Pirate captains seem to keep all the good stuff for themselves, as Maxx Davidson shows us in this detail-rich build. Utilizing many of LEGO’s unique pieces, Maxx gives us a glimpse at the stolen goods in the captain’s quarters. Well, I assume everything is stolen, because, uh…pirates: they steal things! Anyway, however the items came into his possession, the bookcase is chock-full of fun things. There’s a little ship in a bottle, a golden globe (no, not the award), a decanter, and some reading material. A keg of ale leaks onto the floor, much to the delight of the visiting bilge rat, and jewels rest in a golden dish on the other barrel. A pen and inkwell keep the jewels and open journal company, ready for the pirate captain to begin their memoir. My favorite part of the build? It’s got to be the captain’s nose. I enjoy the whole design, but the nose is a wonderful and clever use of a tan hamster. Seriously! Take a closer look.

Taking a closer look at the pirate captain, we see the hamster isn’t the only excellent parts usage. Look at his beard and you’ll find an upside-down minifig hairpiece. The red feather in his hat looks to be a red propeller part, or an oar, and there’s a golden ring for his earring. I feel like I should acknowledge those abs of his. Probably did a lot of “planks” to get them.

Of course, there is much excellent part usage in the build, but let me call attention to my second favorite instance: the keg. Maxx cleverly uses dot bracelets to create the curvature. Personally, I love it when builders incorporate LEGO parts that aren’t necessarily purposeful towards LEGO build inclusion. It really shows how versatile the system can be.