Laura Beinbrech

About the only thing I liked about this line was the fact that the Blue squad dude could be used to fill out my AC ranks. Other than that, my experiences mirror most of what everyone else has said here.

Looking good! The chunky profile of this build definitely makes one think "cargo carrier" at first glance. I also love the retractable jig for carrying additional containers as well. :)

Thanks for the kind words, coming from you that means a lot! Oh, abd I definitely checked out the Neptune Carrier Mk.II, which is excellent build! However, since the most recent post was a few months ago, I didn't post any comment because I didn't want to necro-post the thread. Interesting you should mention that: My next design phase project (although I might actually have most of the bricks needed to build it already) is a Confederate midget sub that is inspired by this blue submarine that Sebeus posted 2 years ago that uses the Lego City cement mixer elements for a large part of the hull. I'll be posting the LDD renders whenever I get that one done. I'm also working on a pirate submarine that uses at least one (possibly 2) of the brown aircraft hull sections from the Sponge Bob Davy Jones set....

Really nice MOC based off the most-coveted of M-Tron sets (when I was younger). I love how you managed to incorporate your Utility sub build into it as well (and thanks for posting a link to it). I've been on an undersea kick lately, and its nice to see those themes still getting some love these days. :)

Thanks! In case you're wondering, here's a list of subs in the class (I'm thinking about building the Black Seas Barracuda if I can source enough parts for it): SSF 01 Black Seas Barracuda SSF 02 Jolly Roger (a.k.a. Captain Hook's ship from Peter Pan) SSF 03 Black Pearl SSF 04 Revenge (a.k.a. The Dread Pirate Roberts' ship from Princess Bride) SSF 05 Renegade Runner SSF 06 Skull's Eye Schooner SSF 07 Queen Emeraldis (Space pirate ship from the Leijiverse Anime) SSF 08 Arcadia (Another Leijiverse space pirate ship commanded by Captain Harlock) The reason that the Queen Anne's Revenge isn't on the list is due to the fact that Captain Blackbeard, who came through the same portal as Jack & Mr. Gibbs, decided to join the Neo-Confederate Navy and is in command of the notorious Heavy Cruiser (along the lines of the WWII-era German "Pocket Battleships")/commerce raider, CSS Baton Rouge. Yeah, it's THAT kind of setting, lol.

So, I decided to dust off a project that had been set aside for quite some time, due to how the first version had some major design flaws (IMO) that I just couldn't seem to work out. Well, after going to BrickFair last month, I decided to take another crack at it (in between various RL stuff that has been keeping me constantly busy), and after tinkering around with a few ideas (one of which, even though I initially liked it best, I had to discard due to two of the key parts being discontinued & never publicly released in red), I finally came up with this. I figured that I should post it here, rather than in the Sci-Fi forum, because it's about as much inspired by the Atlantis & Aquazone themes as it is RL Navy stuff, so without further ado: EDIT: Last week, after almost 9 years since I first started messing around with this design, I finally finished building this thing in actual bricks! Behold, the Federal Navy Ship Black Pearl, Black Seas Barracuda-class fusion-powered fast attack submarine for my crazy crossover sci-fi/fantasy LEGO setting. It is the third ship of the Black Seas Barracuda class SSF (Fusion-powered Fast-attack Submarines), the first two being the Black Seas Barracuda and the Jolly Roger (wonder if anyone will get the references), and all ships in the class are named after infamous pirate vessels. This one just happens to have the commander of its namesake vessel for its CO.... The FNS Black Pearl is mostly deployed as part of the Federal Republic of America Navy's Caribbean Squadron, patrolling the mostly lawless waters of the Caribbean League for pirates (conventional & submarine), hunting down notorious sea monsters and giving Neo-Confederate commercial shipping & commerce raiders nightmares. Armed with four twin-laser cannon turrets (for engaging airborne targets & smaller surface vessels while surfaced & close-by underwater threats when submerged), dual axially-mounted torpedo tubes (each can carry two Mk 56 supercavitating homing torpedoes each), as well as a semi autonomous drone (also serves as a remote active sonar platform) and sometimes Federal Special Operations Command Underwater Demolition Team members, these medium subs pack a mean punch for their size. As is typical of most submarines, the interior is cramped, but provides adequate living for its crew. The forward-most compartment houses most of the air cylinders as well as an airlock for UDT divers & the remote probe to be deployed or retrieved. This sub's fusion power plant, in addition to providing electricity for propulsion & equipment, also is used to separate hydrogen & oxygen from water, thus the sub can remain submerged indefinitely, crew provisions being the only limiting factor (although some enterprising crews have been known to deploy their SOCOM UDT teams and/or remote drones to harvest seafood to extend their time below the surface when trying to remain undetected deep in enemy territory) The relatively minimalist bridge, where the captain & duty helmsman take the sub where it needs to go. The FNS Black Pearl's brave, but somewhat rowdy crew Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this LDD project. I DO fully intend to build this thing for real (and bring it to at least one Lego show), but unfortunately, my budget is such that I've only got the barest bit of the bottom section done as of yet. This build clocks in at over 860 pieces, most of which are rather small, so you can see how it could be a bit on the expensive side, however, it is getting my top priority for my LEGO budget from now until I have it finished. EDIT: I hope you all enjoy seeing the completely final version, and I know it took me long enough to finish this, but I've been going through some serious stuff in RL over the past 4 years that has kind of gotten in the way of many of my more ambitious LEGO projects, and finishing this one has been a huge confidence booster, let me tell you...

Oh I agree 100% I particuarly hated that they replaced the old transparent yellow with the fugly transparent neon green that they introduced with the M-Tron line. As for Space Police II.... The only good thing about it, IMO, is that thanks to the green canopies and the largely gray color scheme, they made for fairly easy conversion into the Gray with Green canopy Classic Space color scheme and/or as parts kits for MOCs based on that particular theme....

I actually bought several Exploriens sets when they came out (and when I got back into LEGO after my first dark age) for the express purpose of using their parts for/converting them to Futuron MOCs.

I really like this design and concept! Then again, I always did like the idea of retro sci-fi and re-purposing obsolete equipment so it still had a use (like that project I did where I converted an antique crank phone to work on a regular phone line). This cab project, likewise, perfectly captures the feel of a 1950-ish cab being converted into a hover car.

Those are my picks as well. One of the reasons I bought multiples of the Raid VPR & squeed like a fangirl when the local Lego Store got a bunch of that one alien's torso from that set was because it was a specific shout-out/re-make of the original Blacktron I torsos. :) One of the other reasons is that, with a few slight mods, the Raid VPR itself was easy to convert to Futuron colors. Also, classic space is the reason why I decided to spend close to $100 on Benny's Spaceship spaceship SPACESHIP! set, instead of parts for one of my many ongoing naval projects was because it was just like one of those big Classic Space sets they had when I was a kid, but could never afford, so it was my way to make up for the regret of never getting one of those sets back then. ;)

They are quite excellent, at least in my opinion. :)

Definitely Not! Mulan is, and has always been one of, in not my absolute favorite Disney Princess of all time, due to her courage, tactical cunning & resourcefulness (as Cracked.com one put it, she's the only Disney Princess with a body count). :)

Very nicely done! Looks like something straight out of one of Leiji Matsumoto's space-opera Anime series (Capt. Harlock, Emeraldis, Galaxy Express 999). I guess I'm just a sucker for literal space SHIPS, lol!

Well, my wife surprised me with Naida's Epic Adventure Ship, and I must say that I really like the designs and am fairly impressed with the fairly advanced build techniques. I also really like the minidolls (is it wrong that I kinda want Aira's dress in real life?). I am planning to convert it into a light cargo ship (along the lines of a shinier version of the African Queen)/Barge hauler plying its way from one of the Elven colonies in Trindidad, Yucutan or St. Kitts through the various ports in the Caribbean League & even as far as Lone Star, the Federal Republic & New Jersey. Until then, it's sitting in the "shipyard" until I get inspired to start modifying it. ;)

I'm actually the opposite: I'm mainlyinterested int he base model for possible conversion into a city-scale Amphibious Assault ship or Light Carrier, and could care less about the minifigs.....

Oh, I REALLY want that boat now! I also have a sneaky suspicion my sig-fig is going to be stealing the lavender-haired elf's cute dress, too. ;)

I know you aren't exactly addressing me, but I think in my case, and a lot of others, it's more about spending $350 all at once as opposed to ten $40 sets over a year's time that makes it seem extra expensive. That being said, the more I look at the preview pics, the more I realize this set falls into the same kind of "if I don't buy any other LEGO set for myself this year, I'm buying this" category that Benny's Spaceship, Spaceship SPACESHIP! fell into last year: I kinda missed the big Cargo ship from LEGO city, due to being in a dark age at the time, and I'm not letting this particular large ship/airship pass me by, no siree!

Thanks for the pics, Aanchir! I'm definitely looking forward to acquiring the boat (is it just me, or do I detect heavy inspiration from Galadriel's swan boat in Lord of the Rungs?). I also like the new layered skirt mold that the platinum-haired elf is wearing, and hope to maybe see it in future Friends sets in different colors. :) Blondie-Wan: I know! I say it's about time we get more red apples: Green cooking apples are all well & good, but they don't taste that good when you eat them raw (trust me, i've tried). Still that comment made me giggle.

Excellent Heavy fighter, Sunder. I especially like how you gave it a working ejection seat (something that entirely too many LEGO fighter craft, including mine, are sadly lacking). The cargo version is also really nice. I was wondering, based on the size and the fact that you have a cargo variant, if you were planning on making a dedicated bomber version as well?

That is an interesting, slick design. I love how you basically built the whole thing around the MASSIVE engine in the center.

I would love to buy this set (even if only to make it into some kind of minifig-scale ship), but I think it might be just a little bit out of my budget this year.

My wife & I got the Mother rabbit & babies set at Target the other day, and spent some time squeeing over how cute they were. Unfortunatley, she doesn't want to share them, lol!

I agree: Not just the castle, but all the minidolls in it & the pegasus as well. :)

They would probably make decent minifig-scale Frigates or Destroyers, with a bit of modification. ;)

Why yes, I would like to order half a dozen of those for my space fleet.... Er, I mean excellent SHIPs you made there: As an ex-navy person I really like the added touch of the unique hull numbers. :)