gedren_y

Just a cursory search of the various diving themed sets in City/Town on Bricklink turned up four shark cages, three in 1997 (6558 - Shark Cage Cove, 6559 - Deep Sea Bounty, 6560 - Diving Expedition Explorer) and one in 2015 (60095 - Deep Sea Exploration Vessel).

For shipping here (Florida) orders usually go from Illinois to Wisconsin, then back to Illinois before heading to Texas or Georgia. My most recent order took eight days before it even shipped. I should check the tracking in a bit. You can download the instructions as a .pdf, which includes a parts list.

This argument is starting to look like US hyperpartisan politics. Seeming so diametrically opposed that neither is likely to convince the other. While I agree with one side, I am trying to refrain from attacking the position of those with whom I do not agree. Some of the comments on both sides seem uncalled-for. Okay, that's enough mini-modding out of me. I'm wondering if this will go into backordering before the month is out.

The leaked Wonder Woman set looks like a good source for Mezo American native builds.

About the GWP in the US, as of April 1 (yesterday) they still had the Easter Bunny (GWP 30+), and Easter Egg (GWP 50+), but today they are no longer listing. I downloaded the instructions to my tablet so I can work on mods for later building. Not just the ship, but the island too. Lots of ideas floating around my head. BOBS will be seeing a lot of us doing this I think.

The description of the original build names Red Beard, and uses the words "It is time to return to the classics". Despite using the old boat hulls and masts, the original build itself looks nothing like any of Red Beard's classic ships. Since LEGO had to do a major redesign because of the old parts, they drew from the stated intent of "return to the classics". That to me justifies the level of changes made to make the set work. To those who were more invested in the muted look; I'm sorry, but that was never going to be LEGO's idea of classic. The closest LEGO Pirates came to that look were the 2009 and 2015 shipwreck sets. When LEGO invokes nostalgia it either goes very small (one or two pieces), or as close to the original as you can get (the nostalgia sets of 2001).

That Classic Space print would be just perfect. Pity it is currently just a joke.

The issue with order confirmation, and order status listing, might be due to the server that handles inventory and purchase processing in your area being at peak traffic. This is a highly anticipated item that has just been added to the availability listing in your area, so the amount of orders the local server is called upon to process will likely be well above the norm for maintaining efficiency. VIP points, on the other hand, are added once the shipping process gets beyond the 'label added' stage. This will likely take quite some time, the amount of which will depend on the heath and safety measures put into place by the company, and the local postal carrier system. I have an order I made last week that is still listed as 'in warehouse'.

If a .io file can be uploaded to Brickshelf the same as a .lxf file, then that would be the way to go.

I actually think an Age of Exploration theme would be the best way to go. LEGO's push for the Asian markets could be pursued by beginning with the voyages of Marco Polo. Sets depicting that era could also appeal to Castle builders. Where are all those merchant vessels that our Pirates are supposed to prey on, and our Imperials and Armada supposed to protect? Active play potential would be key to making such a theme successful, though. I know a lot of us AFOLs decry stud shooters, but they make sense for a Pirates theme. Some of the other shooters could be 'harpoon throwers'. Ships designed with easily removable sections to show battle damage to give them more action elements, and incentive for buying opposing forces. Even sails printed to look like they have been patched could add a suggestion of prior combat. Quick! Let's get to designing!

The original submission includes an aged version of Red Beard (not Brickbeard). The original submission implies by the use of this character that the hideout is based around the wreck of one (or more) of his ships. The problem is that the original submission looks nothing like one of his ships. When the LEGO designers were faced with the challenge of having to redesign the hideout because a large volume of the build was discontinued parts, they obviously chose to center that redesign around the character to capitalize on Pirates nostalgia. The Black Seas Barracuda is the more iconic of the two ships with dimensions that come close to the size needed to create a multi-room hideout. The Skull's Eye Schooner would also have been a major color departure from the original submission. Could they have made it more an assemblage of ships by designing the hideout as if it was built from parts of more than one of his smaller ships? Sure, but then the color departure would have been greater still. Could they have just made the hideout as an assemblage of unknown ships? Sure, but then you lose all semblance of nostalgia, and an aged Red Beard becomes superfluous. You also wouldn't get all the lovely extras with the box and instructions. When we got the news that Pirate Bay had been approved, I recall a number of us discussing the possibility of creating our own ships out of the parts. The designers did us one better, and remade Red Beard's original ship out of currently existing parts in such a way as to also create the hideout. I'm impressed. As for why no monkey, it's not just the mold, but the assembly you have to consider. Assembly machines in every factory where this set is to be produced would have to be reconfigured to build the monkey. On a Big Bang budget that was possible. On an Ideas budget, not so much.

Someone a fan of Seanan McGuire?

Actually Instagram will only let you see a portion of the items with the # before asking you to log in.

This is why I didn't bother arguing. Much of the complaint has little to do with logic, or how awesome the set we're getting is, but the FEELING of betrayal.

Those upset about the level of change from the original Ideas submission have their reasons. I'm not going to try to convince them that their upset isn't warranted. A number of them seem to have hoped for a set that was more in line with the look of Shipwreck Cove from the POTC franchise. I get it. From all reports, the original designer is okay with LEGO's interpretation of his model. Let's not engage in the spread of conspiracy theories about LEGO as a company. The set as is does seem to be an attempt to appeal to a larger market than they determined the fan model would draw in. I believe LEGO is correct this time. Invoking nostalgia is a time tested marketing strategy.

I called the ingot color. The review actually gets something wrong. Not about the set, but about the poop/shell piece in white only other use being in 43176 Ariel's Storybook Adventures. It also comes in 43170 Moana's Ocean Adventure. I own both sets as of today.

It's sturdier with an anti-stud connection.

I just saw a lovely seahorse leak. It's obviously a Friends part, but it beats the 2005 Belville one by a long shot.

I'm not a display guy. I buy sets for what I can do with them. I could do a lot with this. The instructions alone could help you design a lovely white hulled Armada ship. For that the only hull part not currently being produced in white (upper bow) is recent enough that the Bricklink prices are still reasonable. Custom sails are not that hard to make. Just about every part has an analog in another color. I will probably find a way to get this set, but day one I'll be looking to download the instructions.

An awesome angler fish just leaked. Don't know what theme yet.

You guys have it made. I'm in the grocery supply chain, so I have to work.

How many of us are going to mod the new Pirates Ideas set? Or at least use the instructions to get those angles and other useful details?

I don't think that LEGO produces the ingots on the same sprue as the coins anymore, given their more widespread use. Anyhow the ingots in the set look like metallic gold, rather than chrome gold. I think the old coins are being phased out now that the 1x1 round tile is a big part of the mainline production, and printing them has become near commonplace. I was actually hoping that the new gemstone piece in Dots would have made it into this.

This set is so much more useful for my building needs than the original idea. I will find a way to buy it, but first I'll download the instructions for modding the ship into other color schemes. Lost of ideas to play around with.

The Pirate Bay Ideas set seems to have a couple pirates that look like a funny nod to Mario.