. Stud.io) with transparent background (png), so you can just add your background in any graphic program (Photoshop, Gimp, Corel, ...) - no skills required. I disagree, you require skills in the Photo Editing software of which which many people lack. Then you also need an eye for perspective and lighting to ensure to ensure the rendering blends seamlessly with the background and doesn't appear to be "floating" over it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stoertebricker Posted April 16, 2021 Nice tower, I love that it is quite "massive" not as skinny as the most towers around here and especially those in the official sets. The size also bring a spot to the nice window and door decorations. This would fit quite well with the big fortress which has a form of a pentagon (which is also on ideas). Did not find the link in this moment... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SleeplessNight Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) Update: Usually, this small outpost on Sabre Island would not stand a chance against the mighty Barracuda. But, as we know, Redbeard and his drinking buddies forgot to take cannons on board, and so now they have just found themselves in dire straits! This build differs slightly from the design for various reasons, my kids being one of them. On 4/11/2021 at 4:52 PM, Mister Phes said: ...need an eye for perspective and lighting... Well, ok, I have some... background. Unfortunately I don't have proper photo backdrop, so with the pictures above I had to improvise Edited April 19, 2021 by SleeplessNight Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evancelt Posted April 19, 2021 13 minutes ago, SleeplessNight said: Unfortunately I don't have proper photo backdrop, so with the pictures above I had to improvise The background looks great! Nice work. I like the officer ducking out of view of the pirates on the stairs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brickander Brickumnus Posted April 19, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, SleeplessNight said: Update: Usually, this small outpost on Sabre Island would not stand a chance against the mighty Barracuda. But, as we know, Redbeard and his drinking buddies forgot to take cannons on board, and so now they have just found themselves in dire straits! This build differs slightly from the design for various reasons, my kids being one of them. Well, ok, I have some... background. Unfortunately I don't have proper photo backdrop, so with the pictures above I had to improvise Holy crap! This is getting better! Sabre Island 2021 and Barracuda 2020 together! That is so dope! Edited April 19, 2021 by Brickander Brickumnus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TeriXeri Posted April 19, 2021 Great rework of the original for sure. I certainly have good memories of my family's 2x sabre island, used those 16x16 baseplates a lot alongside a 16x32 blue plate from a Castle set to form more sea/islands for the river that comes with the Islanders Enchanted Island. Also were my only Soldiers/bluecoat sets so extra nostalgic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites