A_Goodman 155 posts Posted July 24 Escape from the Imperial Trading Post On just another day in the Caribbean Steve, the Merchant, arrived at the Imperial Trading Post on his trusty Cutter sailing for profit and adventure. Soon after disembarking his vessel, Blue Coats of the Imperial Soldiers raided the Imperial Guard’s Trading Post. In the Chaos of the attack his ship was seized by the enemy. Wishing to avoid becoming a prisoner of the attacking Blue Coats, and with no other means of escape, Steve decided to accompany a few members of Captain Red Beard’s crew, as they scaled the cliffs down to a waiting Dingy bound for the Skull’s Eye Schooner. Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Raid on the Imperial Trading Post by Nicholas Goodman, on Flickr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thewatchman 473 posts Posted July 24 Simply stunning!! I don’t even know where to start, but the rock work is incredible, the roof colour variations are brilliant and the trees look wonderful too. can see how much work went into this build, and it’s shows! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes 25336 posts Posted July 24 3 hours ago, A_Goodman said: On just another day in the Caribbean Steve, the Merchant, arrived at the Imperial Trading Post on his trusty Cutter sailing for profit and adventure. Soon after disembarking his vessel, Blue Coats of the Imperial Soldiers raided the Imperial Guard’s Trading Post. In the Chaos of the attack his ship was seized by the enemy. Wishing to avoid becoming a prisoner of the attacking Blue Coats, and with no other means of escape, Steve decided to accompany a few members of Captain Red Beard’s crew, as they scaled the cliffs down to a waiting Dingy bound for the Skull’s Eye Schooner. Along with an awesome build that's a fantastic story that explains Steve's tumultuous transition from Imperial Trading Post to Skulls Eye Schooner. Escape from the Imperial Trading Post has been incorporated into the Entries Index. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_Goodman 155 posts Posted July 24 1 hour ago, thewatchman said: Simply stunning!! I don’t even know where to start, but the rock work is incredible, the roof colour variations are brilliant and the trees look wonderful too. can see how much work went into this build, and it’s shows! Thank you so very much, it definitely ended up becoming much more than I had originally thought it would be, but it was one of the more fun builds I have done in a long time, being able to make a classic Pirates themed build that I would have loved to have had as a kid was awesome. 45 minutes ago, Mister Phes said: Along with an awesome build that's a fantastic story that explains Steve's tumultuous transition from Imperial Trading Post to Skulls Eye Schooner. Thank you, I thought it would be a cool idea to not only give one possibility as to why Steve found himself aboard the Skull's Eye Schooner, but also provide a possible reason as to why Steve's iconic Cutter was most recently seen under the command of Blue Coats in the updated Eldorado Fortress. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes 25336 posts Posted July 24 11 minutes ago, A_Goodman said: Thank you, I thought it would be a cool idea to not only give one possibility as to why Steve found himself aboard the Skull's Eye Schooner, but also provide a possible reason as to why Steve's iconic Cutter was most recently seen under the command of Blue Coats in the updated Eldorado Fortress. Aye, you've woven all three sets into your backstory nicely! I probably should have mentioned 10320 Eldorado Fortress too. Is this your rendition of Steve? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_Goodman 155 posts Posted July 24 20 minutes ago, Mister Phes said: Is this your rendition of Steve? It sure is, I think i would’ve like a better head, he doesnt quite have the same scruffy feel but it was the best I had on hand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes 25336 posts Posted July 24 45 minutes ago, A_Goodman said: It sure is, I think i would’ve like a better head, he doesnt quite have the same scruffy feel but it was the best I had on hand. And that's also an excellent point - Steve does not need to 100% authentic to the original minifig. Anyway, I shall let ye get back to building in case you'd like to submit a small entry or two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy-Roo 36 posts Posted July 24 Excellent build, presentation and story! This is full of details. I love the curved corners of the walls and the brickwork as it really brings the buildings to life. Rock work and water detail also adds to the realism. Overall a very immersive result! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SevenDeadlyStreamers 158 posts Posted July 24 Beautiful rock work and I like the touch of red in the brick walls. You also managed to make Steve quite good looking! The small dingy looks great too. The only critique I’ve got, is I’d love to see a nice big flag, however it would need to be quite detailed to fit in with your MOC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_Goodman 155 posts Posted July 24 13 hours ago, Andy-Roo said: Excellent build, presentation and story! This is full of details. I love the curved corners of the walls and the brickwork as it really brings the buildings to life. Rock work and water detail also adds to the realism. Overall a very immersive result! I greatly appreciate it! The rounded corners were definitely a first for me with this type of style and I am very pleased with how it turned out. Those sharp corners standard brick stacking creates have always felt just a bit off to me, particularly for the Presidio style. I am also very happy to hear the realism came though that is always something I am determined to achieve with my MOCs. 14 hours ago, Mister Phes said: Anyway, I shall let ye get back to building in case you'd like to submit a small entry or two. You know id love to but my goodness 200 bricks is quite the restriction. 44 minutes ago, SevenDeadlyStreamers said: Beautiful rock work and I like the touch of red in the brick walls. You also managed to make Steve quite good looking! The small dingy looks great too. The only critique I’ve got, is I’d love to see a nice big flag, however it would need to be quite detailed to fit in with your MOC. Thank you so very much, and you know I felt he might be too handsome hahah, he doesnt have quite the lovable scruffyness of the official figure. I funny enough did give creating a brick built flag a go, but aside from managing the red and white stripes I couldn't get anything to work. The cannons ended up looking like a black X with strange angles and bad sizing, I like to believe by this point in the raid the Blue Coats have cut the flag down in their effort to take possession of the Trading Post. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horation 660 posts Posted July 24 Lovely stuff from you as always! This should frankly go in a category of its own (HUGE), because that's how massive it is, I hope my review is long enough to cover it fully. The story : Great way to weave together two sets and rectify an element of "lore" that was always simply unexplained. The whole thing is quite logical and the minifigs amplify this, with a clear sense of a chaotic engagement ongoing (how did you make that bluecoat's shako look like it is flying? Glue?). And as such his discreet escape makes sense. There is however an abandoned canon barrel which looks a little out of place, I'd either place it in the crane basket (to make it look like it is being carried) or put a gun carriage underneath, to make it seem less like a leftover and more like a temporarily ignored project due to the battle. I will also criticise the lack of ice cream pieces to represent gun shots, as it feels like they would add to the feeling of motion being captured. The build : Honestly, there's so much good (the buildings, the waves, the rockwork, the pavement, even the trees, all is done in ever cleverer manners) that I'll mostly focus on the not so good ( to keep this concise). Two things annoy me here. First, some of the rocks use a sideways building technique which is all the rage nowadays, but it creates these awkward gaps where we see the studs underneath, I would take that technique you use elsewhere with tiles and a sideways part to fix the issue (there's a part of the build with dark grey round tiles if you didn't get what I was referring to). Second, the crane is angled, which is nice, but so is the structure that holds, which is arguably necessary due to the building method, but it does look worse as a result, If possible, maybe use a hinge to angle the crane part without moving its supporting structure. But to be clear : this is a great entry and I am cherry-picking excessively. I just didn't wanna write a 500 word essay from a panegyrist, so I hope these help you a little. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_Goodman 155 posts Posted July 25 1 hour ago, Horation said: Lovely stuff from you as always! I always appreciate it! I gotta tell you im totally up for the 500 word version hahaha. So actually the pushed off the cliff Blue Coat uses the 65578 part in clear for both the figure’s leg’s connection to the build and his Shako to his head, all official LEGO parts in this build, even down to the string. I really like the ice cream idea, i even have a few but I just didnt even think to add them. Funny enough I actually do in certain instances like how studs end up looking in the rock work, some times the slippery slope look doesnt quite capture the cragginess I look for in cliffs. As for the crane now that I see it I cant unsee it, it really does look a bit off. All in all I appreciate the kind words and critiques I am always looking to improve my builds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister Phes 25336 posts Posted July 25 13 hours ago, A_Goodman said: You know id love to but my goodness 200 bricks is quite the restriction. You can also submit another two Large Entries without any piece count restriction... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SevenDeadlyStreamers 158 posts Posted July 27 On 7/24/2024 at 5:42 PM, A_Goodman said: I greatly appreciate it! The rounded corners were definitely a first for me with this type of style and I am very pleased with how it turned out. Those sharp corners standard brick stacking creates have always felt just a bit off to me, particularly for the Presidio style. I am also very happy to hear the realism came though that is always something I am determined to achieve with my MOCs. You know id love to but my goodness 200 bricks is quite the restriction. Thank you so very much, and you know I felt he might be too handsome hahah, he doesnt have quite the lovable scruffyness of the official figure. I funny enough did give creating a brick built flag a go, but aside from managing the red and white stripes I couldn't get anything to work. The cannons ended up looking like a black X with strange angles and bad sizing, I like to believe by this point in the raid the Blue Coats have cut the flag down in their effort to take possession of the Trading Post. Valiant attempt and I like the bonus story beats to explain the missing flag! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NOD 1739 posts Posted July 30 Great diorama with lots of action! The rock is very beautifully built and I especially like the sloping path leading up to the trading post. The trading post with the entrance area, main building, tower with crane and the courtyard with various trade goods looks interesting. The pirate boat is also very beautifully built. The various fight scenes are realistically portrayed in terms of the movements. Also great is how the escape scene was done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Captain Braunsfeld 6878 posts Posted July 31 Congratulations Excellent, I like this very much, and there is also a monkey! Rockwork and water modelling are fine. And the battle is epic. Thanks to Mr. Phes for clarifying who is Steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arjo 206 posts Posted July 31 Kiss your bricks goodbye! You will never want to take that apart:) I know I wouldn’t, great job! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Train 12 Volts 9432 posts Posted July 31 Outstanding in every detail! I like how you can see the red bricks under the layer of white plaster, I like how the corners of the building and the tower are built with SNOT techniques using curved pieces and I like the inverted arches to house the cannon mouths! The roof has an incredible color texture. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_TLG_ 438 posts Posted August 2 Cool build, nice details, I really like the dark red textures in the walls and the brick built rocks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Math Wizard 148 posts Posted August 2 Ahoy Matey! They call me Captain Crit in these parts and I heard that polly wants a sandwich (They’re fed up with crackers apparently) - a criticism sandwich that is! (For you landlubbers, that’s 3 seas [Cs]- Compliment, Constructive Criticism, and another Compliment). Ye did a great job buildin’ this and writin’ a story to go along with it. A short story, yet fantastic at conveying exactly what is happening. Interesting to see two groups of imperials clashing with each other, rather than with the pirates, and that the pirates are the ones helping Steve escape. Great twist! It was a tough task to come up with a critique for this build, as it looks incredible already! The only things I can think of is to remove some of the studs from the dock, and try to add texture by raising/lowering planks instead. It was hard for me to pick out me favorite part o’ this build. I really like all the texturing and weathering. From the rocks and waterline, to the walls, to the roof, it really makes the model come together. It seems to strike the perfect balance between too much and not enough, something I often stuggle to do. I also really like the posing of all the minifigures, particularly the bluecoat getting pushed of the edge of the rocks. It truly is an all-around great build! Fair Winds Matey! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_Goodman 155 posts Posted August 3 On 7/30/2024 at 11:47 PM, Captain Braunsfeld said: Congratulations Excellent, I like this very much, and there is also a monkey! Rockwork and water modelling are fine. And the battle is epic. Thanks to Mr. Phes for clarifying who is Steve Thank you so much! Its always an honor to see a build make it to the front page. On 7/31/2024 at 6:19 AM, Arjo said: Kiss your bricks goodbye! You will never want to take that apart:) I know I wouldn’t, great job! Thank you and its funny you say that, I am usually pretty quick to take my builds apart but after I put this one on the shelf I had that exact thought cross my mind! It will definitely be a difficult one to bring myself to break down. On 7/31/2024 at 10:18 AM, LEGO Train 12 Volts said: Outstanding in every detail! I like how you can see the red bricks under the layer of white plaster, I like how the corners of the building and the tower are built with SNOT techniques using curved pieces and I like the inverted arches to house the cannon mouths! The roof has an incredible color texture. I greatly appreciate it, I am also happy to hear you liked the inverted arches, I didn't think anyone would notice that, I really liked the effect it created. I am also happy to hear you liked the roof that was an absolute pain to get right. 9 hours ago, _TLG_ said: Cool build, nice details, I really like the dark red textures in the walls and the brick built rocks! Thank you so very much! 2 hours ago, Math Wizard said: Ahoy Matey! They call me Captain Crit in these parts and I heard that polly wants a sandwich (They’re fed up with crackers apparently) - a criticism sandwich that is! (For you landlubbers, that’s 3 seas [Cs]- Compliment, Constructive Criticism, and another Compliment). Ye did a great job buildin’ this and writin’ a story to go along with it. A short story, yet fantastic at conveying exactly what is happening. Interesting to see two groups of imperials clashing with each other, rather than with the pirates, and that the pirates are the ones helping Steve escape. Great twist! It was a tough task to come up with a critique for this build, as it looks incredible already! The only things I can think of is to remove some of the studs from the dock, and try to add texture by raising/lowering planks instead. It was hard for me to pick out me favorite part o’ this build. I really like all the texturing and weathering. From the rocks and waterline, to the walls, to the roof, it really makes the model come together. It seems to strike the perfect balance between too much and not enough, something I often stuggle to do. I also really like the posing of all the minifigures, particularly the bluecoat getting pushed of the edge of the rocks. It truly is an all-around great build! Fair Winds Matey! I so greatly appreciate it! I am so happy that the Second of your 'C's was tough to come up with, and I am very glad to hear that you liked my story. I wanted to keep it short and luckily I had a few weeks of solid building time to refine it. My favorite part of the Build is the pushed off Blue Coat myself I was very pleased with the sense of action it conveyed and most of all the feel of Classic Lego set photos, old sets used to have in the back of their instruction books. Im glad to know it isnt lost in the rest of the MOC. On 7/30/2024 at 3:28 AM, NOD said: Great diorama with lots of action! The rock is very beautifully built and I especially like the sloping path leading up to the trading post. The trading post with the entrance area, main building, tower with crane and the courtyard with various trade goods looks interesting. The pirate boat is also very beautifully built. The various fight scenes are realistically portrayed in terms of the movements. Also great is how the escape scene was done. Thank you so very much! I am happy to hear you liked the ramp, I really wanted to form the rock work in such a way that it was reflective of that old raised baseplate from the original set. It took a few attempts but I think it ended up in a way I am happy with. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horation 660 posts Posted August 3 Well, I'd say it was more than just reflective, it looked like if someone took the original baseplate and bit by bit build it with modern parts, and it allows for a "fortress" feel from the whole build. But I do have to agree with Math Wizard now that I look at it, the ramp has too many studs, I'd replace a few of those plates with jumper plates, as it would keep spots for figures to stand on, but all the while reducing the total number of studs on top. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A_Goodman 155 posts Posted August 3 4 hours ago, Horation said: Well, I'd say it was more than just reflective, it looked like if someone took the original baseplate and bit by bit build it with modern parts, and it allows for a "fortress" feel from the whole build. Oh good, I am very glad to hear that. I wasn't quite sure if it was achieving that or not. I have to admit I always was a 'tile it off' kind of builder and I have slowly come back to the more studded look, that however can lead to somewhat too many studs and in the ramp's case it would've set me back too much to retile it once it was installed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Horation 660 posts Posted August 3 (edited) Well, I get it, it's much easier to remove parts when they're digital. Then again, you could do it segment by segment and update it every while and then, that might encourage a few more replies (which could net you a prize). Edited August 6 by Horation punctuation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Math Wizard 148 posts Posted August 3 12 hours ago, A_Goodman said: I so greatly appreciate it! I am so happy that the Second of your 'C's was tough to come up with, and I am very glad to hear that you liked my story. I wanted to keep it short and luckily I had a few weeks of solid building time to refine it. My favorite part of the Build is the pushed off Blue Coat myself I was very pleased with the sense of action it conveyed and most of all the feel of Classic Lego set photos, old sets used to have in the back of their instruction books. Im glad to know it isnt lost in the rest of the MOC. This is the type of MOC that you can stare at for a while and keep seeing new things- no need to worry about details getting "lost" in the build- it is a good thing because people can keep coming back to it! 8 hours ago, A_Goodman said: Oh good, I am very glad to hear that. I wasn't quite sure if it was achieving that or not. I have to admit I always was a 'tile it off' kind of builder and I have slowly come back to the more studded look, that however can lead to somewhat too many studs and in the ramp's case it would've set me back too much to retile it once it was installed. I was actually the opposite- My builds used to be all studs, then I moved to more tiling. I think the ramp looks fine- rocks should be fairly studded. I think the issue is the dock, as wood is inherently a more smooth surface Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
