Horation

An accurate update of a classic Theme This is a self-contained build, which works out great because it's a small set, the addition of a prison cell is a great idea, but while I love the dock, I'd try to make the water near it bigger so the boat can sit on it and be next to the dock (alternatively shorten the water for the same reason), you have everything else done perfectly : animal life, a treasure, an escape feature, a boat to move to and from the island, etc... Just fix that tiny dock issue and it'll be perfect. Build The new island has more depth and better foliage cover, but still very similar to the original, while the fort's colour choice is perfect, period. The little ''sandbag'' wall for the gun works much better than the original, even if it is a little unrealistic (creative liberties like this don't bother me). But I do have a pet peeve of mine here : the soldier has to jump to go down and fly to go up, consider a ladder, albeit I'll concede my nitpick here. I think the roof is fine, but tell me @Yatkuu , are you considering filling that area near the barrel with a ''sandbag'' wall? I understand it would be different from the original, but it would be better defended, so it's something to consider.

Love what you've done with the yellow! Now the back looks good, but I'd just try to change a few of those green pieces for beige, to make it fit in with the rest of the build(though I'll admit this is a personal choice, and isn't that important to the overall build). I really like how you use the ingot piece in every way but its intended purpose, especially the neat trick for the ingot-based gun holes.

[sarcasm mode on] This is the bestest build ever, with a LADDER (I LOVE LADDERS!!!), many figs, a lot of space, some animal molds, now I would just add some dark red masonry bricks, dark tan plates under the beach and some foliage and this would be perfect!!! [sarcasm mode off] This was rather accurate and, while it does have too many plates at the bottom for a 4+ build, it's quite believable.

A small set-but with a big room for improvement. Theme The palm tree is sweet and simple! This does look quite remote, as it should, and th This small outpost has no living quarters, no food or drinks and has empty, clean walls, a few more pieces of foliage would not look out of place in an official set,and most sets would also have some of the above mentioned play features, now I do like how the walls are easily removed and the inside has a lot of room for play, just maybe consider something to do for our poor pirate to do, like a hidden treasure ingot or gem under the floor, and this'll be much better. Build The island looks good, but the walls... Ok, so the whole build is very symmetrical, I'd move some foliage around and there's an easy fix. Now the big problem is the wall, I love that black and grey colour choice, it's an instant reminder of those old sets, but it's too straight and LESS detailed than the original. I'd say first go look at Myfirstmoc-hun's black and grey walls, they use bricks and ingots in a lovely fashion. Then I'd try to make the walls less straight with slopes and cheese slopes and more detailed with the odd masonry brick. Using bricks, you'd avoid this issue, and I'd like to point out that you can freely rack up the piece count (the 2 largest builds of the contest have 2000+ pieces, and most hover around 300 parts). Good luck and have fun!

A good impulse set. Theme (story) This looks like a raft, and a credible build, with food, animals aplenty and alcohol! Now one problem with it (and the original) is the factory-look ; maybe try to make the sails look used a little more, with for instance a tattered-look using white flag pieces, as others have said the current ones are too large and thick, which is more fitting for a merchant ship than a makeshift raft. Build The raft is an improved version of the original one, with better colour choices and a good usage of a variety of thin parts for the build's smaller details. but I feel like too much brown makes for an overly modern pirate, maybe try to spice it up with a blue pirate like in the original? Those pristine white sails don't fit whit the whole brown/used aesthetic, I would try some other colour that would fit in with the lower parts, I know we already mentioned this in another thread, but tan would look really good, here in particular since it would make the build fit the story (most sails back then weren't clean white). Finally, I'm a fan of the small gun emplacement, it's a common play feature in modern sets.

I'd say it kinda works, but if you don't want a half-retro and half-modern set, maybe change the bottom rocks to dark grey? Would avoid the simplicity you've got going at the back.

A lovely update! The new sails are much more consistent with the sails from the new Eldorado's sail ship. For the back of the hull, maybe use 1x2 and 1x2x2 inverted slopes for the outer layer of hull instead of a 1x2x3

A much improved variant, I quite like the modification and the better use of masonry bricks. I'll admit it would have been nice to get the traditional windows, but updates require such sacrifices for the sake of looks (and considering how much F1stzz doesn't like the new Eldorado because it is too similar to the original, I don't think he'll mind all that much).

A modern vintage set. Theme (Story) Now I like how there's a backstory to the build (which serves this story with details like the damaged cannon and the overran foliage. The lone pirate makes sense, as does the explanation (gold makes most people-not just pirates-a little greedy). Overall there's nothing I would change here. Build First entry I see to try the black and grey walls scheme-it works great! The plate-built sand looks natural and the greenery (as always with you) looks pretty good. Now the front could be less straight, I'd like it if you changed the fire (but at this point, I'll let go since you clearly refuse to change it on most builds), the bottom layer of sand could be darker (with two layers on top to make the island more imposing) and the front looks too straight. Overall, the contrast between the two parts of the island looks excellent and I think the minor problems are easily compensated for by the excellent colour choices. Quick question : Are those cupcake top pieces meant to be foam or fungi or something else? Either way I love the effect (I'd just consider putting a Lilypad below the one on water if it isn't foam).

I understand for the crenelations, and again the sand looks great. Personally I'd prefer the angled window, since it still has some red on it.

Look at it like this-political scandals get forgotten within a month, nobody will even remember this by next week. If you weren't a contestant, would you really, but I mean really, mind?

A perfect mix of old and new! Theme (story) This is a nice little outpost (and named after a feature of its island!, with a chest (for treasure and storage), a rotating gun (always annoying when the gun is locked in position by a limited space), a jail cell minus an escape feature, a pirate for conflict (initially mistook him for a soldier, maybe use a different torso, but this is really cherry-picking, since the build is the most important feature), overall the set does the job well. Build The colour scheme is brilliant, with enough yellow for my taste, and a few nice touches of dark red. The fact that you actually made the bottom rocks dark grey adds to the accuracy of the set. The BURP is so well hidden that I wouldn't have known it was there if you hadn't shown it yourself. Now the windows do look awkward (please make the bottom straight, since they currently look like enlarged eggs), the crenelations are too low, which is a common problem with official crenelations, too, and the island base should maybe be built with plates, with the bottom ones in dark tan to keep the theme of the rocks(though this is the best island I've seen to date). You could also spread out the masonry bricks a little more to make it seem random. But these are all minor details which are compensated for by the fact you use ladders (for once, someone does it). This whole build looks like the result of someone who read other's critics... well done if that's the case!

I can't seem to recognise the part you use for the hammocks, which is it (part ID if possible)?

Maybe try to merge this with another 2009 pirate set? Or use two fort sets to make the build larger. Again, up to you to decide if you want to follow this advice, but it would improve the overall look in my opinion.

A good trick for retired modulars is Bricklink-look at the set's part list and see what you already have (usually at least 20-30% of the parts, since a lot of them are of common colours and sizes), you can then purchase just the parts from sellers-instead of paying 2 000 you will pay 200-500 for the parts (often less if you accept a few recolours of some rare parts). As for your main idea, maybe a similar but different set? Like a restaurant that's inspired by the café, but still looks different stylistically?

Well, I'm not sure, it would make things more varied for sure, but I think that a red-blue colour scheme is more fitting for a classic-style military outpost. This build is a realistic-looking port, so the blue would be out of place. Then again I'm not the creator (though I would maybe add a colourful sign with a sticker on it at the front of the inn, or of the middle building)

A powerful ship (I'll wait for more pics before making a full review) -This ship serves an immediately obvious purpose ; to scare the living heck out of any pirate nearby, and it looks imposing so that's nice. -The build uses a nice variety of classic style colours, but as others have said, the back is too blue. Personally I'd love if you went for an outright lavish back, using a few different colours, the whole ship really would look even more powerful with an all round layer of gold details, not just a few (well-placed) splashes. The cabin's potential is huge ; a few more windows (and gold/yellow) and it would be perfect! -Someone who makes their own custom sails gets a bonus from me, but maybe try to straighten them out a little? Again, these are all minor nitpicks that would truly bring this excellent model to life.

This is much better, maybe try to make the second level have a small rampart (with those one by one round bricks).

Instructions would be fun! It uses a lot of nice techniques. While I'm at it, is there any way to add foliage behind (on the walls' side)? Since I think it would look more credible if there were to be plants on that side, or maybe even a few pieces stuck to the walls, to make it seem poorly maintained.

I don't know how many parts you've got leftover from the 2009 fort, but if there are some left, maybe try to use the modular feature a bit better by splitting the post at that point, connecting the two parts at the middle with the bridge (while using a brown plate to expand the dock, and then connecting it to the bridge).

Hear hear, I second the motion (except for the weed part-the only acceptable choice here would be rum)of the right hon. member from...Belgium? (correct me if incorrect) And I forgot to login so I read that user's comment, here's the definition of gaslighting : "Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse in which a person or group causes someone to question their own sanity, memories, or perception of reality. People who experience gaslighting may feel confused, anxious, or as though they cannot trust themselves." https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/gaslighting In other words, I can't gaslight myself and I sure am not doing anything resembling the above to others. But that is all.

I'll have to agree with Eggyslav, but the sails add a lot of character, I mean it is acceptable, but maybe make them in beige if you don't want to try to have two sides for the stripe.

Ok, so let's see what you said : I wasn't trying to gaslight anyone, you made that up about me. I never opened any "copium valves", I genuinely find the product to be good, get this "mate" : JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE PRRODUCT, DOESN'T MEAN EVERYONE ELSE ALSO HATES IT AND IS LYING ABOUT LIKING IT TO BE CONTRARIAN. Also, quick reminder: the fact that you feel offended doesn't mean you're necessarily right. I don't use social media, so I can't see if these "hundreds" of people really exist. And about the whole prints thing "I mean... That's kinda what I've said, innit?" Nope, it isn't "into thinking that having defected prints can actually be great as it was somehow 'planned & precalculated by the company' " You literally said that it was not planned and intentional and then tried to claim that you said it was intentional by cherrypicking your own text. I love a good argument, but you are arguing in bad faith, lying about what YOU said, and refusing to even acknowledge the possibility someone might disagree with you and be genuine, I'll be ignoring you from now on (I believe there is an option to mute users after a certain post count). Have fun (I honestly hope you aren't into politics, if you get this angry about toys, the discussion about taxes must really be something...)

A facade-in all the meanings of that word Theme (story) The shipwreck looks nice, but when mixed with the skull island, it becomes "all over the place" (to quote IRAGM), it feels strange that those two parts are connected, maybe add a bit of water under that skull, and make it look like the ship crashed into it? Alternatively, try to separate the two parts (stylistically), by perhaps using the waterfall for that purpose. The whole thing isn't very deep, and it doesn't really make sense, the ship should either go up or sideways, but it shouldn't do both, how did it get shipwrecked? Maybe add a colourful "tavern" at the back to add depth, or some other living quarters of your choice. Build The colours are too dark : replace the water with light blue, it would look much better already, and try to add colour behind the walls (ex: food, supplies, tools, etc...) and make them straighter, since a shipwreck shouldn't be too curvy. Maybe add a ladder at the back of the skull (how else are the pirates getting to it?), alternatively, make the rockwork on the side naturally look like it's climbable. There really isn't much to critique, because there isn't much here. Maybe add some sand plates underneath to create a bigger, sturdier design. I think it actually looks better with less foliage ; it seems dead, as if though being near that skull kills all life (and the hanging cage adds to this effect). But again, you still need some life (in other ways). Overall, a lot of potential, you just have to exploit it more effectively.

Clearly a MOC-a very nice MOC Theme (story) This is a very clear set- it looks like a real hideaway, and the foliage serves it's purpose, and the tiny island adds to the feeling of a cramped hideout for one person who wants a really low profile. I concur with Dreamweb, a crocodile would really improve the set's playability. Build For once, the small fireplace actually makes sense. The brick-built BURP you went with looks good, and the light grey colour scheme for the rocks avoids a drab colour scheme from all the brown. Now of course the main course is the foliage, and while it is well done, I would either remove, shorten or lift up the tree at the front of the island, since it adds a lot to the footprint of the set. And maybe remove a few flower pieces, that way it'll look less loaded with foliage (which seems to be a common complaint).