Ayrlego

Great work BrickOn! She's a lovely looking vessel. The white and black highlights work especially well with the red sails. If you wanted to change the name to something slightly more... naval... may I suggest HMS Infinity? Kind of still references back to her original name! Good to know we have an additional escort out there this month!

A sleek looking vessel. The spider webs as fishing nets is a great idea!

Really great entry! I love your rock work and vegetation, they are superb! The tree is really great as well - all round a fantastic entry!

Thanks everyone for the comments, this is probably one of my biggest builds yet and certainly the most densely vegetated - I've used pretty much all my vegetation (and dark tan plates) in the one build, so unfortunately I'm going to have to break it up to enter Cat A! I'm quite pleased with the way it came out, so glad you guys enjoyed it. I too struggled with this for a long time. White Fang gave me some great advice and I now find that as long as my lighting was good to begin with, increasing the brightness and contrast a little helps the green (and other colours - but most importantly the green - to 'pop') I must admit, I did feel the pressure of challenge 1 breathing down my neck!!! I must admit I was stumped for ideas for this challenge, then all of a sudden I wrote the story - which for me is surprising, usually the story is the thing I cobble together in the rush to post. Anyway after writing the story, the build just followed.

A really neat laboratory! The spiral staircase is very well done and I particularly like the frog cages! Great story and fantastic job!

A nice little vessel. I like how you've used the tan slopes at the stern of the vessel. +1 from Corrington

The tan works really well for the fresh carved wood look! I like the details inside the workshop. +1 from Corrington

Nice! The expression on Lieutenant Watton's face in the first picture with the Tenotclaxan head gear is classic! Great build!

Great build and excellent story! I really like the concept of starting with base materials for the colony. The glass works in particular intrigues me and your portrayal of spinning glass is inspired! Just what Port Raleigh needs, great job!

That is beautiful! I picked up 3 of these sets cheap when I visited the US last year with the idea to do something like this but have never had the time. I hope if I ever do that mine turns out half as good as yours! Everything is great, the waterfall, the paved meeting area and the buildings themselves. Fantastic job, well done!

As others have said, this is a very nice market square. I especially like the sail as a shade cover. +1 from Corrington

Hmm, those are some nasty looking redcoats... not sure I approve!!! Probably actually Sea Rats dressed as Corries!!! I like your concept of using a flashback for the challenge, it was something I toyed with at first but in the end went for the 'safer' option! Your house, while simple, looks really good - especially the addition of the 1x1 tiles on the roof as others have noted. I also really like the brick built sky and hedge in the background. Great entry!

An original take on Category B, I did wonder if someone might have a 'battle' against wild animals, hat off to you for giving it a go! Personally I'm not a fan of the friends horses, they are a little cartoon-y for my liking - but if that's all you have then good use of your available pieces! The fact the whole build is modular and goes with your other entry is a great idea and is well executed. Also nice trees! Overall good job! Edit: On a second look the friends horses do make excellent foals. I take back what I said!

I think this may be the first plantation expansion on here - and it certainly sets the standard! I like how you actually expanded off the original and show the process in your build. As others have said, that plough is inspired! Great job!

The mast is a nice touch, well done!

Nice cotton plantation! +1 from Corrington

Really great story and excellent little scenes! +1 from Corrington

[COR-Ch2A] North Head Battery | Ayrlego | Corrington [COR-Ch2B] Water Party | Ayrlego | Corrington

Challenge II, Category B - Water Party Lieutenant Jonathon Stewart led his small party of marines and sailors inland. Their ship, the large sloop HMS Tenacious, was anchored in the wide bay of this uncharted island. Lieutenant Stewart’s party were on an expedition to follow a small creek upstream far enough to replenish the sloop’s water supply as the water at the creek’s mouth was too brackish to use. The air was heavy and sticky, and the sound of insects was almost deafening as the party fought its way through the jungle. After thirty minutes of hacking and cursing, Lieutenant Stewart declared the water fresh enough and the sailors began to fill the barrels that they had dragged alone with them. The Marines set up a loose picket, and took turns to assist the sailors with the barrels. Lieutenant Stewart was nervous. It wasn’t just the abundant rumours that the new islands were full of savage cannibalistic natives or lawless and wild Sea Rat bands, or the unfamiliar and un-nerving jungle. It was the young 19 year old Lieutenant’s first solo command after his family purchased his commission earlier in the year. His superior officer, a Captain of Marines, was confined to his bunk on Tenacious with a sweating fever, so this expedition had fallen on his shoulders. Although his experience didn’t allow him to realise it, Lieutenant Stewart was fortunate that his Sergeant was an extremely able and experienced marine who ensured the men under his command were well trained and disciplined. Sergeant Bill Woodhouse ensured the pickets were alert, and despite the humid conditions, their powder was dry and their muskets well cleaned and in good order. This was probably just as well, as although none of the marines were aware of it yet, they were being watched. Sergeant Woodhouse was checking his flint when, without warning, muskets crashed from the tree line and powder smoke filled the air. Amazingly only one sailor was hit in this initial volley. His experienced ear immediately recognised that the volley was a small one, probably only a dozen firearms at most and not all muskets. Lieutenant Stewart seemed frozen, his jaw working up and down but no words coming out. “Marines independent fire” bellowed Sergeant Woodhouse. Before the command was completed however, desperate figures burst from the tree line. Wild, un-kept men dressed in tattered western clothes and carrying an assortment of arms came crashing towards the patrol. Sergeant Woodhouse raised his musket and fired in one smooth motion. Several of his marines also got shots off before the fight descended into a desperate hand to hand melee. With no time to fix bayonets, muskets were used as clubs as the redcoats and sea rats savagely clashed. Lieutenant Steward found his senses as a wild one-eyed pirate charged directly at him. Somehow the youth managed to raise his pistol and dispatch the pirate with a hastily aimed shot. Unfortunately the fallen pirate was followed by another, and as Lieutenant Steward fumbled trying to draw his sword, he saw his life coming to an end in the form of the snarling pirate, brandishing a heavy cutlass. His sword finally free of his scabbard, too late, no time to parry he closed his eyes as the cutlass came down to seal his fate. The crash of a nearby musket and the pirate was jerked backwards at the last second. His near death seemed to fuel the Lieutenant with rage. He would not die in this god’s forsaken hell. Screaming an incoherent battle cry, he charged into the fray. Despite the fury of the attack, the training, equipment and general health of the marines soon gained the upper hand over the ragged band of pirates. The survivors broke off and fled back into the jungle almost as quickly as they had appeared. The enraged Lieutenant Stewart charged after them, the order for his men to begin the pursuit was forming on his lips when Sergeant Woodhouse firmly gripped him on the shoulder. Wildly, the young Lieutenant swang around to face the force preventing him chasing down these impertinent attackers. “Sir!” boomed the Sergeant in his parade ground voice, then slightly lower “Sir, your orders to form line and hold while we assess the situation?” The tactfully framed half question - half order, caused the Lieutenant to pause. The battle fury slowly draining from him, his mouth dry and hands shaking, sanity returned to Lieutenant Stewart. “Ah… yes Sergeant, um, make it so..” Although the Lieutenant couldn’t yet see it, the marines had already followed their Sergeants instruction, whilst the sailors tended to the wounded. A marine stood over a groaning, wounded sea rat. “Looks like we have a live one to question Sarge” remarked the marine. For the Corlander expedition, it would appear re-provisioning would be more arduous than first thought.

Thanks for the comments everyone! Number 5 is my favourite as well. Regarding the bright colours in that MOC, the multi-coloured flags were a bit of an after thought to brighten the scene up, glad they had the desired effect! I think I'll definitely continue to dabble in this style, I really enjoy it!

Very nice! That whale-tail looks great! (not something I ever thought I'd say on a Lego forum... or indeed any forum ) Great job! +1 from Corrington

Those are indeed some lovely brick built cannons! Also I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but I really like your soldiers - the combinations are great!

I thought it was sky edited in until I read this and had a second look! Two nice little builds to advance your story. I particularly like the texture of the ground in the first build.

Great way to advance your story! Love the minifig poses and the stern of the ship!

Thanks guys! Made possible as a result of your tutorial! Well... it's 100 percent Lego, but I don't think purists would approve! I got an old degraded torso and head from my childhood days (all the printing had long worn off!) added one of the many spare CMF highlander hairpieces I had laying around and spray painted the entire thing metallic gold. However it still lacked femininity! So I super-glued two 1x1 rounds on the chests and re-sprayed. Somewhat disproportionate - but I guess the sailors have been at sea for a long time!