Brickvergnugen

The map is fantastic! Lots of little touches really capture the feel of the time period too.

The handles and chain are really wonderful.

Quite a fun design! The raising gate for row boat access is a great touch. What part is being used for the bars there? It looked like the arched gate door at first, but there's no middle studded section.

Thanks for the direct feedback! Great call on saber gaffe. Getting to work on that pronto. Agree that it’s too boxy, I wanted to make the rear cabin flare out much wider, but quickly found that I lacked sufficient slopes to carry it out. In fact, the buttressed look that it has is because I was waaaay short on slopes. There is a cell in bottom level, but not visible in the photos. That you mention a garbage compactor is hilarious. That was one of my first notions when starting off and I completely forgot about it when it came time to build. I suppose it would be most appropriate to move the jail up a level so the compactor can be beneath it with a neighboring chute down into it for genuine playtime action. Good call, I’ll get some neutral background photos after finishing a few alterations. We’ve already expanded the bridge a bit wider to better accommodate the big round thingies that are on top of the Star Destroyers. Thanks, that coordination is more a happy accident than anything planned.

After a decade plus of not building, my eldest is coming around to LEGO opening the door to get back at it. I posted my this project in the Star Wars forum and reposting here as I’d really like to get some feedback/suggestion on the piratey side of this build. My daughter has decided that the Star Wars character’s have turned pirate and an appropriate ship was needed for their captain, Darth Scurvy and his trusty droid Yarr2-D2. No internals to speak of yet, that’s all up to my daughter, but I’d love to hear some critique of the progress thus far. I’m not done messing with the main top deck (where the one black TIE fighter pilot is standing) and looking for ways to make it a good bit more detailed. Most likely I’ll start with some railing around the edges. Cannon doors are connected such that they all open at once and the cannon inside are also bound together to move as one unit. Nothing fancy, just some 2x wide plate so they slide in unison. An earlier version had a rotating bar system to make the pop out all at once, but it wasn’t sturdy enough to stand up the the ship’s main purpose: for the kids to play with. Each deck was built as a separate removable module for access to the inside. Also, since Darth needs someone to battle, we made Imperial Rebels:

Tonight, in an odd twist, it was decided that the Rebels would be the empire that Darth Scurvy battles against. I quickly gave up hope on trying to explain how rebels generally aren’t the establishment and pirates want to loot from a large wealthy target. So we made Imperial Rebels.....

They are indeed and fit perfectly via Technic pin to the later generation sail masts.

After a decade plus of not building, my eldest is coming around to LEGO opening the door to get back at it. She’s decided that the Star Wars character’s have turned pirate and an appropriate ship was needed for their captain, Darth Scurvy and his trusty droid Yarr2-D2. Wasn’t sure whether to post here or in the pirates forum, but this seemed most appropriate. No internals to speak of yet, that’s all up to her, but I’d love to hear some critique of the progress thus far.

Icemorons, I first saw your post and at first thought the new release was an old Santa Fe Bluebonnet. Your interpretation would be a good foundation to build one out. I'm hopeful one of the two releases will be a classic diesel.

The Sam's here in Louisville, KY also had a brick bucket #6167 in addition to the already mentioned sets. I think the price was $36. It is not available from S@H but is listed on Amazon for $52.

I've never seen a 3500 shortbed before....I'm a Ford man anyway.... Kidding aside, nice use of the harness! Funny how one piece like that can be the start of an entire project.

This is an amazing creation, I'm not sure where to comment. You've captured so many images and constructed a true piece of art. I can only say, WOW, please keep building.

I always thought that being a Lego man was the origin of being a 'stud'. Sorry for interrupting a serious thread, but Lego is a fun outlet for me. My wife finds it amusing, but has no interest in building. So be it, I'm not into shoes.

....and the ready to go Brickbeard Pirates!

Apt use of parts, but one more minifig piece is needed as a good Strat' still costs an arm and a leg.