Tag Archives: Pirates

Avast, me mateys! If ye be lookin’ for LEGO on the high seas, you’ve found the place where X marks the spot. Here be a treasure trove of sailing ships, garrisons full of imperial scalawags, and other such nautical nonsense. Walk that plank and dive into the wonderful world of LEGO Pirates.

Fish are food! Wait, no, that’s not right...

While we’re a little late for Shark Week, I think our toothy fishy friends deserve all the recognition we can muster. This shark from LEGO 7, I’m sure, does not agree with Bruce’s claim that fish are friends and is perfectly happy to snack on whatever he finds in this sunken ship.

You’re welcome to ask him and his friends if they’ll share that treasure. I’m inclined to say no.

The shark has just lovely shaping to it. It looks perfectly pudgy, like a shark should be. The varied sea life growing on the ship is quite eye catching, too!

Sharks Treasure-1

A return to ye olde outpost, on the road to riches and glory

1989’s 6276 Eldorado Fortress was one of the pinnacles of the late 80s Pirate theme, with the blue-clad Imperial Guards protecting a small Spanish-inspired dock. Taking his queue from set designer Daniel August Krentz‘s nostalgic old beauty, David Hensel pays homage to the classic with this magnificent redux.

Eldorado Outpost

This reminds me a bit of when I tried my own hand some years ago at reinterpreting another nostalgic classic Pirates set, 6267 Lagoon Lock-Up (sadly, I’ve yet to try again despite the fun in it).

One man’s toys are another man’s treasure

French builder sweetsha puts on display this cute and funny scene where he uses regular bricks as just… bricks. But inside such a huge and awesome wooden chest they look absolutely precious. The use of the pearl gold wheel is quite clever, and looks perfect.

We can only imagine how long did it take the pirates to dig the chest out, but they seem to be the happiest minifigures in the whole world!

Brick treasure

Amazingly beautiful LEGO schooner has unbelievable lines

Sometimes a LEGO model is so incredible you stop and wonder if the builder is using the same catalog of bricks as the rest of us, because the finished model doesn’t even look like LEGO. Hoang H Dang is a masterful ship builder (we previously featured his incredible fishing vessel) and he’s turned his hand to building a two-masted schooner. The finished model has some of the best shaping I’ve ever seen on a LEGO ship, making this gorgeous sailing vessel sleek and elegant.

The immense scale of the model is hard to comprehend on its own, but when viewed next to the builder, it becomes obvious that at close to four feet in length and nearly as tall, this is no mere weekend project.

And for those curious how Hoang has constructed such an elegant hull from angular bricks, you can check out this work-in-progress photo to see some of the interior construction.

The Buccaneer’s Dread, sailing the tiny seven seas

I love when a small build looks like a full-sized build at first glance. And that’s exactly what Robert4168’s mini pirate ship does! The base of the ship is actually a single row boat normally meant to hold only one or two minifigures. But with a handful of tiny parts and some expertly folded sails, Robert has created a massive-looking ship that’ll still fit in the palm of your hand!

Pirates...

Long live the King!

Jonas Wide‘s latest creation is a detailed and realistic palatial residence, with crowds cheering a newly-crowned King and Queen. The model itself is excellent with intricate levels of texture provided by clever parts use — I’m particularly enjoying the textured columns, the use of ingots, and the croissants in the crest.

Vive le Roi!

However, aside from the obvious strengths of the model, this image really stands out because of the camerawork. The out-of-focus crowd creates a strong sense of depth and scale, making for a more striking and realistic scene.

Tia Dalma’s swampy shack

Proving that even in the scariest of swamps one can find a place to call home, TBB mainstay Vitreolum has recreated the gorgeous shack dwelling of the sorceress Tia Dalma from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Contrasting the dark branches with bright green plants and swampy water really makes this creation pop. Jack Sparrow might be frightened by its overgrown appearance, but everyone else is in wonder of its whimsy and character.

Tia Dalma's Shack by Vitreolum

Imperial Port for your voyage’s needs

Tired from a long journey by sea? Stop on by the Imperial Port, by Issac S. The build features a sturdy fort to protect the harbor, and plenty of commerce to browse while you stretch your weary sea legs.

Imperial Port

I particularly like the water; it’s simple but effective in showing the ebb and flow of the waves. The commercial district is full of life and details as people go about their business. It conveys a great sense of densely packed shopping on the harbor.

Imperial PortImperial Port

Magnificent LEGO seaside castle diorama

There aren’t many places more picturesque for a castle than on a cliff by the sea, so that’s precisely where Alex Jones has placed his new fortress. Giant walls encircle this palatial castle, and the king even gets a strip of beach to relax on, as well as his own ship anchored in the harbor. You can see more of the diorama on Alex’s website.

The Kings Arrival

Beware the Greye Cliff Fortress!

W. Navarre ended the year with a flurry of activity aimed at the 13th Colossal Castle Contest and might have a shot at the Master Builder prize with the breadth and variety of his entries. My personal favorite is one of his last, this foreboding fortress built into a cliff that appears to be spewing lava!

Greye Cliff Fortress

In addition to the fearsome skull on the front, the fortress has an interior. Behind the door is a working portcullis.

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