Shadows

Athos: I hope you don't mind but since someone asked, this seems like a good chance to bulk up our female minifig population a bit, so I might follow along your polling threads and provide links to the various heads represented. Anyone wanting the figs can easily go on from there. Both Peeron and Bricklink links are provided because sometimes they don't use the same part numbers. This time it's: Classic Pippin Reed Peeron Bricklink New Pippin Reed Peeron Bricklink Alexis Sinister Peeron Bricklink Jing Lee Peeron Bricklink Oh, and it was classic Pippin for me. Fortunately for those interested, she's appeared in a lot of different forms including the hard to get tubetop girl, a soccer fan, a rock raider, and all those Adventurers sets.

The most amusing part of the conversation is that we're now debating the medium being used, as opposed to the stories, and it's the stories that are the most objectionable. So, to divert us from that fact, let's argue that he's corrupting children, or a toy, instead of just admitting that the problem is the violent and immoral nature of situations depicted in the bible. I was more disturbed by the man who built an entire Nazi death camp in LEGO, including fake packages. Can I argue that he shouldn't have done it? No. It happened. It's real. Millions of Jews as well as other races, ethnic groups and others were slaughtered. We can prove that. I wonder what happens if we apply the same logic to the bible. Oh, and on a similar note, I remember hearing about the 'disturbing' fake package image being spread around depicting Mohammed having sex with his underaged wife. Apparently it was enough to get LEGO to issue a statement indicating that they weren't involved and that it was clearly not a legitimate product. So before you cry that it's only the Christians being hit, look around, and then ask yourself some simple questions. "If what he is presenting is accurate, no matter how inconvenient to think about, is it really wrong or is it more wrong to candy coat the bible into something it isn't?" If you don't like what he does, don't buy the books, don't give the website hits, don't promote the site to others. Just don't try to take away his right to present his work, which at this point is perfectly legal. Don't like his freedom to do that? Change the law, but remember the potential consequences when someone comes along who disagrees with your views.

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire ~ Joel McNeely (and John Williams)

Sure he is, but fortunately the New Testament doesn't include any of those inconveniences from the Old Testament. You know, like stonings and slavery and demons and crucifi... hey, wait a minute here! Seems like that isn't exactly the most peaceful and happy book either. Maybe if we toss both out and move on, we can find one that doesn't try to scare the hell out of people (pun intended). At least the book of Revelation is safe... 8-|

Occasionally, LEGO does actually supply alternate building instructions, though I don't see any for Slave I. If you go to the product page for the set you're interested in rebuilding, you may find a link to alternates (usually not, but it can't hurt to look). For example: The page to set 6211-1 Imperial Star Destroyer includes instructions for both the Outrider and a T-16 Skyhopper (UCS Scale, I guess). You'll need to be able to handle pdfs, but you probably can already. You can also find building instructions at the Building Instructions Mini Site also at LEGO.com. Good luck!

I voted for Eldorado Fortress because it was one of the last sets before my dark ages. I love it faithfully. So why do I keep looking at the Imperial Trading Post with lust in my heart??? *wub* Foul temptress, why dost thou torture me?

Can't argue with any of the points made really. Even Aluvar himself noted that wearing all black might not be a great idea, but it was all I had handy for him. As for the workshop, it wasn't even meant as an entry, it was just a very general background. I have absolutely no castle sets or mocs built, and he would have looked silly on a pirate ship or island >:-) so it was just an attempt at a few magic-y items and the obligatory birds. There's my only argument: the comment about colours. The birds specifically asked to be in the picture and who am I to turn them down? The book and potions had to be something contrasting, or it would have just been 'brown book on brown table next to brown wall on black floor' and I was hoping to avoid that. It was a form of compensation for my incredibly bad photography skills to some extent. Yes, I'll build something appropriate one day. A tavern probably, something in a style that works for both castle and pirates, and then I'll have my revenge on all of you! Kidding ... kidding ... ;-) Bottom line for me, it was a fun little practice, I hope to see many more such contests that offer a chance to expand into different, or in some cases, rusty areas of my building.

Flags, much like battle droid arms, should be slid on, not snapped on. I've replaced them all now.

A very difficult call, difficult enough that I don't feel I can vote, but will comment. I know that the first time I viewed the site, I thought it was going to be a spoof of some sort. I was less certain the more I looked. I think it's extremely accurate, for what it represents. Meaning, the parts it shows are taken from the actual writings, but it leaves out so much (how could anyone build every story) that it isn't really a good representation of the entire message. I won't even touch on the perceived differences in the style and tone of the old and new testaments. As for violence, it's the most violent book in history. Murders, rapes, torture, you name it. Individuals are sacrificed, plagues strike, people are drowned, a raped woman is cut up and her parts sent throughout a country, cities and entire nations are destroyed violently. I'm not even sure that some of this should be discussed in this forum and we're all supposed to be 18 (we agreed to that on joining). I would not want children to view the Rev's site any more than I would want them to read the book. To condemn one is to condemn the other. I say that both should be held until an appropriate age. Does that make his efforts good or bad? Only he knows the real reason he does it, and only he can answer that.

I also own all of the sets with the original one and have been looking at pictures of the new one with curiousity. Until it's in my hand, I won't be absolutely sure, but I'd say that the new one does look a bit more 'movie accurate' though I still think I prefer the old one. Like I say, I'd better wait until I can sit them side by side in person.

Another fine review and another reason for my impending bankruptcy... They've done it again, a set that looks potentially blah at first and ends up much better. Why are all the good ones this year??? Thanks for all the detailed shots and explanations!

Excellent review and certainly an interesting set. Love the minifigs, hate the stickers. Go figure. At least the comparison shot of the two minifigs together made Anakin look a little less anime than I thought he was going to be. The eyes just look big when he's seen seperately. Whew. Thanks for the review!

Very nice review and a much nicer set than it's credited with being. I also fail to understand the criticism it receives. It isn't a rehash of the original at all, it's a thoroughly improved ship and a nice chance for a little bit of Dagobah. How can you go wrong with that? As for Yoda's lightsaber, I would have always assumed he built another, just in case he was discovered somehow. Some vegetation, a few grey rocks, a lantern and some boxes and you have the beginnings of a nice Dagobah MOC at a decent price. Definite winner to me. Now it's followup, 6212, was kind of annoying for it's lack of anything really new, but that's something best saved for another review.

Let's see ... a Renegade Runner, looks to have been assembled once and displayed, so it's nice and fresh and dusty (and cheap). Got an email from a previous LEGO deal and was offered a small late 60s/70s assortment for $15, shipped, so I took that. Can't tell how complete the sets are, but they're boxed and include 684-1 from 1972, a 426-1 from 1971, and a 648-1 from 1971. Then there are a few hundred mixed bricks, plates, windows and wheels from the same era. I don't know what it is about LEGO from that time, but it feels so much more solid than the current stuff. I'm not old enough to have had any of these sets before, so it's kind of cool seeing windows and such that I've never had before. Oh, and a pile of the early flat trees that I've never seen in person before. A small array of 1/2 price sets off S@H and some Star Wars magnets and keychains. That's it. I'm broke again.

Excellent idea! Then we can have our own custom John Steed and Emma Peel, aka The Avengers. As it stands, Catwoman makes an excellent head and body for Mrs. Peel. Of course, it isn't hard at all to find an appropriate suit for Steed, it's just that bowler and umbrella. We'll just have to keep on hoping. I know that the inclusion of a single bowler would entice me to buy any $250 Big Ben models that LEGO may have in mind *hint* ;-)

As someone who bought the first pirate sets as they appeared in the US, then disappeared for 10 years, I'll just chime in on the timing of things (though it's all been said before, I'll just confirm some of it from my own experience). I bought several sets at the time, Black Seas Barracuda, Caribbean Clipper, Eldorado Fortress, Harbor Sentry and Forbidden Island, and all came with shooting cannons (and solid stud heads, of course). Then the dark ages. When I returned, I neglected Pirates for the first, well, 7 years 8-| and then started buying up parts with a vengeance on eBay and reading various pages on the net. Apparently, the solid stud heads stopped production in 1991 but were still shipping in 1992. The shooting cannons disappeared from the US almost immediately after release, so they shouldn't ever appear in a set that wasn't in the first release, and then only the early ones (like mine). From there it was the crippled black pull cannons, then the one piece ones with no mechanism at all. I've heard you can do something to make the black ones shoot, but I don't own one yet. I have no idea about the crossed cannon mark, I've only been buying those recently in LEGO lot auctions. I don't mind them for appearance, but they do lack that shooting charm. For some reason, I keep mounting them on small wagon wheels and they feel much more 19th century than Pirate to me. I don't think I've added anything to the discussion, but it's all I've got. Oh, and on the subject of solid stud heads, silly as it is, I'm still always a bit excited to find one in a LEGO lot, usually on a blue Imperial Soldier, old Pirate or Knight. It's like a mini treasure hunt in each minifig lot.

Norro: Don't be too insulted, I had, and still have, all of my old castle sets as well. Knight's Castle, Black Falcon's Fortress, Camouflaged Outpost and plenty of other Forestmen and small carts and wagons and such, all as happy as ever (I was smart enough to keep it all through my dark ages). When I came back, Fright Knights was ending and I picked up some very small sets, but they didn't do much for me, so castle has been suffering a bit. So don't blame me if I came back at a bad time in castle, things are looking up again and all will be well in the kingdom ;) Sir Dillon: That would be me. Same on Classic Castle as well *cough*Norro*cough*

According to Peeron, 47 sets include the red printed parrot, though that includes both US and Euro versions of the same set in some cases. As for the regular unprinted bird ... * Black - 1 in 1 set. * DkStone - 9 in 3 sets. * LtGreen - 2 in 2 sets. * MdBlue - 2 in 2 sets. * MdGreen - 2 in 2 sets. * OldBrown - 2 in 2 sets. * OldDkGray - 41 in 30 sets. * Pink - 3 in 3 sets. * Red - 9 in 3 sets. * Yellow - 5 in 3 sets. Most of the plain red ones being in the two versions of Fort Legoredo. From memory I have DkStone, MdBlue, OldDkGray, Pink and Yellow, plus the standard Parrot. I'll have to bricklink the rest (LtGreen was only in a couple of 4+ Pirates *shudders*)

A very nice lighthouse and harbor fortress! About the only thing that bothers me is the lack of windows in the tower. I realise that even adding one would be a fairly difficult undertaking involving large macaroni pieces and such, but it just seems like it needs it. If not, I'd actually shorten it by one section to make it less obvious. On a side note, it's always struck me that a Spanish influenced fortress needs at least one of these small towers that seem to appear so often in the real ones, and never in the LEGO ones ... It would look incredible on the opposite front corner of your structure (I don't know why the picture is called 'lighthouse' as it isn't one I don't think, but that's what reminded me of this idea).

I gave it a 4, mostly for parts. I don't own it yet. I'd like to pick up several, one to build as is and a couple for a shipwreck experiment. I'd like to put two of the baseplates together and 'wreck' a ship between them. Then gradually modify it into a small pirate base mostly consisting of wrecked ship expanded onto the small amount of available land. If not that, I'd at least like to use a few for small vignettes of treasure burial or castaway pirates. Maybe a combination of it and Forbidden Island with a little bridge leading over and a watchtower. Seems like lots of possibilities, with the right additions.

An absolute winner! ... She was the set that almost kept me out of my dark ages. The year was 1989 and I was 'too old for LEGO' but then I saw the new Pirates and picked up both ships, Eldorado Fortress to give the Imperials a base, Forbidden Island so the Pirates could stop somewhere safely and Harbor Sentry because it was a cheap way to get another officer and a cannon. I was in love, but it wasn't enough to stop the inevitable and my dark ages began the next year. Whatever the case, I'm back and the BSB sails again in my heart (and one day I'll reassemble her when I have space). Build: 5 Parts Assortment: 5 Minifigs: 5 Enduring Appeal: 5 Shooting Cannons: 5! (ok, so this is a big deal to us US fans). Only thing I'd correct ... from what I've read, the US lost shooting cannons in 1989, shortly after the early shipments of sets went out. All of my original sets have them, but then they switched to the disabled cannons and eventually the ones without any mechanism at all (and then those crossed ones much later). And of course, solid stud heads *sweet* All in all, a highlight of my early LEGO days and destined to be a highlight of my future MOC efforts as I work on my ports and islands.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! bonaparte: I am indeed. When the Pirates were introduced in 1989, I was on the verge of my dark ages and it managed to help me hold it off for another year. Just long enough to pick up a decent assortment of the early introductions. Specifically I have (though not assembled right now), 6245-1: Harbor Sentry 6270-1: Forbidden Island 6274-1: Caribbean Clipper 6276-1: Eldorado Fortress 6285-1: Black Seas Barracuda I was incredibly lucky (or really early) and all have shooting cannons. Star Wars brought me out of the darkness, and I'm just now rediscovering my old Pirate love. I haven't actually dug out my old collection, so mostly I'm just working with recent purchases. It's amazing how many later factions were added, and how difficult some are to get ... oo7: Thanks! I'm especially fond of that Chinatown idea, but really want the brickwork to be in dark red, so I'm stuck until I can secure enough to do it. If I ever do manage a real version, I'll be sure to post it where appropriate. Again, thanks everyone, I look forward to being a semi-active participant in this fine forum (I'm not a big poster anywhere, but you never know).

It was me. I've lurked and read for a long time and finally joined up today. I dabble in Pirates, Star Wars, Adventurers, City/Town, Classic Space and bits and pieces of most of the other themes and some that don't even exist ;-) , so you never know where you might find me posting. Thanks for supplying this wonderful forum in which to share that disease we all know and love ... LEGO. X-D

Absolutely beautiful, it almost makes my dream of a Zorro theme seem possible! You mean the Imperial Guard Shako, a difficult hat to get these days. It appeared in 19 sets, the last two being Skull Island (1 in the set) and the Imperial Outpost (2 in the set) in 1995. The largest distribution of them (4) came from one of my favourite sets, Eldorado Fortress (1989). http://peeron.com/inv/parts/2545 They're never cheap. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing it! imperialshadows

A contest, however mismatched to my collection, was exactly what I needed to finally get around to registering here after a long time of just reading and lurking. That said, I present my rather poor attempt at a wizard and a tiny corner of his lab. Ok, I'll confess, I only saw this thread this morning and just wanted an excuse to finally use some birds in a MOC ;-) Aluvar The Semi-Not-Bad-Most-of-the-Time He's a nice guy, really. He tries to help people. He just doesn't have the greatest luck sometimes. As we join the scene he's having a discussion with his bird friends. Petey (the parrot): squaaaAAAAWK Aluvar: Yes Petey, I hear them. It's the townspeople banging on my door. They seem upset, but I don't know why. Bluevro (the blue bird, go figure): sqUUUAAAAWWWKKK Aluvar: Well, yes, that could be it. I really didn't mean to turn the mayor into a frog, it's just that he kept squirming around while I was working that spell and you know how I get, one wrong thought and ... Pinky (don't say it): squaaaaawk? Aluvar: I guess I'll do what I always do, pack up and leave. Let's see, books in the chest ... can't forget my spare wand ... I really should change before I travel. These black clothes always make me look sinister, but they are slimming. Oh well, maybe I'll find a nice girl and settle down in the next town. Yeah, that would be nice. I think I'll ... Greynard (uh huh): SQUAWK! Aluvar: HUH? Oh, sorry, I was rambling there. I get so easily distra ... oooh, look, shiny! All birds at once: SQUAAAAAAAAAAWK!!!!!!!!!!! Aluvar: Yes, yes, I'm ready, let's go ... *waves wand and disappears as the doors come crashing open, angry villagers with torches in hand and as revolting as ever run in just in time to see him grab his flask and zap everything into another dimension where he'll have time to figure out where to go ... this time* I'm more equipped for pirate work than castle, but I just felt like building and this was a good chance for it. Thanks for running this contest TheBrickster and thanks to the entire staff of Eurobricks for being here! :-) imperialshadows