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Captain Dee

Eurobricks Dukes
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Everything posted by Captain Dee

  1. Captain Dee
    This is an incredibly good creation - all the more so since it involves pizza, which I just had for dinner! This site needs an archive for "unofficial" modulars because this is just too good to be an ordinary Moc. The facade might be just a bit busy for my taste, but otherwise it's splendid. The oven and dining area look wonderful and the detailed bar is excellent as well. There's nothing at all fishy about the poker game, nope, nada. The awning out front is cool and the delivery boy with the stack of boxes on the scooter is a fun touch. It's all a very good design and the layout is interesting throughout. A sign would be nice, but maybe it's one of those hole-in-the-wall joints that makes the best and everyone flocks to. I like mine with thin crust, lots of sauce and cheese, sausage, pepperoni, ham, green peppers, onions, black olives, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes. When will it be ready? Noon?! I'll be there!!! Excellent work!
  2. Captain Dee
    I understand. My first ship had the opposite problem - it was too low for its overall length, and the tumblehome sides came in too far, narrowing the wide prefabs too much to be realistic. I didn't want to say much in my first post because I was afraid I'd sound harsh or overly critical. As far as your overall design, I don't see a big problem with right (vertical) sides if the other proportions are close. It's been done many times, and some of the towering warships actually looked decent that way. Your biggest challenge would have been working with those narrow, rare 2-piece white/blue hulls anyway. A rebuild using the new wide white hulls using the same basic technique (but longer and lower, with more complete rigging) would surely look reasonable. Any chance you'll share your other ship?
  3. Captain Dee
    You do great compositions, "Klabautermann". I like how the base changes from dirt to grass and how the path and building are formed so smoothly into the rocks. The renovated building looks great inside and out and the open back is perfect for playability. The lawn looks so perfectly pastoral and idyllic with those white flowers framing it. This turned out quite well for a "Swordsman." Good work!
  4. Captain Dee
    I really like these "WIPs as complete concepts" just because I like seeing things being built (and seeing men build them). The basic structure looks great and the scaffolding is unmistakable. The different poses for the workers are nice; the guy with the hammer and "chisel" looks intense! Pardon my ignorance, but where do the red buckets come from? (besides the almighty Bricklink, of course) The gargoyles look, well, a little cartoonish but I'm sure you meant them that way. I see you've taken a bit of flak for not including monkeys, so I'll go easy: have you ever considered painting one of the standard monkeys to use as a statue? Regardless of that this has your signature style emanating from its studs. Good work.
  5. Captain Dee
    The vessel is perhaps a bit too bulky for the narrow prefab hulls, especially considering the length. It looks like too much hull for the amount of sail. I realize you built this from the limited components of the Armada Flagship, but it looks a bit excessive just the same. You do have some nice cabin details though.
  6. Captain Dee
    Neither vessel is really astounding, so look at the differences and decide which is better for you - and whether you'll be building the official set or something custom. Want redcoats, a mermaid, big shark, gold-colored chest with chrome gold treasure, 6 double windows, dark red bricks, 2 complete bow/stern elements, 2 midsections, dangly rigging, etc? Get Brickbeard's Bounty. Want bluecoats, skeleton, sawfish, brown chest with pearl gold, 4 double windows, 2 sticker windows, normal red, 1 complete bow/stern piece, 3 midsections, slightly less dangly rigging and possibly the goofiest cook in Lego history? Get the Brick Bounty. There are other differences, but that covers some of the visible stuff. Hope it helps.
  7. Captain Dee
    There really is no "perfect" solution in the sense that no two people have exactly the same interests. If I had unlimited time to spend on it I'd say make it complicated, make it somewhat realistic, and watch us build our empires... but I have very little free time, and the more complicated it is the less interest I have in joining, period - because the real world already has too many hoops to jump through. If, say, land ownership required a few simple tasks anyone could make it happen, but if the process looks even vaguely real, it will look and feel cumbersome to many of us. I don't think a complicated approach is bad per se, but I do think it would take much of the fun out of it for me personally. I don't participate in GoH, but it always looked simple enough to be inviting to anyone. I like Phred's idea - specific tasks could come with more complicated rules without affecting the entire program. But that in itself could be complicated! Decisions, decisions.
  8. Captain Dee
    That's a beautiful scene from all angles. The castle itself looks great even if the overall design is fairly simple. The architecture and colors are very good together and the vegetation is superb all the way around. I think the water looks pretty good and it gives a little extra depth to the whole scene. This is a very appealing abode for some lucky minifigs! With so many extravagant castles this is a reminder that standard building techniques can still be beautiful. Excellent work!
  9. Captain Dee
    That's a colorful and interesting house and forge. I like how El Dragao adds the line about the cost as if it's an afterthought. The final scene is a clever way of displaying the final outcome too. I suppose his failure leaves the young knight indebted, per the story - not that the smith can expect anything with the poor man encased in a block of ice. Nice work.
  10. Captain Dee
    This is a nice little scene, and the lighting gives it a very evocative mood. The short story is good as well. Both minifigs are creative. Good work.
  11. Captain Dee
    The architecture of the main building is lovely. I've layered arches before but not different shapes and colors together, and the result is beautiful. The overall design surrounding the recessed windows looks great and makes excellent use of the tall slotted bricks. Both wings look scholarly enough and the detailed courtyard looks like a relaxing place for a good read. The little temple is nicely done and the activity in the street fills the scene well. This is a neat, clean build and surely a welcome addition to the city. Good work!
  12. Captain Dee
    The purple is definitely eye-catching, and the angles of the roof are interesting too. I like the textures of the tower walls and the wisp of smoke is creative. The rockwork around the base doesn't quite match the creativity of the rest of the build, but it's integrated well. The angled arched awning is brilliant and adds another dimension to the whole composition. Good work!
  13. Captain Dee
    This is a lovely little setting and looks like something straight out of a storybook with the angled roof, sagging woodwork and posts, and overall dilapidated appearance. The rock wall textures are nice and I like the tan in the white wall - it looks like the whitewash is crumbling away and fits the look nicely. I like the lack of standard green; the dark green just matches the mood better. The barrel is cool too - any chance of showing us how it's done? My only real criticism is the tree trunk. I know those pieces make it easy to twist and turn the trunk the way trees often grow, but I just can't get past those unsightly technic pin-holes, which detract somewhat from the rich textures of the rest of the build. I suppose you could work around it by wrapping the trunk in some kind of vine or other climbing plant, but it's not really that big a deal. Overall it's an inviting scene. Does Bartholomew like thirsty visitors? Good work!
  14. Captain Dee
    I agree that the baseplate may be a bit big for the setting, but otherwise this is one of those rare Ideas that looks like a set ready to sell. It has that look and feel of small official sets - nothing fancy, but good fun to play with. I suspect revival of a Forestmen-type theme would be a big hit. I'd buy! Nice job.
  15. Captain Dee
    The style and shape of the building are great, and the smaller scale is nice reference material for anyone wanting to build small. The collection of earth tones is fine and the roof technique is good. I really like the contrast of the white windows against the grey of the walls. It's just a good creation overall and the revolutionist looks nice too. Good work.
  16. Captain Dee
    I'm going to be the odd man out and say that I DON'T want a ship like 10210 IFS - unless they do something else as well, which I'll explain in a moment. I made my return to Lego with the big, bad IFS - except it's not nearly as big or bad in reality as the pics made it look. I built mine the very day it arrived and couldn't help but feel disappointed. It's not terrible - among the official ships it does indeed look powerful and imposing, and it's TLG's only full-rigged ship to date - but as a showpiece it can't hold a candle to a good custom ship which could be built far better for similar money, especially the ridiculously overpriced current market. I would much rather have a land-based set of some sort - say, the port equivalent of the Medieval Market Village. It hasn't been done in the Pirates theme, but ships are a constant part of the theme, and I'd like a little more variety. Besides, a port scene would probably be more accurate than any ship they make, anyway. I won't be upset if they make another ship, but I won't be thrilled either. Ultimately the paltry lineup currently available just goes to show how unimportant Pirates has become to the powers that be at Lego, and that's a shame.
  17. Captain Dee
    I think the tiered approach would allow greater complexity (making it more realistic, with the understanding that realism isn't the goal) without overwhelming anyone at the start, with the obvious stated disadvantage to new members over time. But new members are always "disadvantaged" in the sense that they have to step into a rushing current, so it probably doesn't make much difference in that regard. I'm not much of a gameplay person, though; I'd rather just build and enjoy the whole creative process, so my input is probably less important than serious gameplay members - the very people who will really drive this. I like the simplest approach best as a builder, but I realize there isn't nearly as much excitement or adventure or sense of accomplishment that way and it's probably not as popular a position. It's like checkers vs chess - both are strategy games, but immensely different. I think it could work well however it's done, and I may not be able to devote much attention to it anyway (thanks to my true-history projects). I'd like to hear what anyone else thinks besides just seeing the results.
  18. Captain Dee
    This is one of the best historically-correct Lego builds ever completed! The scale is incredible but applying such exact attention to details throughout is simply mind-boggling. I've seen numerous historic dioramas in other media that were excellent visual aids and this is no exception. The buildings, walls, and gates are superb and the rest of the farm's features are well-represented. Obviously a lot of research went into the layout and positioning of the different troops and the final result is nothing short of phenomenal. Overall this is a good history lesson for anyone who appreciates such things. I believe I was right when I said the prior build was an appetizer, because this is a most extraordinary entree. Excellent work!
  19. Captain Dee
    That's possibly the most graphic cake I've ever seen, but it captures the mood of the Napoleonic campaigns quite well. Pity the soul tasked with cleaning all the parts - although most of it could be licked clean, eh? Unique and creative concept.
  20. Captain Dee
    This is an excellent addition to the Pirates theme. The roof is great but the whole building is superb and shows once again that standard building styles can be beautiful. It looks very period-correct and the brown-and-gold arched windows are lovely. The courtyard looks fine with the tall fence and various earth tones on the ground. The interior is great with all the minifigs and accessories. I especially like the decorative bits, such as the musket with axe-blade and other medieval weapons. The floor design is nice too and a little easier to replicate than the elaborate mosaics; I just might copy it sometime. My only advice would be to make the trees a little taller; otherwise I think it's great. Excellent work!
  21. Captain Dee
    Yep, you made it awesome alright. The original set is still visibly obvious but you've added a lot of good features. The larger layout is great and the half-sunken ship is better than any shipwreck island TLG ever made. Rather than being an all-out Moc this looks like a fun play set. Rather than being some tiny defenseless island it looks more like a pirate outpost built on a rocky outcrop on the coast of a much larger island, which is more accurate. The assortment of minifigs is nice and their, uh, activities look realistic too. Good work.
  22. Captain Dee
    I like the story (and its other well-known counterpart involving some Crane dude) and I also enjoy this little creation. The minifig makes a good Van Winkle and the overgrown vegetation looks appropriate for the setting. The bowling pins are a good touch as well. Regaarghding thea misppelinng, wel, we awl makke miskates butt unnfourtunaetlyy wee cain't all corekkt thim wenn thee prolberm isz inn the tidal. I would like for all EB members to be able to edit the titles of their own topics for this very reason. I appreciate good grammar but I think "Grammar Nazi" is a pretty strong term. Actually, it makes me think of someone who wants to exterminate grammar altogether. Perhaps "Grammar Police" is a better term. I'd never heard of "naping" and it sounds a bit out of place here. I realize single-consonant misspellings are common with words like that. I know of people who have gone fishing and caught strippers. Anyway, the subject is fine and I'll take it in this forum due to the time period and Pirates-theme parts. Good work.
  23. Captain Dee
    As a play set or chess set this is pretty good, with enough features and minifigs to have some fun. A few more details wouldn't hurt but I won't be too critical of that. The fact that the current wave already has a chess set means this really has no chance of happening through Ideas. Honestly, most Ideas submissions are just pipe dreams anyway, so I encourage you (and everyone else as well) to just have fun building.
  24. Captain Dee
    Both of these scenes are very good, with my single favorite feature being the lantern in the first. It took me a little to realize how you made it, and then I couldn't help but laugh at the brilliance of it. Not being a fan of the original source, I dare say you've used that crown far better than the official sets ever did. The chandelier is also nice and innovative. The wall colors and textures are fine in both scenes, and the varying reds of the carpet are a good feature. The roof section over the cathedral looks great too. I like "boring" and "dull" domestic scenes better than warfare, and weddings aren't exactly common material, so this is quite nice for a change. All the microfigs in the wall are a cool feature as well. Good work.
  25. Captain Dee
    This is a nice action scene, made all the more better by the varying elevations of the minifigs. The rocky spire is perfect for clambering over - and falling off of. I also really like that orange background color because of the mood it offers, like sunset over a desert. Creative and unique work.
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