[MOD] 30 Years (Imperial) Trading Fleet: New Merchant Ships!

[Legostein]

Hello everybody!

It's now 30 years ago when the legendary set "Imperial Trading Port" (set number 6277) was released in the year 1992. The small-hulled trading ship quickly became a favourite one among fans. Personally, I still find the set and the theme exciting till today! Hence, I'd like to introduce a new merchat ship to the Trading Fleet: A square-rigged caravel with lots of space for many barrels below the main deck. The bow is constructed by using old 4x4 space wings with cutout swiftly allowing us to install a keel. Enjoy the new ship and see you around!

Congratulations Trading Fleet! Cheers! 

More images on FlickR.

[Fraunces]

nice upgrade, looks good.

[Legostein]

On 6/19/2022 at 12:57 AM, Fraunces said:

nice upgrade, looks good.

Thanks for your comment and interest! 

[Marooned Marin]

I find your designs most interesting, and very old-school.

Do you have trouble finding some of the rare parts, like masts, for you build?

[Mister Phes]

On 6/19/2022 at 6:44 AM, Legostein said:

It's now 30 years ago when the legendary set "Imperial Trading Port" (set number 6277) was released in the year 1992.

And here I was thinking 30 years ago? That's still a couple of years off.

Wait, nope!  It's 30 years this year.

Damn!

[brimbolet]

Really nice vessel. Too bad there has never been a proper trading ship since then. No wonder the pirates finally got stranded on an island and opened their own tavern.

[Legostein]

Thank you for your interest and stepping-by! 

If you don't mind, I would like to share a little update. When you read the thread's title correctly, it says "new ships" (with a plural s). So here is a little merchant cog, inspired by classic castle set 6057 "Sea Serpent", also from the year 1992. Have a good day everyone! 

More images on FlickR.

 

[Legostein]

On 6/20/2022 at 6:55 PM, Marooned Marin said:

I find your designs most interesting, and very old-school.

I will take this as a compliment. 

Building old-school playsets as you call it, can be quite a challenge, too. Those ships are not built in 5 minutes either.  It takes quite some time to come up with a clear design that would have fit into the original pirate series.

 

On 6/20/2022 at 6:55 PM, Marooned Marin said:

Do you have trouble finding some of the rare parts, like masts, for you build?

You are right, the masts are really expensive, although there are enough of them on the market. More troublesome is to find original sails which are even more expensive. But anyway, this series is finished.  Here is the last vessel I have built for the trading fleet so far: A schooner brig. The fore sail is not set currently, only the top sail. The main mast is set with gaff sail and top gaff sail. It has space for 2 dozen barrels when you use cargo bays below deck and on the upper deck.

At the end of this thread there are two fleet pictures, including the original trading ship from set 6277.

Have a good time everyone! 

 

 

[Marooned Marin]

14 hours ago, Legostein said:

But anyway, this series is finished. 

Looking at the last picture (the whole fleet including original), I can say you have done extraordinary job with each ship. They are great.

This is going to be covered by the Classic-Pirates in the near time future

[GeoBrick]

Nice ships.

The second-biggest one (with the lateen sails) is to me quite reminiscent of the Berber corsairs before the Sailing Powers took over their North-African ports.

[Elephant Knight]

Each MOC is brilliant in it's own right, but when you put them all together, it takes it up a notch. They look ready to transport all the goods! (And then get attacked by pirates!)

EKnight

[Legostein]

Thank you again for your comments everyone! 

On 6/24/2022 at 3:14 AM, Elephant Knight said:

And then get attacked by pirates!

Right. You're right. Time for the pitrates. 

Arrr. 

[SerenityInFire]

Nice ships bro.  Are any of those sails custom?

[PxChris]

Wow! The fleet looks awesome!

[CaptainPolluxofOrion]

Really awesome little Trading Fleet   They look just so classic and nice!

 

Would't mind to see a big merchant galleon under these sails....