kurigan

Can't believe I haven't commented on this before. This is a great ship. I like everything you've done here, truly a creation to be proud of!

This is a great ship, beautiful in her simplicity and reverent to period design. I rather like the color scheme, as it seems to reflect the taste of the time from which it comes. I have to ask, however, you rater her at 28 guns but I see none on the spar deck and only 11 gunnels to a side on the gun deck, a total of 22. How do you make up the missing 6? I really don’t mean to be cruel and apologize if the mistake is mine. I think you may be over selling a ship that doesn’t need it. 22 guns is respectable and still in the same rating as a 28. The brick built sails are an interesting touch, especially with the mini figure activity all about the ship. I’ve seen guys make unfurled sails from white or tan plates, with relative success, perhaps that’s a solution if ever you change your mind. Once again, lovely ship!

i like the Bananas. good use :)

Wow, that’s just incredible. All around you have a great vessel. The proportions, the shapes, most of all the level of detail are all top notch. It just seems a shame that all your internal space is take up with those large guns. Perhaps if you went with brick built guns on smaller carriages, it wouldn’t feel so cluttered. All in all, color me impressed. Great Work, keep it up.

Wow, those are really impressive. I find it hard to believe that a brick built hull would come as difficult to you. Seems a shame to limit yourself to the dimensions and proportions of the prefab Lego parts, like hull sections and cannons. Remarkable detail though. You might find you like LDD, and it’s free too. Though the standard mode limits you to what parts are currently available to order from Lego, that’s still quite a few bricks. If you unlock the universe mode, there is a thread about it here on eurobricks, most every part ever available from Lego is included. The program will just prompt you that you can’t order your model from Lego, based on brick availability. I find it answers well, and you don’t get those black “CAD” lines, outlining each brick, breaking up the image.

I agree, she looks like a fine vessel, but the pics are hard to see. What I like to do (as a pro videographer) is to get a sheet of fabric, like a bed sheet. Tape it to a wall or pin it to a stack of boxes and lay the other end on the ground so that there is no crease along the transition. In video/photography it's called a "psych". This is the only link I found referring to the device, it's a bit off topic but you can see what I'm talking about http://www.ehow.com/video_5538085_make-green-screen-studio.html The lack of a crease or any visible transition creates false depth. It makes the room seems to go forever. You put the subject, in this case Phoenix, several inches away from the vertical portion so that it doesn't cast a shadow or collapse the "Psych" and take your photos. If you light the back drop evenly enough you can even use a photo editor like Photo Shop (or any number of free ones on the internet) to replace the color of the backdrop with scenery, essentially doing "Green Screen" like the guys in the video are describing. Good Luck with it, hope I helped.

For starters the ship in the image above is HMS Surprise (formerly "Rose") which played "Surprise" in the film "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", she is a 28 gun 6th rate, Hotspur was supposedly only a 16 gun Ship Rigged Sloop, but the ship which played Hotspur in the Hornblower episode "Duty" was actually "Earl of Pembroke" a barkentine rigged merchant vessel redressed to more resemble a Man of War for the role. More about her here http://www.square-sail.com/ if you're interested also lots of images come up on a Google search. In my opinion you did a fine job modeling the ship as she appeared in "Duty" and i already like what you've done changing the stern gallery.

You might like to try some thing like this: http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HMS-Lively-32.jpg or this: http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/HMS-Maidstone-016.jpg?t=1279773555 Or even my own version of "Hotspur" http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/HMS-Hotspur-009.jpg?t=1279773676 I think part of you vessel's issue with conveying realism in the stern gallery is that is doesn't protrude away from the hull nor does it lean out over the water at the stern. If you could get either or both of these effect I think it would go a long way. Don't get me wrong it's a great MOC and I too am a fan of Horatio. The stern face mini fig with the custom shirt of Lt. Bush brought a smile to my face too. Nice job!

OH that's really looking good. With the masts clear I can picture the rigging in place. The brown tiles really make the deck pop too, it actually looks like wood. Keep up the good work!

Good point! Unfortunately I can't seem to get a count, only way I know is to generate build instructions and when ever I try the computer freezes up, I guess it's just too big.

Distressed by the seeming lack of participation from the pirates form I've decided to throw my hat into the ring with HMS Hunter. 32 gun 5th rate frigate. She is a brick built hull, water-line model, of a late 18th century frigate of the British Royal Navy. This is an entirely original design based on historic drafts and intended to utilize, in it's physical form, rigging made of string and sails of cloth or paper. Enjoy! http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/kurigan/Pirates/hms_hunter_32_gun_6th_rate.lxf http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=433700 For more images http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HMS-Hunter-001.jpg EDIT by Contest organizer: Sorry, you're entry has been disqualified since it contains over 5000 bricks, and the max limit was 2500.

WOW, such high praise, my head grows all the larger. Thanks! I'm anxious, now to see how she turns out.

Well I've been busy designing ships in LDD. Thought I'd share my latest. Since June I have finished 6 new vessels. HM Sloop Christine: Bermuda rigged cutter, 8 carronades. Named this one for my girlfriend. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HM-Sloop_Christine-001.jpg HMS Merlin 20 gun 6th rate. Modeled off a draft of the historical Merlin, originally I made this one for the LDD contest, but I'm not sure it's my best work though I am quite fond of her. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HMS-Merlin-001.jpg HMS Esperance 20 gun 6th rate. Was going for a little different hull shape on this one. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HMS-Esperance-001.jpg HMS Hotspur 16 gun Sloop, ship rigged. Designed this one after watching Hornblower "Duty". I used some drafts and photos of similar ships but I modeled mine after the historic "Hotspur" Rather than the one that appeared in the show (that being "Earl of Pembroke", redressed to look like a man of war, but being entirely the wrong kind of ship). http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HMS-Hotspur-001.jpg HM Sloop Brisk of 10 guns. I intended this one to function as a tender for the next ship on the list. It's a reasonable extrapolation from historic reference but an original design. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HM-Sloop-Brisk-001.jpg HMS Hunter, 32 gun 5th rate. this is my largest ship yet complete. I'm not entirely satisfied with her as I realized all to late the hull is a bit too narrow, still she pretty cool. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/?action=view&current=HMS-Hunter-001.jpg Well there they are. Hope you all enjoy. comments are always welcomed. Amendment: I for got one, making a total of seven. HMHV Fatal, 12 gun Xebec, formerly Fatalidad she represents a captured pirate sold back in to the service as a privateer. I did this rather quickly but she turned out so well i decided to add her to the list to show off. http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/kurigan_the_red/Tall%20Ships/HMHV-Fatal-001.jpg?t=1279132028 Thanks again for looking!

When speaking of British warships of the 18th and 19th centuries, you'll find a lot of contradictory terms and designations, particularly when it comes to classifying vessels. Though the maritime slang referring to a single masted vessel was "Sloop", it is more correct to refer to such vessels as cutters or ketches. As far as defining a "Man of War" as a "Sloop" or not, anything with less than 20 guns qualifies, regardless of it's number of masts or sails. "Cutters", "Brigs" and even "Ship Rigged Sloops" all qualify. The distinction is not made based on the size of the ship at all but rather it's commander. If the ship has less than 20 guns and proportionally less crew, it can be commanded by a "Lieutenant in Command". That is an officer wearing only on epaulet, holding the rank of "Lieutenant in Command" or easily refereed to as "Commander". However it is important to note that a commander is addressed as "Captain" as a matter of courtesy. A ship baring 20 or more guns and a proportionally larger crew warrants a "Post Captain" or higher rank and there fore is a rated ship. You Have a fine vessel here, a lovely sloop. I particularly like the color scheme. Though you fighting tops, those platforms suspended from the masts, are huge, that could be quite an advantage in a fight. I also tend to agree that the Lego ratlines would be better replaced with string rigging. I find embroidery thread answers well, it's very inexpensive and comes in a plethora of colors. Hope I didn't get too preachy

Firstly, think nothing of it, Captain Genaro, instead pardon my long winded explanation. As for "Spider": HMHV as a proper prefix for a privet man of war or privateer standing for His Majesty's Hired Vessel. "Spider" on the first hand, is a predatory creature that benefits from patience, character traits befitting such a vessel. On the other hand, there was limited space on the prow to mount a figure head and the little Lego spider fit wonderfully. I also like to name small craft for animals with similar traits. Though no where near as complex a vessel i already have brick built brigs "Snake" and "Scorpion", named on much the same premises. both are plastic models on my self and both still WIPs. It's that same lacking of bricks which keeps me from making any of my LDD vessels. As for a parts list, Kerntechniker, no, not one that is complete any way. i find that i don't get a brick count with out uploading my model to order it from Lego, but i have started deconstructing "Lively" (and "Surprise" before that) to manually count the necessary pieces. It's a daunting task and i keep getting distracted by new creations. Add to that the idea that I'm always improving my technique, i wouldn't want to buy one ship to take up all my space only to wish i had waited for a later, better model. So perhaps i lack motivation as well. In any case, though i could generate a parts list for any vessel, by such means and in short time, i still lack the sort of disposable funds with which to to purchase the bricks.

No it wasn't just you, it was an oversight on my part, which I've just corrected. Though there's nothing to stop any one from browsing my photo buck, i have many models posted to enjoy. thanks for the heads up in any case

Well i just noticed that an LDD competition opened today after i posted "Maidstone" and now I'm wondering if she's enough to compete. Should i re-post her as a contest entry or have i the time to do better? what does any one think? I finally started a Brinkshelf profile and posted the LXF file for "Maidstone". any one is welcome to view and save it. Capt. Becker, you asked before about how i made some of the shapes, why not save her and tear her down to see first hand. i just have to ask that no one recycle or reuse my design. i work hard on them all and it would break my heart to have my efforts stolen. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=433700 as for spider: not sure what you mean by "doesn't go up" Captain Genaro, but the bow sprit is on at least a 20 degree rake and the rig over all is a copy from memory of a previous design of mine http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/k...-Niagara-01.jpg a measured and accurate model of US Brig Niagara. An actual factual, sailing reproduction of one of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's own from the battle of Lake Erie. Sorry if this comes off as a little defensive, but I've already paid my dues and taken my lickings for making "Lively" to tall. Light weight gun brigs like "Spider" and "Niagara" from the early part of the 19th century, however were often over rigged and over gunned, in order to maintain a tactical edge on the larger faster and more powerful men of war of the time. though this often affected their stability, particularly in high seas, the trade off in speed and maneuverability was invaluable. thanks for looking

Here are a couple of ships I designed in LDD over my few days vacation. the first is HMS Maidstone, a 24 gun 6th rate. The model started out as the lower deck of Leopard, but I so liked her as she was I decided to to save and complete the off shoot. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/k...idstone-001.jpg The second is a small privateer brig "Spider". I did this one start to finish in just a few hours, but it was a fun little project that I think came out looking pretty well. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/k...-Spider-001.jpg hope you all enjoy P.S. It's still unlikely I will be able to afford bricks enough to build any of my LDD vessels yet, but it's OK by me as I'm still perfecting my technique.

Nice work. I feel your pain on the cost, much the same problem with my own LDD vessels. if you're determined to build her, you could always use the program to deconstruct and manually count the bricks so you could order them used. Might i suggest some close in detail shots, drop the camera down on deck or inside the cabin? I'm no expert on these vessels, so i cannot speak to it's accuracy, though it seems remarkable. In any case the scale and level of detail are impressive. thanks for sharing :)

Thanks for the front-page Admiral Croissant! The recognition and kindness mean a lot, sorry it’s a bit more than a week late, I didn’t even realize. I only noticed when I was doing some goggle image searched for more inspiration and saw my own creation. That feels pretty awesome. Again thanks, to you and all.

at some point, but not now, to expensive. here http://ldd.lego.com/ it's a free down load, and there are add ons if you find you need more bricks.

OK, not to be scrubish, but please stop mentioning the masts, I already addressed that, it is intentional, moving along. Thanks for the kind words; the hull was my primary concern. I’ve been working, keel up so to speak on making my models more and more realistic. I started making very rudimentary designs, trying to stick too rigidly to the classic pirates format with out the benefit of specialized bricks (like hull sections and ratlines). Look through my photo bucket and you’ll see the progression of complexity, as quite obvious. Any one can use my ships for inspiration, that’s why I put them here, a lot of the elements I’ve recently started incorporation, like head rails, were inspired by what I saw here. Alas I wish I could afford to build, any one of my LDD vessels, but I’m afraid I just lack the funds, even to piece them together from used bricks. Perhaps in the future (let's hope near) that will change, in that event I’ll put together as much of my fleet as is humanly possible. Never the less, I’ll keep working, refining and building my fleet.

Hey great vessel! I'm a fond user of LDD as well and understand the limitations it offers. Awesome job, especially first out. I particularly like the addition of a bow wave for atmosphere, nice touch :)

My Mistake, perhaps i shouldn't have posted half asleep. The real world Lively was in fact a 30 gun 6th rate (14 guns to a broadside with 2 chasers aft), that, like mine would likely have carried a number of small cannonades on her top deck that were not counted in her official classification. When i was reviewing my design and composing a description, i forgot my research and simply counted the gun ports. It's actually quite embarrassing as i quite a bit more knowledgeable than this blunder lets on. In any case, thanks for the correction keep looking and feeding back. as for the masts, it is by choice that the main mast peaks a bit high. Not only do i just like the exaggerated look, but i wanted her to be able to throw up just a little bit more canvas than is typical, perhaps allowing her to live up to the name. If you look it is only by the extra top mast that she is to tall, a reasonable modification.

[pid][/pid]7b Greetings all! just wanted to show off my latest LDD ship. Here is HMS Lively, a 48 gun 5th rate frigate. I've uploaded an image here, but follow my link to my photo bucket for lots more of this and my other ships. Let me know what you think and thank you all. http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/k...S-Lively-13.jpg